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Fixed Bayonets!

Play trailer Poster for Fixed Bayonets! 1951 1h 32m War Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 71% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
During the Korean War, an entire division of soldiers is forced to withdraw down a mountain, with a few dozen troops left behind to fend off enemy forces. One of the platoon members, Corp. Denno (Richard Basehart), is reluctant to end the life of another person, but, as soldier after soldier falls, he must learn both how to kill and how to act as a commanding officer. In addition to facing enemy troops, Denno and his remaining men have to contend with an icy descent down treacherous terrain.
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Fixed Bayonets!

Critics Reviews

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Bob Thomas Associated Press 08/07/2019
Fixed Bayonets is a moving war drama and may well remain the best of the films about the Korean conflict. Go to Full Review Eric Henderson Slant Magazine 05/14/2007
3.5/4
If the film has endured it's because of a few aspects particular to Fuller's career, which began not in film but in yellow journalism and pulp writing. Go to Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine 12/03/2019
Its probings into the night thoughts of warriors are fairly shallow stuff, but the battles are realistic and the all-male cast happily lacks the usual comedian from Brooklyn. Go to Full Review Daniel Barnes Dare Daniel 07/16/2019
4/5
It takes a while for Fixed Bayonets! to build steam, but the second half is a landmine field of devastating setpieces, punctuated with the threat of sudden, overwhelming and even self-inflicted violence. Go to Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion 09/06/2009
Masterful Go to Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews 05/14/2009
B+
The grunts 'talk the talk' and the action sequences are bloody good. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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12/31/2020 Best movie about how NCO's are trained to lead. "I sent him out, I'll bring him back". Spoken like a real Platoon Sergeant. Fuller knew the army and film craft. See more 05/28/2014 Sam Fuller proves again you can make a decent war film with little budget. Instead of action it is a script heavy tale of men in uniform cut-off from the rest of the army with little hope in their front guard predicament. The interactions between the men are what makes this film and the language used is colloquial and pertinent to the characters and situation depicted. See more 11/13/2013 Ok, but nothing special. Good action sequences but the plot is fairly predictable. Decent performances. See more 01/20/2013 yup sam fuller's war movies from the 50s are better than anyone else's war movies from the 50s See more 09/30/2012 Could this of influenced every modern war story? It's brilliant. See more 03/10/2012 Fixed Bayonets could have been another propaganda type US war film of the period, however Sam Fuller delivers a tense and solid film. Lots of off hand references from the squad members about the 'police action' and the Korean war in general, which is surprising considering the war was ongoing. See more Read all reviews
Fixed Bayonets!

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Cast & Crew

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Samuel Fuller

Director

Richard Basehart

Cpl. Denno

Gene Evans

Sgt. Rock

Michael O'Shea

Sgt. Lonergan

Richard Hylton

Medic John Wheeler

Craig Hill

Lt. Gibbs

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Fixed Bayonets!

Fixed Bayonets! (1951) Fixed Bayonets! (1951) Fixed Bayonets! (1951) Fixed Bayonets! (1951) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis During the Korean War, an entire division of soldiers is forced to withdraw down a mountain, with a few dozen troops left behind to fend off enemy forces. One of the platoon members, Corp. Denno (Richard Basehart), is reluctant to end the life of another person, but, as soldier after soldier falls, he must learn both how to kill and how to act as a commanding officer. In addition to facing enemy troops, Denno and his remaining men have to contend with an icy descent down treacherous terrain.
Director
Samuel Fuller
Producer
Jules Buck
Screenwriter
Samuel Fuller
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Genre
War
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 20, 1951, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 1, 2010
Runtime
1h 32m
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