Halls of Montezuma
Seen it?1951 | 113 min | War, Drama
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (88% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for history buffs. If you loved The Caine Mutiny or Greyhound, start here.
- The mood
- Intense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 53 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1951: an older pace and style.
Richard Widmark leads an all star cast of marine leathernecks including Jack Palance, Robert Wagner, Karl Malden, Richard Boone and Jack Webb into battle on a heavily fortified island. This action-packed story follows the squad as they pick their way through enemy-infested jungles on a time sensitive mission to find the source of the enemy rockets. As the mission progresses, the squad and leader overcome many challenges as they are transformed into an effective and efficient fighting unit.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
88% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$3 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 24K people sought it out in the past year
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Cast & crew
Directed by Lewis Milestone
- Richard WidmarkLt. Carl Anderson
- Jack PalancePigeon Lane
- Reginald GardinerSgt. Randolph Johnson
- Robert WagnerCoffman
- Karl MaldenC.E. "Doc" Jones
- Richard HyltonStuart Conroy
- Richard BooneLt. Col. Gilfillan
- Skip HomeierRiley "Pretty Boy" Duncanon
- Don HicksLt. Bill Butterfield
- Jack WebbCorrespondent Dickerman