I remembered seeing THE HILL a couple of times since childhood and have enjoyed it immensely . It is quiet rightly regarded as Connery's best ever performance as Joe Roberts . There is a train of thought that Connery's star status begins and ends with Bond . This is slightly unfair . One can imagine Connery wanting to do everything he can to escape the Bond mantle which unfortunately led to him appearing in some bizarre film choices over the years . But if anyone thinks Connery is not worth watching in anything apart from a Bond movie this film along with THE OFFENCE also directed by Sidney Lumet and featuring Ian Bannen in a supporting role might change their minds
It's certainly a product of its time . Set in a military prison in North Africa during the war it would have struck a cord with its contemporary audience . National service was abolished in Britain in 1960 which meant any male older than their mid 20s would have recognised the strict military discipline on show . Likewise a middle aged man in his mid 40s would have been a participant in the war . This doesn't necessarily date the film but it does have a rather 1960s zeitgeist to it where social and political barriers were being broken down in Western civilisation . This was after all the decade where people became more and more questioning about every institution on Earth
Where the film does succeed is as an acting tour de force for the entire cast . Everyone is good but the two stand out performances are by Harry Andrews as RSM Wilson who spends the entire film barking out orders which is not a criticism and is to British cinema what Gunnery Sgt Hartman is to American cinema , and yes I know FULL METAL JACKET is often classed as a " British Film " but you know what I mean . The other stand out is Ian Bannen as Sgt Harris a firm but fair NCO who some people on this page would consider being a latent homosexual but this probably reading too much in to his character . It is certainly a multi layered performance
After seeing THE HILL again recently I have noticed where the film doesn't succeed - and it is a very big fault - is that the characterisation often trips itself up especially when it leads to the climax . There's very little incitement for Jock McGrath to side with Roberts especially with the consequences involved . The climax itself becomes over wrought with melodrama where Roberts may or may not be transferred to hospital but everything is written , directed and acted as if the fate of the entire universe is at stake which makes for an implausible and disappointing ending
It's certainly a product of its time . Set in a military prison in North Africa during the war it would have struck a cord with its contemporary audience . National service was abolished in Britain in 1960 which meant any male older than their mid 20s would have recognised the strict military discipline on show . Likewise a middle aged man in his mid 40s would have been a participant in the war . This doesn't necessarily date the film but it does have a rather 1960s zeitgeist to it where social and political barriers were being broken down in Western civilisation . This was after all the decade where people became more and more questioning about every institution on Earth
Where the film does succeed is as an acting tour de force for the entire cast . Everyone is good but the two stand out performances are by Harry Andrews as RSM Wilson who spends the entire film barking out orders which is not a criticism and is to British cinema what Gunnery Sgt Hartman is to American cinema , and yes I know FULL METAL JACKET is often classed as a " British Film " but you know what I mean . The other stand out is Ian Bannen as Sgt Harris a firm but fair NCO who some people on this page would consider being a latent homosexual but this probably reading too much in to his character . It is certainly a multi layered performance
After seeing THE HILL again recently I have noticed where the film doesn't succeed - and it is a very big fault - is that the characterisation often trips itself up especially when it leads to the climax . There's very little incitement for Jock McGrath to side with Roberts especially with the consequences involved . The climax itself becomes over wrought with melodrama where Roberts may or may not be transferred to hospital but everything is written , directed and acted as if the fate of the entire universe is at stake which makes for an implausible and disappointing ending