ActionDramaWar

Bataan

- THE STORY OF A PATROL OF 13 HEROES

During Japan's invasion of the Philippines in 1942, Capt. Henry Lassiter, Sgt. Bill Dane and a diverse group of American soldiers are ordered to destroy and hold a strategic bridge in order to delay the Japanese forces and allow Gen. MacArthur time to secure Bataan. When the Japanese soldiers begin to rebuild the bridge and advance, the group struggles with not only hunger, sickness and gunfire, but also the knowledge that there is likely no relief on the way.

Release Date : 1943-06-03

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Loew's IncorporatedMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Sgt. Bill Dane

Original Name : Robert Taylor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lt. Steve Bentley

Original Name : George Murphy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cpl. Jake Feingold

Original Name : Thomas Mitchell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cpl. Barney Todd

Original Name : Lloyd Nolan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Capt. Henry Lassiter

Original Name : Lee Bowman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Leonard Purckett

Original Name : Robert Walker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Felix Ramirez

Original Name : Desi Arnaz

Gender : Male

Character Name : F.X. Matowski

Original Name : Barry Nelson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Matthew Hardy

Original Name : Phillip Terry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Corp. Juan Katigbak

Original Name : Roque Espiritu

Gender : Male

Character Name : Wesley Eeps

Original Name : Kenneth Spencer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Yankee Salazar

Original Name : Alex Havier

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sam Malloy

Original Name : Tom Dugan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Elsie McAlister

Original Name : Mary McLeod

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lieutenant

Original Name : Donald Curtis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Machine Gunner

Original Name : Phil Schumacher

Gender : Male

Character Name : Infantry Soldier

Original Name : Bud Geary

Gender : Male

Character Name : Wounded Soldier

Original Name : Ernie Alexander

Gender : Male

Character Name : Japanese Soldier

Original Name : Luke Chan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Japanese Soldier

Original Name : Wing Foo

Gender : Male

Character Name : Japanese Soldier

Original Name : Beal Wong

Gender : Male

Character Name : Japanese Soldier

Original Name : Bruce Wong

Gender : Male

Character Name : Filipino

Original Name : Tom Yuen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man

Original Name : Leigh Sterling

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

One of the 1940s best war movies. World War II and it's the Bataan peninsula. 13 members of the US armed forces, with Filipino volunteers, have been hastily assembled to blow up a bridge and delay Japanese attempts to rebuild it for as long as possible. As the Japanese close in from the surrounding jungle, the men must also battle with their own wills to have any hope of survival. Lets get the complaints of others out the way first. Yes this is a studio shot production, yes there is model work involved, and yes this is unashamedly a flag waving, chest thumping, rally call of heroism. Based around actual events, this is a fictionalised telling that also has no shame in being disparaging towards the Japanese in the film. Now are these things really a problem? This is after all 1943, a time when the US was struggling in the Pacific conflict. A loose copy of John Ford's 1934 film The Lost Patrol, Bataan served as a moral booster for the public back home. The message is clear, this may be tantamount to a suicide mission, because, well, war is indeed hell, but sacrifices are necessary to achieve the bigger freedom objective. Nicely directed by Tay Garnett {The Postman Always Rings Twice} and tightly scripted by Robert Hardy Andrews {The Cross of Lorraine}, the film stars Robert Taylor, George Murphy, Thomas Mitchell, Robert Walker, Desi Arnaz & Lloyd Nolan. Violent and brutal for its time {the hand to hand bayonet sequences are brilliantly realised}, Bataan is also notable for portraying a racially integrated fighting force having to come together for the greater good. This group of men are a mixed bunch, different backgrounds, different races and different classes. But they are in the same boat as the Japanese start to pick them off one by one, and not only that, but Malaria is in the camp as well. The tension is racked up, the atmosphere stifling, we the viewers are witness to a unique show of heroism as we live with these men during their last soul sapping days. The cast do really well when one considers they are in fact playing disposable characters. Taylor in particular is effective as the tough Sergeant forced into command of the group. While some scenes such as a moodily staged camouflaged Japanese approach are truly memorable and linger long in the memory. The end also is terrific, one which puts one in mind of Sam Peckinpah watching and nodding approvingly. High on suspense and beating a real brave heart, Bataan is up with the best that the war genre of film has to offer. Belyng its budget restrictions it achieves its aims and then some. 8.5/10