Hell to Eternity (1960)
Based on the story about Guy Gabaldon, a Los Angeles Hispanic boy raised in the 1930s by a Japanese-American foster family. After Pearl Harbor, his foster family is interned at the Manzanar camp for Japanese Americans, while he enlists in the Marines, where his ability to speak Japanese becomes a vital asset. During the Battle of Saipan, he convinces 800 Japanese to surrender after their general commits suicide.
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n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.
Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%
The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.
This film could have be one of the greatest American WW2 movies ever! Seriously, the subject is that potent. This is not to say the filmmakers were not bold they were just bold in sophomoric areas (specifically a sexually charged scene that was downright explicit which is completely irrelevant to the story arc as well as violent death scenes on the battlefield).So ya the Director and Producer chose to titillate with sex and violence as opposed to making a striking social commentary. Such statements were more typical of the later 60's.I love the fact that the film keeps us talking about Guy Gabaldon, he is a great American hero. More so the film is entertaining despite many flaws and has a decent cast (Mr Sulu meet Captain Christopher Pike) yet this film could have been so much more.I believe in the cathartic power of film. I believe films should be honest. The story of Gabaldo is an amazing and powerful story imagine how good this film could be if retold in the following fashion ... 1. You cast a Hispanic to play Gabaldon and you do not gloss over the fact he is Hispanic (Hispanics after all helped build this country and fought in our wars)2. You get his size and age correct (5'4" and 18 years) not all Americans are built like John Wayne 3. You reinforce the fact he was rescued and raised by a Japanese family (The film did a good job of this it is important)4. You expand the attention on the horrible plight of Japanese Americans not sugar coat it ... and talk about the fact Italians and Germans never received such treatment5. Pay some attention to his brothers who went on to fight for America in the 442 ... despite the fact they had been sent to Japanese concentration camps ... and talk about the accomplishments of the 442 in detail6. Lose the silly scene in the apartment7. Accurately portray Gabaldon's activities on Saipan. Galbadon is a great American hero ... he is credited with over 1500 surrenders. Consider how many lives that saved! This story deserves an unbiased and honest retelling. It is a great American story.6/10 for lacking courage
Phil Karlson directed this true story about Guy Gabaldon(played by Jeffrey Hunter) a young boy with absent parents who is adopted into a Japanese foster family in the 1930's, and later has to deal with their internment during the outbreak of WWII. He is quick to fight anyone who mocks his family, but is in a tough spot fighting his own government, though both he and his brothers enlist anyway. Guy joins the marines, where his fluent Japanese proves vital in dealing with the enemy, and he later distinguishes himself by capturing 800 prisoners in Saipan after the general commits ritual suicide. David Janssen costars as his fellow soldier and best friend. Interesting film with some good action scenes, though there is too much padding and comic relief spent in an extended party sequence.
It's rare that I like the idea of a remake. Normally, the original film is MUCH better and remakes almost never stand up to the original movie. However, "Hell to Eternity" has an exceptional story--and with only a few small but obvious changes, it could be a great story...because it's true.This film is about a Marine named Guy Gabaldon. He was a Mexican-American who was orphaned and subsequently taken in by a nice Japanese-American family in the 1930s. When WWII came, his adoptive family was placed in an internment camp and two of his new adoptive brothers went to fight in Europe for the Army. Gabaldon volunteered to fight with the Marines in the Pacific and became an interpreter, since he could speak Japanese fluently. On the island of Saipan, like so many other islands occupied by the Japanese, folks committed suicide in huge numbers to avoid being captured by the Americans--a waste and a serious human tragedy. However, Gabaldon was able to use his skills to save many lives--making him a very unusual hero to say the least! As I said, there were a few problems with the film. First, although the movie was VERY progressive in dealing with anti-Japanese prejudices, the film was also prejudiced in its own way--having the VERY non-Hispanic Jeffery Hunter play the lead. Yes, his acting here was fine--but it also whitewashes the contributions of a minority member--and odd omission to say the least. Second, the middle portion of the film SERIOUSLY loses momentum and the entire stripper portion is very inappropriate. I am NOT anti-sex--but the this actually distracted the viewer and much of this portion is pretty dull. But, with these changes, it is a wonderful story! Well worth seeing.
Excellent war movie. Excellent drama. Phil Karlson directs with less than an A-movie budget, but comes up with outstanding war action scenes and the best from his talented cast. The story is based on the real life story of Guy Gabaldon, who enlisted in the Marines and became a hero in the Battle of Saipan by persuading 2,000 Japanese soldiers to surrender. Guy was adopted by a Japanese family after his mother died. After Pearl Harbor, the young man from Chicago was turned down by the Army due to a split eardrum...but being able to speak Japanese fluently the Marines knew he was of use to his country.At this particular time HELL TO ETERNITY contained harsh and violent war action. Most of the brutality being needed to send the message of the urgency in this powerful story. Cabaldon as a child is played by Richard Eyer. The adult Cabaldon is portrayed flawlessly by Jeffrey Hunter, honestly and with no lack of emotion. Also in the cast: David Jansen, Vic Damone, Patricia Owens, George Takei, John Larch, Nicky Blair and Sessue Hayakawa as Japanese General Matsui. This movie deserves to be ranked with the best of the genre.