Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      The Rack

      Released Nov 2, 1956 1h 40m Drama List
      Reviews 50% 100+ Ratings Audience Score Edward Hall (Paul Newman), a respected military officer, returns from a Korean prisoner of war camp only to find himself accused of succumbing to torture and facing treason charges. To make matters worse, Edward's father (Walter Pidgeon), a retired colonel, coldly renounces him after hearing of the charges. Still dazed from the brutality he has suffered, Edward is forced to defend his actions in a court-martial, where he recounts his time at the enemy camp. Read More Read Less Watch on Fandango at Home Premiered Sep 01 Buy Now

      Where to Watch

      The Rack

      Fandango at Home Prime Video

      Rent The Rack on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

      Audience Reviews

      View All (12) audience reviews
      Steve D Extremely powerful and about 60 years before its time. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 07/05/23 Full Review Russ A fine performance from a young Paul Newman in a somewhat muddled film. Interesting casting with Lee Marvin and Cloris Leachman in early roles. Walter Pidgeon and Anne Francis appear in supporting roles within a year of Forbidden Planet. I think if this had been made a decade later the conclusion might have been a bit less morally ambiguous, but given the tenor of the times it comes across as a bit of a propaganda film. Our protagonist virtually convicts himself at the end, and his closing diatribe is rather preachy. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/16/23 Full Review Audience Member Thought it was well done and well acted. Very challenging topic. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Slow buildup of the movie but the message is quite clear towards the mid to end. Good acting by the actor. Paul Newman is a Captain serving war in Korea. He was held as POW and return home. His father Walter Pidgeon is Colonel and sister in law Anne Francis await him home. Undergoing psychological, he appears not fine. Soon Paul is charge by a Colonel for collaborating with the enemy. Walter is furious and cannot accept this from his son a war hero. At the court hearing, we get to see the 2 sides of the story. Lee Marvin is another Captain held in the same POW camp. And few other soldiers testify that Paul give a speech to the soldiers trying to say the communist are good. Lee was tortured badly when he and 2 others are caught for trying to escape. But he never give in. Wendell Corey is the defense lawyer for Paul. During their turn, Paul says he was in the POW officers hut. He sneak out to see the soldier boys all turning restless and dejected. When he try to smack some sense into a dying soldier, the baddies isolate him in a wet and dark cell. He was tortured in mental and psychological worse than physical. The baddies ask him to write about himself. One day he receive a letter from Walter and got to know his brother also serving war is dead. At that point Paul couldn't take it anymore and the baddies offer him better treatment if he is willing to work with them. That's why he give speeches to the soldiers but added with his sarcasm. He is force to sign a paper that said he expose the escape plan of Lee. But he was held in isolation all this time so he wouldn't have know. The prosecutor say he may not reach his limit. In the defense, its during this era whereby the baddies have done survey on American soldiers and come to conclusion they are weak minded and give up rather quickly. Asking Paul to write about himself give them the key to attack his weakness. Paul is guilty of the charges. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member Not too long after this movie was released my buddy and I watched it at the local drive-in solely because of Paul Newman. At 16 or so years old, we hated it. But I saw it again on TV in my seventies and found it be one of the best courtroom dramas ever and and of the psychology of a POW, in this case in Korea. So insightful on this subject, it could have written today. Wise up and catch it next time around. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member paul newman is the only reason to catch this war drama Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      Photos

      View All The Rack photos

      The Rack

      The Rack (1956) The Rack (1956) The Rack (1956) The Rack (1956) View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (1) Critics Reviews
      Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Paul Newman gives a strong performance as an army captain charged with collaboration during the Korea War. Rated: B Jun 4, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Edward Hall (Paul Newman), a respected military officer, returns from a Korean prisoner of war camp only to find himself accused of succumbing to torture and facing treason charges. To make matters worse, Edward's father (Walter Pidgeon), a retired colonel, coldly renounces him after hearing of the charges. Still dazed from the brutality he has suffered, Edward is forced to defend his actions in a court-martial, where he recounts his time at the enemy camp.
      Director
      Arnold Laven
      Distributor
      Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
      Production Co
      Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Nov 2, 1956, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Sep 1, 2009
      Runtime
      1h 40m
      Most Popular at Home Now