During the Korean War in 1951, a small force of British soldiers is in danger of being cut off by the advancing Chinese army.

(refer to Friendly-fire incident in the Battle of Hill 282) The film opens in Korea with a British Army patrol, led by Lt. Butler.

In the patrol is tough veteran Sergeant Payne, a slightly psychotic Corporal Ryker, and the cowardly signaller Wyatt.

The patrol heads through the village and up a winding path towards an isolated temple located on a hill, with only a steep cliff to its rear.

For example, I advised the crew to spread the troops wide as the latter advanced, which was militarily correct, but they replied that they didn't have a lens of sufficient width to take it all in!

"[4] Caine added, "The most glaring mistake that I never brought to their notice was that Portugal did not in the least resemble Korea; if anything, Wales was more similar.

After a year of waiting for the perfect moment, with true movie genius they premiered the film on the night that we invaded Suez.

My voice was awful...My eyelashes are blond and so are my eyebrows, which has the effect in close-up of something speaking that hasn't got a face, and it's not much better in medium shot..My appearances were mercifully few, the editor having decided that the cutting-room floor was the ideal place for my first effort at international stardom.