The Hill

Name: The Hill
Genre: Drama, War
Released: October 3, 1965
Duration: 123 min
Rating: 81
Cast: Alfred Lynch, Harry Andrews, Ian Bannen, Ian Hendry, Jack Watson

1965

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 7 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Ratings

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The Hill

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Movie Details & Credits

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Release Date: October 3, 1965 | TV-14

Starring: Alfred Lynch, Harry Andrews, Ian Bannen, Ian Hendry, Jack Watson, Michael Redgrave, Norman Bird, Ossie Davis, Roy Kinnear, Sean Connery

Summary: In a North African military prison during World War II, five new prisoners struggle to survive in the face of brutal punishment and sadistic guards.

Director: Sidney Lumet

Genre(s): Drama, War

Rating: TV-14

Runtime: 123 min

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Critic Reviews

Mike Clark

Lots of sand but no day at the beach for its characters -- and not, from all appearances, the actors, either. Among the best of director Sidney Lumet's movies not set in New York. [08 Jun 2007, p.8E]

Tim Purtell

Rebel-with-a-cause clichés are mostly averted by sturdy acting, Oswald Morris’ vivid black-and-white cinematography, and a satisfyingly bleak conclusion. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

It is a harsh, sadistic and brutal entertainment, superbly acted and made without any concessions to officialdom. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

Sean Connery took a break from Bond to give a sterling performance in this awesomely intense drama set in a North African British army camp, where the favourite punishment for prisoners is to send them clambering up and down a man-made hill in the full heat of the day. Read full review

Empire Bob McCabe

Atmospherically black-and-white photography provides suitable accompaniment to Sidney Lumet's unrelenting direction, with the two leads into it with plenty of relish. Read full review

Victor Dwyer

Lumet uses every claustrophobic camera angle in the book to make the viewer feel as trapped as the characters. [04 Nov 2000, p.12]

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

An intense, if slightly overlong, drama. The film is well assembled, and the performances are all quite good, especially Connery and Hendry. Read full review

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User Reviews

mp303

Feb 14, 2023

How long until a man breaks? how do you differentiate duty and order from pure sadism? The Hill shows this and more, forcing the actors to indulge in this mess (in a good way) and spill out their very best. Not one of them miss the mark in my view.

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MLR

Sep 15, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This was extremely disappointing; several scenes were not at all believable, and I found myself having to force myself to slog through the movie; early Vietnam era anti-military film, the army is rotten, etc. Something film students might analyze for camera angles, but not anything you would want to watch for entertainment.… Expand

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