That was an excellent one.

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

I do not understand all the negative comments. I think next to 12 O'Clock High, this is the best aviation film ever made. You cannot expect the Chinese to lend us MiGs and trucks to make a movie, so using (captured) American vehicles is plausible. As a retired military officer and aviator, I have been to Japan and Korea and the film's background scenery is authentic. As for the aircraft, again, we couldn't borrow any MiG-15s, so the most similar U.S. aircraft was the F-84F. It had a flat nose, mid-fuselage swept back wings and high, swept back fail fins. That is as close to the MiG-15 as you can get. And unlike one reviewer said, the F-84 was not used for the MiG-15 in The McConnell Story (a horrible movie). They used F-86s. They just painted the noses a different color (like they used P-51s painted grey with black crosses for ME-109s in the 1948 movie Fighter Squadron with Robert Stack). And that movie was downright stupid, especially the scene where the F-86s were waltzing to AFN Radio. Also, to the reviewer who referred to the 4th and 51st Fighter "Wings." In the Korean War, they were Fighter Groups. The Regular Air Force didn't drop Groups (Reserves and ANG still use them) until way after the Korean War. And the aerial fighting sequences were accurate and believable. Remember, this movie was made before computer graphics were available, yet they were able to show reasonable tracer bullet effects. Plus the "military speak"was authentic. As far as the romantic side plot, it broke up the usual endless flying of most aviation movies. And remember, this depicted the early 1950s when women were not liberated as they are now. Also, MAJ Saville never crossed the line to having sex with Mrs. Abbott, even though she made it clear that she would let him, right before he said he would look after Carl. So he maintained his code of ethics, even for the 1950s. 'Buff said.

THE HUNTERS 1958This 20th Century Fox Cinemascope production was director Dick Powell's follow up to the excellent 1957 war film, THE ENEMY BELOW. This one also stars Robert Mitchum in the lead role. This time however the action takes place in the air over Korea in 1952. Also in the cast are, Richard Egan, Lee Phillips, May Britt and Robert Wagner. This one starts at an Air base in Japan. Personal are off loaded from the States, then, transferred to their units in South Korea. Mitchum plays a World War Two veteran pilot with the nickname, "Ice Man". He is one cool and deadly pilot. This will be his first action flying jets (F-86) in combat. Commanding his unit is another WW2 vet, Richard Egan. Also in the squadron is Lee Phillips, who has an over fondness for beverages of the alcohol variety. Staying in Japan is the pretty wife of Phillips, May Britt.The men end up at a base in Korea and are assigned to fly patrols in "Mig Alley", an area just south of the border with Red China. This is where the various Red Air forces are trying to gain the upper hand. Each side is out to eliminate the other using ambush tactics and flying skill. At the moment, the Americans have the upper hand, but not without losses on their part. There are several Red pilots making a name for themselves, particularly one who goes by the handle, Casey Jones. Of course Phillips' wife, May Britt and Mitchum are soon locking lips every time Mitchum is in Tokyo. But, as much as Mitchum would like to step up the action, he can see that Britt is still in love with Phillips. He makes it his mission to whip the drunk into a first rate pilot. Now enters hotshot jet jockey, Robert Wagner fresh from the States. The kid can fly, and after a rough start with Mitchum, is soon knocking Reds out of the sky at a fast rate. While on a patrol over Mig Alley, there is a nasty round of combat between the Americans and the Reds. Phillips is shot up and takes to his chute. Mitchum gets some payback by finally getting the best of the Red Ace, Casey Jones. He then decides to see where Phillips had bailed out.Mitchum spots Phillips hanging from a tree, and decides to crash land his Sabre nearby. He feels obligated to help Phillips. There is soon a squad of North Korean infantry closing in. Said infantry are shot up by Robert Wagner who is then shot down by ground fire. Mitchum and Wagner are now hauling the badly wounded Phillips towards the United Nations lines. They tackle a couple of North Korean soldiers at a guard post and arm themselves with several burp guns. Then they run into a family of refugees also heading south. Another squad of North Korean types show and liquidate the civilians. Wagner and Mitch step up and pay the Red swine in kind.Taking the dead civilians cart, they load up Phillips and continue south. They are soon grabbed up by a U.N. unit of Greeks and sent back for medical attention. Phillips is patched up and will be sent back to the States. Britt and Mitchum say their goodbyes as Britt thanks Mitch for saving her husband.For the most part, the film works quite well with some nicely handled action sequences. The film however slows to a snail's pace every time Miss Britt is on screen. The love triangle bit is just not needed, or should have been trimmed by a good 15 minutes. Still, it is a great looking Cinemascope production with excellent color. Powell does good work as the helmsman, while four time, Oscar nominated, Charles G Clarke, handles the cinematography duties.May Britt was another of a string of Swedish actresses who were to be the next, Ingrid Bergman. The list would include, Marta Toren, Viveca Lindfors, Signe Hasso and Inger Stevens. None of them were.

I never did get to see this as a kid and when I did as an adult I really enjoyed it. Great flying scenes and cinematography. Of course a great cast with Mitchum, Egan and Wagner made a wonderful dynamic. The romance with Abbott's wife was refreshing and made the movie more human. The sets and costumes were amazing and the locations too. The guns and planes, cars and rough and dirty environment made this more realistic and fun to watch. Seeing Richard Egan with a leather flight jacket and a .45 on his hip as the squadron commander was a thrill as he was always one of my favorites. One of the really cool "old Hollywood" guys. Masculine, but with soft features and an understanding for everything around. Young Robert Wagner is always fun and reminded me of the Spencer Tracy movie he did when they pilfered the downed airliner in the Swiss Alps. Great matinée flick.

North American's F-86 Sabre was the West's premier fighter aircraft during the early 1950s, and superior to any fighter aircraft in the eastern part of the world… The F-86 scored consistent victories over Russian-built MiG fighters during the Korean War…Hollywood didn't make nearly enough movies about it, but in "The Hunters," we have the opportunity to admire this graceful and agile subsonic equipped with more powerful engines and armament systems that ranged from bombs and rockets to machine guns and cannons… Robert Mitchum portrays the big hunter, the 'Iceman.' Maj. Cleve Saville was like death: no feelings, no nerves, no fear… In Japan, on his way to his first posting in Korea, he meets Lt. Carl Abbott (Lee Philips), a young pilot who thinks he is a bad flier… Too much booze was the sign… With 30 missions Abbott failed to get any enemy planes… His wife Chris (May Britt) doesn't know what to do with him… She asks Maj. Saville to look out for him and help him… Saville finds himself falling in love with her, with some response from her… Filling out the story when they finally reach Korea are the first of the jet pilots, Col. Dutch Emil (Richard Egan), and Lt. Ed Pell (Robert Wagner), a rude young guy with big cigars in his face, considered as a 'little stinker who can get MiGs.' Their common enemy is the Chinese ace Casey Jones (Leon Lontoc). His plane has the numbers 7-11 on his fuselage… The MiGs are based in Red China, across the Yalu River