Rating: 
Summary: "boys with a memory of death in their eyes"
Review: Based on Richard Tregaskis' popular book of his account of the action at Guadalcanal, when the first detachment of U.S. Marines landed in the Solomon Islands in August of 1942, this is a tough and gritty war film with a sturdy ensemble cast, who do a wonderful job of recreating the diverse characters in the story, from Anthony Quinn who dreams of his señoritas, to the young Richard Jaeckel, who is always writing home to mom.
Preston Foster, William Bendix, Lloyd Nolan and Richard Conte are the other actors that contribute to make the film interesting, along with the narration by Reed Hadley which contrasts with the everyday speech of the dialogue and at times is quite poetic.Enduring the humid jungle, often plagued with torrential rain, and at one point running out of food and needing reinforcements, the narrator says of October 10th, "...for we are tired, after days of heat and rain, dust and disease, mud and malnutrition, weeks of constant fighting...", the film depicts a lot of heroism, the caring for one another, and much patriotism.
The battle cinematography by Charles Clarke is visually exciting, though all very sanitized, as none of the intense fighting is graphic, and one must remember that this is a 1943 film, and the language used is far from politically correct; those who can't put it into historical perspective should avoid seeing it.
Total running time is 93 minutes.
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining Movie, Bad History
Review: Guadalcanal Diary is exactly what you'd expect to come out of Hollywood during the war--high on fluff and propaganda, low on substance. While it's true that some of the events in the film are based on real events, many are not. None of the Japanese attacks, like at the Tenaru and Bloody Ridge, are depicted though they're mentioned in the film. To have included these hair-raising night battles would've made the movie much more realistic and entertaining. With the exception of the ill-fated Goettge Patrol, what you have instead are fictional battles. For instance, the marines never did launch an offensive on the 10 November, the Marine Corps' birthday. Guadalcanal Diary, however, does create the general feel of what it was like to fight on Guadalcanal, though nobody in this film is ever hungry, sick, or unshaven! You do find an excellent depiction of the Battleship bombardment on 13 October as well as some superb air raid scenes. This movie would have been much better if it was strictly based on the time-frame of the book (late July - 26 September). Too bad the movie didn't depict real battles and real people. It's still fun to watch, though. If you like war movies, you'll like this flick.
Rating: 
Summary: An exciting, realistic movie made during the war
Review: Having seen both Guadalcanal Diary and A Thin Red Line, I must say that Guadalcanal Diary is a far better film. Having been made during the war (in 1943, barely a year after the start of the Solomons campaign) this movie goes far beyond being a propoganda film. It is a story about private lives of grunts, all coming from different places yet showing great teamwork and camaradarie. Also, there is no real "Jap bashing" even though this movie was made during the height of conflict with the Japanese. (What do the "propogandist" reviewers have to say about that?). Also, this movie is about the Marine Corps which began the campaign at Guadalcanal. The Army (which is what The Thin Red Line was about) moved in *after* most of the hard fighting was done by the Marines. Granted, the movie does not have the special effects and cinematographic appeal as The Thin Red Line. But the movie has the best realism and cinematography available at the time. Also, there are no "why are we here" and anti-war sentiments that were portrayed in The Thin Red Line. (In my view, The Thin Red Line might have found a better place had it been made about Vietnam). Grunts at WWII, knew very well why they were fighthing. The threat to the world by both Japan and Germany was very real. The future of world freedom (and possibly civilization) was at stake. There was a good depiction of the fear felt by the combat soldier and of the fact that death does not escape even the best. The heroism shown in this film is not just about individuals, but all the Marines collectively who accomplished their job (and duty) well. I highly recommend this film.
Rating:
Summary: Unique Perspective of Famous Battle Filmed During the War
Review: Historical fact was less important in making this film than motivation for a nation desperate for victories. In 1943 shortly after the Marine victory on Guadalcanal when this film was rushed out, the outcome of the war was still very much in doubt. This film is extremely interesting considering that it is mostly propaganda, less so from historical perspective. But if you're interested in the battle, the Marine Corps, or life in America during the war, this movie should be seen.
Rating:
Summary: But This Time for Blood
Review: Hollywood has been cranking out war films ever since the First World War. However, it is only during the Second World War that it has allowed politics to infuse the movies of that era with an unmistakable aura of what it called then patriotism but today would be labelled as poltical incorrectness. In GUADALCANAL DIARY, director Lewis Seiler followed the lead of the first wave of post-Pearl Harbor battle epics like BATAAN and WAKE ISLAND in presenting America on the rebound in the South Pacific. Seiler used the standard elements of the ethnically diverse platoon--the Brooklyn cab driver (William Bendix), the Phillipine Angry Young Man (Anthony Quinn), and the dedicated company commander (Richard Conte)--to reassure an America that was not yet convinced that victory was inevitable that victory would soon be so. What makes war films of this half decade unique is the tacit assumption that when victory is still uncertain that Uncle Sam takes off his gloves and does whatever is necessary to win, even if that includes race baiting and ethnic belittling. Throughout this movie, the GIs continually refer to the Japanese as monkey-men while using their fingers to stretch their own eyelids into the epicanthic folds typical of Asians. Humor too was an element used in the 40s that had not been used before or since. William Bendix, who resembles nothing less than an earlier reincarnation of Rodney Dangerfield, mugs, dances, and clowns his way while all the while proving that humor and heroism are not mutually exclusive. The battle scenes are realistic, even if the writers took some liberties with the facts. Reed Hadley, of RACKET SQUAD fame, plays the narrator/correspondent whose acerbic commentary provides the intellectual counterpoint of Bendix's buffoonery. The not-so-subtle attempt to caricature the Japanese as subhuman monkey men began early on when they [attack] a patrol of GIs on a distant beach, killing all of them (except Anthony Quinn), and finishing up by bayonneting the corpses. Upon his return, Quinn's commanding officer promises to return to that beach, but this time "for blood." The Americans do and chase the Japanese into the ocean, exacting a bloody retribution. In future films, Hollywood allows its actors to rage against a wide range of cinematic enemies, but these enemies are usually allowed to [end their lives]. It is comforting to know that when the chips are down that Hollywood cares more about winning a war than offending the sensibilities of the politically correct.
Rating:
Summary: But This Time for Blood
Review: Hollywood has been cranking out war films ever since the First World War. However, it is only during the Second World War that it has allowed politics to infuse the movies of that era with an unmistakable aura of what it called then patriotism but today would be labelled as poltical incorrectness. In GUADALCANAL DIARY, director Lewis Seiler followed the lead of the first wave of post-Pearl Harbor battle epics like BATAAN and WAKE ISLAND in presenting America on the rebound in the South Pacific. Seiler used the standard elements of the ethnically diverse platoon--the Brooklyn cab driver (William Bendix), the Phillipine Angry Young Man (Anthony Quinn), and the dedicated company commander (Richard Conte)--to reassure an America that was not yet convinced that victory was inevitable that victory would soon be so. What makes war films of this half decade unique is the tacit assumption that when victory is still uncertain that Uncle Sam takes off his gloves and does whatever is necessary to win, even if that includes race baiting and ethnic belittling. Throughout this movie, the GIs continually refer to the Japanese as monkey-men while using their fingers to stretch their own eyelids into the epicanthic folds typical of Asians. Humor too was an element used in the 40s that had not been used before or since. William Bendix, who resembles nothing less than an earlier reincarnation of Rodney Dangerfield, mugs, dances, and clowns his way while all the while proving that humor and heroism are not mutually exclusive. The battle scenes are realistic, even if the writers took some liberties with the facts. Reed Hadley, of RACKET SQUAD fame, plays the narrator/correspondent whose acerbic commentary provides the intellectual counterpoint of Bendix's buffoonery. The not-so-subtle attempt to caricature the Japanese as subhuman monkey men began early on when they [attack] a patrol of GIs on a distant beach, killing all of them (except Anthony Quinn), and finishing up by bayonneting the corpses. Upon his return, Quinn's commanding officer promises to return to that beach, but this time "for blood." The Americans do and chase the Japanese into the ocean, exacting a bloody retribution. In future films, Hollywood allows its actors to rage against a wide range of cinematic enemies, but these enemies are usually allowed to [end their lives]. It is comforting to know that when the chips are down that Hollywood cares more about winning a war than offending the sensibilities of the politically correct.
Rating:
Summary: True Heroism
Review: In this video, a battle is depicted in which a marine and an enemy soldier toss a grenade at each other several times. It eventually exploded next to the marine. His name is John Szilagyi and he lived. His son was my best friend and I lived a summer in their house on summer vacation from college while working in their town. He was then and remains a man of distinction. His physical wounds remain but are for him, a badge of honor. I thank him for his gallantry then and for his upstanding decency as a citizen today. The video is worth the viewing.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie that sticks close to the actual account written
Review: Richard Trejeski ( Please forgive spelling ) was a writer who was there at Guadalcanal and is portrayed in the movie. I have read his book " Guadalcanal Diary" and found this movie to stick very close to his actual accounts. Including even personal stories of the mens lives. Even though this film was made during the war they do not lighten the fact that americans die too ( Many of the main characters die and an actualll event is shown where a whole patrol is ambushed and slowly killed over a nights time which is also in the book and a true story). I highly highly recommend this film.
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie that sticks close to the actual account written
Review: Richard Trejeski ( Please forgive spelling ) was a writer who was there at Guadalcanal and is portrayed in the movie. I have read his book " Guadalcanal Diary" and found this movie to stick very close to his actual accounts. Including even personal stories of the mens lives. Even though this film was made during the war they do not lighten the fact that americans die too ( Many of the main characters die and an actualll event is shown where a whole patrol is ambushed and slowly killed over a nights time which is also in the book and a true story). I highly highly recommend this film.
Rating:
Summary: A well-made "flag waver", which also entertains.
Review: Set apart by its realistic portrayal of the struggle for Guadalcanal from most other "flag-wavers" made during World War 2, this film is also most entertaining. Marines live and die in this film, and the Japanese also certainly die, as you would expect. The black and white photography and narration by Richard Tregaskis (an actor really) give the film a documentary realism. For civilian audiences, this film must have seemed absolutely real to them. However, while the Marines on the 'canal were literally starving to death for a while, the actors in this film stay remarkably healthy looking. Also, they shave every day. The cast is top notch. You'll recognize many past and future stars from it. Richard Jaeckal (the MP Sergeant in The Dirty Dozen ) started his film career in the movie. Guadalcanal Diary is a fine example of the World War 2 film, made to bolster civilian morale during the war years. It is well worth seeing and owning, as a piece of cinematic history.
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