Leofwine_draca
HALLS OF MONTEZUMA is yet another Hollywood WW2 movie of the 1950s that sees a squad of US soldiers landing on a Japanese-occupied island in the Pacific and attempting to take down the enemy. They're led in this case by Richard Widmark in the type of role that could easily have been played by John Wayne or one of the other contemporary action stars of the era. Their goal is to find and destroy a Japanese rocket base that has been sending out a wave of rockets decimating their troops.The film boasts the likes of Robert Wagner, Neville Brand, Jack Palance, Karl Malden, and Richard Boone in support. Most of the actors get at least one scene of emoting to themselves. The battle scenes are depicted in a vivid and realistic way with the intercutting of real-life battle footage to add to the realism. The film also explores the relationship of the soldiers with the enemy as some of the troops are driven to the edge by having to take prisoners instead of killing them outright. It's fairly engaging stuff, with a handful of hard-hitting moments to see it through.
TheLittleSongbird
'Halls of Montezuma' just lacks the gut-wrenching power and poignancy of 1930's 'All Quiet on the Western Front', also directed by Lewis Milestone and one of the greatest war films ever made, but even to this day it remains extremely enjoyable.Do have to agree on the very few flaws covered in a couple of reviews already. Also did find the Japanese tactics revelation absurd and by today's standards and even back then it feels outdated and one flashback clumsy in placement and execution. Robert Wagner seemed a little wooden in places too.Conversely, 'Halls of Montezuma' is a great-looking film. The production values are suitably gritty, while the cinematography is outstanding and the editing remarkably smooth from frame to frame. The music, kept at minimum wisely, is rousing with a memorable theme song, while Milestone directs with eye for spectacle and an ability to make the story and drama absorbing, refusing to let the pace lag which is remarkable for a more intimate war film.The script is thought-provoking and while the characters seem like stereotypes at first there is a noble and successful effort to develop them, so they are interesting. The story is told with a lot of intimacy and ambition while also giving the war scenes real urgency and power. Excellent casting helps, and apart from slight reservations about Wagner, 'Halls of Montezuma' doesn't disappoint.Richard Widmark is a commanding lead, playing with searing intensity often, while Richard Boone, Karl Malden and Jack Webb are very strong in their roles as is a pre-"evil incarnate"/over-the-top specialist Jack Palance in one of his first roles (and for an early role he is very good indeed though he went on to better things).Overall, extremely enjoyable, not one of the most definitive war films ever but one of the most successful and interesting WWII films. 8/10 Bethany Cox
LeonLouisRicci
..."God is on our side..."Is this what kept most of Our Soldiers Soldiering On? According to Hollywood it is and for the Most Part Probably True. As Post War Movies go, some were starting to Consider the Psychological Ramifications of the Experience. This one has its Share of the in Battle Behavior (and motivation) of the Men and the Interaction among the Squad. But, the Pain and Suffering is somewhat like Pretentious Playacting and to move the Characters from one Horror to another. This precedes until the End where it is presented as Necessary for Victory.The Color Photography is Unimpressive and Static as are the Battle Scenes and We are left with a Film that seems like an After the Fact, Matter of Fact, Justification.
bensonmum2
Despite it's grand name, Halls of Montezuma is a small war film. What I mean is that the movie focuses more on a small group of men and their fears and problems than it does on a grand plan for Allied victory. It's a very personal movie. We get to see these men up-close and we begin to develop feelings for them. I wouldn't doubt that this is one of the first films to show a U.S. Lieutenant so battle scarred that he resorts to using pain killers just to function. Unlike other war films of this era, not all of these men are going to make it to the end. War is like that. It doesn't pick and chose people to live because we like them. So in that regard, it's also more realistic than some other war movies made in the 50s.To succeed as a small, personal war movie as I've described, the cast has to be able to act. This cast does not disappoint. Richard Widmark, Jack Webb, and Karl Malden are all excellent in their respective roles. I was especially impressed with Webb who has an acting style that can grate on the nerves. He's more subdued here and it works. But as good as these three are, Jack Palance is the highlight of the movie for me. He was undoubtedly the most believable. I could really picture him doing the things in real life that were called for in the script.I have no difficulty recommending Halls of Montezuma to fans of war films. It's a very welcome addition to my DVD collection.
AD
