Right from the start of his career as James Bond, Sean Connery enjoyed taking on roles that were as far removed from Bond as possible. The Hill is a black-and-while movie set in North Africa in WWII. Connery is a Sergeant Major sent to a prison camp because he disobeyed a direct order and hit an officer. The camp commander believes in breaking men down so they can be built up into proper soldiers. The sadistic staff sergeant in charge of punishment has men run up a steep sand hill in the heat of the African sun. They run while carrying a full pack, and they go until they can go no longer. Along with Connery, several other prisoners are singled out for this ordeal. One of them dies, and that sets off some real problems for the commander and others. Somebody has to take the blame.
There were a number of movies like this in the '60s. Cool Hand Luke and One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest come to mind. The Hill somehow gets overlooked, but it's well worth a look. Connery gives a great performance, and so does the rest of the cast. As I recall, it got great reviews when it appeared but didn't do too well with the public. Now it seems to be almost forgotten. It's a good one, though.
7 comments:
I haven't seen THE HILL, but my public library has a copy. I've put in a request for it.
My favorite Sidney Lumet
film. The cast is great and Connery shines in it. (as does Harry Andrews) For those who haven't seen it, it's not a war movie. There is much more to it.
Absolutely correct, Bill. The Hikk and The Man Who Would be King are Connery's best movies.
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And CUCKOO'S NEST had to wait till the '70s for the film version, though the stage version was flourishing in the late '60s, I think...perhaps this one was a Bit Too Early for widespread appeal, or too intense (looked like a rouser to its natural audience, and turned off those looking for THE GREEN BERETS).
This is a GREAT movie, one of those I have to stop and watch if I catch it while flipping through channels. Ossie Davis is also terrific in it.
Anyone ever read the original novel, by Ray Rigby?
I haven't. I used to see the movie edition all the time, but I never picked it up.
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