Take the High Ground! (1953): cast, story & where to watch
1953 · Film · ★ 5.3
Released in 1953, Take the High Ground! is a comedy, drama and war film directed by Richard Brooks, running about 101 minutes.
What it’s 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’s in it. Take the High Ground! stars Richard Widmark as Sgt. Thorne Ryan, Karl Malden as Sgt. Laverne Holt, Elaine Stewart as Julie Mollison and Carleton Carpenter as Merton 'Tex' Tolliver, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.3/10, Take the High Ground! has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Take the High Ground! page.
If you liked it. Fans of Take the High Ground! tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Take the High Ground! (1953)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Take the High Ground! change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Take the High Ground! worth watching?
- Take the High Ground! holds an audience score of 5.3 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy, drama and war. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Take the High Ground!?
- Take the High Ground! stars Richard Widmark, Karl Malden, Elaine Stewart, Carleton Carpenter and Russ Tamblyn.
- When was Take the High Ground! released?
- Take the High Ground! was released in 1953, with a runtime of about 101 minutes.