IMDb > Too Late the Hero (1970)

Too Late the Hero (1970) More at IMDbPro »


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Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   1,199 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Up 14% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writers:

Robert Aldrich (screenplay)
Robert Aldrich (story)
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Contact:

View company contact information for Too Late the Hero on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

2 November 1970 (Denmark) more

Genre:

Action | War | Drama more

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... more | add synopsis

User Comments:

WWII forerunner of Aliens! more (31 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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
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Additional Details

Also Known As:

Suicide Run (USA) (TV title)
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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 more

Sound Mix:

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

Company:

ABC Pictures more


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

At the time, the largest production to be filmed in the Philippines. more

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. more

Quotes:

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

References The Killing of Sister George (1968) more


FAQ

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14 out of 19 people found the following comment useful.
WWII forerunner of Aliens!, 22 December 1998
Author: Mike-477 from Edinburgh

"Too Late the Hero" is an excellent WWII piece whose plot served as the basis for "Aliens" and "Southern Comfort" and is just as good as those other excellent movies: reluctant hero Cliff Robertson joins a motley group of soldiers (here British troops, including loud-mouthed Michael Caine and mad Ian Bannen) led by an incompetent officer, Denholm Elliot, and an experienced sergeant, Percy Herbert, who dies early on. Soon they are being stalked by a very ruthless enemy (Japanese troops led by Ken Takakura, whose role is, refreshingly, not a stereotype - coming across as a rather efficient officer) and shifty Ronald Fraser attempts to save his skin at the expense of the others. As this is Robert Aldrich there is a lot of brutal action, the characters have very few redeeming features but are excellently portrayed by Robertson and the excellent selection of British character actors, and are very anti-military! The climactic scene where the survivors race across open ground under fire from the Japanese is one of the best climaxes ever!

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Message Boards

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Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Fate of the American Convoy? brok_007
Theme music kurt_student
This has to be the worst war movie Ever! Rocket71288883
missing scene? vespid23
A great war movie featuring the BRITS matwsussx
1970 WWII Movie - Too Late The Hero l884196
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