The Hunters

Play trailer

The Hunters

Released Aug 28, 1958

1h 48m

War

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

Tomatometer

4 Reviews

41%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

During the Korean War, crusty veteran fighter pilot "Iceman" Saville (Robert Mitchum) takes command of a flight of F-86 Sabre jets. Although Saville is eager to fly the military's new plane, the pilots under his command sap his enthusiasm. On the one hand he must contend with the brash young Ed Pell (Robert Wagner), while on the other he must boost the confidence of nervous Carl Abbott (Lee Philips). The three men bond in the hunt for notorious North Korean ace "Casey Jones" (Leon Lontoc).

Watch on Fandango at Home

Buy Now

Mae Tinee

Chicago Tribune

In spite of obvious flaws, it's moderately engrossing fare.

Jun 18, 2020

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

As often happens in aviation thrillers, the excitement aloft is considerably more interesting than the grounded private problems of the characters. Powell, however, makes the sky blaze with fury and the film as a whole is an item worth catching.

Nov 5, 2019

Full Review

Isabel Quigly

The Spectator

Thrilling air combats, a good performance from Robert Wagner as a young stinker-hero, but long, tedious patches in between.

Jul 20, 2018

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Standard issue Korean War drama.

Rated: C+

Aug 26, 2010

Full Review

Read all reviews

Audience Member

Familiar war film story about two men in love with the same woman and then forced to work together in order to survive behind enemy lines. However, although the story is a bit worn, this film does feature Robert Mitchum in the lead and director Dick Powell provides some exciting CinemaScope action, particularly the ariel sequences before Mitchum and Lee Philips get shot down. May Britt, who's someone I never heard of before, is quite good as the wife, and when I looked her up, she only did a few films before retiring after she married Sammy Davis Jr. So although it's quite a familiar story, it's well told and quite entertaining.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Robert Mitchum and Robert Wagner team up with May Britt to provide aviation enthusiasts a 1950's era movie filled with exciting combat, while Mitchum romances May Britt on the ground... Bathsheba In Korea--'Well, what do you know, . . Saville, . . The Ice Man Commeth'... Love tryst and thundering planes!!

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Good war movie for aerial combat. with the assistance of the U.S military they pulled off some quite impressive sequences. Mitchum and Wagner each does memorable performances, but Wagner stands out since his character is more wild and unpredictable.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Excellent aerial footage makes this Korean War saga worth seeing.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

wagner kills. the last star is basically for him.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The love triangle subplot is bland, but the fighter action is fun, and Robert Wagner's hipster hotshot pilot is hilarious.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Dick Powell

Director

Robert Mitchum

Major Cleve Saville

Robert Wagner

Lt. Ed Pell

May Britt

Kristina "Kris" Abbott

Richard Egan

Colonel Dutch Imil

Lee Philips

1st Lt. Carl Abbott

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

View more photos

Synopsis

During the Korean War, crusty veteran fighter pilot "Iceman" Saville (Robert Mitchum) takes command of a flight of F-86 Sabre jets. Although Saville is eager to fly the military's new plane, the pilots under his command sap his enthusiasm. On the one hand he must contend with the brash young Ed Pell (Robert Wagner), while on the other he must boost the confidence of nervous Carl Abbott (Lee Philips). The three men bond in the hunt for notorious North Korean ace "Casey Jones" (Leon Lontoc).

Director: Dick Powell
Production Co: Twentieth Century Fox
Genre: War
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 28, 1958, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2011
Runtime: 1h 48m

Most Popular at Home Now