Battle Hymn with Rock Hudson: DVD Cover

    Battle Hymn Director: Douglas Sirk Cast: Rock Hudson, Anna Kashfi, Dan Duryea, Don DeFore

    DVD - Wide Screen Learn more

    BUY THIS ITEM

    • $14.99 Online price
      $13.49 Member price
      Join Now
      • skip to cart
    • Add To List uiAction=GetAllLists&page=List&pageType=list&ean=025192501425&productCode=DV&maxCount=100&threshold=3

    GET FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS OF $25 OR MORE

    DELIVERY & GIFT DETAILS:

    Usually ships within 24 hours

    Delivery Time and Shipping Rates

    Eligible for gift wrap & gift message.

    Enter a zip code

    • DVD Release Date: 05/25/2004
    • Original Release: 1956
    • Rating: Not Rated
    • Sales Rank: 7,883

    Viewer Rating: (1 ratings)

    See All Detailed Ratings

     
    • Overview
    • Editorial Reviews
    • Scenes
    • Customer Reviews
    • Cast & Crew
    • Full Product Details

    Features

    Trailer

    Full Product Details

    Scene Index

    Side #1 --
    1. Actual Experiences (Main Titles) [3:20]
    2. Words Aren't Good Enough [2:05]
    3. Arm Your Bombs [5:57]
    4. "Killer" Hess [8:48]
    5. Enemy Contact [9:26]
    6. Unauthorized Strike [8:40]
    7. Guerrilla Sabotage [7:59]
    8. Building Shelter [7:49]
    9. A Way With the Little Ones [8:19]
    10. Enemy Attack [5:37]
    11. I Killed Today [4:08]
    12. Impossible Mission [9:34]
    13. Don't Know How to Die [5:10]
    14. Until a Better Day [3:05]
    15. Abandoning the Orphanage [6:16]
    16. Pilgrimage to Safety [5:25]
    17. Operation Kiddy Car [5:26]
    18. End Titles [1:05]

    Scene Index

    Editorial Reviews

    Battle Hymn was inspired by the true story of American minister Dean Hess, played here with rare sensitivity by Rock Hudson. A bomber pilot during World War II, Hess inadvertently releases a bomb which destroys a German orphanage. Tortured by guilt, Hess relocates in Korea after the war to offer his services as a missionary. Combining the best elements of Christianity and Eastern spiritualism, Hess establishes a large home for orphans. The preacher's efforts are threatened when the Korean "police action" breaks out in 1950. Battle Hymn was one of several collaborations between Rock Hudson and director Douglas Sirk--though Sirk felt that Robert Stack would have been better suited to the role of Rev. Hess. Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

    Customer Reviews

    • Viewer Rating:
    • Ratings: 1Reviews: 1

    Battle Hymnby Anonymous

    Reader Rating:
    See Detailed Ratings

    July 21, 2004: 'Battle Hymn' is the story of a minister, Col. Dean Hess (Rock Hudson) who returns to the fray of battle and train Korean soldiers to fight after he feels he has lost his spiritual calling. Of course Hess finds redemption and his true faith when he becomes involved with a group of Korean orphans and a young Korean/Indian woman, En Soon Yang (Anna Kashfi) who cares for them. Despite several brilliantly staged action sequences this film is not so much a war saga as it is a tale of introspection and finding the courage within one?s self to carry on. The logic behind the treacle is easily explained; the film's director is Douglas Sirk - known for his soppy, sloppy and gushy melodramas that ooze sentiment over substance. The blend of both adventure and drama is seamless enough, but the intrusion of love among the ruins is a bit awkward in spots. Nevertheless, 'Battle Hymn' is a reasonably intelligently-crafted and inspiring movie without being stoic or preachy. Overall the picture quality is nicely rendered but the ravages of time have not been kind in a few spots. Age related artifacts are present throughout - sometimes glaringly so. Black levels are often weak and fine detail is lost in the darkest scenes. Digital anomalies are not an issue for a generally smooth visual presentation. The audio is nicely presented - if somewhat dated. 'Battle Hymn' is finely wrought melodrama tinged with the prerequisite of combat that all war films have in common. The DVD is admirably realized but is not reference quality. Still, it's definitely worth a look.