Why did the United States only film the Vietnam War and not the Korean War?

Who says America hasn't filmed it? Hollywood does not exclude movies with this theme, but it is rarely introduced in China and rarely seen by Chinese people! !

Never back down-Hollywood, Korean War.

When it comes to the Korean War during 1950- 1953, many people in China think that Hollywood didn't film this war because the United States didn't win the war, and it was embarrassing to publicize it. For example, an article widely circulated on the Internet entitled "China's blockade of the United States for 20 years-written in the 50th anniversary of Chinese people's Volunteer Army's entry into the DPRK" (June 65438+1October 2 1) wrote:

"Since the 20th century, the United States has fought three wars in Asia: the war against Japan, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The United States and China were allies in the war against Japan, and the United States won. In the Korean War and the Vietnam War, the United States and China were rivals. As a result, on the surface, the United States was tied and lost. In fact, it all lost, and it was worse every time. Hollywood movies are also very interesting about the performance of these three wars: there are endless movies about War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the Vietnam War, but there are few movies about the Korean War. [...] Hollywood's works reflect the psychological state of ordinary Americans about these wars: those who win completely will naturally show off; If you lose completely, you have to find a scapegoat to vent your anger; But those who apparently lost, but actually didn't win, didn't know what to do, so they had to hold back. The Korean War was called "the forgotten war" by Americans, and it was absolutely unbearable to look back. Movies without selling points will lose money. How dare Hollywood violate market rules? "

Another example is an article entitled "Hong Kong people see the truth of the Korean War" signed by the Tianya website "Guantian Teahouse" (2003-06-0 1).

"From the reflection of the two countries after the war, we can see that China people are very serious about the outcome of the Korean War, and there are many movies and novels that reflect this war; On the other hand, in the United States, you haven't seen a blockbuster about the Korean War in Hollywood, have you? It can be said that this is also the recognition of this war by both sides. "

Is Hollywood "almost blank about the Korean War"?

Ben Crick agreed that the United States did not win the Korean War. For many people in the United States, the Korean War was indeed a forgotten war. However, Hollywood did not avoid or forget the Korean War. In fact, at least thirteen feature films about the Korean War were shot in Hollywood. Based on the observation and research data of this cricket, this paper introduces and comments on these thirteen films in the order of release date and month (all films marked with "translated name of this cricket" indicate that there is no official Chinese translation).

1. helmet (helmet, 195 1 year, translated by Taiwan Province as "Korean bloody war")

Director samuel fuller. The main actors are Robert Horton and Steve Brodie. Synopsis Sergeant Zach's platoon was shot by the Korean People's Army, and he was the only one who survived. On his way out of the occupied area, a Korean boy of 10 saved him. With the help of the little boy, Sergeant Zach contacted a scattered infantry class of the US Army. There is still a black health soldier, an anti-war, a Japanese-American veteran who participated in World War II, a mute and a recruit left in this class. However, under the command of the sergeant, they hid in a ruined temple, and with the support of artillery, they dealt a heavy blow to the North Korean military stronghold and finally returned to the team successfully.

This film is the first Hollywood blockbuster about the Korean War. Although the budget is limited, the film truly reproduces the cruel display of the Korean battlefield. This film is not so much about the Korean War as about how people of all ethnic backgrounds in the American army deal with each other in the war. Therefore, the film was once criticized as "criticizing the US military".

Second, "Never back down! "(retreat, hell! 1952. The translated name of this cricket)

Director Joseph H. Lewis. The main actors are Frank Lovejoy, Richard Carlson and anita louise. Synopsis 1 950110/In October, the US military crossed the 38th parallel to pursue the1division and the 7th infantry division of the US Marine Corps, which defeated the Korean army. When attacking the Changjin reservoir area on the border between China and North Korea, it was violently countered by Chinese people's Volunteer Army's superior forces and fell into the encirclement of the Chinese and North Korean troops. The us military headquarters ordered a full evacuation. General Smith of the U.S. Marine Corps disobeyed the command of the headquarters and ordered his men to fight back against the troops of China and North Korea. Captain Steve of the Marine Corps led a battalion on a cover mission. After a bloody battle, he finally rushed out of the encirclement with the main force.

Critics of this cricket review believe that this film is one of the few films that describe both sides of the Korean War positively. On the one hand, it reproduces in a positive way the scale of Chinese people's Volunteer Army's overwhelming counterattack in the early days of its entry into the DPRK, and at the same time praises the fighting spirit of the US Marine Corps. In the film, an American corporal just turned 17 years old, but held his ground in the case of three gunshot wounds in a night battle, ensuring the safety of the main peak. Another unique feature of this film is the extensive use of documentary clips taken on the battlefield. When the shell exploded in the lens, the lens shook violently, making the audience feel as if they were there.

Three. Fighting Circus (1953)

Director richard brooks. The main actors are humphrey bogart and june allyson. Synopsis During the Korean War, a US military hospital was responsible for treating the wounded soldiers of the Allied Forces. Major Webber, a cynical military doctor, is the attending doctor. He fell in love with a loyal nurse, Captain Mekhala, but they hated each other. They understand the meaning of war and increase mutual understanding in life-saving medical work.

Ben Qiu commented that the film was 20 years earlier than the later more famous army hospital, but critics thought it exaggerated love and made it incompatible with the cruel background of the Korean battlefield. It shows sympathy and concern for North Korean civilians and reveals the tragic fate of North Korean soldiers. For example, in the film, when a North Korean wounded soldier was taken to the hospital, he suddenly took out a Grenade from his pocket and said that he would rather be killed than treated by an American doctor.

Fourth, the battleship hero (the man of the goddess of war, 1954). The translated name of this cricket)

Director Andrew Marton. The main actors are Van Johnson and Frank Lovejoy. Synopsis During the Korean War, the US Navy Air Force supported the US ground battlefield from the US aircraft carrier moored in the Sea of Japan. Naval air forces take off from aircraft carriers, bomb ground targets over North Korea, or engage in air combat with Soviet MIG aircraft. American pilots all hope to finish their tasks early, have a hot meal early and go back to the warm bed to sleep. However, war is cruel. When attacking ground targets, the plane is required to fly low, which is vulnerable to ground air defense fire.

This cricket commentary tells friends about the war through the aircraft carrier doctor, trying to give the audience an objective angle. Many old pilots who have experienced World War II always ask themselves, why did they come to Korea to fight? The film reproduces in detail the take-off and landing process of the aircraft on the aircraft carrier, as well as the situation in which the fighters attack the ground targets from the air.

5. Battle of Duguli Bridge (Bridge in Tokyo, 1955). Hong Kong translation of the Battle of Shu Bridge)

Director mark robson; Screenwriter: Valentine Davies. The main actors are william holden and Grace Kelly. Synopsis 1952 12 During the Korean War, the squadron of Captain brubeck, the pilot of the 77th Special Command of the US Navy, was ordered to carry out the arduous task of blowing up the Duguli Bridge. Duguli Bridge, located in North Korea, is an important transportation hub for the Volunteers and the Korean People's Army, with dangerous terrain and tight defense. Captain brubeck and his comrades broke through the barrage of anti-aircraft guns and blew up the Duguli Bridge, but his fighter plane was injured and forced to land. North Korean soldiers swarmed after them. He and his comrades refused to surrender, started a gun battle and finally died in the battlefield.

This cricket commentary film 1956 won the 28th Oscar for Best Effect. Most of the stories in the first half of this film took place in the US military base in Japan, with a loose rhythm, but we can see Japan's humble dependence on the US military after the war. In the second half, the battle scene was wonderful, and the actors performed brilliantly, especially the fighter aerobatics. 12 fighters dive and bomb ground targets in turn, which shows the cruelty of war. In particular, this film reproduces the US military's confusion about the significance of participating in the Korean War. The characters in the film lamented twice that their war was "a wrong war in the wrong place": for the first time, the aircraft carrier commander recalled that his two sons had died in the war against Japan in World War II and lamented that the Korean War was not worth sacrificing so many lives; The second time, the hero Captain brubeck lamented that he would die in a gun battle with North Korean soldiers.

The story of the intransitive verb Anna Boris (1956). The translated name of this cricket)

Director Don Siegel. The main actors are John Derek and Diana Lynn. Tony and Jim are students of the United States Naval Academy. They are brothers. They fell out over the girl they admired, Paige. After the Korean War broke out, they graduated and were assigned to a squadron to fight side by side on the Korean battlefield. In an air battle, when their fighter plane caught fire, the two brothers asked each other to skydive and let each other enjoy life and love.

The cricket commented that this film is just an ordinary love triangle story set in the Korean battlefield, and there is nothing new.

Vii. Brave in the Battlefield (Warsong,1956; Hong kong translation of "the true colors of soldiers")

Director douglas sirk. The main actors are rock hudson and anna kashfi. Synopsis Colonel Hess of the United States Air Force was originally a pastor in Ohio. During World War II, he joined the United States Air Force. In a mission to bomb Nazi Germany, he accidentally bombed an orphanage, killing 37 German orphans. After the war, he felt guilty and could not go back to preach, so he rejoined the US Air Force and came to the Korean battlefield to train the first fighter pilots for the Korean Air Force. Under his training, the Korean Air Force successfully completed a series of combat missions. Near the air base, a Korean woman is looking after more than a dozen Korean war orphans. During the war, Colonel Hess tried his best to protect and take care of these orphans. Later, he raised money to set up an orphanage, so that Korean war orphans could have a home and their conscience could be calmed down.

Cricket commented that the film was adapted from a true story. Although some critics believe that it has the political purpose of promoting the humanity of the American army, the plot is touching, reflecting the cruelty of the war and the conflict between the conscience of the soldiers and the belief in God. This confession of the hero in the film is considered as a classic introspection: "Maybe, after the pain of war, I finally did a good thing that I had never been able to do before. I found myself in surpassing myself. "

Eight, the man in the war (men in the war, 1957. The translated name of this cricket)

Director anthony mann. The main actors are Ropot Ryan and aldo ray. Synopsis1950 September 6th. Captain Benson's platoon lost contact with the main force in a battle. On the way out of the enemy-occupied area, they met Staff Sergeant montana from another platoon. They must move the survivors to the 465 highland where the division is located. During the transfer, Captain Benson and Staff Sergeant montana disagreed and often fought. After many thrilling experiences after the war, they finally got out of the encirclement and joined the main force.

This cricket commentary, together with the helmet, is considered to be the most authentic film describing the Korean War in the 1950s. Its uniqueness lies in its detailed description of soldiers' psychological activities in the war. Through fierce battle scenes and character conflicts, the film depicts the various mentalities of soldiers in despair: kindness, courage, selfishness, despair, hope and liberation.

Nine, the battlefield flame (battlefield flame, 1959. The translated name of this cricket)

Director. The main actors are robert blake, Scott Brady and Elaine Edwards. Synopsis On the Korean battlefield, Captain Davis of the United States Marine Corps was taken good care of by nurse Mary during his convalescence, and they had a good impression on each other. Later, Mary's hospital was occupied by the North Korean army, and Mary and her comrades were arrested and held in the Qingyong prison camp. Captain Davis led a platoon to rescue his beloved nurse after fierce fighting.

The cricket commented that the film fell into the stereotype of a hero saving the United States. The plot is slow, the dialogue is lengthy, and there is nothing unique.

X. pork chop hill (pork chop hill, 1959).

Director lewis milestone. The main actors are gregory peck and Ripton. Synopsis In the late period of the Korean War (1July, 953), when the warring sides negotiated a peaceful truce, in order to increase their chips, the US military ordered Captain Clemens to lead the US military to attack a 255 highland with no military value. They know that the truce talks in Panmunjom may reach a peace agreement at any time, so some soldiers are unwilling to make unnecessary sacrifices. However, Captain Clemens thought it was their patriotic duty. Under his command, the U.S. military and the Chinese and North Korean troops fought to the death in pork chop hill, and even conducted brutal hand-to-hand combat. When reinforcements arrived, there were only 25 people left in the company of 135.

This cricket commentary generally believes that the battle described in this film is the Battle of Shangganling, which is reproduced in China's film Shangganling. The film is real and shocking, and the documentary level is no less than documentary. It is said that the military adviser of the film was the American company commander who led the troops to attack that year. The film also reproduces the psychological warfare broadcast by China's army from the position. Through the mouth of a black soldier, the film once again questioned the "fight for freedom" of the United States in the Korean War. The director just wants to let the audience know how unworthy it is to die for political rights through the cruel fighting scenes in the film.

Xi. "Manchurian candidate" (Manchu candidate, 1962, translated as "terrorist" in Hong Kong)

Directed by John Hammer. The main actors are Frank Sinatra, laurence harvey and janet leigh. Synopsis Captain Marco, Xiao and his platoon were arrested during a patrol during the Korean War and held in a prison camp in Manchuria, where they were brainwashed by the Soviet Union and China. After the war, Captain Marco returned to the United States and was promoted to major in American intelligence. He often has nightmares at night and can't shake off the painful memories of the war. When his comrade-in-arms Staff Sergeant Shaw returned to China, he was regarded as a war hero and won the Congressional Medal. Kyle gradually understood the meaning of nightmare and began to doubt the background of the little sergeant. After investigation, it turns out that Sergeant Xiao believes in brainwashing and has become a killer sent by the Soviet Union to the United States for political assassination.

This cricket review is a classic political thriller. The film combines McCarthy's cold war mentality, political satire, spy suspense and film black techniques. The film exaggerates the Pavlovian political brainwashing education of American prisoners of war in the prison camp. At the end of the film, it happened that President Kennedy was stabbed to death. In order to avoid political trouble, the film was delayed for more than 20 years before it was released to the public.

Twelve. Army Hospital (M*A*S*H, 1970, translated from Hong Kong as "happy doctors and beautiful nurses")

Director robert altman. The main actors are donald sutherland, Elliott Gould and sally kellerman. Synopsis During the Korean War, Captain Piers and Captain McEntire, American military doctors, were busy treating patients and saving lives in the front-line army mobile surgical hospital, dealing with blood and death all day. In order to keep their spirits from collapsing, they try to live an absurd and boring life away from war after work, either flirting with female nurses or playing cynical pranks. In order to bet whether the female nurse was born blonde, they left the tent while she was taking a shower.

This cricket commentary film 197 1 won the 43rd Oscar for Best Screenplay. It is famous only because it satirizes the present with the ancient and satirizes the Vietnam War in the 1960s with the Korean War in the 1950s. So it doesn't have much story in itself, and fans who care about the Korean War are often disappointed. The film also satirizes patriotism and religious piety in previous American war films.

Thirteen. MacArthur (MacArthur, 1977)

Director joseph sargent. The main actor gregory peck. Synopsis The ten-year military career of MacArthur, the most controversial legendary general in contemporary American history, from 1942 to 195 1. 1942, he retreated from the Philippines, and soon led troops to recover lost ground from Japan. Appointed by President Roosevelt, he served as Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Theater, commanded the US military to conquer Japan in 1945, and was responsible for Japan's post-war reconstruction. 1950 When the Korean War broke out in June, he served as the commander-in-chief of the United Nations Army to command the early battles. In September, he commanded the American troops to land in Incheon, then crossed the 38th parallel to occupy Pyongyang and advanced into the Yalu River. He disagreed with the US government's policy of strictly limiting the Korean War to the Korean Peninsula, and insisted on expanding the war to China, thus causing serious conflicts with the US government. 1951April, US President Truman dismissed General MacArthur for disobeying orders.

This cricket commentary General MacArthur did two great things in his life: occupying Japan and directing the early battles of the Korean War. So half of this movie should be about the Korean War. Gregory peck, who died just last week, gave a wonderful performance, which fully demonstrated the tragic fate of General MacArthur. He is an excellent soldier, but he is not a soldier with political mind. There is a scene in the film: The US government forbids him to bomb targets in China across the border between China and North Korea, so he orders to blow up the section of the Yalu River Bridge in North Korea. He sighed sarcastically: "In my decades of military career, for the first time, I ordered only half of the bridge to be blown up, and it must be blown up from the dividing line in the middle of the bridge!"

Fourteen Hunting war (war hunting, 1962)

Director Dennis Thornton. The main actors are John Saxon and robert redford. Synopsis In the late Korean War, loomis, a US military recruit, was recently transferred to the front line of the Korean War. He is ambitious and wants to be a glorious hero. Go out to patrol with comrades in the infantry platoon every night. However, he gradually discovered that being a soldier in the Korean War was nothing to be proud of. Private Ando is an excellent soldier, especially good at night fighting, but the cruelty of long-term war makes him insane. His only companion is a Korean orphan. Ondo often sneaks out at night and goes deep behind enemy lines to kill North Korean soldiers. Captain Eideman was afraid that Angdo's psychopathy would bring more trouble, so he tolerated Angdo's murder. One night, Loomis saw Ando dancing around the body after killing a North Korean. Ondo kills people like crazy. On the night when the armistice was announced, while other soldiers were celebrating, Ondo took the Korean orphan into a cat's ear hole. Captain Eideman took a few people to find Ando, but he killed his comrade-in-arms with his backhand, and was finally killed by Captain Eideman.

This cricket commented that this film is a pacifist anti-war film. It is a rare film that describes the soldiers' crazy killing behavior in the war and reveals the influence of cruel war on soldiers. Although the budget of the film was only $250,000, the box office effect after its release was unprecedented, which reflected the American audience's interest in discussing the consequences of the Korean War. This is robert redford's first film. He plays an idealistic American soldier, which is in sharp contrast with the dark psychology of the hero.

Concluding remarks

First, as a native of China, Ben cricket is very concerned about the descriptions of China and Chinese people's Volunteer Army in Hollywood Korean War movies. Generally speaking, these films are basically ideologically neutral and have not attacked capitalism through war. On the contrary, many films are opposed by the American Rightists because they describe the anti-war and war-weariness of the US military. Ben Crick believes that this is mainly because Hollywood in the United States is the base camp of liberalism. After the McCarthyism purge in the early 1950s, Hollywood directors were basically able to make films according to their own free thoughts.

Second, in the description of Chinese and North Korean soldiers, they basically positively expressed the heroic and tenacious fighting style of the Chinese and North Korean troops, and did not describe each other as cowards (such as heroic sons and daughters) in China movies. Of course, from the American audience's point of view, the positive description of China and North Korea's troops also reflects the more tenacious side of the US military. When it comes to specific fighters, they are basically long-range shots, and there are few close shots except pork chop hill's face-to-face hand-to-hand combat. However, if you have seen Hollywood movies about the American Pacific War against Japan in World War II, you can see that the Korean battlefield movies in the United States at that time basically did not describe Japan: Asians fought bravely but brutally, and soldiers had no personal initiative.

Thirdly, for a war that lasted more than three years, in less than 26 years from 195 1 to 1977, Hollywood produced thirteen feature films. Although this is not as good as hundreds of World War II movies and more than 50 Vietnam War movies, it can be said that it is not too few. Compared with China, China thinks that it has won the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. The related films in the same period are 12 (shangganling (1956), bonfire train (1960), on the 38th parallel (1960) and surprise attack (1962). Fight against invaders (1965), surprise attack on the White Tiger Group (1972), fierce fighting in the Unknown River (1975), blue sea and red waves (1975), Wings of Heaven (65438+) If China made fewer movies at first, it was because.