Beach Red (1967)

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 ... See full summary »

Director:

Cornel Wilde

Writers:

Clint Johnston (screenplay), Don Peters (screenplay),

Stars:

Cornel Wilde, Rip Torn, Burr DeBenning

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cornel Wilde	...	Capt. MacDonald / Narrator
Rip Torn	...	Sergeant Honeywell
Burr DeBenning	...	Egan
Patrick Wolfe	...	Cliff
Jean Wallace	...	Julie
Jaime Sánchez	...	Colombo (as Jaime Sanchez)
Dale Ishimoto	...	Captain Tanaka
Genki Koyama	...	Colonel Sugiyama
Gene Blakely	...	Goldberg (Combat Cameraman)
Michael Parsons	...	Sergeant Lindstrom
Norman Pak	...	Nakano
Dewey Stringer	...	Mouse
Fred Galang	...	Lieutenant Domingo
Hiroshi Kiyama	...	Mishio
Michio Hazama	...	Captain Kondo

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.

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Plot Keywords:

island | combat | marine | colonel | shot in the shoulder | 

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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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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

18 November 1967 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Blodröd strand

Filming Locations:

Japan

Company Credits

Production Co:

Theodora Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (archive footage) Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

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)

User Reviews

Great under-rated WWII film

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