There’s nothing dirtier than a last-ditch defense! Fixed Bayonets! comes from director Sam Fuller, who also wrote the screenplay adapted from a novel by John Brophy. The cast includes Richard Basehart, Gene Evans, Michael O'Shea, Richard Hylton, Craig Hill, and Skip Homeier. Roy Webb handled the music, and Lucien Ballard was in charge of cinematography. The film is set during the Korean War, following a platoon of GIs whose mission is to draw enemy fire while other units reorganize and prepare for a counterattack. "Somebody's got to get left behind, get their bayonets wet. It's tough picking out an outfit, but it's got to be picked." Because Sam Fuller served as an infantryman in World War II, his war films are worth paying attention to, and Fixed Bayonets! is no exception; he’s at the top of his game here. His strengths shine through: things feel understated yet powerful, and the characters are portrayed as very real people, stripped down without unnecessary embellishment. Every line of dialogue and each combat scene demand your full attention so you can get a sense of what it must have been like in wartime. The story centers on 48 men tasked with providing cover for 15,000 others. The odds are stacked against them; they face not only the enemy’s overwhelming numbers but also the harsh terrain—they're positioned high in snowy mountains where the bitter cold mirrors the psychological strain within the platoon. A key element of the narrative involves Basehart’s character, Cpl. Denno, who struggles to kill an enemy soldier, a problem given his potential for command. The pressure of possibly leading weighs on him. The combat sequences are exciting, with artillery warfare in the snow presented with careful consideration. As expected from a Fuller film, there's plenty of suspense, most notably during a tense sequence set in a minefield. The technical aspects are well-executed; the sound design is impactful (a disturbing mix of Asian bugles really gets to you), Ballard’s black and white photography is sharp and conveys a sense of impending danger, and Webb’s music stays out of the way, rightly keeping the focus on the human drama. It's an example of how simplicity can be incredibly effective; Fuller at his best. 8/10

Source on TMDB