Cinema (1963)

'ollowing is the synopsis of the ew film by Denis and Terry Sandrs. A pictorially beautiful film dth a startling performance by ohn Saxton, “War Hunt” tells a tory without bowing to the iches of the popular social critic. It is May, 1953, on the battleelds of Korea-some three weeks efore the truce will be signed beveen the Chinese Communists nd the forces of the United Naions. But, while U.N. troops now the cease-fire is probably imlinent, there is no letup in the ghting, the wounding and the ying. As the company commaner has told a group of American ^placements in an informal briefig: “This is a peculiar war..!’ Private Roy Loomis (Robert edford) is one of these replacelents, first squad, third platoon, ither members of the squad inude Sgt. Van Horn (Sydney Polick), Corporal Showalter (Tom kerritt), Crotty (Gavin Maceod), Fresno (Tony Ray) and .aymond Endore (John Saxon), .nd, though not on the roster, harlie (Tommy Matsuda) an 8ear-old Korean War orphan who as attached himself to Endore. Endore is an enigma to his feliws. For the love of it he essays slitary nightly patrols into enny outposts. Garbed in black, his ice blackened, and armed only ith a stiletto, he has a long list f Communist kills, and informaen he brings back on enemy disositions has won him the high ggard of Captain Wallace Pratt Charles Aidman ) who has posted im for a DSC. Towards Charlie, horn he is permitted to have rith him everywhere, he is kind nd almost fatherly, but he does ot hesitate to make known his islike if others in the squad show ny interest in the youngster, oomis discovers this».when he fies to teach the boy to play catch. As the squad moves into the renches and bunkers of the Main ine of Resistance, the antagonsm between Endore and Loomis lcreases. Endore continues his uccessful nightly forays to the rowing hero worship of Charlie nd the respect of Capt. Pratt but ’hen a colonel suggests the solier should be sent out for Rest nd Relaxation Endore almost deserately declines. He is allowed to emain with his squad. Loomis survives a squad patrol ito no-man’s-land during which e chillingly witnesses a kill by Indore, but during a subsequent Chinese bombardment and attack suffers a dislocated leg which leaves him helpless in the path of the onrushing Communists. Endore shows up out of the dark and, as Loomis crawls, leads him back to the American lines. Assigned as typist in the supply tent while recovering from the leg injury Loomis has -further occasion to associate with Charlie and seeks to show the lad that, despite Endore’s promises, when the war is over Charlie will be separated from his hero. The boy likes Loomis but his affection for Endore is too great to let him accept what Loomis tells him, and Endore soon bluntly tells Loomis to stop interfering. When, at last, the cease-fire order arrives, each member of the squad is informed. As the GI’s start a mild celebration Loomis is appalled to see Endore slip out of their lines and disappear in noman’s-land. Endore’s stiletto is in his belt, his face is blackened, his garb is black. Charlie is with him. With Van Horn, Loomis reports Endore’s departure to a stunned Captain Pratt who knows that the truce itself is in jeopardy if Endore kills during the cease fire. A search of all the area behind the lines is fruitless. Next morning, masquerading as a graves detail, Pratt, Van Horn and Loomis start a search through no-man’s-land for Endore, under the eyes of nearby Chinese outposts. Through scores of destroyed trenches and crumbling bunkers they push their desperate hunt. As dusk falls they locate their quarry in a caved-in bunker. Charlie is beside him. As the detail approaches, Pratt seeks to talk Endore out of the ruins and return to the American lines. Endore refuses, says he’s planning an ambush that night. All their pleas failing, the trio move slowly in on Endore. Pratt reaches him first and Endore slashes out at him with his stiletto. Van Horn lunges and gets a fist in his face. Then Loomis tackles the man and is cut down with the knife in his shoulder. Pratt draws his .45 and shoots. Endore dies. Dazed, Pratt lowers his weapon. “A mad dog” he says wonderingly. Charlie looks at Endore’s body. With his hands to his ears the boy starts running. He disappears over the horizon. Photo by William Claxton 23