War Hunt (1962)
A raw Korean War drama that launched Robert Redford's career and exposed the thin line between soldier and psychopath.
War Hunt - Movie Information
War Hunt - Plot
Dispatched to the front lines during the Korean War, an idealistic American soldier discovers the horrors of combat and comes at odds with a psychopathic member of his platoon.
War Hunt - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the tension of the front lines come to life:
It happened on a raging battlefield, but he could have been a murderer stalking a city's streets!
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War Hunt - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Denis Sanders
Main Cast
- John Saxon
- Charles Aidman
- Sydney Pollack
- Tommy Matsuda
- Gavin MacLeod
- Robert Redford
- Anthony Ray
- Tom Skerritt
- William Challee
- Nancy Hsueh
Writers
- Stanford Whitmore
Producers
- Terry Sanders
- Denis Sanders
War Hunt - FAQs
What is War Hunt (1962) about?
War Hunt follows a young, idealistic American soldier sent to the front lines of the Korean War who quickly discovers the brutal reality of combat. His greatest challenge isn't the enemy — it's a deeply disturbed, knife-wielding member of his own platoon who thrives on killing and refuses to stop even as a ceasefire looms.
Is War Hunt Robert Redford's film debut?
Yes! War Hunt marks Robert Redford's feature film debut. He plays Pvt. Roy Loomis, a fresh-faced soldier arriving at the front. It's a fascinating early glimpse of a future superstar, and the film also features Sydney Pollack — who would later become Redford's longtime collaborator and director — in an early acting role.
Where can I stream War Hunt?
You can stream War Hunt on several platforms, including MGM+, Philo, and fuboTV. It's also available through the MGM+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, and ScreenPix on both Apple TV and Amazon. If you'd rather rent or buy, Fandango At Home has you covered.
What makes the villain in War Hunt so unsettling?
John Saxon's Pvt. Endore is chilling precisely because he isn't a cartoon villain — he's a soldier the military finds useful. He slips behind enemy lines at night with a knife, and the brass looks the other way. The horror deepens when he bonds with a Korean orphan boy, blurring the line between protector and predator.
Who are the main actors in War Hunt?
The cast is headlined by John Saxon as the disturbed Pvt. Endore and Robert Redford as the idealistic newcomer Pvt. Loomis. Charles Aidman plays the conflicted Captain Pratt, Sydney Pollack appears as Sgt. Van Horn, and Tom Skerritt and Gavin MacLeod round out a platoon packed with future Hollywood heavyweights.
Did Francis Ford Coppola appear in War Hunt?
Yes, in a fun piece of Hollywood trivia, Francis Ford Coppola appears in War Hunt as an uncredited army truck driver. It's a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo, but knowing that Redford, Pollack, and Coppola all appear in the same low-budget 1962 war film makes it a remarkable time capsule of emerging talent.
Is War Hunt worth watching today?
Absolutely, especially for classic cinema fans. Beyond its gripping psychological tension, War Hunt is a remarkable historical artifact — it's where Robert Redford and Sydney Pollack first worked together, launching one of Hollywood's most celebrated director-actor partnerships. The film's grim, philosophical take on war still resonates more than six decades later.
Who directed War Hunt and who wrote it?
War Hunt was directed by Denis Sanders, who co-produced it alongside his brother Terry Sanders. The screenplay was written by Stanford Whitmore. Denis Sanders was an Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker, and that eye for raw, unvarnished reality gives War Hunt its distinctive, almost documentary-like intensity on the battlefield.
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