Blast from the Past: Gregory Peck
In Pork Chop Hill, based on true events, Gregory Peck portrays a lieutenant during the Korean War who is ordered to use his infantry company to take the strategically insignificant Pork Chop Hill.
Presumably, its capture would strengthen the U.S.’s position in the almost-complete armistice negotiations, but many have serious doubts over that.
As executive producer, Peck recruited director Lewis Milestone, best known fir the 1930 Oscar winning anti war drama, All Quiet on the Western Front.
However, as shooting progressed, it became clear Peck and Milestone had very different artistic visions.” Peck later said the movie showed “the futility of settling political arguments by killing young men. We tried not to preach; we let the story speak for itself.”
Despite solid reviews, the film did only fair business at the box office.
Most critics, both upon Pork Chop Hill’s opening and in recent years, agree that it is a gritty, grim and realistic rendering of battle action.
Peck’s performance was praised for being “completely believable, as a born leader, and yet it is quite clear that he has moments of doubt and uncertainty.”
