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Storyline
American Marines storm ashore on a Japanese-held island and push inland while their enemy plans a counterattack, in this look at warfare. Fighting men on both sides are haunted by memories of home and the horrifying, sickening images they experience in combat. Written by
Martin H. Booda <booda@datasync.com>
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Taglines:
It waves no flags and beats no drums. It just pulls the pin on a grenade and throws it - Catch!
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Did You Know?
Trivia
In an interview with British 'Films and Filming' magazine in October 1970, director
Cornel Wilde discussed his on-set methodology : "I used to find so often in Hollywood that there was nothing more tedious than waiting around. Many directors used a stereotypical system of master shot, medium shot, over-shoulder shots, and then close-ups, with long pauses in between for cameras and lights to be adjusted. I got to my dressing room to paint or write- anything to keep my mind alive. So now my policy is to keep three camera crews working simultaneously, so that actors can move from one set-up to the next without delay. I get the occasional protest, but it isn't easy for anybody to complain that I'm working them too hard, because they can see that I'm working harder than anybody else myself."
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Goofs
The Japanese have changed their uniforms to that of the Marines in order trick the Americans. When they are being strafed and bombed by American aircraft, there is a shot of 40 Japanese being shot. When they fall you can see that the extras in the back ground are wearing blue jeans and sneakers.
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Connections
Referenced in
Conker: Live and Reloaded (2004)
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Soundtracks
"Title Song"
Sung by
Jean Wallace
Written by
Cornel Wilde (as Elbey Vid)
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This movie is just starting to get released to the mainstream. If you like WWII films and find it at a cheap price, buy it- you won't be disappointed. It's the Castle Keep of the Pacific- only it makes a little more sense This is a great quasi-anti-war movie that was created during the earlier stages of the Vietnam war. Though it focuses on the American forces, it gives pretty fair treatment to the Japanese soldiers. The music and the dialogue is great, and the action is decent.
I really like Rip Torn as Sgt Honeywell in this. I'm used to him playing the tough old guy Arty in The Larry Sanders Show. Arty acted like a tough guy, but he was old and I think everyone knew he was soft. BUT he is much younger here, and tough as nails- an intimidating character- his justification for fighting the Japanese and breaking both arms of a prisoner is bad-ass -"I'm a kill 'em, I'm a stab 'em...." Cornel Wilde plays the lead officer- pretty similar to Staros in The Thin Red Line- but he's solid The climax is a bit contrived and perhaps too overly-melodramatic, but it's fine for its time
My two knocks- there is a bit too much stock footage in the beginning, and the two main NCOs are boring backwoods idiots