One Minute to Zero (1952 film)
Encyclopedia
One Minute to Zero is a romantic
war film
starring Robert Mitchum
and Ann Blyth
set during the Korean War
. Victor Young
's score includes the first recording of the love theme "When I Fall In Love
" (performed here by Doris Day
), which became a popular hit song recorded by a variety of artists.
n invasion of South Korea
, Regular Army
World War II
veterans Colonel Steve Janowski (Mitchum), who has risen from Private (rank)
to his present rank in 15 years, and Sergeant Baker (Charles McGraw
) are teaching South Korean soldiers how to use a bazooka
to stop an enemy tank. Mrs. Linda Day (Blyth) is a United Nations
worker assisting refugees. She and her colleagues are warned by Steve to leave the area, as hostilities are imminent. Linda insists that the North Korea
ns wouldn't risk the wrath of world opinion; Steve asks if it had stopped Hitler.
Soon afterwards, Steve and his US Air Force counterpart, Colonel Joe Parker (William Talman), wake up to find themselves under attack. They compare it to Pearl Harbor
("Isn't this where we came in?" "It's even Sunday morning!"). Janowski takes command of a US Army unit. Meanwhile, he keeps crossing paths with (and falling in love with) Linda. She turns out to be the widow of a professional Army officer who was awarded the Medal of Honor
, and is reluctant to become involved with another soldier.
In one desperate situation, Steve has no choice but to stop a column of refugees infiltrated by armed North Korean guerrillas by calling in artillery strikes. Steve displays remorse for the civilian casualties. However, when Linda learns of the incident, she condemns him for killing innocent people. Later, she finds out why he had to do what he did and apologizes.
As well as the US Army, the South Korean Army and United Nations Workers, the film features the contributions of the British Army
and the Royal Australian Air Force
.
of The Korean Story, RKO originally assigned the film to director Ted Tetzlaff
, however, producer Edmund Grainger, famed for Sands of Iwo Jima
and Flying Leathernecks
wanted a bigger name so replaced Tetzlaff with Tay Garnett
. The original leading lady was Claudette Colbert
who became ill and was replaced by Ann Blyth
. The film attempted to shoot second unit
footage in South Korea.
Though Howard Hughes
had received massive US Army and US Air Force cooperation in making the film, Hughes refused to delete the refugee massacre scene when requested to do so by the Army.
It was filmed at Fort Carson, Colorado
, using troops of the 148th Field Artillery.
Romance film
Romance films are love stories that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate involvement of the main characters and the journey that their love takes through courtship or marriage. Romance films make the love story or the search for love the main plot focus...
war film
War film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
starring Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum
Robert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
and Ann Blyth
Ann Blyth
Ann Marie Blyth is an American actress and singer, often cast in Hollywood musicals, but also successful in dramatic roles. Her performance as Veda Pierce in the 1945 film Mildred Pierce was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.-Life and career:Blyth was born in Mount Kisco,...
set during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Victor Young
Victor Young
Victor Young was an American composer, arranger, violinist and conductor. He was born in Chicago.-Biography:...
's score includes the first recording of the love theme "When I Fall In Love
When I Fall in Love (song)
"When I Fall in Love" is a popular song, written by Victor Young and Edward Heyman . It was introduced in the film One Minute to Zero. The song has become a standard, with many artists recording it, though the original hit version was by Doris Day.Doris Day's recording was made on June 5, 1952...
" (performed here by Doris Day
Doris Day
Doris Day is an American actress, singer and, since her retirement from show business, an animal rights activist. With an entertainment career that spanned through almost 50 years, Day started her career as a big band singer in 1939, but only began to be noticed after her first hit recording,...
), which became a popular hit song recorded by a variety of artists.
Plot
Just prior to the North KoreaNorth Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
n invasion of South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Regular Army
Regular Army
The Regular Army of the United States was and is the successor to the Continental Army as the country's permanent, professional military establishment. Even in modern times the professional core of the United States Army continues to be called the Regular Army...
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veterans Colonel Steve Janowski (Mitchum), who has risen from Private (rank)
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
to his present rank in 15 years, and Sergeant Baker (Charles McGraw
Charles McGraw
Charles Butters , best known by his stage name Charles McGraw, was an American actor, who made his first film in 1942, albeit in a small, uncredited role. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa.-Career:...
) are teaching South Korean soldiers how to use a bazooka
Bazooka
Bazooka is the common name for a man-portable recoilless rocket antitank weapon, widely fielded by the U.S. Army. Also referred to as the "Stovepipe", the innovative bazooka was amongst the first-generation of rocket propelled anti-tank weapons used in infantry combat...
to stop an enemy tank. Mrs. Linda Day (Blyth) is a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
worker assisting refugees. She and her colleagues are warned by Steve to leave the area, as hostilities are imminent. Linda insists that the North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
ns wouldn't risk the wrath of world opinion; Steve asks if it had stopped Hitler.
Soon afterwards, Steve and his US Air Force counterpart, Colonel Joe Parker (William Talman), wake up to find themselves under attack. They compare it to Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
("Isn't this where we came in?" "It's even Sunday morning!"). Janowski takes command of a US Army unit. Meanwhile, he keeps crossing paths with (and falling in love with) Linda. She turns out to be the widow of a professional Army officer who was awarded the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
, and is reluctant to become involved with another soldier.
In one desperate situation, Steve has no choice but to stop a column of refugees infiltrated by armed North Korean guerrillas by calling in artillery strikes. Steve displays remorse for the civilian casualties. However, when Linda learns of the incident, she condemns him for killing innocent people. Later, she finds out why he had to do what he did and apologizes.
As well as the US Army, the South Korean Army and United Nations Workers, the film features the contributions of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
.
Production
With a working titleWorking title
A working title, sometimes called a production title, is the temporary name of a product or project used during its development, usually used in filmmaking, television production, novel, video game, or music album.-Purpose:...
of The Korean Story, RKO originally assigned the film to director Ted Tetzlaff
Ted Tetzlaff
Dale H. "Ted" Tetzlaff was a noted Academy Award-nominated Hollywood cinematographer active in the 1930s and 1940s. He was particularly favored by actress Carole Lombard...
, however, producer Edmund Grainger, famed for Sands of Iwo Jima
Sands of Iwo Jima
Sands of Iwo Jima is a 1949 war film that follows a group of United States Marines from training to the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. It stars John Wayne, John Agar, Adele Mara and Forrest Tucker. The movie was written by Harry Brown and James Edward Grant and directed by Allan Dwan...
and Flying Leathernecks
Flying Leathernecks
Flying Leathernecks is a 1951 action film directed by Nicholas Ray, produced by Edmund Grainger, and starring John Wayne and Robert Ryan. The movie details the exploits and personal battles of United States Marine Corps aviators during World War II...
wanted a bigger name so replaced Tetzlaff with Tay Garnett
Tay Garnett
Tay Garnett was an American film director and writer.Born in Los Angeles, California, Garnett served as a naval aviator in World War I and entered films as a screenwriter in 1920. He was a gagwriter for Mack Sennett and Hal Roach, then joined Pathé and began to direct films in 1928...
. The original leading lady was Claudette Colbert
Claudette Colbert
Claudette Colbert was a French-born American-based actress of stage and film.Born in Paris, France and raised in New York City, Colbert began her career in Broadway productions during the 1920s, progressing to film with the advent of talking pictures...
who became ill and was replaced by Ann Blyth
Ann Blyth
Ann Marie Blyth is an American actress and singer, often cast in Hollywood musicals, but also successful in dramatic roles. Her performance as Veda Pierce in the 1945 film Mildred Pierce was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.-Life and career:Blyth was born in Mount Kisco,...
. The film attempted to shoot second unit
Second unit
In film, the second unit is a team that shoots subsidiary footage for a motion picture. Its work is distinct from that of the first unit, which shoots all scenes involving principal actors...
footage in South Korea.
Though Howard Hughes
Howard Hughes
Howard Robard Hughes, Jr. was an American business magnate, investor, aviator, engineer, film producer, director, and philanthropist. He was one of the wealthiest people in the world...
had received massive US Army and US Air Force cooperation in making the film, Hughes refused to delete the refugee massacre scene when requested to do so by the Army.
It was filmed at Fort Carson, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, using troops of the 148th Field Artillery.