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Too Late the Hero ()

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A reluctant hero, American Lieutenant Sam Lawson, is seconded to a motley British unit tasked with destroying a Japanese radio on a Philippine island.
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38 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

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Pvt. Tosh Hearne
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Lt. Sam Lawson
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Pvt. Jock Thornton
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Col. Thompson
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Pvt. Campbell
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Capt. Hornsby
Lance Percival ...
Cpl. McLean
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Sgt. Johnstone
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Sergeant Major
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Colour-Sergeant
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Pvt. Currie
Martin Horsey ...
Pvt. Griffiths
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Signalman Scott
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Pvt. Connolly
Roger Newman ...
Pvt. Riddle
Michael Parsons ...
Pvt. Rafferty (as Michael J. Parsons)
Sean MacDuff ...
Pvt. Rogers
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Ensign
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Capt. John G. Nolan
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Maj. Yamaguchi
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Allan Bittleston ...
Soldier (uncredited)
C.D. Blomquist ...
Radio Operator (uncredited)
Bob Christo ...
Body double (uncredited)
Toy Echols ...
Cheering Soldier at British Base Camp (uncredited)
Eiichi Kikuchi ...
Soldier (uncredited)
William Ross ...
Soldier (uncredited)
Kenny Salvatt ...
Platoon Member (uncredited)

Directed by

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Robert Aldrich

Written by

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Robert Aldrich ... (story) &
Robert Sherman ... (story)
 
Robert Aldrich ... (screenplay) &
Lukas Heller ... (screenplay)
 
George Marzbetuny ... () (uncredited)

Produced by

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Robert Aldrich ... producer
Walter Blake ... associate producer

Music by

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Gerald Fried

Cinematography by

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Joseph F. Biroc ... (as Joseph Biroc)

Film Editing by

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Michael Luciano

Editorial Department

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Joseph Harrison ... associate editor

Casting By

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Lynn Stalmaster

Art Direction by

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James Dowell Vance

Set Decoration by

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John Brown

Makeup Department

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Jack Stone ... makeup artist
William Turner ... makeup artist

Production Management

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Fred Ahern ... production supervisor
Vicente Nayve ... production supervisor: Philippines

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Malcolm R. Harding ... second assistant director (as Malcolm Harding)
Francisco MacLong ... first assistant director: second unit
Grayson Rogers ... first assistant director
Oscar Rudolph ... second unit director
Brian Bilgorri ... third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

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John La Salandra ... construction coordinator
Maurice Larson ... painter
Don Pringle ... greensman
Ygnacio Sepulveda ... property master

Sound Department

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Richard S. Church ... sound mixer (as Richard Church)
Milo B. Lory ... sound effects (as Milo Lory)
Franklin Milton ... sound recording supervisor (as Frank Milton)
Levy Principe ... sound mixer: second unit

Special Effects by

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Henry Millar Jr. ... special effects

Visual Effects by

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Albert Nalpas ... montage editor

Stunts

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Dick LeBeau ... stunt double (uncredited)
Joe Pronto ... stunts (uncredited)
Bill Saito ... stunts (uncredited)
Pat Studstill ... stunt double (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Axel Broda ... camera technician: second unit
Joseph Carter ... electrical engineer
Orville Hallberg ... camera operator
William Hanna II ... gaffer (as William Hanna)
Joe Jackman ... camera operator
Robert Merry ... best boy electric
Jun Rasca ... assistant camera: second unit (as June Rasca)
Nonong Rasca ... camera operator: second unit
Hermo Santos ... camera operator: second unit
Paul Schwake Jr. ... head grip
Herbert Smith ... camera operator
Ronald Vidor ... first assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Charles E. James ... wardrobe (as Charlie James)

Location Management

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Arnold H. Orgolini ... location auditor (as Arnold Orgolini)

Music Department

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William Saracino ... music editor

Script and Continuity Department

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Kenneth Gilbert ... script supervisor (as Ken Gilbert)

Transportation Department

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Charles Randazzo ... transportation coordinator

Additional Crew

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William Aldrich ... assistant to producer
Dave Davies ... unit publicist
Patricia Heade ... production assistant
Richard Kuhn ... title designer
Robert C. Lafever ... technical advisor (as Captain Robert C. Lefever USN [Ret.])
Takafumi Ohashi ... technical advisor
William Ross ... English dialogue coach
Robert Sherman ... dialogue supervisor
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

A World War II movie set on a Pacific island. Japanese and Allied forces occupy different parts of the island. When a group of British soldiers are sent on a mission behind enemy lines, things don't go exactly to plan. This movie differs in that some of the "heros" are very reluctant, but they come good when they are pursued by the Japanese, who are determined to prevent them returning to base. Written by Rob Hartill

Plot Keywords
Taglines War. It's A Dying Business. See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Suicide Run (United States)
  • Burning Battlefield (Japan, English title)
  • Robert Aldrichs's Too Late the Hero (World-wide, English title)
  • Trop tard pour les héros (France)
  • Himmelfahrtskommando Okinawa (Germany)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 145 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $6,250,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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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. See more »
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. See more »
Movie Connections Referenced in The Postgraduate Course in Sexual Love (1970). See more »
Soundtracks Teddy Bear's Picnic See more »
Quotes Captain Hornsby: What an extraordinary fellow!
Colonel Thompson: Well, he is an American.
See more »
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