warfilmman
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The Steel Bayonet
The Steel Bayonet
1957 UA/Hammer
One of the half a dozen war films made in the late fifties by Horror masters Hammer. Indeed this film is quite horrific in its (for its time) quite gory depictions of death by bayonet. This is definitely not a Reach for the Skies, Red Berets style family war film, and is quite downbeat in its portrayal of a British Company near Tunis.
Featuring a fairly recognisable supporting cast, the film’s main stars are Leo Genn, Robert Brown, Kieron Moore and Michael Medwin. Leo Genn though blatantly too old to play an active Company Commander is very good, as is Medwin as the naive subalton and Robert Brown (later better known for taking over the role of M in the Bond films from Bernard Lee) as the CSM. Kieron Moore is also suitably heroic as the spotter for the RA.
The best thing for the British war film buff is the little gems of wartime procedure, inc directing Artllery Fire, Signal testing, laying anti-tank mines, fox-hole digging, and even brewing up.
The vehicles on display include a troop of Cromwells as Panzers, a few lorries and staff cars, and a Bren Carrier.
The plot shows a reduced Company (about 30 men) holding a remote farm in the desert, housing a water tower that Kieron Moore (the RA Captain) must observe from to direct the fire of two dozen 25 Pdrs during the British advance. The Major (Genn) is warned that the Germans will try to attack the farm, and that the Tommies must hold out until the last round. The battle scenes are packed with explosions and fire from Brens and Thompsons, and are as I said earlier quite graphic. The German kit and uniforms is better than usual for the period, although their “head on” attack of the farm is a bit silly. No mortar or artillery support, and consequently dozens of krauts are killed in the first attack. In the end though the Germans overwhelm the position and just a few of the British escape in a Bren carrier.
All in all, a rare film and several notches above many of the schoolboy dramatics certainly of American films of the same decade.
Cast
The General RAYMOND FRANCIS
Lt. Col. Derry JOHN PAUL
Capt. Mead, R.A. KIERON MOORE
Cpl. Ames, R.A. PADDY JOYCE
C COY H.Q.
Mayor Gerard LEO GENN
Lt. Vernon MICHAEL MEDWIN
C.S.M. Gill ROBERT BROWN
Pte. Middleditch MICHAEL RIPPER
Pte. Livingstone BERNARD HORSFALL
Primer Stretcher Bearer MICHAEL COLLINS
Segundo Stretcher Bearer DAVID BROWN
Mahomet DAVID RITCH
14 PLATOON
Sgt. Nicholls TOM BOWMAN
Cpl. Bean JOHN H. WATSON
Pte. Jarvis ARTHUR LOVEGROVE
Pte. Tweddle MICHAEL DEAR
Pte. Wilson IAN WHITTAKER
Pte. Thomas MICHAEL BALFOUR
15 PLATOON
Sgt. Gates SHAY GORMAN
Pte. Wentworth JACK STEWART
Pte. Clark PERCY HERBERT
Pte. Ferguson BARRY LOWE
Pte. Harris DAVE CROWLEY
AFRICA CORPS
Divisional Commander WOLF FREES
Company Commander GARARD GREEN
Artillery Officer WILLIAM ABNEY
Artillery N.C.O. GUY DEGHY
Sniper JEREMY LONGHURST
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2/12/2005, 2:43 am
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