The Hunters

Somewhat dated BUT...and not filmed in Korea (probably Southern Calif.)...this is one of the better movies about the Korean War and just plain fun to watch......there is all the ingredients...a "love" triangle.....a hot shot pilot....the old war horse who still can show up the kids....a "coward" who still flys...and a CO who is real jerk (he's only in the movie for a few sequences, fortunately)..a "bad guy" North Korean pilot....good flying sequences to rival Top Gun using the F86 Sabre Jet....pilots getting shot down and E&E'ing behind Korean lines.....NOT for the Artsy-Craftsy Set who tend to snub their collective noses at anything pertaining to war and kicking butt..!!! If you like action/war stories don't miss it....!!!

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. The enemy flies F-84's (not exactly Mig 15's) while the good guys fight with F-86's, but the action shots are good. Aviation art buffs will smile at the Kacee Jones "The Crapshooter" who has 7 & 11 dice painted on his aircraft nose. If you like aviation movies, this is one to see. You will recognize some other actors as well.

Interesting film but you would think that there would be more action in the first hour. We're faced with a usual theme of one guy falling for another guy's girl, in this case a married girl, during war. Lee Philips really stole the acting here. Remember him as the soft-spoken principal in "Peyton Place?" He had all the answers in that film and his persona changes drastically here as an alcoholic pilot, unsure of himself and whose wife soon lands in the hands of Robert Mitchum. Robert Wagner co-stars as a young cocky pilot whose resolve is soon tested. The film takes off when all 3 land in a North Korean infested place as Mitchum and Wagner take care of a badly wounded Philips. The film shows the brutality of the Communists when a poor oriental farming family are machine gunned for hiding the 3 guys. In typical Hollywood fashion, the film shows dedication, duty and resolve of our fighting men and that marriage is still a sacred institution.

If you've never read the book, watch the movie first - then go find the novel for the real story. It could be categorized as "autobiographical fiction" as the author, James Salter (nom de plum) flew as a pilot with the 335th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 4th FIW at Suwon, Korea during the war. Robert Wagner's character is a thinly veiled caricature of ace Jim Low. Mitchum is typically laconic (and I do enjoy him in this role, in spite of, or including, the schlocky love story) and the F-86s are fun to watch. Richard Egan plays well as the retread group commander who pairs Mitchum and Wagner, much to Mitchum's initial distaste. The DVD in widescreen is the best way to go, and while a far cry from "The Bridges at Toko-Ri," it's still a keeper in my book.