Eclipse Series 5: THE FIRST FILMS OF SAMUEL FULLER: FULLER, Samuel: The Steel Helmet (1951)

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FULLER, Samuel (United States)
The Steel Helmet [1951]
Eclipse Series 5
DVD


The Steel Helmet marked Samuel Fuller's official arrival as a mighty cinematic force. Despite its relatively low budget, this portrait of Korean War soldiers grappling with moral and racial issues while trying to stay alive remains one of the director's most gripping, realistic depictions of the blood and guts of war, as well as a reflection of Fuller's social conscience.

84 minutes
Black & White
Monaural
1:33:1 aspect ratio
Criterion Release 2007
Director/Writer



The Korean War had barely begun, and for $100,000, Fuller made the first film about it.

A gripping, gut-wrenching film — yes, bogged down by phony studio sets — but easily transcended through the crackling dialogue — yes, sometimes corny — but in the end, totally worth the ride.

Gene Evans is Zack, a sergeant who survives the massacre of his platoon through sheer luck — the protection of his steel helmet.

He is nursed back to life by a small South Korean boy, Short Round (William Chun). Other characters with racist nicknames are the Nissei Sergeant “Buddha-Head” Tanaka (Richard Loo), and the Black medic, Corporal Thompson (“Brownie”) (James Edwards).

But Fuller, is hardly racist. All these characters light up the screen with their bravery and indifference to society’s attitudes.

A North Korean prisoner asks Thompson if he likes having to sit in the back of bus.

“Maybe in 50 years, I’ll get to sit in the middle. Or maybe even up front.”

Rosa Parks was still five years in the future!

The same North Korean hits a sort spot with Tanaka when he mentioned the internment camps. (The Army was furious!) … Fuller was way ahead of his time.

For example, Zack treated Short Round as a nuisance in the beginning, then gradually gained respect for him and culture. He even copied the kid’s habit of writing Buddhist prayers, and when the North Korean prisoner disrespected that, he couldn’t stop himself from killing him. The army censors really objected to that, until Fuller delicately pointed out that he had seen it himself many times during the WWII (where he saw plenty of action). The scene was permitted after the Lieutenant (Steve Brodie) threatens Zack with court martial.

The mass of North Korean soldiers who charge the observation post were UCLA students.

A finer war movie on such a skimpy budget has never been made.

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