Pacionsbo Absolutely Fantastic

Afouotos Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Nicole I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

MartinHafer In the 1950s, actor Khigh Dhiegh created a niche playing evil Chinese or North Koreans who were experts at psychological warfare and evil! While he was wonderful to watch and made a great recurring villain on "Hawaii Five-O" and made appearances in the original "Manchurian Candidate" (playing essentially the same sort of fun-loving guy), few would have realized that he had no Asian blood whatsoever! Despite his evil chubby Fu Manchu-like look, he was actually an American-born guy with North African roots! Despite this, I really, really loved watching him every chance I got--and I was excited to see him in a small part in "Time Limit". Quite simply, he was great at being bad! This film is set just after the Korean War. A Major (Richard Widmark) has been assigned to defend a Colonel (Richard Basehart) who is being tried for aiding the enemy. It seems that while in a prisoner of war camp, Basehart was forced to make anti-American statements which were used as propaganda. Why would he do this--especially since he was a good officer?! Perhaps the evil Khigh Dhiegh found some way to brainwash Basehart. Unfortunately, they don't know because Basehart won't talk--and Widmark is having a devil of a time trying to defend a man who won't help himself. So, despite his client's wishes, he wants to dig deeper and interview a variety of people to get to the heart of it.Overall, the film is very well-acted and the plot takes a very interesting turn near the end. Tune in to this one and see for yourself--it's worth seeing.

thinker1691 Across the frigid nightmare that is the Korean War, there are a thousand nameless graves over which a like amount of ghosts hover. Those haunting's are what drive American writers to pen as many stories onto the pages of that Forgotten War. One of those superb writers is Henry Denker who wrote this story called " Time Limit. " It takes place in one of the many American Army units captured and imprisoned in a P.O.W. camps by the North Koreans. This central story is about one, Major Harry Cargill (Richard Basehart) who having survived the war is now arrested and faces General Court martial and death by firing squad. To see Cargill is given every opportunity to defend himself, Gen. J. Connors (Carl Reid) assigns Col. William Edwards (Richard Widmark) who takes his job seriously. Two surprises hamper Edwards. One, Cargill wants to plead guilty and offers no defense at his trial. Most of the men who come forward to testify agree as to his guilt and find no reason to stop the execution. With the great actor, Karl Malden directing this film and casting such heavies such as Martin Balsam, Rip Torn, Yale Wexler and June Lockhart, this assembly make for a Classic. The movie is assured success with the fine performances and the stark Black and White reality of the Korean War. Excellent vehicle for both Basehart and Widmark. Easilly recommended. ****

sol1218 ***SPOILERS*** Shocking drama of what went on in the North Korean POW camps and how it turned men into mindless and obedient zombies in them being brainwashed by the North Koreans and their Red Chinese allies.The case in point in the movie is that of the almost brain-dead in him not caring about what he's facing Maj. William Cargill, Richard Basehart. The Major has been charged with high treason in cooperating with his North Korean captors back in 1951 when he was imprisoned by them as a POW. It was then that Maj. Cargill made false claims in both writing as well as broadcasts on Radio Pyongyang claiming that the US and UN were using germ bombs or bacteriological warfare against the helpless North Korean civilians as well as soldiers!With US Army Col. William Edwards, Richard Widmark, handing his case he gets no help from Maj. Cargill in him trying to defend himself even if convicted of his crimes he may well end up facing a firing squad. Knowing that something just isn't right with this puzzling case Col. Edwards digs deep down into what's behind Maj. Cargill's strange behavior by interviewing the men, his fellow POWS, who were in the North Korean POW camp with him. It's when Col. Edwards comes to interviewing Let. Miller, Rip Torn, that he strikes a nerve in what exactly is behind Maj. Cargill's noncooperation with him in not wanting any defense provided by him or the US Military. Something went on in that prison camp between both the captured US POWS and their North Korean captors headed by the smiling and sinister North Korean Col. Kim, Khigh Dhiegh, that went beyond anything in the mistreating of prisoner of war! Something so mind boggling and evil that it turned Maj. Cargill into something that he never would have dreamed of being! Even with a gun pointed to his skull! A traitor to his country!***SPOILERS*** Even though it's old hat now back then in the early 1950's brainwashing was something that most Americans never heard of or even contemplated. It was those brainwashing tactics, far more then torture, conducted by the North Koreans and Red Chinese on US and UN troops captured by them that drove men like Maj. Cargill to grudgingly cooperate with them. In Maj. Cargill case it was for the safety and lives of his men not his own that made him do it! And in the end it was that shocking revelation that had Col. Edwards who was to prosecute Maj. Cargill for treason to completely change him mind! Col. Edwards against the the advice of his superior Let. Gen. Connors, Carl Berton Reid, who's own son Capt. Joe Connors, Yale Wexler, was one of those in the prison camp along with Maj. Cargill, and who died there, decided to defend not prosecute Maj. Cargill even if it ends up costing him his career in the US Army!P.S The movie "Time Limit" was the only movie ever directed by actor Karl Malden who also had a cameo part in it as one of the POWS in the North Korean prison camp.

blanche-2 Richard Widmark, Richard Basehart, Rip Torn and Carl Benton Reid star in "Time Limit," a 1957 drama directed by Karl Malden. It's a small drama, based on a play, and very well done. During the Korean War, a military investigator, Colonel Edwards (Widmark) is assigned the case of Major Cargill (Basehart), who was a POW and is accused of treason. Edwards believes Cargill to be innocent of the charges, even though Cargill admits that the charges are correct.This story is really about making a humane decision rather than following military rules. Since as I write this we are still at war in Iraq, this film remains relevant. The scenes at the prisoner of war camp are excellent and really give one the feel for what these soldiers suffered.Widmark, Torn and Basehart are especially good - Widmark is a man looking for the answer and striving to be both humane and fair, and Torn is a witness to what occurred - both give terrific performances. Basehart is effective as the accused, who just wants to plead guilty and not explain his actions.A very thought-provoking drama, certainly a topic that's been covered in bigger films, but still worth seeing.