The Highest Honor (1982)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Directors:

Seiji Maruyama
Peter Maxwell

Writers:

Lee Robinson (writer)
Katsuya Susaki (Japanese dialogue)

Release Date:

1984 (USA)

Genre:

War | Drama

Plot:

The true story of a daring raid on Japanese-occupied Singapore Harbour by Australian and British troops during WWII.

Plot Keywords:

WWII | Indonesia | Japanese Occupation | Australia | Execution

Cast

Michael Aitkens	...	Maj. R.M. Ingleton
Craig Ballard	...	Lt. B. Raymond
Vincent Ball	...	Lt. Cmdr. Hubert Marsham
James Belton	...	Lt. H.R. Ross
Steve Bisley	...	A.B. W.G. Falls
Tony Bonner	...	Lt. W.G. Carey
Alan Cassell	...	Lt. Ted Carse
Warren Coleman	...	Leading Seaman K.P. Cain
Slim DeGrey	...	Leading Stoker J.P. McDowell
George Duff	...	Cpl. A.G. Campbell
Tim Elston	...	Sgt. D.P. Gooley
Ken Goodlet	...	Bill Reynolds
John Griffiths	...	Sgt. C.B. Cameron
Riki Harada	...	Sgt. Imai
Michael Harris	...	LCpl. J.T. Hardy
Mark Hembrow	...	Able Seaman F.W. Marsh
Noel Hodda	...	Able Seaman M.M. Berryman
Harold Hopkins	...	Cpl. C.M. Stewart
John Howard	...	Capt. R.C. Page
Andrew Inglis	...	Able Seaman A.M. Jones
Kinya Kitaoji
Hosei Komatsu
John Ley	...	Lt. A.I. Sargent
George Mallaby	...	Lt. Cmdr. Don Davidson
Atsuo Nakamura	...	Minoru Tamiya
You Numazaki	...	Capt. Nomura
Neil Redfern	...	WO2 A. Warren
Jiro Sakagami
Trevor Sommers	...	Sub. Lt. J.G. Riggs
Mizuho Suzuki	...	Maj. Gen. Kawamura
Jonathan Sweey	...	Cpl. A. Crilley
Hajime Tawara	...	Sgt. Maj. Omori
Garry Waddell	...	Cpl. R.B. Fletcher
Stuart Wilson	...	Lt. Gen. Ivan Lyon

Also Known As:

Heroes of the Krait (Australia) (video title)
Minami jujisei (Japan)
Southern Cross
The Highest Honour: A True Story (UK)

Runtime:

144 min | Australia:105 min

Country:

Japan | Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:PG | USA:R

Company:

Southern Films International

Outstanding film

Some war movies succeed where others do not, and that can be judged from a variety of angles. The humanistic angle, one where you can feel the raw emotions (the terror of being under attack, the camaraderie amongst soldiers, the arduous trials people face inside them when in combat, etc..) are always movies I find compelling. Movies like Das Boot and A Midnight Clear are but two examples of movies that you sense a connection to the characters in the film.

This film succeeds on that level as well. It speaks of "The Highest Honor" and that honor is doing the right thing. These 23 soldiers did the right thing, they had honor and it is recognized in a way wholly incompatible with Western thought, but it is, to the very end, a true story of honor. Unforgettable movie. Based on the true story.