Tonight we went "Back To Bataan" (1945) with John Freakin' Wayne. I found the movie at Mid-Val, and couldn't believe I'd never seen it, being that I'm a Duke fan and this is one of his best known WW2 efforts. It's really more the story of the Philippine people's resistance against the Japanese than a typical vehicle for Wayne, but he was quite good in what amounted to more of an ensemble role in his own film. As "Colonel Joseph Madden", he shows a softer more measured side, not as Gung Ho as we've known him to be. I've long thought that he was a good actor, in that he knew exactly what he was capable of giving in a scene, and he always gave it. Think of him as the Ringo of actors, haha. Or don't. I know a lot of folks don't like Wayne because of his politics, but let's leave that aside for the moment.
Wayne is leading a squad of insurrectionists on the island of Luzon, where they've been tasked with taking down a Japanese airfield. Before they can embark on the mission, the Colonel and his Filipino soldiers witness the Bataan Death March. They decide to remain in place, to protect the local village where they've been encamped. Almost all of the American forces have departed the Philippines. Wayne's troop of resistors includes a Captain (Anthony Quinn) who is the grandson of the great Filipino rebel leader Andres Bonifacio. There are some historical problems with this relationship, but I suggest you check them out on the IMDB "trivia" link for this movie, which will also give you deep insight into Wayne's politics. It's some heavy stuff, but don't let it affect your enjoyment of the film.
The Generals in charge of what remains of the American protective force want Wayne and his fellow officers to use the notion of patriotism as motivation to recruit civilians into the resistance army. They believe that invoking the name of Bonifacio the Elder, who led his people against the Spaniards in 1896, will inspire a similar revolutionary spirit now. However, Anthony Quinn - the grandson - wants no part of a revolution. He is cynical about the chances for success, feeling that the Japanese will crush the revolt. Adding to his doubt is the fact that his girlfriend, the exotic Fely Franquelli, has been co-opted by the Japs to act as a Philippine version of their "Tokyo Rose". She has been set up in a makeshift radio station and is broadcasting anti-resistance propaganda at her people day and night. Quinn can't tell whether she's gone over to the other side, or not.
The great character actress Beulah Bondi plays an American schoolteacher in charge of a class of local kids. They've been educated in the ways of the USA, and we see their preferences for hot dogs and baseball. One boy, Maximo, idolises John Wayne, and in traditional Hollywood style, wants to be part of the action. He's only ten years old, but Wayne makes him an "honorary" Colonel by giving him a pin. Maximo swears allegiance to the resistance, and Wayne tells him that's good enough. He's done his part, now he should remain in the schoolhouse with the other children and listen to Miss Biondi. But you know he's not gonna stay put.
There's a lot of propaganda in this film, and portrayals of "evil" Japanese officers, etc. Nothing egregious, I don't think (or particularly untrue) , but it's in the mold of American WW2 films made during the war, when the filmmakers were encouraged to "play up" the Good Guys and demonise the Bad Guys, so it's interesting that John Wayne later called it "garbage". He got into a big dispute with Director Edward Dmytryk over aspects of the script. I can't imagine what displeased Wayne, because it's all as American as apple pie, and apparently it's more historically correct than a lot of other war films, but the final straw for Wayne was when he found out Dmytryk had once been a Communist. After that, he led the charge to get Dmytryk blackballed in Hollywood, and indeed, the director became one of the Hollywood Ten, accused Communists whose careers were either completely ruined or were never again the same. Yes, John Wayne was a right-wing a-hole, but again, that doesn't mean you cannot enjoy his movies. By the way, Dmytryk renounced Communism himself. Remember that when the picture was made, he was a former Communist. That wasn't good enough for Wayne, who figured "once a Commie, always a Commie". But Dmytryk went on to testify in the hearings of the House Un-American Activities Committee. He "named names" of other suspected Communists, which caused him to be despised, as were others who spoke to the committee such as Elia Kazan and Edward G. Robinson. It was a terrible time, and the hearings turned people in Hollywood against each other, but we are here for the movies so I'll leave it at that.
"Back To Bataan" is serviceable, insofar as it tells a Cliff Notes version of the Philippine resistance in WW2, which led to the independence of it's people. It also shows that the resistance could not have been successful without American support, and of course the payback was that the country has been our ally in the Pacific ever since, and the culture has been partly Americanized. There's a bit of a documentary feel to the story, like a "study film" you saw in Junior High, so the drama between the characters is a little wooden, but the battle sequences are strong, especially when Japanese tanks storm the village toward the end.
I'll give "Back To Bataan" Two Regular Thumbs Up, just because all the things that are good about it add up to a watchable WW2 movie, certainly worth a view. It's not a great film by any means, but not a bad one either. It's medium-grade John Wayne fare, and if you like Big John and don't mind a history lesson you'll want to see it. /////
That's all for now. What'd ya think of today's Impeachment Hearings? I thought Lt. Col. Vindman knocked it out of the park. He also destroyed the attempts by Nunes and Jordan to undermine his character. Those guys are Two Of The Biggest A-Holes In The Known Universe. At any rate, it was a very bad day for Trump, which is a Good Day for America. See you tonight at the Usual Time.
Tons of love! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo :):)
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