In the vast array of WWII movies, which are the ones that stand out? Special effects help you remember them, but mostly it's the story. If the characters make a special place in your heart and the story tugs you to the edge of your seat, you'll come back to the movie over and over again. Gung Ho! Is based on the true raid of Makin Island, made by a special branch of the Marines. But since American audiences had already seen the newsreels in 1943 and read the reports in the papers, how did Hollywood make the movie interesting? With fantastic characters.
Randolph Scott, a war veteran himself, leads the team as the man behind the raid. He combines his military training with Chinese techniques he's been studying for the first combatant unit after Pearl Harbor. This movie shows every step of the journey, from interviewing the candidates to the special training before they sail to Makin Island. Within the pack are best friends Noah Beery Jr. And David Bruce, both in love with the same woman; Robert Mitchum, a tough boxer; Alan Curtis, who hasn't told anyone he's a minister; and other volunteers who are anxious to kill Japanese troops. The interview process is fascinating, as we see all the different types of soldiers who make up a company. The training sequences are also fascinating, as they learn new techniques to combat an entirely different kind of enemy. Troops in a lineup are far different than men waiting atop palm trees with traps and sniper rifles.
At ninety minutes, this intense, emotional war drama could have easily gone another half hour. It moves quickly and leaves you wanting more. It's a great piece of Americana to show the morale boost we all needed after Pearl Harbor. At the time of this movie's release, we had no idea whether or not the Allies would win the war, but we rallied together and rooted for Randolph Scott to save the day with his Marines. As he says, "Teamwork. The Chinese have a word for it: gung ho!" While that's not a literal translation (gung ho means enthusiasm about going to war), the real commander of the raid used that definition and made it the motto of the Marines. That's good enough for me.
Randolph Scott, a war veteran himself, leads the team as the man behind the raid. He combines his military training with Chinese techniques he's been studying for the first combatant unit after Pearl Harbor. This movie shows every step of the journey, from interviewing the candidates to the special training before they sail to Makin Island. Within the pack are best friends Noah Beery Jr. And David Bruce, both in love with the same woman; Robert Mitchum, a tough boxer; Alan Curtis, who hasn't told anyone he's a minister; and other volunteers who are anxious to kill Japanese troops. The interview process is fascinating, as we see all the different types of soldiers who make up a company. The training sequences are also fascinating, as they learn new techniques to combat an entirely different kind of enemy. Troops in a lineup are far different than men waiting atop palm trees with traps and sniper rifles.
At ninety minutes, this intense, emotional war drama could have easily gone another half hour. It moves quickly and leaves you wanting more. It's a great piece of Americana to show the morale boost we all needed after Pearl Harbor. At the time of this movie's release, we had no idea whether or not the Allies would win the war, but we rallied together and rooted for Randolph Scott to save the day with his Marines. As he says, "Teamwork. The Chinese have a word for it: gung ho!" While that's not a literal translation (gung ho means enthusiasm about going to war), the real commander of the raid used that definition and made it the motto of the Marines. That's good enough for me.