The Hill (film)

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The Hill
original film poster
Directed by	Sidney Lumet
Produced by	Kenneth Hyman
Written by	Ray Rigby (play) R.S. Allen (play) Ray Rigby (screenplay)
Starring	Sean Connery Harry Andrews Ian Bannen Ossie Davis Ian Hendry Michael Redgrave
Distributed by	MGM
Release date(s)	1965
Running time	123 min.
Language	English
IMDb profile

The Hill is a 1965 film set in a British army prison in North Africa in World War II. It stars Sean Connery, Harry Andrews, Ian Bannen, Ossie Davis and Michael Redgrave.

[edit] Plot

In a British Army "glasshouse" (detention camp) in the Libyan desert, the prisoners (British soldiers convicted of service offences such as insubordination, drunkenness on duty, or profiteering) are subjected to repetitive drill in the blazing desert heat. The arrival of five new prisoners slowly leads up to a clash with the camp authorities. One new NCO guard, who has also just arrived at the camp employs excessive punishments which include forcing the five newcomers to repeatedly climb an artificial hill in the centre of the camp. When one of the prisoners dies, a power struggle erupts between the camp's Medical Officer, the Regimental Sergeant Major, and two Staff Sergeants, as they attempt to shift blame among themselves.

Roberts (Connery) is a former Sergeant Major from an armoured regiment, convicted of assaulting one of his officers. His reasons for the assault are revealed in dialogue midway through the movie, and Connery's natural charisma combined with his explanation make him the sympathetic character of the piece.

The RSM, whom one would expect to be the villain of the piece, is played by Andrews, who gives him a certain likeable charm, even when making the wrong decisions. He is a career soldier who sees his task as breaking down failed men, then building them back up again, in his words, "into men!"

Sergeant Williams (Ian Hendry) screams to Trooper Joe Roberts (Connery). Behind them, the infamous "The Hill".

Staff Sergeant Williams is new to the prison, and his ambition is matched only by his cruel treatment of the prisoners; he seeks to use their suffering as means for promotion. "And what are you supposed to be," Roberts asks him when he is accused of cowardice in battle, "a brave man in a permanent base job?" The RSM seems to agree, in another scene he slyly mentions the fact that the Germans were bombing the UK (including the civilian prison Williams worked at) just as Williams was volunteering for prison duty in Africa.

Staff Sergeant Harris is the conscience of the prison who sympathizes with the men - too closely, according to the RSM. The officers of the piece, both the CO and the Medical Officer, take their duties casually and, as Roberts points out, "everyone is doing time here, even the screws (prison staff)."

[edit] Awards

[edit] BAFTA Awards

• Winner Best British Cinematography
• Nominee Best Film
• Nominee Best British Film
• Nominee Best British Actor (Harry Andrews)
• Nominee Best British Screenplay
• Nominee Best British Art Direction

[edit] Cannes Film Festival

• Winner Best Screenplay

[edit] National Board of Review

• Winner Best Supporting Actor (Harry Andrews)

[edit] Writers Guild of Great Britain

• Winner Best British Dramatic Screenplay Award

[edit] Quotes

• "He took over days ago, you just haven't noticed yet!" —Staff Sergeant Harris
• "Don't talk back, you different coloured bastard!" —Staff Sergeant Williams
• "Fancy I saw snow on the top of it." —former Sergeant Major Roberts, talking about "The Hill"