Too Late the Hero (1970)

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writers:

Robert Aldrich (screenplay)
Robert Aldrich (story)

Release Date:

2 November 1970 (Denmark)

Genre:

Action | War | Drama

Tagline:

War. It's A Dying Business.

Plot:

A WWII film set on a Pacific island. Japanese and allied forces occupy different parts of the island...

Plot Keywords:

Jungle | Transmitter | Prisoners Of War | Bren Gun | Colour Sergeant

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Pvt. Tosh Hearne
Cliff Robertson	...	Lt. (j.g.) Sam Lawson
Ian Bannen	...	Pvt. Jock Thornton
Harry Andrews	...	Col. Thompson
Ronald Fraser	...	Pvt. Campbell
Denholm Elliott	...	Capt. Hornsby
Lance Percival	...	Cpl. McLean
Percy Herbert	...	Sgt. Johnstone
Patrick Jordan	...	Sergeant Major
Sam Kydd	...	Colour-Sergeant
William Beckley	...	Pvt. Currie
Martin Horsey	...	Pvt. Griffiths
Harvey Jason	...	Signalman Scott
Don Knight	...	Pvt. Connolly
Roger Newman	...	Pvt. Riddle

Also Known As:

Suicide Run (USA) (TV title)

Runtime:

Argentina:145 min | USA:133 min (video compilation) | USA:133 min (TCM Print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System) (70 mm prints) | Mono (Westrex Recording System) (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | West Germany:16 (f) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Boracay Islands, Malay, Aklan, Panay, Visayas, Philippines

Company:

ABC Pictures

Trivia:

Director Robert Aldrich refused Cliff Robertson's request to attend the 1969 Academy Awards ceremony, as a flight from the Philippines to Los Angeles and back would be too time-consuming. Robertson won the Oscar - for Charly (1968) - and the crew presented him with a mock statuette made out of wood. According to Turner Classic Movies host Robert Osborne, after the Philippine location shooting was over, Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences President Gregory Peck greeted the cast as it disembarked at Los Angeles International Airport. Robertson was holding his fake Oscar when he got off the plane. As he was approached by Peck with the real statuette, Robertson threw the wood "Oscar" over his shoulder. The fake Oscar hit Michael Caine in the forehead, and caused him to bleed profusely.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Lt. Lawson confers with Col. Thompson in the HQ, the Union Flag on the wall behind Col. Thompson is upside down. In another shot, it is up the right way. During the shoot at Cubi Point in he Philippines, someone stole the flag sometime during the night. They had to send to Hong Kong for another one and the new one was replaced the right way up.

Quotes:

Captain Hornsby: What an extraordinary fellow!
Colonel Thompson: Well, he is an American.

Movie Connections:

References The Killing of Sister George (1968)

Another Time. Another Place

Film Makers in Hollywood weren`t allowed to make anti-vietnam war films in the late 60`s , early 70`s so they decided to make allegories instead. Famous examples are MASH and SOLDIER BLUE. What strikes me is that no one ever refers to this great war film as the definitive Hollywood proxy Nam statement.

The story is simple : Soldiers carry out dangerous mission. But these soldiers are badly led and totally reluctant to carry out their duty. They`d rather " frag " their commander and go home than earn medals . And war isn`t shown as a glorious thing , it`s brutal , dehumanising and most of all terrifying. Also watch out for the very humane portrayal of the enemy officer. Is it sympathy for the Japanese or the Vietnamese that he`s shown this way ?

I could point out all the things I love about this film but it`d take too long. The only two things I disliked about TOO LATE THE HERO was a couple of plot holes. First one`s the fact that the Japanese are good at stopping the enemy from escaping the jungle but are totally hopeless at letting them enter it in the first place ! A major strategic mistake I`d have thought. Secondly Lawson decides he wants to carry out his mission after all which turns him into a bit of a cliche. But don`t let that put you off. TOO LATE THE HERO is compelling , bloody and intelligent.