- One Minute to Zero
-
One Minute to Zero
original film advertisementDirected by Tay Garnett Produced by Edmund Grainger
Howard HughesWritten by William Wister Haines
Milton KrimsStarring Robert Mitchum
Ann Blyth
Charles McGraw
William TalmanMusic by Victor Young Distributed by RKO Radio Pictures Release date(s) 1952 Running time 105 minutes Country United States One Minute to Zero (1952) is a romantic war film starring Robert Mitchum and Ann Blyth set during the Korean War. Victor Young's score includes the first recording of the love theme "When I Fall In Love" (performed here by Doris Day), which became a popular hit song recorded by a variety of artists.
Contents
Plot
Just prior to the North Korean invasion of South Korea, Regular Army World War II veterans Colonel Steve Janowski (Mitchum), who has risen from Private (rank) to his present rank in 15 years, and Sergeant Baker (Charles McGraw) are teaching South Korean soldiers how to use a bazooka to stop an enemy tank. Mrs. Linda Day (Blyth) is a United Nations worker assisting refugees. She and her colleagues are warned by Steve to leave the area, as hostilities are imminent. Linda insists that the North Koreans wouldn't risk the wrath of world opinion; Steve asks if it had stopped Hitler.
Soon afterwards, Steve and his US Air Force counterpart, Colonel Joe Parker (William Talman), wake up to find themselves under attack. They compare it to Pearl Harbor ("Isn't this where we came in?" "It's even Sunday morning!"). Janowski takes command of a US Army unit. Meanwhile, he keeps crossing paths with (and falling in love with) Linda. She turns out to be the widow of a professional Army officer who was awarded the Medal of Honor, and is reluctant to become involved with another soldier.
In one desperate situation, Steve has no choice but to stop a column of refugees infiltrated by armed North Korean guerrillas by calling in artillery strikes. Steve displays remorse for the civilian casualties. However, when Linda learns of the incident, she condemns him for killing innocent people. Later, she finds out why he had to do what he did and apologizes.
As well as the US Army, the South Korean Army and United Nations Workers, the film features the contributions of the British Army and the Royal Australian Air Force.
Production
With a working title of The Korean Story, RKO originally assigned the film to director Ted Tetzlaff, however, producer Edmund Grainger, famed for Sands of Iwo Jima and Flying Leathernecks wanted a bigger name so replaced Tetzlaff with Tay Garnett.[1] The original leading lady was Claudette Colbert who became ill and was replaced by Ann Blyth.[2] The film attempted to shoot second unit footage in South Korea.[3] Though Howard Hughes had received massive US Army and US Air Force cooperation in making the film, Hughes refused to delete the refugee massacre scene when requested to do so by the Army.[4]
It was filmed at Fort Carson, Colorado, using troops of the 148th Field Artillery.[5]
References
- ^ pp.95-96 Rode, Alan K. & Steranko, Jim 'Charles McGraw: Biography of a Film Noir Tough Guy 2007 McFarland
- ^ ibid
- ^ ibid
- ^ Suid, Lawrence Guts and Glory" The Making of the American Military Image University of Kentucky Press 2002
- ^ "Korean War 50th Anniversary". Idaho Military History Museum Pass in Review newsletter. March 2002. http://museum.mil.idaho.gov/Newsletter/1stQtr2002.htm.
External links
Films directed by Tay Garnett 1930s Bad Company (1931) · One Way Passage (1932) · China Seas (1935) · Professional Soldier (1935) · She Couldn't Take It (1935) · Slave Ship (1937) · Stand-In (1937) · Trade Winds (1938) · Eternally Yours (1939) · Slightly Honorable (1939)1940s Seven Sinners (1940) · Cheers for Miss Bishop (1941) · My Favorite Spy (1942) · Bataan (1943) · The Cross of Lorraine (1943) · Mrs. Parkington (1944) · The Valley of Decision (1945) · The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) · Wild Harvest (1947) · A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1949)1950s The Fireball (1950) · Soldiers Three (1951) · Cause for Alarm! (1951) · One Minute to Zero (1952) · Main Street to Broadway (1953) · The Black Knight (1954)1960s A Terrible Beauty (1960) · Cattle King (1963)1970s Categories:- 1952 films
- Korean War films
- Films shot in Colorado
- Films directed by Tay Garnett
- RKO Pictures films
- War romance films
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