A low budget war film with a a good screenplay. A steel helmet is penetrated by a bullet (off-screen) but dies not kill the soldier Sgt. Zack (Gene Evans). It enters and gets deflected, just scarring the head. Zack is taken prisoner and bound by shoe laces but survives while al the rest of the prisoners are killed. He is saved by a South Korea boy, a fervent Buddhist, who speaks English. Luck continues with Zack. A black American soldier and a Japanese American soldier join them. A North Korean major (also speaking English) gets captured who mocks the American and the Japanese American from the view point of Communists. The young boy gets killed leading up a comment from the POW Major. In a rage of anger Zack kills the Major. A Lieutenant who wanted to switch helmets with Zack is killed in action. Zack switches his lucky helmet placed on the reversed rifle on the Lieutenant's grave.
The real strength of the film is in the screenplay and Fuller's choice of Gene Evans, a decorated soldier in real life for the main role. The shots of the helmet, the fulcrum of the tale, at the start and end of the film are notable and a testament to Fuller's ability as a director and original screenplaywriter.
The real strength of the film is in the screenplay and Fuller's choice of Gene Evans, a decorated soldier in real life for the main role. The shots of the helmet, the fulcrum of the tale, at the start and end of the film are notable and a testament to Fuller's ability as a director and original screenplaywriter.