THE STEEL HELMET (1951)
An Inexpensive Yet Effective Look at the Forgotten War
Grade: A-
(**Spoiler Alert!!**)
Samuel Fuller's Korean War film The Steel Helmet is proof that war movies do not have to be large in scale or high on brutal action in order to work. Although there is a thrilling final battle set in a Buddhist temple, much of its runtime is dedicated to the characters, their relationships with each other, and their circumstances. It may not be a well-remembered movie, just as the Korean War itself is not a very well-remembered conflict, but it makes the most of its reduced budget to deliver a story that is both exciting and touching.
The film follows a seasoned U.S. sergeant named Zack (Gene Evans) who is the only survivor of a platoon that was killed by North Korean troops. He eventually makes his way to a Buddhist temple to find refuge, but not before reluctantly picking up several other people, such a South Korean boy (William Chun), an African American medic (James Edwards), and another platoon which includes a sensitive bald-headed private (Richard Monahan) and a Japanese American (Richard Loo). While resting at the temple, the soldiers start to bond with each other and with the boy. Zack, however, remains largely detached and gruff towards most of the others. The unity and safety of the group are soon threatened by both a lone North Korean soldier hiding in the temple, whom they eventually take prisoner, and the deaths of some of their own. Everything comes to a head when a legion of Communist troops converges on them.
An interesting thing about The Steel Helmet is how, despite being produced during the war in question, it does not glamorize America's role in the conflict, nor is it propaganda. This could demonstrate how times and attitudes have changed in the few short years since the Second World War ended, since propaganda was huge then (of course, the stakes in the Korean War were considerably lower than those in WWII). It also does away with such romantic tropes as a love interest or writing letters to home. In fact, there is very little backstory given to any of the characters, yet that is actually a strength for the movie rather than a weakness. Going into heavy detail about the soldiers' past lives and loved ones would have inevitably slowed the story down. Instead, we are given just enough information to genuinely care for them. The camaraderie they share, while not perfect, still allows them to have good chemistry, as well as showcasing some genuinely amusing moments (according to the film, the Korean National Anthem has the same tune as "Auld Lang Syne").
One of the most impressive aspects of the movie is Gene Evans' performance. He convincingly portrays Sergeant Zack as a bitter soldier who has limited patience for his company and only wants to get out alive. He is especially disgusted at Private Bronte (Robert Hutton), who had been a conscientious objector before joining the war. Having previously fought in World War II, Zack has been hardened by his experience; the only person he ever really respected died on Omaha Beach after rallying his soldiers to action. Zack certainly has no such regard for the less experienced Lieutenant Driscoll (Steve Brodie), with whom he frequently quarrels. Yet he also slowly develops a friendship with his young South Korean companion, whom he names "Short Round." After Short Round is killed by a Communist scout, Zack flies into a grief-stricken rage and kills the captive soldier. In the end, seeing several of his new companions (including Driscoll) killed in action changes Zack's attitude, and what he does at the grave of his former rival is nothing short of touching.
As previously mentioned The Steel Helmet does not have a very large budget (even in 1951, $104,000 wasn't exactly fuel for an epic), but it still has some impressive action. It ranges from sudden and shocking (as when a booby-trapped body kills a soldier) to suspenseful (a cat-and-mouse game in a foggy forest between Koreans and Americans) to downright exciting (the final battle). Thinking back on the battle at the Buddhist temple, this reviewer cannot help but be impressed at how it was put together. The film shows footage of artillery firing at unseen Communist forces (some of which is clearly stock footage), the main characters firing frantically out the window, parts of the temple's interior crumbling, and North Korean troops running and falling. All the while, the viewer hears sounds of explosions, shells flying and guns being fired. The setup may be low-budget, but it definitely succeeds in exhilarating the audience.
In the time since The Steel Helmet's release, there have been other films that were more effective at displaying the horrors of war. But it is still very effective in its own way. The cast and performances are impressive, the action is intense, and the characters are great. Not everything about it is perfect (at one point, a character mentions a crucial occurrence that is never shown to the audience), but it is still a well-made glimpse at the Forgotten War.
Director: Samuel Fuller
Screenplay: Samuel Fuller
Producer: Samuel Fuller
Cast: Gene Evans (Sgt. Zack), Robert Hutton (Pvt. Bronte), Steve Brodie (Lt. Driscoll), James Edwards (Cpl. Thompson), Richard Loo (Sgt. Tanaka), Sid Melton (Joe), Richard Monahan (Pvt. Baldy), William Chun ("Short Round")
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