The Hill

1965

2h 3m

Drama

List

75%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

92%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Five British soldiers are sent to a detention camp in the Libyan Desert, including Sergeant Major Roberts (Sean Connery), whose conviction for the assault of an officer is shrouded in mystery. As punishment, the vicious Staff Sergeant Williams (Ian Hendry) orders the prisoners to continuously climb a man-made hill in the scorching desert heat. Though his colleague, Staff Sergeant Harris (Ian Bannen), sympathizes with the new detainees, he can only watch as Williams goes to sadistic extremes.

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Penelope Houston

Sight & Sound

By the end, it's frenzied shouting laced with TV studio debating points.

Mar 31, 2020

Full Review

Adrian Turner

Radio Times

Class, race and the abuse of power all receive unsparing examination while ace cameraman Oswald Morris artfully evokes the claustrophobic, feverish atmosphere.

Rated: 5/5

Jul 31, 2024

Full Review

Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

The conflict, in that prison tinged with a military field that erases any trace of justice, is boring to me, but I instantly recognize aesthetic components that stand out, as well as authentic performances. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 6/10

Jul 21, 2020

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Starkly realistic, uncompromising, and splendidly acted by an all-star cast, headed by Sean Connery, Sideny Lumet's 1985 film is a most powerful prison drama.

Rated: A-

Apr 21, 2011

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Uncompromising look at the inside of a British military prison in North Africa during WW II.

Rated: A-

May 28, 2009

Full Review

John J. Puccio

Movie Metropolis

The Hill is tense, it's exciting, it's suspenseful, it's everything a good action picture should be, plus it adds a healthy dose of realism and thought.

Rated: 7/10

Jun 1, 2007

Full Review

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j f

Standard crown clap-trap.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/28/24

Full Review

Chuck V

Excellent direction from Sidney Lumet might be his best film, the acting was as good as it gets, especially Harry Andrews, might be my favorite film about the military, I'm a veteran and this movie gave me chills, why wasn't this film Oscar nominated?

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/28/23

Full Review

Shioka O

Kinda feel lengthy, because nothing really happen. but acting direction is great as by Sidney Lumet, there are several intense footages. The ending is uncomfortable and grasping.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/02/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Great story-telling, acting, symbolism, cinematography. One of the best movie's I've ever seen.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

My favourite SC film, Lumet directs wonderfully, solid cast, I would say Sc at his best but that is reserved for The Offence ( again Lumet). Gritty, hard and painful struggle shown and felt, it is a must see, in my top 5.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

So this film is about 5 soldiers under sentence at a army jail Sean Connery is a busted sergeant major the other 3 are in jail for various crimes under army law to break them down the rsm who is in charge gets people to run up and down a big sand hill but in this film they the staff want to get to Sean Connery because of what rank he used to be it is worth a watch but only available in black and white due to the age of the movie

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/30/23

Full Review

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Sidney Lumet

Director

Sean Connery

Joe Roberts

Harry Andrews

R.S.M. Wilson

Ian Bannen

Harris

Alfred Lynch

George Stevens

Ossie Davis

Jacko King

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Synopsis

Five British soldiers are sent to a detention camp in the Libyan Desert, including Sergeant Major Roberts (Sean Connery), whose conviction for the assault of an officer is shrouded in mystery. As punishment, the vicious Staff Sergeant Williams (Ian Hendry) orders the prisoners to continuously climb a man-made hill in the scorching desert heat. Though his colleague, Staff Sergeant Harris (Ian Bannen), sympathizes with the new detainees, he can only watch as Williams goes to sadistic extremes.

Director: Sidney Lumet
Producer: Kenneth Hyman
Screenwriter: Ray Rigby
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 1, 2009
Runtime: 2h 3m

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