dglink
Led by a heroic westerner, hundreds of orphans escape a bloody Asian war zone; while "Inn of the Sixth Happiness" comes to mind, Douglas Sirk's 1957 film, "Battle Hymn," has a similar inspirational climax. Unfortunately, Rock Hudson is no Ingrid Bergman, and, frankly, he is no Colonel Dean E. Hess either, who was the real-life individual upon whose exploits this movie was loosely based. Hess was a minister, who harbored guilt for the accidental bombing of a German orphanage during World War II. Despite the support of his glamorous 1950's wife, a perfectly coiffed, made-up, and garbed Martha Hyer, who does wonders with a minister's salary, Hess begins to doubt his religious vocation and re-enlists in the Army Air Corps when the Korean War breaks out. Assigned to train an undisciplined squad of airmen, which is headed up by an old pal, Don Defore, Hess sheds his ministerial tone and becomes a hard ass to shape up the men; however, faster than whiplash, Hess melts into a softy when faced with hungry Korean orphans, who invade the camp. Before long, Hess is diverting military supplies, utilizing government-issue vehicles, and using his own and his men's time in the noble pursuit of aiding the orphans, rather than fighting the war he was sent to win. If the film were true to fact, Hess could have been brought up on charges for misuse of government property during wartime. Produced by Ross Hunter, audiences might expect a movie-star of Hudson's looks and shallow talent to be ably supported by Lana Turner as his wife and Sandra Dee as a Korean in charge of winsome orphans out of Central Casting. However, "Battle Hymn" does offer the daughter of a Welsh factory worker, Anna Kashfi, as En Soon Yang, a Korean-Indian with a yen for Hudson and tenderness for orphans. Sporting a long white beard, Philip Ahn depicts a stereotypical aged Asian, who imparts homilies of quasi-wisdom that sound profound. Veteran Dan Duryea lends a comic touch as a Sergeant, who purloins military supplies, such as chewing gum and candy, for the hungry tykes; with that diet, little wonder the Korean kids look catatonic and dazed throughout the film. After a stilted opening, in which a uniformed Air Force general tells the audience how pleased he is that this story could be told, the glossy production begins, and the Hollywood hokum dreamed up by writers Charles Grayson and Vincent B. Evans unfolds. The trite dialog and clichéd situations suit the wooden acting, which is occasionally interrupted with a strained attempt at humor; occasionally, the mood is so light it resembles "MASH" in its irreverence towards war. Ross Hunter films always have a polished look; the production values are high, and the sharp cinematography by Russell Metty stretches across a Cinemascope screen. Unfortunately, the score by Frank Skinner will have eyes rolling; utilizing "Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Swing Low Sweet Chariot," faux Oriental themes, and bombastic military music, the schizophrenic soundtrack evokes laughter at the wrong times.Whatever the true story of Colonel Hess, which has largely been forgotten by time, "Battle Hymn" does not do him justice. Despite Douglas Sirk at the helm, the film is all surface gloss with a veneer of hokey inspirational overtones; a few standard air-combat sequences interrupt the melodrama with too many head-in-a-helmet shots of Hudson and DeFore. "Battle Hymn" may be on must-see lists for Sirk and Hudson completists and those eager to glimpse P-51 Mustangs, but others will likely find the film a forgettable unconvincing slog.
andrew muhling
This film has some lovely sentiments and messages. It's all the more touching given it's based on a true story. Hess is certainly a man I would have liked to shake hands with.Hess, is a World War 2 veteran with emotional scars left after a bombing accident over Germany. After trying his hand as a preacher and feeling empty, he finds him self back in the US Air Force in the 1950s Korean conflict. A large group of child refugees move him to act, and hopefully, ease the pain of the previous war. Certainly a story worth telling.Sadly the direction and much of the acting are very very cheesy. Hudson is adequate and the children are wonderful (as you'd expect). But many of the other performances are contrived and stilled. With the exception of some real combat camera footage, the battle scenes are thin. Evidently only men bleed when they are shot? If you are making a War film about a serious subject, I believe Hess is such a subject, do it the honour of not wrapping war in a flouncy skirt. Just a mid afternoon filler.
James J Cremin
Its heart is in its right intentions. However, this melodramatic fifties movie paces slower than most war movies. Besides Hudson, there's Don DeFore and that great noir actor Dan Duryea, playing the nice guy here teaching Korean kids how to chew gun.But there is some race baiting but never on Hudson's part. He is the man in charge and also the Deacon and as such, bears the consciousness of this movie.If you like and admire Douglas Sirk's other work, you won't be disappointed here.Interesting look of the Korean War done just four years after the fact.
bkoganbing
With all the controversy surrounding End of the Spear where openly gay actor Chad Allen plays a Christian missionary, I was reminded of Battle Hymn where Rock Hudson plays a minister who goes to war. If Rock Hudson were alive today and open about his sexuality, the same kind of controversy would be surrounding this film.Battle Hymn is based on a book by the Reverend Dean Hess who after service in World War II as an Army Air Corps flier enters the ministry. It seems as though he accidentally bombed an orphanage in Germany, killing several children. In an effort to redeem himself he enters the ministry, but he feels himself going through the motions of his faith at the church he's assigned to in Ohio. When the Korean War starts, the newly formed Air Force needed not only pilots for combat, but pilots to train the newly forming South Korean Air Force. Hudson takes leave of his church assignment and goes to Korea.Once there and quite by accident he gets involved with the littlest victims of war, the orphan kids of Korea who know no politics, only that their world is being destroyed. And when the North Koreans start to push the South Koreans and their allies into the Pusan perimeter Hudson organizes a march and then an airlift of over 400 children south to an orphanage.Rock Hudson had really come into his own as an actor having received an Oscar Nomination for Best Actor for Giant. He brings to Dean Hess an infectious sincerity. As Hess both as minister and Colonel USAF he feels the responsibility of command and faith more clearly than he could ever have been just pastoring a church. In his scenes with Anna Kashfi and Philip Ahn on the march and airlift with the Korean orphan kids, he's just great. And his acting high point comes when he comforts the dying Don DeFore who was his friend in both wars. Hudson really reaches some sublime levels there.Dan Duryea normally playing some of the nastiest villains ever on the screen shows the good side in his role as the tough Air Force sergeant who helps Hudson in his mission. And James Edwards who for some better breaks could have been the first black actor in leading roles instead of Sidney Poitier, is just great as the pilot who himself machine guns some children while on a mission. Hudson's scene in revealing himself to Edwards and urging to seek divine forgiveness is also touching and compelling. Were we ever a silly people at times back in the day. If Rock Hudson had been open about his sexuality in 1956 he would have had no movie career. If Battle Hymn were made today it would probably be the subject of as much controversy as End of the Spear. As if love and compassion and care for orphans can only be the products of the straight people in this world. One other note. Originally offered the role was Robert Mitchum who was turned down by the real Dean Hess because of his marijuana bust in 1948 as not having the proper image to play a minister. How ironic indeed. Battle Hymn is a fine film, probably belongs on Rock Hudson's top ten list. Catch it if it is ever shown on TCM or AMC.
