Richard Widmark turns callow young men into fighting machines in this engaging boot- camp drama costarring Karl Malden and directed by Richard Brooks; As war rages in Korea; a new crop of U;S; Army recruits reports for basic training; where drill sergeants Ryan (Widmark) and Holt (Malden) have 16 weeks to make them combat-ready; While Holt lends a sympathetic ear and is well-regarded by the troops; Ryan relies solely on tough tactics to whip them into shape; As his brutal methods are questioned by Holt and he becomes involved with an unhappy war widow (Elaine Stewart); Ryan wrestles with the problems of training soldiers while romancing a troubled young woman; Also starring Russ Tamblyn and Steve Forrest; Take the High Ground! was shot on location at Fort Bliss; Texas; and received a well-earned 1953 Oscar nomination for Writing (