Watching this movie in February, 2006, my first thought is how was this movie was received in 1945 vs now. It's hard to believe that Hollywood would make such a patriotic movie about what was essentially an embarrassing defeat for the USA. The armed forces between WWI and 1941 were allowed to whither away their effectiveness to the point that Roosevelt had no choice but to sacrifice the troops in the Philipines. Today, there would be calls for the impeachment of a president.
The men on the PT boats remind me of Bogart in The Caine Mutiny - men willing to join the services before Pearl Harbor for low pay and little respect. They were willing to serve because they knew freedom isn't free.
It's also interesting how MacArthur is portrayed. Before he left for Australia hew was referred to as Dugout Doug because he only went to the front 1 time. He also was criticized for not using his air corps to attack the Japanese before they reached the Phillipines. But by August, 1945 he had the led the Allies to Tokyo Bay for the surrender on the deck of the Missouri. Could Ford have made this movie in 1942 before Mac started his island hopping to Japan?
Not the most exciting movie - especially for a war flick, but an interesting look at soldiers who got their orders and filled them to the best of their abilities - and often to their last breath.
The men on the PT boats remind me of Bogart in The Caine Mutiny - men willing to join the services before Pearl Harbor for low pay and little respect. They were willing to serve because they knew freedom isn't free.
It's also interesting how MacArthur is portrayed. Before he left for Australia hew was referred to as Dugout Doug because he only went to the front 1 time. He also was criticized for not using his air corps to attack the Japanese before they reached the Phillipines. But by August, 1945 he had the led the Allies to Tokyo Bay for the surrender on the deck of the Missouri. Could Ford have made this movie in 1942 before Mac started his island hopping to Japan?
Not the most exciting movie - especially for a war flick, but an interesting look at soldiers who got their orders and filled them to the best of their abilities - and often to their last breath.