So Proudly We Hail! (1943)A group of nurses returning from the war in the Phillippines recall their experiences in combat and in love. Director:Mark SandrichWriter:Allan Scott |
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So Proudly We Hail! (1943)A group of nurses returning from the war in the Phillippines recall their experiences in combat and in love. Director:Mark SandrichWriter:Allan Scott |
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| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Claudette Colbert | ... |
Lt. Janet 'Davy' Davidson
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| Paulette Goddard | ... |
Lt. Joan O'Doul
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| Veronica Lake | ... | ||
| George Reeves | ... |
Lt. John Summers
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Barbara Britton | ... |
Lt. Rosemary Larson
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| Walter Abel | ... |
Chaplain
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| Sonny Tufts | ... |
Kansas
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Mary Servoss | ... |
Capt. 'Ma' McGregor
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Ted Hecht | ... |
Dr. Jose Bardia
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| John Litel | ... |
Dr. Harrison
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Hugh Ho Chang | ... |
Ling Chee
(as Dr. Hugh Ho Chang)
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Mary Treen | ... |
Lt. Sadie Schwartz
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Kitty Kelly | ... |
Lt. Ethel Armstrong
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Helen Lynd | ... |
Lt. Elsie Bollenbacher
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Lorna Gray | ... |
Lt. Tony Dacelli
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A group of U.S. Army nurses leaves San Francisco for their tour of duty in Hawaii in December 1941. The attack on Pearl Harbor changes their destination, and their lives. Sent to Bataan, in the Philippines, the nurses are led by Lt. Janet Davidson. She is faced with untested nurses who expected an easy time in Honolulu, but who quickly become battle-weary veterans dealing with daily bombardments by the Japanese, overwhelmed by the numbers of wounded, and dwindling supplies. Some of "Davey's" unit also have to deal with romantic entanglements with men they met onboard ship. When Bataan falls, the American forces flee to the offshore island of Corregidor, where they find the Japanese assault just as intense. Written by Ron Kerrigan <mvg@whidbey.com>
It is much too easy to fall into the post-World War Two media trap that the war was a man's war, and that women were just incidental to the effort. Thank goodness there are movies like this to remind Americans that the war was a total effort by almost everyone. In a real sense, women have not yet received full honor for their contribution to the war effort, whether they were ferrying planes, tending wounded, of carrying intelligence. In this film, one finds the horrors of war go beyond the battle lines into the minds of those who faced the reality of a world weary and frightened of war. This movie is also a reminder that most Americans during the war saw the fall of Bataan and the Phillippines as the major tragedy of the time. Pearl Harbor was frightening enough, but the very magnitude of defeat in the Pacific brought home the reality that there would be more casualties--if they could get off the island. It is difficult to find a Colbert movie of this period where she did not excel as a actress. This movie is no exception, she is extraordinary. Also, the evacuation scene is spectacular. If this movie did not inspire the Homefront to greater effort, what could? World War Two was everyone's war, and the peace would be everyone's peace.