The Steel Helmet (1951)

100% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
89% of users liked it
(655 ratings)

Writer and director Samuel Fuller enjoyed his first box-office and critical success with this hard-boiled but human tale of men at war, informed by his own experiences in the armed forces. Zack (Gene Evans) is a gruff U.S. Army sergeant who is the lone survivor of an attack on his outfit in North… More Writer and director Samuel Fuller enjoyed his first box-office and critical success with this hard-boiled but human tale of men at war, informed by his own experiences in the armed forces. Zack (Gene Evans) is a gruff U.S. Army sergeant who is the lone survivor of an attack on his outfit in North Korea. Rescued by a friendly Korean orphan he dubs Short Round (William Chun), Zack tries to make his way back to friendly territory with the boy as his guide. Zack crosses paths with Thompson (James Edwards), an African-American medic who like Zack narrowly escaped death after an enemy attack, and as they make their way through the jungle they encounter a platoon led by Lt. Driscoll (Steve Brodie), a humorless by-the-books type who has no use for Zack. Zack, Thompson and Driscoll's men -- among them Japanese-American "Buddhahead" Tanaka (Richard Loo), former conscientious objector Bronte (Robert Hutton) and nervous grunt Baldie (Richard Monahan) -- make their way to an abandoned Buddhist temple to set up an observation post, but they soon run afoul of the enemy. Shot in a mere ten days, with the battle scenes staged in Los Angeles' Griffith Park, The Steel Helmet captured the tension and gritty circumstances of war with commendable accuracy and Evans delivered a superb performance in his first starring role as Zack. The film proved controversial in some quarters due to scenes in which Fuller's characters discuss racism against Asians and Blacks in the United States, though the film manages to be resolutely patriotic at the same time. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: Samuel Fuller
Written By: Samuel Fuller
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Feb 2, 1951 Wide
On DVD: Aug 21, 2007

Critic Reviews

Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
[Sam] Fuller's powerful direction turns a trite story into a vivid study of national and personal identity.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
I'm not much for war films, but this is one of the best.
Sean Axmaker, Turner Classic Movies Online
The first American film about the Korean War [and] one of the greatest war films ever made.
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
It's cheap and nasty and honest and brutal; that is, a full-blooded Sam Fuller movie.
Keith Uhlich, House Next Door
The Steel Helmet (1951) is a fever dream of the Korean War, entirely possessed of its own unique, inimitable rhythms.
Derek Adams, Time Out
The action scenes are terrific, belying the movie's very low budget.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Renegade director Sam Fuller created this hard boiled Korean War classic which seems like a Sgt. Rock comic come to life.
, Film4
More gutsy war drama from Fuller.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
This low-budget film from Lippert Studios is probably the best film they ever made.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Ken S

Really great Korean War flick from Sam Fuller. Possibly the best Korean war movie ever, although I'd need to do some more research to be sure.
Cindy I

Well-made film set during the Korean Conflict by Samuel Fuller. More character study than exciting battle film, and definiltely anti-war, as most war films really are. A gruff but tired sergeant, who is the sole survivor of the ambush of his platoon by North Korean soldiers, meets up… More
Well-made film set during the Korean Conflict by Samuel Fuller. More character study than exciting battle film, and definiltely anti-war, as most war films really are. A gruff but tired sergeant, who is the sole survivor of the ambush of his platoon by North Korean soldiers, meets up with a ragtag platoon in a similar state and a young South Korean boy. They take temporary refuge in a Buddhist temple (although the giant Buddha statue looked more like Geronimo), where they are attacked by North Koreans. A couple of slightly disturbing scenes, including one where Sgt. Zack tells the Korean boy, called "Short Round", to get a helmet and boots from one of his dead platoon mates, and a black soldier's discussion of racism in America, which he seems to accept with little comment. Odd, but I assume it's a product of the time the film was made. For some reason that I haven't put my finger on yet, I got a strong feel of Kurosawa while watching this film, especially Rashomon and Seven Samurai.
Stella D

i didn't think a film like this was possible in 1950's john wayne america; an emotionally honest portrait of soldiers under fire made at the height of the korean war. i have new found respect for sam fuller. this is in the league of paths of glory and bridge on the river… More
i didn't think a film like this was possible in 1950's john wayne america; an emotionally honest portrait of soldiers under fire made at the height of the korean war. i have new found respect for sam fuller. this is in the league of paths of glory and bridge on the river kwai. it's outstanding and a must-see for fans of war films. i'd never even heard of this but i'm really glad i watched it
Randy T

A crusty, war-weary infantry sergeant teams up with a Korean orphan boy and a rag-tag, disheveled group of American soldiers enroute to an abandoned Buddhist temple in order to establish a forward observation post for artillery. Once there they capture a North Korean major who is… More
A crusty, war-weary infantry sergeant teams up with a Korean orphan boy and a rag-tag, disheveled group of American soldiers enroute to an abandoned Buddhist temple in order to establish a forward observation post for artillery. Once there they capture a North Korean major who is intent on dividing them along racial lines. Shot on a shoe-string budget in 10 days at the height of the Korean war and the McCarthy era "red scare", <i>The Steel Helmet</i> proves beyond any doubt that director Samuel Fuller had enormous testicles. Very few, if any, Hollywood executives would have taken on the Korean conflict (and the American propaganda machine) with such candor and honesty. If all you know about America's fight with North Korea comes from watching episodes of M*A*S*H on TV then this one is a must-see. Easily one of the best American war films ever made.
Chris B

Samuel Fuller was the rough rebel of Hollywood, but with "The Steel Helmet" in 1951 he achieved both success at the box office and critically. The fact that it was shot in ten days and for 1/10th the average feature length film cost at the time, it is truly stunning what… More
Samuel Fuller was the rough rebel of Hollywood, but with "The Steel Helmet" in 1951 he achieved both success at the box office and critically. The fact that it was shot in ten days and for 1/10th the average feature length film cost at the time, it is truly stunning what Fuller achieved! Not only is the film brilliantly acted and directed but the cinematography and overall epic feel are shockingly portrayed for the shoestring budget. This is a great war film that tells of the struggles of the soldiers and hits on topics of race (which made it so controversial) and humanity amongst others. Great action sequences just make it all the better and as the end title says "This story has no end", the film does indeed have a timeless feel.