Take the High Ground!
Seen it?1953 | 101 min | Comedy, Drama, War
Weeknight Watchearly ratingWhy it’s a Weeknight Watch
With soft box office and little lasting buzz, it's a mixed bag. Fine if it's on; don't plan your night around it.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh and history buffs. If you loved M*A*S*H or Devotion, start here.
- The mood
- Funny with heart, intense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 41 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1953: an older pace and style.
Sgt. Thorne Ryan, who once fought bravely in Korea, now serves as a hard-nosed drill instructor to new Army recruits at Fort Bliss, Texas. But is he really the man he is often described as? His fellow instructor, and friend helps him to face the ghosts of his past experiences in Korea. One night in a bar across the border in Juarez, Mexico, Sgt. Ryan meets a lady who begins to turn his life around. Will this be enough to help him deal with the past? Or will he continue to be so hard on his troops?
How it earned its rating
- CriticsNot counted
Not enough reviews on record yet
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsBelow par
Nominated for 1 Oscar.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$3 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 13K people sought it out in the past year
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Cast & crew
Directed by Richard Brooks
- Richard WidmarkSgt. Thorne Ryan
- Karl MaldenSgt. Laverne Holt
- Elaine StewartJulie Mollison
- Carleton CarpenterMerton "Tex" Tolliver
- Russ TamblynPaul Jamison
- Jerome CourtlandElvin C. Carey
- Steve ForrestLobo Nagalaski
- Robert ArthurDonald Quentin Dover IV
- Maurice JaraFranklin D. No Bear
- William HairstonDaniel Hazard