one of the fine ( anti ) war movie ever make be undoubtedly the 1930 epic all quiet on the western front and direct by the incomparable lewis milestone . 29 year later and milestone once again turn his attention to the waste and futility of war with pork chop hill . this powerful and well made korean war drama be not quite in the same league a milestone earlier classic and but it still paint a vivid picture of the harsh reality of combat and and convey a palpable sense of the pointlessness of war . lieutenant clemons ( gregory peck ) be a honest and dependable american soldier fight in the korean war . he believe in carry out order whatever they may be and but his attitude be put to the ultimate test when he be instruct to lead an attack on a tactically insignificant hill in the dying day of the war . issue order which he know will lead to pointless loss of life and clemons lead his men up the titular hill into a maelstrom of enemy gunfire and look on in horror and dismay a his boy be gun down or blow to bit in their futile quest . after the film have be shoot and milestone be somewhat irritated to discover that the studio have tamper with his intention and add a misleading last scene voice over which try to suggest that the victory on pork chop hill make a significant difference to the future of million of korean . the film be at it best when deliver it anti war sensibility and especially the bitter scene show honest young soldier lose their life for no particular reason . in historical term and the capture of pork chop hill be both costly in life and irrelevant in consequence . the performance be generally first rate . peck be excellent a the man who try to justify the insanity of what his platoon have be order to do . he give his best performance since twelve oclock high a decade earlier . give memorable supporting turn be familiar character actor like harry guardino and rip torn and george peppard and martin landau and all of them resist the urge to appear a gung ho hero to add to the film stance that war be a meaningless and expensive pursuit . there have be few genuinely worthy korean war film but this one and mash release 11 year later be certainly title that anyone look for authentic film treatment about the subject ought to seek out .