Take the High Ground!
“From its rowdy, ribald horse-play, to its rousing marching song... from its hard-boiled hates and slugging feuds to its tough-but tender love story... this is a drama of our times... exciting, exalting, young, brave and alive!”
Synopsis
Sgt. Thorne Ryan, who once fought bravely in Korea, now serves as a hard-nosed drill instructor to new Army recruits at Fort Bliss, Texas. But is he really the man he is often described as? His fellow instructor, and friend helps him to face the ghosts of his past experiences in Korea. One night in a bar across the border in Juarez, Mexico, Sgt. Ryan meets a lady who begins to turn his life around. Will this be enough to help him deal with the past? Or will he continue to be so hard on his troops?
Top Cast
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Richard Widmark
Sgt. Thorne Ryan
Karl Malden
Sgt. Laverne Holt
Elaine Stewart
Julie Mollison
Carleton Carpenter
Merton "Tex" Tolliver
Russ Tamblyn
Paul Jamison
Jerome Courtland
Elvin C. Carey
Steve Forrest
Lobo Nagalaski
Robert Arthur
Donald Quentin Dover IV
Maurice Jara
Franklin D. No Bear
William Hairston
Daniel Hazard
Bert Freed
Sgt. Vince Opperman
Acquanetta
Bar Girl (uncredited)
Matilda Caldwell
Mrs. Hazard (uncredited)
Charlita
Mexican Girl (uncredited)
John Close
Military Policeman (uncredited)
Joe Dominguez
Shooting Gallery Proprietor (uncredited)
Lester Dorr
Army Doctor (uncredited)
Nacho Galindo
Mexican Man (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
October 30, 1953
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Richard Brooks
- Screenplay & Story
- Millard Kaufman
- Original Score
- Dimitri Tiomkin
- Original Title
- Take the High Ground!
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 41m
- Production Studios
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Richard Brooks
Millard Kaufman
Dimitri Tiomkin
John Alton
John D. Dunning
Dore Schary
Department Leadership Roster
Dimitri Tiomkin
Original Music Composer
Millard Kaufman
Screenplay
Richard Brooks
Director
Dore Schary
Producer
John Alton
Director of Photography
John D. Dunning
Editor
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Take the High Ground!.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Take the High Ground!.
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Movies categorized under War
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Oscar Best Writing Nominees
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Oscars 1954
Nominees and selected films for the 26th Academy Awards (ceremony year 1954).
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Frequently Asked Questions About Take the High Ground!
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Take the High Ground! about?
Sgt. Thorne Ryan, who once fought bravely in Korea, now serves as a hard-nosed drill instructor to new Army recruits at Fort Bliss, Texas. But is he really the man he is often described as? His fellow instructor, and friend helps him to face the ghosts of his past experiences in Korea. One night in a bar across the border in Juarez, Mexico, Sgt. Ryan meets a lady who begins to turn his life around. Will this be enough to help him deal with the past? Or will he continue to be so hard on his troops?
Who directed Take the High Ground!?
Take the High Ground! was directed by Richard Brooks.
Who stars in Take the High Ground!?
The principal cast of Take the High Ground! includes Richard Widmark, Karl Malden, Elaine Stewart, Carleton Carpenter, Russ Tamblyn.
When was Take the High Ground! released and how long is it?
Take the High Ground! was released in 1953 with a total runtime of 1h 41m.
Who composed the musical score for Take the High Ground!?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Take the High Ground! was composed by Dimitri Tiomkin.