Film Overview"Time Limit" is an effective drama film released in 1957, directed by Karl Malden, in his only directorial effort, and starring Richard Widmark, Richard Basehart, and Dolores Michaels. This movie presents a thought-provoking narrative focused around a post-Korean War investigation into possible treason. The source product was a Broadway play written by Henry Denker and Ralph Berkey.
Plot SummaryEmbed in 1954, U.S. Army Colonel William Edwards (Richard Widmark) is appointed to investigate the case of Major Harry Cargill (Richard Basehart), a POW in the Korean War, implicated of assisting the enemy. Cargill is alleged to have actually worked together with the North Koreans by giving a false confession of American bacterium warfare, for which he deals with a treason charge.
The case appears straightforward up until Edwards starts his examination. He discovers that the only witness against Cargill is his subordinate, Lieutenant George Miller (Don Taylor), who sporadically insists on his charge.
Focused InvestigationAs Edwards digs deeper, he finds an intricate circumstance. Cargill confessed upon witnessing the execution of nineteen of his males, murdered as part of a North Korean psychological warfare tactic created to break him. The confessions were given to stop more executions.
On the other hand, Miller, the only POW survivor of the incident, had actually kept silent about the scenarios that led Cargill to comply with the opponent. He remembered Cargill as a principled officer who just wished to save his males's lives during their severe imprisonment.
Moral Dilemma and ResolutionColonel Edwards deals with a moral issue-- he sympathizes with Cargill's helpless circumstance but is bound by the duty to prosecute him. The movie is not just a questions into a person's choice under severe situations, however a striking critique of the military justice system.
The film climaxes as Cargill declines to validate his actions, accepting his fate as essential, while Edwards wrestles with his ethical conscience. Ultimately, Edwards decides not to proceed with the charge against Cargill, arguing that he went through inhuman extremes that would not typically use.
Reception and Impact"Time Limit" is an extensive expedition of human character under duress. It presents thought-provoking situations and moral questions about war, task, and legal justice. The film was extremely well-known for its appealing narrative, solid performances, and intense drama. While at first a product of post-war America, its themes continue to resonate today.
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