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The Hunters (1958)
Director: Dick Powell
Writers: Wendell Mayes (screenplay), James Salter (novel)
Cast: Robert Mitchum, Robert Wagner, Richard Egan, May Britt
Genre: Korean War, Drama, Romance
Premise: During the height of the Korean War conflict, 1952...two jet fighter pilots come into conflict when Major Saville (Robert Mitchum) takes a fancy to Lieuntent Abott's (Lee Philips) wife Kris (May Britt). Ironically it's up to the Major to look after the demoralized Lt Abbott who's self loathing is driving his wife into the arms of the Major.
Review: Sound like a soap opera? hey it's the late 50s and melodramas were all the rage. This one is set during the Korean war and features lots of footage of F86 Sabrejets in action. But the real action is between swaggering Robert Mitchum and May Britt.
Truth be told the melodrama personal stories don't work well here. I like Mitchum but his character has little charisma with May Britt, come to think of it May Britt doesn't have much charisma either...and either does the actor who plays her lack luster husband. The other actor who shines, and he's kind of wacky is Robert Wagner. I got a kick out of young Wagner's hip beatnik talk, and how it confused older Robert Mitchum to no end.
The Hunters is a splashy war picture with on location footage in Japan. Not the best of the sub-genre but still worth a watch.
The Hunters (1958)
Writers: Wendell Mayes (screenplay), James Salter (novel)
Cast: Robert Mitchum, Robert Wagner, Richard Egan, May Britt
Genre: Korean War, Drama, Romance
Premise: During the height of the Korean War conflict, 1952...two jet fighter pilots come into conflict when Major Saville (Robert Mitchum) takes a fancy to Lieuntent Abott's (Lee Philips) wife Kris (May Britt). Ironically it's up to the Major to look after the demoralized Lt Abbott who's self loathing is driving his wife into the arms of the Major.
Review: Sound like a soap opera? hey it's the late 50s and melodramas were all the rage. This one is set during the Korean war and features lots of footage of F86 Sabrejets in action. But the real action is between swaggering Robert Mitchum and May Britt.
Truth be told the melodrama personal stories don't work well here. I like Mitchum but his character has little charisma with May Britt, come to think of it May Britt doesn't have much charisma either...and either does the actor who plays her lack luster husband. The other actor who shines, and he's kind of wacky is Robert Wagner. I got a kick out of young Wagner's hip beatnik talk, and how it confused older Robert Mitchum to no end.
The Hunters is a splashy war picture with on location footage in Japan. Not the best of the sub-genre but still worth a watch.