Robert Redford was one of the few true superstars in Hollywood history. Even the biggest names of recent decades are also-rans when compared to Redford. Other sites will no doubt be focusing on the man’s iconic films but this being Balladeer’s Blog I’m doing his overlooked movies. Well, as overlooked as a major star’s work can be, anyway.
WAR HUNT (1962) – Unusual little movie that was sort of like a Korean War forerunner of Platoon. Redford is Private Roy Loomis, a new arrival who would be the film’s Charlie Sheen equivalent, right down to his first-person narration. John Saxon would be the Tom Berenger equivalent as Private Raymond Endore, who uses the war as an excuse to give his violent tendencies full reign.
Endore is gung-ho and goes forth at night to hunt and slit the throats of North Korean soldiers. Loomis has the more simplistic “just fighting for my country and trying to survive” approach. A young camp follower comes to look up to both figures as they figuratively vie for the boy’s soul.
An uncredited Francis Ford Coppolla plays a truck driver, plus the film features Sydney Pollack, Tom Skerritt, Gavin MacLeod, Nancy Hsueh and Anthony Ray. Continue reading
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