Bataan (1943)

Bataan (1943)

starring Robert Taylor, George Murphy, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Nolan

directed by Tay Garnett

114 minutes

Sgt Bill Dane (Robert Taylor) leads a team of about a dozen men (two Filipino and the rest American) in early 1942 as they first blow up a bridge (in the Philippines) and then prevent the Japanese from building a new bridge to replace it. The officer in charge let's Dane take run the small unit shortly before he is shot and killed by a Japanese sniper. Dane and the others dig in and do their best to hold their position, as ordered. The superior numbers of the Japanese troops proves to be too much. One by one the men are killed directly or indirectly by the enemy troops. Dane contemplates having the unit pull out but deicides that orders and orders.

Thoughts

I first saw this movie about 40 years ago, on TV. I watched it this time on Tubi. It has always been a cousin of Sahara (1943), in my book although that has a more hopeful ending. This film is more of a memorial to the men who died covering the retreat of General MacArthur's forces in the Philippines. 

I kind of wish that I had watched it on DVD (I think I could have borrowed it from the library) because there was a commercial break every 10 minutes. Considering the mood of the story it would have worked better if there hadn't been quite so many breaks.

This film lives up to my memories of it. It's well told even though some of the fight scenes seemed a bit unrealistic. It isn't a very upbeat story but I can see how it was intended to rally people around the flag in the midst of World War 2. 

Notes

This is the only movie in which Robert Taylor appeared that I have seen in recent years. 

Lloyd Nolan played the part of Corporal Todd whom Dane suspects he has met before. I've seen him in two other movies in recent years, The Lady in the Lake (1946) and Hannah and Her Sisters (1986). He was in one episode of The Outer Limits (1963).

Thomas Mitchell played the part of Corporal Feingold. I've seen him in a number of other movies including Stagecoach (1939) and It's a Wonderful Life (1946).

The cast also included Robert Walker and Desi Arnaz, both of whom I have seen in other movies or television shows.

This is the third movie I have seen that was directed by Tay Garnett. The others are The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) and Okay, America! (1932).