Saturday, June 15, 3:00 p.m. & Wednesday, June 19, 6:00 p.m. | THE HILL may not have as much name recognition as Lumet’s SERPICO, but it packs the same anti-establishment wallop that Lumet is so adept at delivering. Here, the rotten system is the British Army. In a North African military detention center during World War II, five British soldiers (including a Bond-era Sean Connery) who have been convicted of a litany of infractions—going AWOL, getting drunk, refusing orders—are subjected to cruel and unusual punishment by the sadistic Staff Sergeant Williams (Ian Hendry). As the prisoners struggle to maintain their dignity and sanity in the face of overwhelming oppression, THE HILL becomes a powerful meditation on masculinity and the dynamics of power in the military. Of his simple but effective film Lumet noted, “It’s all character—a group of men, prisoners and jailers alike, driven by the same motive force: fear.”

Awards & Nominations

Winner - Best Screenplay, Cannes Film Festival
Nominee - Palme d’Or, Cannes Film Festival
Winner - Best British Cinematography (B/W), BAFTA Film Award
Nominee - Best Film From Any Source, Best British Film, Best British Screenplay, Best British Actor (Harry Andrews), Best British Art Direction (B/W), BAFTA Film Award

Sidney Lumet Centennial: Sidney Lumet (1924–2011) was a director driven by stories of morality. Corrupt systems vs. brave protagonists, the worst of men pitted against the best, honesty in the face of hypocrisy—Lumet’s filmography reflects his dedication to championing what is true and what is just in this harsh world. To celebrate his centennial, we present 12 films by the Oscar-winning filmmaker, June 1–August 21. View full series. 

The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu