Battle Hymn (1957): cast, story & where to watch
1957 · Film · ★ 6.4
Released in 1957, Battle Hymn is a drama and war film directed by Douglas Sirk, running about 109 minutes. “The true story of Col. Dean Hess, clergyman turned fighter pilot!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. 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.
Who’s in it. Battle Hymn stars Rock Hudson as Col. Dean E. Hess, Anna Kashfi as En Soon Yang, Dan Duryea as Sgt. Herman and Don DeFore as Capt. Dan Skidmore, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, Battle Hymn has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In AU you can stream it on BINGE. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Battle Hymn page.
If you liked it. Fans of Battle Hymn tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Battle Hymn (1957)?
- In AU, Battle Hymn is available to stream on BINGE. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Battle Hymn worth watching?
- Battle Hymn holds an audience score of 6.4 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama and war. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Battle Hymn?
- Battle Hymn stars Rock Hudson, Anna Kashfi, Dan Duryea, Don DeFore and Martha Hyer.
- When was Battle Hymn released?
- Battle Hymn was released in 1957, with a runtime of about 109 minutes.