Ambush Bay (1966)

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

This is a remake of "The Bridge on the River Kwai" at one-tenth the cost (resulting, not surprisingly, in far less quality).Ten bullet points:1. I first saw the picture in about 1970 on "NBC Saturday Night at the Movies" and loved it. I was very young. 'Nuff said about that.2. It's not available as a DVD on Netflix, for some unknown reason, but is available for streaming there, and is available free on YouTube, somewhat altered (darkened to avoid copyright issues). 3. The music, by Richard LaSalle, sounds very much like "Kwai" except not as good. LaSalle scored many films in his career, all of them destined for second billing at drive-ins.4. The stars are mediocre. Hugh O'Brian (the poor man's William Holden) is palpably bored and/or wooden to the point of parody. O'Brian had quite a career going for himself in the 1950s but by the time of this production was C List. (He was a good man though; inspired by the great Albert Schweitzer, he founded a charitable foundation that seems to do good things.) James Mitchum, son of Robert, looks just like his old man (as he undoubtedly heard every day of his life) but has very little of daddy's talent (yes, nepotism does get your foot in the door in Hollywood). His role here, as written, is actually somewhat subtle and complex, involving emotions like ambivalence; he just ain't up to putting the stuff on the screen. 5. Two supporting actors do well here: Tisa Chang as Miyazaki and Mickey Rooney as Ernie. Miyazaki is tough, earthy, sexy, real. Ernie is full of vinegar and has a couple of funny lines. The film's director (Ron Winston) should have seen that Rooney brought his A game to this production and was worthy of a lot more screen time. 6. Re James Mitchum - what a burden, to be the not-very-talented son of a really famous father and look just like him. I think of Dhani Harrison (son of George) in this context. Difficult to have one's own life. (I really think Dhani should turn his back on all those millions of dollars coming in every year, and the endless parade of luscious 20-year-old groupies, and strike out totally on his own. Easy for me to say, right.)7. The heart of the film is the teahouse sequence followed a bit later by the village sequence. These are reasonably interesting - maybe worth six stars. 8. There seems to be a modest Vietnam connection here. My guess is, this is why the film got funded (it was made in 1965-66). Several lines of dialogue suggest Vietnam including "Who's the enemy?" "Anyone." That kind of thing.9. As various reviews note, these commandos aren't very good at their jobs (thanks to the film's writers). Examples abound. For instance, during their first encounter with the enemy (three Japanese soldiers eating supper) they open fire much too hastily (i.e., they don't wait to see if any enemy soldiers are off in the forest taking a dump or watching birds or whatever). This tactical failure gets the head honcho of the commandos killed. Handy for script purposes but absurd for believability. 10. Watchable for Mickey, for Tisa, for the teahouse and village sequences, and for the Philippines locale, and if, like me, you love war movies and are willing to put up with a lot of mediocrity.

Ambush Bay is directed by Ron Winston. It tells the story of a Marine unit on a Japanese-held island in the Philippines, that tries to hook up with local Filipino guerrillas. The film sees Hugh O'Brian star as Sgt. Corey. Mickey Rooney as Sgt. Wartell and James Mitchum as Pvt. Grenier. In terms of acting they all do a decent job. However their character development rarely goes beyond typical war film cliché.The direction is nothing to get excited about it mainly consists of steady cams that point and shoot. The score is one of my biggest gripes with the film. It's incredibly loud and obtrusive, which kept pulling me out of the film. On a positive note the film has some good action scenes, and it was nice to see a specialist unit that deals in stealth remain stealthy through most of the film.Whilst the film becomes Increasingly dull in its second act. The film does start too pick up when it enters into its third act. The team have too infiltrate a Japanese base then subsequently fight off overwhelmingly large enemy forces. These scenes are well shot, and the action is enjoyable, if somewhat predictable.With it's paper thin plot and poor characterisations, Ambush Bay is an inconsequential B movie that fails in every respect to elevate itself above the limitations of it's genre. If you want too relax on a Sunday afternoon, this film will do its job. However there are other films like The Wild Geese, Dirty Dozen that are more deserving of your attention.

I saw this movie when it came out.Sure it's flawed and riddled with clichés, but there's really only one reason to watch it and that's Mickey Rooney and his flippant comments when he gets wounded and confronted by the Japanese.Baked potatoes and you can eat them with the jackets on.That entire scene stuck in my mind all these years and I am re-watching the movie while I type this.The music is quite good.But if you're looking for a war movie that's accurate or reflects reality, this one isn't it.James Mitchum's character reminds me of one of those guys who questions everything and contributes nothing.By the end of the movie, you're rooting for him to get killed just so he'll shut up.Kind of like some liberals out there.

A squad of Marines arrives at the Philippines, in October 1944. Their mission is top secret; but, if you have some background knowledge, you'll know it has to do with United States General Douglas MacArthur's impending return. The film's Captain is quickly killed off, and handsome "second in command" Sergeant Hugh O'Brian (as Steve Corey) takes over. A distant, no-nonsense hero, Mr. O'Brian was self-described gigolo (servicing a forty-year-old divorcée) as the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He clashes with ill-advisedly red-capped Private James Mitchum (as James Grenier), who has no combat experience. Mr. Mitchum, who also narrates the story, is needed for his radio transmission expertise.The main conflict is between O'Brian and Mitchum; the film's message about war and heroism is haphazardly told. The film's most obvious fault is that nothing much is done to make any of it seem like it takes place in 1944. The Marines look and act like they could be fighting in Vietnam; this may, or may not be part of the point; it isn't clear. Perhaps, it was felt an authentic filming location (Philippines) would be enough. A nice opening introduces the cast, then neglects most of them. Veteran Mickey Rooney (as Ernest Wartell) and beautiful Tisa Chang (as Miyazaki) play the only noteworthy supporting characters.**** Ambush Bay (6/13/66) Ron Winston ~ Hugh O'Brian, James Mitchum, Mickey Rooney, Tisa Chang