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The Steel Helmet (1951)

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100

Average Rating: 7.7/10
Reviews Counted: 12
Fresh: 12 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 637

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Movie Info

Writer and director Samuel Fuller enjoyed his first box-office and critical success with this hard-boiled but human tale of men at war, informed by his own experiences in the armed forces. Zack (Gene Evans) is a gruff U.S. Army sergeant who is the lone survivor of an attack on his outfit in North Korea. Rescued by a friendly Korean orphan he dubs Short Round (William Chun), Zack tries to make his way back to friendly territory with the boy as his guide. Zack crosses paths with Thompson (James

Unrated, 1 hr. 24 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

Directed By: Samuel Fuller

Written By: Samuel Fuller

In Theaters: Feb 2, 1951 Wide

On DVD: Aug 21, 2007

Cast

Gene Evans
Sgt. Zack
Robert Hutton
Pvt. "Conchie" Bronte
Richard Loo
Sgt. "Buddhahead" Tanak...
Steve Brodie
Lt. Driscoll
James Edwards
Cpl. "Medic" Thompson
Sid Melton
Joe 2nd GI
William Chun
"Short Round"
Richard Monahan
Private Baldy
Harold Fong
The Red
Neyle Morrow
1st GI
Lynn Stalmaster
Second Lieutenant

Critic Reviews for The Steel Helmet

All Critics (14) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (12) | Rotten (0) | DVD (2)

[Sam] Fuller's powerful direction turns a trite story into a vivid study of national and personal identity.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

| Comment

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

I'm not much for war films, but this is one of the best.

October 29, 2009 Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid

| Comment

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

The first American film about the Korean War [and] one of the greatest war films ever made.

June 30, 2009 Full Review Source: Turner Classic Movies Online

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Sean Axmaker

Turner Classic Movies Online

It's cheap and nasty and honest and brutal; that is, a full-blooded Sam Fuller movie.

September 12, 2007 Full Review Source: Antagony & Ecstasy

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Tim Brayton

Antagony & Ecstasy

The Steel Helmet (1951) is a fever dream of the Korean War, entirely possessed of its own unique, inimitable rhythms.

August 17, 2007 Full Review Source: House Next Door

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Keith Uhlich

House Next Door

The action scenes are terrific, belying the movie's very low budget.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

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Derek Adams

Time Out

Renegade director Sam Fuller created this hard boiled Korean War classic which seems like a Sgt. Rock comic come to life.

October 25, 2004 Comment

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan Source: Kansas City Kansan

More gutsy war drama from Fuller.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Film4

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Film4

This low-budget film from Lippert Studios is probably the best film they ever made.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

| Comment

Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Steel Helmet

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Really great Korean War flick from Sam Fuller. Possibly the best Korean war movie ever, although I'd need to do some more research to be sure.

December 30, 2007

Ken Stachnik

Super Reviewer

Well-made film set during the Korean Conflict by Samuel Fuller. More character study than exciting battle film, and definiltely anti-war, as most war films really are. A gruff but tired sergeant, who is the sole survivor of the ambush of his platoon by North Korean soldiers, meets up with a ragtag platoon in a similar

July 5, 2009