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IMDbPro

Too Late the Hero

  • 1970
  • PG
  • 2h 25m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
3.8K
YOUR RATING
Too Late the Hero (1970)
A reluctant hero, American Lieutenant Sam Lawson, is seconded to a motley British unit tasked with destroying a Japanese radio on a Philippine island.
Play trailer2:30
1 Video
38 Photos
ActionDramaWar

A reluctant hero, American Lieutenant Sam Lawson, is seconded to a motley British unit tasked with destroying a Japanese radio on a Philippine island.A reluctant hero, American Lieutenant Sam Lawson, is seconded to a motley British unit tasked with destroying a Japanese radio on a Philippine island.A reluctant hero, American Lieutenant Sam Lawson, is seconded to a motley British unit tasked with destroying a Japanese radio on a Philippine island.

  • Director
    • Robert Aldrich
  • Writers
    • Robert Aldrich
    • Robert Sherman
    • Lukas Heller
  • Stars
    • Michael Caine
    • Cliff Robertson
    • Ian Bannen
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    3.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Aldrich
    • Writers
      • Robert Aldrich
      • Robert Sherman
      • Lukas Heller
    • Stars
      • Michael Caine
      • Cliff Robertson
      • Ian Bannen
    • 49User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:30
    Watch Trailer

    Photos38

    Too Late the Hero (1970)
    Too Late the Hero (1970)
    Too Late the Hero (1970)
    Too Late the Hero (1970)
    Cliff Robertson in Too Late the Hero (1970)
    Cliff Robertson in Too Late the Hero (1970)
    Michael Caine in Too Late the Hero (1970)
    Cliff Robertson in Too Late the Hero (1970)
    Michael Caine in Too Late the Hero (1970)
    Lance Percival in Too Late the Hero (1970)
    Sam Kydd in Too Late the Hero (1970)
    Cliff Robertson in Too Late the Hero (1970)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Caine
    Michael Caine
    • Pvt. Tosh Hearne
    Cliff Robertson
    Cliff Robertson
    • Lt. Sam Lawson
    Ian Bannen
    Ian Bannen
    • Pvt. Jock Thornton
    Harry Andrews
    Harry Andrews
    • Col. Thompson
    Ronald Fraser
    Ronald Fraser
    • Pvt. Campbell
    Denholm Elliott
    Denholm Elliott
    • Capt. Hornsby
    Lance Percival
    • Cpl. McLean
    Percy Herbert
    Percy Herbert
    • Sgt. Johnstone
    Patrick Jordan
    Patrick Jordan
    • Sergeant Major
    Sam Kydd
    • Colour-Sergeant
    William Beckley
    William Beckley
    • Pvt. Currie
    Martin Horsey
    • Pvt. Griffiths
    Harvey Jason
    Harvey Jason
    • Signalman Scott
    Don Knight
    Don Knight
    • Pvt. Connolly
    Roger Newman
    • Pvt. Riddle
    Michael Parsons
    • Pvt. Rafferty
    • (as Michael J. Parsons)
    Sean MacDuff
    • Pvt. Rogers
    Frank Webb
    Frank Webb
    • Ensign
    • Director
      • Robert Aldrich
    • Writers
      • Robert Aldrich(story) (screenplay)
      • Robert Sherman(story)
      • Lukas Heller(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      While filming in the jungles in the Philippines, Sir Michael Caine seemed to have an unerring sense of direction, and always managed to find his way about. However, filming in the jungles created on the studio backlot in Hollywood was delayed on the first day, as Caine had managed to get himself lost.
    • Goofs
      The British Vickers machine gun had an effective range of 810 yds (740m), but could be used for indirect fire at distances up to 4500 yards (4100m). The British 2-inch mortar had a range of 500 yards (457m). Given that the mortars can reach the edge of the jungle, that gives the width of the open field as around that distance (500 yds). The Japanese Arisaka rifle had an effective range of 400m (360 yds), which would put the British troops out of range. However, the Japanese infantry are seen using a Type 99 Light Machine Gun. This had a range of up to 1600 yds (1500m), though its effective range was more likely considerably less. This means that the British soldiers would not be out of range of this weapon when they stood behind their weapons pits, though it is unlikely the Japanese would try to hit them at that distance.
    • Quotes

      Captain Hornsby: What an extraordinary fellow!

      Colonel Thompson: Well, he is an American.

    • Alternate versions
      When originally released the US and UK versions each had a different survivor at the end of the film.
    • Connections
      Referenced in The Postgraduate Course in Sexual Love (1970)
    • Soundtracks
      Teddy Bear's Picnic
      Music by John W. Bratton

      Lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy

      [Sung by the patrol as it leaves the base]

    User reviews49

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    War picture with a lot of personal meaning!
    This movie is a personal one for me. I was a high school student at George Dewey H.S., Subic Bay, Philippines from 1968-70. My buddies and I were extras in the movie when it was made out there. We would cut classes and our principal would come out to the movie set to take our names down. We got in trouble when we got back, but this was a once in a lifetime deal. We were paid $12 a day. It was cheaper to use off-duty sailors and marines as well as the high school guys as extras than to pay for extras to be flown in from the U.S. We picked up buses from various parts of the base early in the morning and were taken to the naval magazine where the movie was being filmed. We were out from 6:00 A.M. to about 4:00 P.M. I remember the prop people built this fantastic set with huts and a fake stone church that was used as the Colonel's headquarters. It was nicer than the huts the Filipino people lived in and they wanted to keep them after the movie was finished. They had to be torn down though because of insurance purposes. They had brought these British Army uniforms for us to wear but they were new and looked too good so they ran over them with trucks to give them a rough look. To this day I remember many wild times on the set. Once when Cliff Robertson arrived at the base and was in the Colonel's headquarters, the director Mr. Aldridge yelled at myself and a buddy because we were playing our acoustic guitars too loudly on top of the fake stone church and it could be heard during the scene. I guess Hendrix music was not around in WW2. Another time between takes, Michael Caine and his buddies were on the steps of a building and he started to sing "Hey Jude" by the Beatles. Everyone sang along. It was great and to this day whenever I hear that song it takes me back to that great time! (that was 37 years ago) One of the side actors brought along his girlfriend and she ran around on the beach in her bikini. That was indeed a great sight as sailors, marines and high school kids took breaks from the set to hang out on the beach. I remember meeting the British actor with the broken nose who was in "Flight of the Phoenix" with Jimmy Stewart. He was in the movie and seemed to be a nice guy. A Philippine patrol boat parked at the beach dock. They were kind enough to let us dive off their boat into the water during lunch breaks. Some of the guys earned $18 a day by lying in an open field being dead bodies. These were the soldiers from the movie who were shot by the Japanese snipers. There was a fire on the set one day and shooting had to be stopped. They repaired the set and the movie went on. Parts of the movie were shot near our base hospital on the mountain at Cubi Point in the jungle. These were the scenes where the commando team was in the jungle on the mission. The movie people would party at the Officer's Club at Cubi. It was not well received by all the officers. The movie guys had long hair and dressed very casually, and the marine fighter pilots did not care for this group. I did not hear of any fights though. My buddy next door to our quarters had Michael Caine and some others over for a home cooked dinner. It was well received. It was a great time to be in the Philippines back in those days. After we finished our tour out there we went back to a naval base at Pax River, Maryland. I went up to New York to visit my aunt and she took me to see the movie. It was pretty good. I especially enjoyed it since I could see all my buddies walking around in the background with rifles or just hanging out. It was a great movie and I must say it was filmed in the real jungle setting with snakes and all. No Hollywood back-set here!
    helpful•44
    6
    • sullymangolf
    • Jan 6, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 26, 1970 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Suicide Run
    • Filming locations
      • Caticlan, Malay, Aklan, Philippines
    • Production companies
      • ABC Pictures
      • Associates & Aldrich Company
      • Palomar Pictures International
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • $6,250,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 25 minutes

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