Fixed Bayonets!

Released Nov 20, 1951

1 hr. 32 min.

War

List

100%

7 Reviews

Tomatometer

71%

250+ Ratings

Audience Score

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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Audience Member

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.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

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.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

Ok, but nothing special. Good action sequences but the plot is fairly predictable. Decent performances.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

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Audience Member

yup sam fuller's war movies from the 50s are better than anyone else's war movies from the 50s

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Audience Member

Could this of influenced every modern war story? It's brilliant.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

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Audience Member

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.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

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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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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Fixed Bayonets is a moving war drama and may well remain the best of the films about the Korean conflict.

Aug 7, 2019

Full Review

Eric Henderson

Slant Magazine

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.

Rated: 3.5/4

May 14, 2007

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

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.

Dec 3, 2019

Full Review

Daniel Barnes

Dare Daniel

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.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 16, 2019

Full Review

Fernando F. Croce

CinePassion

Masterful

Sep 6, 2009

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The grunts 'talk the talk' and the action sequences are bloody good.

Rated: B+

May 14, 2009

Full Review

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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
Genre: War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 20, 1951, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2010

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