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WarDrama

Yesterday's Enemy

- War Is Hell!

Set during the Burma Campaign of World War 2, this is the story of courage and endurance of the soldiers struggling at close quarters against the enemy. The film examines the moral dilemmas ordinary men face during war, when the definitions of acceptable military action and insupportable brutality become blurred and distorted.

Release Date : 1959-09-10

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Hammer Film Productions

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Stanley Baker

Character Name : Captain Langford

Original Name : Stanley Baker

Gender : Male

Guy Rolfe

Character Name : Padre

Original Name : Guy Rolfe

Gender : Male

Leo McKern

Character Name : Max

Original Name : Leo McKern

Gender : Male

Gordon Jackson

Character Name : Sgt. MacKenzie

Original Name : Gordon Jackson

Gender : Male

David Oxley

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : David Oxley

Gender : Male

Richard Pasco

Character Name : 2nd Lieutenant Hastings

Original Name : Richard Pasco

Gender : Male

Philip Ahn

Character Name : Yamazuki

Original Name : Philip Ahn

Gender : Male

Bryan Forbes

Character Name : Dawson

Original Name : Bryan Forbes

Gender : Male

Wolfe Morris

Character Name : The Informer

Original Name : Wolfe Morris

Gender : Male

David Lodge

Character Name : Perkins

Original Name : David Lodge

Gender : Male

Percy Herbert

Character Name : Wilkins

Original Name : Percy Herbert

Gender : Male

Russell Waters

Character Name : Brigadier

Original Name : Russell Waters

Gender : Male

Barry Lowe

Character Name : Turner

Original Name : Barry Lowe

Gender : Male

Burt Kwouk

Character Name : Japanese Soldier

Original Name : Burt Kwouk

Gender : Male

Timothy Bateson

Character Name : Simpson (uncredited)

Original Name : Timothy Bateson

Gender : Male

Alan Keith

Character Name : Bendish (uncredited)

Original Name : Alan Keith

Gender : Male

Arthur Lovegrove

Character Name : Patrick (uncredited)

Original Name : Arthur Lovegrove

Gender : Male

Edwina Carroll

Character Name : Suni (uncredited)

Original Name : Edwina Carroll

Gender : Female

Brandon Brady

Character Name : Orderly (uncredited)

Original Name : Brandon Brady

Gender : Male

Donald Churchill

Character Name : Elliott (uncredited)

Original Name : Donald Churchill

Gender : Male

Barry Steele

Character Name : Brown (uncredited)

Original Name : Barry Steele

Gender : Male

Howard Williams

Character Name : Davies (uncredited)

Original Name : Howard Williams

Gender : Male

Geoffrey Bayldon

Character Name :

Original Name : Geoffrey Bayldon

Gender : Male

Vincent Wong

Character Name :

Original Name : Vincent Wong

Gender : Male

Reviews

J

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Stunning! "When You Go home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today" There's a school of thought in film world that all war films are anti-war films, some, however, are the definition of such and are cream of the crop. Yesterday's Enemy is one such picture. Out of Hammer Films, it's directed by Val Guest and written by Peter R. Newman. It stars Stanley Baker, Gordon Jackson, Guy Rolfe, Leo McKern and Philip Ahn. Story has the surviving members of a British Army Brigade holing up in a Burmese jungle village, where Captain Langford (Baker) happens upon a map that could prove critical to operations involving the Japanese forces in the area. Unable to get clarity from a potential traitor, Langford must make decisions that will outrage those in his quarters, but could well be for the greater good of the war effort. All while the Japanese are advancing on the village. There is no music here, this is purely a sweaty black and white piece that booms with literary class. These men caught in a claustrophobic crossfire of moral quandaries, faiths and life altering judgements. Complex issues are brilliantly handled by Guest and his superb cast, with ace cinematographer Arthur Grant (shooting in MegaScope) completely making a mockery of the stage bound production to make real a Burmese jungle village. Come the sobering finale the realisation dawns that this was a bold movie for its time, pushing the boundaries of 1950s war movies. It's a must see film for anyone interested in the real side of that famous saying, war is indeed hell. 9/10