Retreat, Hell!

A curious Korean War propaganda assignment, perversely hymning the American art of attacking in the wrong direction. Lewis can't (for once) do a great deal with the well-worn yarn of an army unit being blooded and battling forth-and-back to rearguard heroism. But beyond his characteristically telling handling of violence, several incidentals push up the interest quotient: the most capable soldier is played by McCarthy blacklist victim Ned Young, while Lamont Johnson, later a director of note, is also in the cast.