Hell to Eternity (1960)

Director:

Phil Karlson

Writers:

Ted Sherdeman (screenplay) and
Walter Roeber Schmidt (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

1 August 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | War

Tagline:

THE MARINES' BATTLE CRY OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

When his adoptive Japanese-American family is sent to Manzanar after Pearl Harbor, a young Chicano enlists in the marines to become a hero in the Battle of Saipan.

Plot Keywords:

Japanese American | Saipan | Manzanar | Surrender | Suicide

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jeffrey Hunter	...	Guy Gabaldon
David Janssen	...	Bill
Vic Damone	...	Pete
Patricia Owens	...	Sheila Lincoln
Richard Eyer	...	Guy, as a boy
John Larch	...	Capt. Schwabe
Bill Williams	...	Leonard
Michi Kobi	...	Sono
George Shibata	...	Kaz Une
Reiko Sato	...	Famika
Richard Gardner	...	Polaski
Bob Okazaki	...	Papa Une
George Matsui	...	George, as a boy
Nicky Blair	...	Martini
George Takei	...	George (as George Takai)

Runtime:

131 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:Approved (certificate #19675) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Okinawa, Japan

Trivia:

The real Guy Gabaldon - unlike Jeffrey Hunter, the tall Anglo actor who played him - was Chicano and only 5'4", 130 pounds. He enlisted in the Marines after Pearl Harbor at age 17. Even though he captured more enemy soldiers single-handedly than anyone else, including WW I hero Sergeant Alvin C. York, he was not awarded the Medal of Honor, as York was.

Quotes:

Gen. Matsui: [saddened by seeing his men surrender] This is not a pretty sight for me to see.
Guy Gabaldon: Neither was Pearl Harbor!

A true World War II story of tremendous emotional impact

World War II hero Guy Gabaldon's story could hardly have been entrusted to a more suitable director than Phil Karlson. Karlson brings a tough masculine style, as well as an emotional impact that would have eluded many a director of action films. Operating as usual on a less-than-A budget, Karlson nonetheless makes the most out of every scene and elicits excellent performances from his cast.

Hell to Eternity is by far the most violent war film made up to that time. But Karlson's outbursts of violence are always tied to a strong emotional response, making the violence anything but gratuitous.

The film is also notable for a surprisingly provocative striptease by Patricia Owens and and an equally provocative kiss between her and Jeffrey Hunter. In terms of its violence and sexual content, Hell to Eternity probably went as far as the censors would allow in 1960.

As Gabaldon, Jeffrey Hunter gives a performance of great sympathy, but also one of considerable edge in his battle scenes. It's a difficult role, because he has to express the moral dilemma of a man raised by a Japanese-American family who is tasked with fighting the Japanese during WW2. The fact that Hunter made King of Kings only one year after this film and also offered diverse characterizations in Key Witness and Sergeant Rutledge the same year as Hell to Eternity is a testament to his versatility as an actor.

Leith Stevens provides an outstanding dramatic score, which unfortunately was poorly represented by the soundtrack album, which contained mainly his jazz-oriented incidental music.

The lower-than-A budget for this film more than likely accounts for it not being better known. But make no mistake about it - it's one of the most powerful war films ever made.