The Hill – 1965 | 122 mins | Drama, War | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Sean Connery’s first attempt to establish himself as a major actor out of 007’s tuxedo, this is a gritty, intense drama of wartime injustice. Director Sidney Lumet still manages to catch the profane flavour of the British services on film, and all ranks are represented, from Michael Redgrave through Jack Watson and Alfred Lynch, all the way down to Roy Kinnear.

Set during WWII in a military prison camp in the sweltering North African desert. It finds five new prisoners arriving at the camp, amongst them is disgraced Sergeant Joe Roberts (Sean Connery) who refused to obey orders. The various inmates are subjected to mental and physical torture; the focal point being a gruelling man-made obstacle called ‘The Hill’. As a form of punishment any troublesome prisoners are made to run up and down the hill in stifling heat by sadistic overseer Sergeant Williams (Ian Hendry) and RSM Wilson (Harry Andrews). The peak-capped Hendry and Andrews are compelling villains, while Connery shows as much muscle as talent as the unbreakable rebel. Sergeant Williams’ sadistic behaviour eventually causes the death of an inmate; his attempts at covering it up only lead to conflict within the camp and particularly with Roberts.