JinRoz For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

Freaktana A Major Disappointment

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

boblipton Don Siegel directs this movie about a behind-the-lines operation in World War Two China competently but not particularly interestingly, with a air of post-war anomie. An excellent cast, including an improbably present Jocelyn Brando ("Just treat me like a man") is directed for speed. Edmond O'Brien's emoting is so subtle as to be monotonous -- apparently everyone is supposed to be utterly war-weary and only surviving through sheer competence.This sort of movie was popular in this time, with entries like EIGHT IRON MEN and a couple of movies from Sam Fuller, but Siegel can't seem to do much of interest with it.Cinematographer Sam Leavitt tries to shoot things interestingly, with tight compositions and a highly mobile camera -- notice the long single take that leads off the flick. The net result is a competent but uninspiring movie that would play as the second movie in a double bill.

muddlyjames Stock company of the usual soldier types with a standard extraneous female in tow (and the standard complications that brings). Rarely get the sense that you are in a Philippian jungle - or in any real danger. Siegel at least doesn't let things drag, however, and there are a couple of good action scenes - particularly the ending. Interactions with, and between, the natives are also (a little) more sophisticated than is usually pictured. 5/10.