The first 2/3 of this film was very good. There were a lot of exceptional airplane flying sequences in the film--with lots of nice Technicolor and realism. I liked this, especially since there aren't that many films about the Korean War. The rest of this 2/3 was made up of a romance that was very soap opera-like. It wasn't bad, but also wasn't particularly necessary. I'd give this part of the film a 7 or even 8.

The final 1/3 of the film is just stupid--which is amazing, as the film had been very realistic and believable up until then. However, in a dopey sequence, one fighter pilot is shot down behind enemy lines and his commander deliberately crashes his F-86 fighter in order to try to rescue this downed pilot (it's just them versus the combined North Korean and Chinese armies)!! This is insane to say the least and making such a belly landing was NOT easy like it looked in the film. Then, when a 3rd American fighter plane was shot down in this same sequence when it was making very low strafing runs (just to help save one pilot--and not a very good one at that!),I groaned with annoyance. Then, these 3 pilots trek across North Korea just as easy as can be!! Duh, this section of the film was just terrible and should earn a 2--at best.

Overall, I'd give the film a 6. It could have been so much better and I was saddened that Robert Mitchum agreed to be in such a film!

By the way, since I am a huge plane buff, here are some final technical comments. In one scene, an F-86 fighter plane is landing. Instead of showing an F-86 blowing up on landing, the plane instantly becomes an F-100--an entirely different plane. This is very sloppy and very noticeable. Did the film makers think the audience was THAT stupid?! However, the film makers using F-84s instead of Russian Mig-15 fighters is more forgivable--it isn't like Hollywood had modern Russian fighter planes sitting around waiting to be used in films!

Although James Salter's novel was the basis for the film The Hunters, the real inspiration dates much further back than that. In fact right back to the Old Testament where jet fighter ace Robert Mitchum faces the temptations of King David himself.

This was the second of two films that Dick Powell directed starring Mitchum and the last big screen project Powell was ever involved in behind the camera. Mitchum, newly assigned to Korea and just checked out on the new jet fighters is assigned a squad with two big problems in it. The first is Lee Phillips who is drinking heavily and has brought his wife over to Japan where the squadron is based. The other problem is Robert Wagner, a would be Tom Cruise of his day with a smart mouth and a bad attitude.

Bathsheba comes in the form of May Britt who is Phillips's wife and Mitchum falls hard for her. They call him the Ice Man because combat is just a game to him, but he's anything but ice around the curvaceous Britt.

The troubles start when all three are downed over North Korea and have to get back to the South in which a wounded Phillips is a handicap. What happens to the trio making it back to their lines is what you see the film to find out.

In Lee Server's book on Robert Mitchum it mentions that Mitchum originally signed on because he thought the film would be shot in the Orient and he would get a free trip there. Once signed sad to say the whole thing was shot stateside.

The best thing about The Hunters are the aerial action sequences which aviation buffs should really like. The human performers are definitely outshone and outflown by the jet planes.

A nice film dealing with with an aerial unit in Japan , boasting some spectacular flying sequences breathtakingly captured in sunny color , though dialogue is less credible . Concerning a motley crew of pilots from a Special Jet Fighter Squadron learning about each other and themselves in this melodrama set during Korean War. Regarding a Major: Robert Mitchum arriving in Tokyo , Japan , and an officer pilot : Lee Philips contend for a deep love, turning into implacable rivals over the same woman : May Britt. Along the way they are confronting by deadly and powerful Chinese MIG fighters in battles and including a young hotshot top-gun : Robert Wagner who doesn't follows the superior orders . Mightiest thrill-shocked adventure spectacle of the super-sonic age !

Breathtaking and impressive aerial cinematography sets this apart from other films of the genre , these scenes were particularly made during shooting , exception for some stock footage from an unfortunate landing where blowing up an airplane . Filmmaker Powell inserts a backbone of steel with some of loving drama into this strong aerial/thriller/warlike movie . Main and support cast are pretty good . Robert Mitchum gives acceptable acting in his usual style . Along with May Britt as the beautiful wife , Robert Wagner, and Lee Philips. And other notorious secondaries as John Gabriel, John Doucette , Stacy Harris , Robert Reed , Richard Egan as Commander-in-chief who is thoroughly convincing as the squadron's commandant , among others .

It packs a colorful cinematography in brilliant Technicolor by Charles Clarke . As well as evocative and adequate musical score by Paul Sawtel. This noise-filled motion picture was well directed by Dick Powell , though he enhances the melodramatic elements at times. Dick Powell was a prestigious actor , a previous song-and-dance and tough guy star , who eventually made some decent movies, such as : Enemy Below, The Conqueror , You can't run away from it , Split Second and this The Hunters . Rating 6.5/10 . Worthwhile watching . The flick will appeal to Robert Mitchum fans .