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Sunday, January 22, 2023

BATAAN (1943)

Though very much a WWII period piece: diorama sound-stage set; John Ford’s sniper-in-the-desert pic THE LOST PATROL/’34 as structural template (M-G-M purchasing remake rights); One from Column A/One from Column B ethnic casting for the fighting unit (Latino, Black, Jew, Asian-American, Filipino); it’s an interesting, often effective WWII period piece.  As war news tilt positive post-MIDWAY, even staid M-G-M thought to try a tough, basically downbeat story on the loss of the Philippines.  Not an overview of the island’s defeat, but coaxing a sort of 300 Spartans holding-action tale of men, honor & sacrifice.  Director Tay Garnett, just off Bob Hope’s MY FAVORITE SPY/’42, of all things, working with M-G-M ordnance, brings off more than you might think.  Even making Robert Taylor’s affectless speech & lack of charm an asset as the efficient, unimaginative Sergeant who all but assumes command over Lee Bowman, his superior officer.  Their assignment?  Blow a bridge and hold off the Jap onslaught.  A suicide mission . . . and they know it.  Debuting Robert Walker, as a naïf sailor who’s fallen in with the outfit, may overplay the aw-shucks element for modern audiences, but sure hit the sweet spot for audiences at the time.  The part made him an instant star, and he’s surprisingly powerful at the end.  In fact, everyone fine; yes, Desi Arnaz, too.  With Black actor Kenneth Spencer a standout in his second and last Hollywood role.  Unusual just to have him in the mix.  More unusual in the still segregated army, he’s neither cook nor driver, but a demolitions expert.  Advanced stuff for ‘43!  Not so advanced; he's always singing up a bass-baritone storm.  Advanced; he sings Blues not Spirituals.  Not so advanced; he gets the most gruesome death; much like 'token' Black actors got in so many ‘70s/’80s comic-horror pics.

DOUBLE-BILL:  M-G-M’s returned to the Philippines for John Ford’s THEY WERE EXPENDABLE/’45.  Released just as the war was winding down, this superb film didn’t find an audience then and hasn’t found one yet.  OR:  A sequel made over at R.K.O.: BACK TO BATAAN/’45.  https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2019/07/back-to-bataan-1945.html

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