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Battle Circus

  • 19531953
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Battle Circus (1953)
Set in Korea and made during the war, this is the love story of a hard-bitten Army surgeon, and a new nurse ready to save the world.
Play trailer2:30
1 Video
28 Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance
  • War

Set in Korea and made during the war, this is the love story of a hard-bitten Army surgeon, and a new nurse ready to save the world.Set in Korea and made during the war, this is the love story of a hard-bitten Army surgeon, and a new nurse ready to save the world.Set in Korea and made during the war, this is the love story of a hard-bitten Army surgeon, and a new nurse ready to save the world.

IMDb RATING
5.9/10
1.6K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Richard Brooks
  • Writers
    • Allen Rivkin(story)
    • Laura Kerr(story)
    • Richard Brooks
  • Stars
    • Humphrey Bogart
    • June Allyson
    • Keenan Wynn
Top credits
  • Director
    • Richard Brooks
  • Writers
    • Allen Rivkin(story)
    • Laura Kerr(story)
    • Richard Brooks
  • Stars
    • Humphrey Bogart
    • June Allyson
    • Keenan Wynn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 29User reviews
    • 7Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:30
    Official Trailer

    Photos28

    Battle Circus (1953)
    Battle Circus (1953)
    Battle Circus (1953)
    Battle Circus (1953)
    Battle Circus (1953)
    Battle Circus (1953)
    Battle Circus (1953)
    Humphrey Bogart in Battle Circus (1953)
    Humphrey Bogart and June Allyson in Battle Circus (1953)
    Humphrey Bogart and June Allyson in Battle Circus (1953)
    Humphrey Bogart and Keenan Wynn in Battle Circus (1953)
    June Allyson in Battle Circus (1953)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Humphrey Bogart
    Humphrey Bogart
    • Maj. Jed Webbeas Maj. Jed Webbe
    June Allyson
    June Allyson
    • Lt. Ruth McGaraas Lt. Ruth McGara
    Keenan Wynn
    Keenan Wynn
    • Sgt. Orvil Stattas Sgt. Orvil Statt
    Robert Keith
    Robert Keith
    • Lt. Col. Hilary Waltersas Lt. Col. Hilary Walters
    William Campbell
    William Campbell
    • Capt. John 'Rusty' Rustfordas Capt. John 'Rusty' Rustford
    Perry Sheehan
    • Lt. Laurenceas Lt. Laurence
    Patricia Tiernan
    Patricia Tiernan
    • Lt. Rose Ashlandas Lt. Rose Ashland
    Adele Longmire
    Adele Longmire
    • Lt. Jane Franklinas Lt. Jane Franklin
    Jonathan Cott
    Jonathan Cott
    • Adjutantas Adjutant
    Ann Morrison
    • Lt. Edith Edwardsas Lt. Edith Edwards
    Helen Winston
    • Lt. Gracianoas Lt. Graciano
    Sarah Selby
    Sarah Selby
    • Capt. Dobbsas Capt. Dobbs
    Danny Chang
    • Korean Childas Korean Child
    Philip Ahn
    Philip Ahn
    • Korean Prisoneras Korean Prisoner
    Steve Forrest
    Steve Forrest
    • Sergeantas Sergeant
    Jeff Richards
    Jeff Richards
    • Lieutenantas Lieutenant
    Dick Simmons
    Dick Simmons
    • Capt. Norsonas Capt. Norson
    Ralph Ahn
    Ralph Ahn
    • Korean Prisoneras Korean Prisoner
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Richard Brooks
    • Writers
      • Allen Rivkin(story)
      • Laura Kerr(story)
      • Richard Brooks
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Nurse Lt. Ruth McGara is assigned to a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) unit near the front lines of the Korean War. There she meets and is roughly romanced by Major Jed Webbe, one of the unit's surgeons. Webbe is pushy and seems to care only for momentary pleasures, but McGara falls for him just the same. Their romance blossoms in the midst of overwhelming numbers of casualties, threats from the enemy and from the weather, and emergency evacuations that test the mettle of even a unit whose very name suggests quick mobility. —Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
    • begins with text
    • timeframe 1950s
    • nurse
    • surgeon
    • evacuation
    • 28 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • M-G-M's great drama of desire under fire!
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
      • War
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Humphrey Bogart accidentally set his left thumb afire with lighter fluid while filming the scene in which his character burns some documents. The accident is visible in the film.
    • Goofs
      Helicopters of this era required constant attention to the collective/throttle as well as the cyclic. The pilot is shown numerous times reaching up and holding his helmet mounted microphone to speak for extended periods of time. This lack of attention to the controls would render the helicopter unstable resulting in a less than smooth flight.
    • Quotes

      Lt. Col. Hilary Walters: Nobody in this man's army can get himself in so much trouble as you in so short a time.

    • Connections
      Edited into Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972)

    User reviews29

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Third rate Bogart and Brooks would be fifth rate with anyone else
    It's hard to believe that Richard Brooks (he of "In Cold Blood" and "The Professionals") directed this. Having coincidentally seen another Korean War film, "One Minute to Zero," immediately before this one, I can vouch for the fact that "Battle Circus" is a major improvement. However, that in itself is no great recommendation. Humphrey Bogart is his usual excellent self, professional and expert in his handling of the role of a MASH unit doctor. And June Allyson is endearing and fine in her role as the nurse who loves him. But despite the fact that plenty of screen romances have survived a greater age difference between couples than the 18 years that separates Bogart and Allyson, Bogart just comes off as uncomfortably old to be pulling the kind of shenanigans he tries with Allyson here. Never mind that in real life Bogart's fairy-tale romance with Lauren Bacall was between two people 25 years apart in age -- this is the movies, and at 53, Bogart seems slightly creepy, forcing his attentions on a young nurse and getting somewhat pissy when she dares to ask if he has a wife. Nonetheless the performances are good and occasionally overcome a difficult script (difficult not in complexity but in mediocrity). Robert Keith, who seems to have managed a long Hollywood career without ever varying his performances one whit, does what he always does as Bogart's commanding officer. Keenan Wynn is substantial and believable as the tough sergeant who keeps things running. But outside of a couple of intense moments (such as the one where a terrified North Korean soldier -- Philip Ahn -- threatens to blow up the operating room), the movie hovers like a helicopter over the no-man's land between drama and soap opera, unable quite to make up its mind where to set down.
    helpful•17
    13
    • JimB-4
    • Nov 25, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 6, 1953 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • MASH 66
    • Filming locations
      • Fort Pickett, Blackstone, Virginia, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,201,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Steve Forrest obituary
    May 26The Guardian - TV News
    Steve Forrest obituary
    May 24The Guardian - Film News

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