Attack (1956)

This less-known and rather under rated war movie from Baby Jane director Robert Aldrich really is one of the finest examples of the genre.
It takes on the horrors and futility of war, the nepotism of a non professional army and the hellish bravery of the men on the front line.
The cast is outstanding. Jack Palance gives by far his best performance, Eddie Albert makes the audience feel sympathy and hate in almost equal measure and Lee Marvin, whom the director will work with again some time later on the silly but fun Dirty Dozen, is as always great to watch.
The film tells the story of a single National Guard company sent to set up an observation post in a small farm house. When they are attacked by tanks the help they were promised fails to arrive and they find themselves on their own with only a handful of men left.
Will any of them make it back alive? Will the cowardly Captain Cooney get his comeuppance or will the old boys network save him yet again?
Containing the best and most harrowing death scene on film, Attack is simply stunning and I cannot give it high enough praise or recommend it more.


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048966/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_26