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Cut off by the Japanese advance into Burma, a captain and his exhausted British troop take over an enemy-held jungle village. He has two innocent villagers shot to persuade an informer to divulge information. Yesterday's Enemy takes an unflinching look at the effects of war on the human psyche.
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Synopsis
Cut off by the Japanese advance into Burma, captain and his exhausted British troop take over an enemy-held jungle village. He has two innocent villagers shot to persuade informer to divulge information. YESTERDAY'S ENEMY takes an unflinching look at the effects of war on the human psyche.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
53 of 54 people found the following review helpful
By Jeremy W. Newbould
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
This is an excellent wartime drama, set in the Burmese jungle, directed by the ever-reliable Val Guest. The brilliant Stanley Baker stars as Captain Alan Langford, a soldier who has to face two major moral dilemmas when he and his men take over a small village following a shoot-out with some Japanese soldiers.
The first dilemma occurs when the captain has to decide whether or not to execute two of the villagers in order to force an informer (Wolf Morris) to give him some vital information. The question is .... Can sacrificing two innocent people be justified it if means that many more lives will be saved in the long term? Then later, when the tables are turned and the captain and his men are captured by the Japanese, he has to choose whether to talk or else witness the execution of his own men.
This is a well-crafted and superbly-acted film that does not just feature scenes of combat but also examines the human aspect of war and the difficult decisions people in command sometimes have to make. The first-rate cast, headed by Stanley Baker, also includes Guy Rolfe, Leo McKern, Gordon Jackson, Bryan Forbes, David Lodge and Burt Kwouk. Apart from this impressive cast list, one of the main things that struck me about this film was the complete lack of music. However, I thought that enough tension was created without the need for any music and I found that I did not really miss it when I watched this film.
This DVD presents this 1959 black and white film in its original Megascope ratio of 2.35:1 and includes an excellent 24 page collectors booklet. If you have only ever seen some of Hammer's horror movies then I urge you to check out Yesterday's Enemy as it proves that Hammer could also make very good films in other genres as well.
The first dilemma occurs when the captain has to decide whether or not to execute two of the villagers in order to force an informer (Wolf Morris) to give him some vital information. The question is .... Can sacrificing two innocent people be justified it if means that many more lives will be saved in the long term? Then later, when the tables are turned and the captain and his men are captured by the Japanese, he has to choose whether to talk or else witness the execution of his own men.
This is a well-crafted and superbly-acted film that does not just feature scenes of combat but also examines the human aspect of war and the difficult decisions people in command sometimes have to make. The first-rate cast, headed by Stanley Baker, also includes Guy Rolfe, Leo McKern, Gordon Jackson, Bryan Forbes, David Lodge and Burt Kwouk. Apart from this impressive cast list, one of the main things that struck me about this film was the complete lack of music. However, I thought that enough tension was created without the need for any music and I found that I did not really miss it when I watched this film.
This DVD presents this 1959 black and white film in its original Megascope ratio of 2.35:1 and includes an excellent 24 page collectors booklet. If you have only ever seen some of Hammer's horror movies then I urge you to check out Yesterday's Enemy as it proves that Hammer could also make very good films in other genres as well.
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By A London Fan
Format:DVD
Well, I was astonished by how good this film is. Made by Hammer Films in 1959 and despite being shot entirely on set in England it has a deep sense of the grime, heat and fear of the Borneo jungle during WWII.
What really holds it together and creates the powerful generator for this film is a gritty, untheatrical,unsentimental performance by Sir Stanley Baker. He creates a 3 dimensional character and (Amazingly for a top ranked star) never tries to get the audience to "like him". "Manly Stanley" was just that... in the 1950's when Britain's top male stars were Kenneth Moore, Dirk Bogarde and Jack Hawkins he
You can see how he kicked open the door for British leading men to be tough working class "ordinary" people.
Other fine performances from Guy Rolfe and Leo McKern make this absorbing film seem way too short. The director Val Guest struggled to have the film released without any soundtrack music and this really helps the atmosphere and leaves it up the the actors to create tension without music bailing them out. There are quite a few unexpected twists and surprises too.
The subject matter in 1959 was rather brave and controversial so well done Hammer! And well done "Old Vineger Face" as he was lovingly known!
What really holds it together and creates the powerful generator for this film is a gritty, untheatrical,unsentimental performance by Sir Stanley Baker. He creates a 3 dimensional character and (Amazingly for a top ranked star) never tries to get the audience to "like him". "Manly Stanley" was just that... in the 1950's when Britain's top male stars were Kenneth Moore, Dirk Bogarde and Jack Hawkins he
You can see how he kicked open the door for British leading men to be tough working class "ordinary" people.
Other fine performances from Guy Rolfe and Leo McKern make this absorbing film seem way too short. The director Val Guest struggled to have the film released without any soundtrack music and this really helps the atmosphere and leaves it up the the actors to create tension without music bailing them out. There are quite a few unexpected twists and surprises too.
The subject matter in 1959 was rather brave and controversial so well done Hammer! And well done "Old Vineger Face" as he was lovingly known!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Filmbuff
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Tense, brutal and dangerous! A very gripping film. The acting is first class and the story is brutal and shows the realities of war. Don't expect a happy ending; lots of war stories don't have one and neither does this one!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
A bit "stagey"
Take away the action scenes (slogging through the Jungle and having a small, nasty battle or two) and much of this could have beeen performed on the stage. Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. A. Stewart
5.0 out of 5 stars
so we do not forget
hi a true presention of what whent on when you look at the japs now its hard to believ but true,
Published 4 months ago by Mrs. S. G. Lupton
5.0 out of 5 stars
Jungle terror
Imagine yourself in such a position, it wasn't all 'hollywood' and nice, just muck and heavy equipment to lug around - one deffinately for history fans of WW11
Published 5 months ago by William Anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars
About Time
This is not an epic war movie( and is of its time)A good story and good action ( most likley filmed in England and in a studio and not in the far east as depicted. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Foordy
2.0 out of 5 stars
Yesterday's Enemy
Not one of the better movies. It seemed to be one long set of mistakes after another by both sides, so much so it became contrived. Read more
Published 13 months ago by J. A. Cockayne
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cracker of a movie
I really enjoyed this movie. No super hype, no ridiculous special effects. Jack Hawkins is immense in this movie; and it reminded me just how good the actors of that period were.
Published 13 months ago by T. HAMILTON
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best of Hammer, one of the best of Val Guest
"Yesterday's enemy" was Hammer's vigorous response to the offensive "Camp on Blood Island" which I had personally loathed. In "Yesterday's... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Autonome
5.0 out of 5 stars
yesterdays enemy
I enjoyed this film well made and so true to life the acting is superb and one can imagine the death of the soldiers. Great film
Published 16 months ago by K. Bruce
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great little movie.
Really enjoyed this one, a blast from the past in more ways than one. First up I loved the way the studio managed to re-create a Burmese jungle scene, complete with exotic bird... Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2011 by Bobby Smith
3.0 out of 5 stars
Realistic
Well made great to watch gave it to father as a gift he like's it
Published on 27 Oct 2010 by Stewie
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