Dean Stockwell is assigned to a group of soldiers that are covering a largely insignificant area. It's one that apparently won't make any difference in what happens there . The date is August 6, 1945 and it will all soon be over they just don't know it yet . This matters though because the rest of the men who have been there longer knows it will only rack up the number of casualties on both sides . The Japanese soldiers are in a cave no more than twenty or thirty of them. Maybe wounded or sick ( Malaria is a problem) . Albert Salmi is the Sargent he and the rest of the men are put off by Stockwell's gung ho character. He's so military that he could get them killed just by the protocol but also in his need to kill when there is no point. He actually seems only part blood thirsty he is looking to get impress the higher ups.
Suddenly though he's transformed back to an earlier this in the war as a Japanese soldier and another one is in charge spouting many of the things he did and now he does understand the need for mercy. He doesn't want to kill the other side just for the sake of it.
Once again he's back as the American leader in his platoon. The word comes in that the bomb has been dropped and the war is all but over.
Salmi's character says maybe in the next war for and Stockwell has had a change of heart and hopes not.
Stockwell and Salmi do a good job playing characters with opposing views and Salmi proved once again he can play the good guy or the bad one. Leonard Nimoy is underutilized here as another soldier not seeing any point to more killing. The actors playing the Japanese side are effective at playing their counterparts. Stockwell would never be cast now but considering the time he was quite effective. An important message in war and peace and life in general.
Suddenly though he's transformed back to an earlier this in the war as a Japanese soldier and another one is in charge spouting many of the things he did and now he does understand the need for mercy. He doesn't want to kill the other side just for the sake of it.
Once again he's back as the American leader in his platoon. The word comes in that the bomb has been dropped and the war is all but over.
Salmi's character says maybe in the next war for and Stockwell has had a change of heart and hopes not.
Stockwell and Salmi do a good job playing characters with opposing views and Salmi proved once again he can play the good guy or the bad one. Leonard Nimoy is underutilized here as another soldier not seeing any point to more killing. The actors playing the Japanese side are effective at playing their counterparts. Stockwell would never be cast now but considering the time he was quite effective. An important message in war and peace and life in general.