Wake Island

Rating:
Summary: Hollywood's take on the heroic defense of Wake Island
Review: "Wake Island" is the first really rousing film about the United States in World War II. Although a fictional account of the heroic defense of the small Pacific island base, which was attacked by the Japanese following the raid on Pearl Harbor, this 1942 film is a stirring story with some pretty realistic battle scenes staged by director John Farrow. Brian Donlevy stars as Major Geoffrey Caton, with Macdonald Carey as vengeful pilot Lt. Bruce Cameron. Comic relief is provided by Robert Preston and William Bendix as a couple of tough guy Marine privates, Joe Doyle and Aloysius K. "Smacksie" Randall, who are best pals. The sacrifices of these gallant but doomed Marine defenders constitutes a truly patriotic call to arms. "Wake Island" was considered a realistic portrait of how American fighting men had died defending this tiny Pacific atoll, and it is not an exaggeration to suggest it was the "Saving Private Ryan" of its day. I was on a military flight that stopped briefly at Wake Island and I read a book when I was younger that talked about how the defenders sunk a Japanese ship with anti-aircraft guns. Whatever liberties it might take with the facts of the Battle of Wake Island, the film serves as a stirring testimony to those who fought to the very end.

Rating:
Summary: Hollywood's take on the heroic defense of Wake Island
Review: "Wake Island" is the first really rousing film about the United States in World War II. Although a fictional account of the heroic defense of the small Pacific island base, which was attacked by the Japanese following the raid on Pearl Harbor, this 1942 film is a stirring story with some pretty realistic battle scenes staged by director John Farrow. Brian Donlevy stars as Major Geoffrey Caton, with Macdonald Carey as vengeful pilot Lt. Bruce Cameron. Comic relief is provided by Robert Preston and William Bendix as a couple of tough guy Marine privates, Joe Doyle and Aloysius K. "Smacksie" Randall, who are best pals. The sacrifices of these gallant but doomed Marine defenders constitutes a truly patriotic call to arms. "Wake Island" was considered a realistic portrait of how American fighting men had died defending this tiny Pacific atoll, and it is not an exaggeration to suggest it was the "Saving Private Ryan" of its day. I was on a military flight that stopped briefly at Wake Island and I read a book when I was younger that talked about how the defenders sunk a Japanese ship with anti-aircraft guns. Whatever liberties it might take with the facts of the Battle of Wake Island, the film serves as a stirring testimony to those who fought to the very end.

Rating:
Summary: Hollywood's take on the heroic defense of Wake Island
Review: "Wake Island" is the first really rousing film about the United States in World War II. Although a fictional account of the heroic defense of the small Pacific island base, which was attacked by the Japanese following the raid on Pearl Harbor, this 1942 film is a stirring story with some pretty realistic battle scenes staged by director John Farrow. Brian Donlevy stars as Major Geoffrey Caton, with Macdonald Carey as vengeful pilot Lt. Bruce Cameron. Comic relief is provided by Robert Preston and William Bendix as a couple of tough guy Marine privates, Joe Doyle and Aloysius K. "Smacksie" Randall, who are best pals. The sacrifices of these gallant but doomed Marine defenders constitutes a truly patriotic call to arms. "Wake Island" was considered a realistic portrait of how American fighting men had died defending this tiny Pacific atoll, and it is not an exaggeration to suggest it was the "Saving Private Ryan" of its day. I was on a military flight that stopped briefly at Wake Island and I read a book when I was younger that talked about how the defenders sunk a Japanese ship with anti-aircraft guns. Whatever liberties it might take with the facts of the Battle of Wake Island, the film serves as a stirring testimony to those who fought to the very end.

Rating:
Summary: One of any WW II buffs collection!!!
Review: A good cast of old favorites.
A movie made to give the people on the home front confidence that
the Japs could be beaten.
I've seen this film several time and still love seeing it. I was glad to finally
get it on DVD.
If you like the old B&W WW II films from the 40's and 50's your sure to
like this one. The story is very loosely based on fact. They get the important parts right. Most importantly these guys fought the first battle of WW II for the US. They went on to lose the island and spend the rest of war in POW camps. But they bloodied the Japs, and everyone on the home front hope.

Rating:
Summary: "Awful lot of money being wasted around here!"
Review: For those who haven't seen this film, the above line is spoken by William Bendix and refers to the constant Japanese naval and air bombardment of Wake Island that the U.S. Marines and civilians endured on the base. I have always been fascinated with "famous last stands" in American military history, and the story of Wake Island is one of the most famous.

This classic war movie, while over 60 years old, is still very meaningful and entertaining today. Yes, some of the historical details are missing, but the brave determination of the Wake Island garrison is wonderfully captured. Brian Donlevy, who was usually stuck in supporting roles, gets top billing this time and does a great job. And William Bendix, one of my favorite actors from this period, steals every scene he's in with his typical tough-guy-without-a-brain role!

Many will view the movie's portrayel of the Japanese as unfair and racist, but remember this movie was released only months after the attack on Pearl harbor. The special effects are obviously dated, but they are quite possibly the best from any 1940s war movie I've seen. The director did a good job of using authentic combat footage, except for the footage showing bi-planes(?!?).

Of course, with a war movie this old the usual cliches are present, but this movie was aimed at an America that cried for revenge. There are many scenes showing Americans dying, yet the eventual American defeat and especially the surrender of Wake Island are downplayed (the surrender isn't even included in the film). If you want to know the full story of Wake Island, there are several great books available. And if you love classic b & w war films, add this gem to your collection!

Rating:
Summary: Wake Island: America
Review: It has been said that Americans are slow to anger but quick to act. Usually, however, with reference to the use of movies to catch the political pulse of America, the reverse is more often true. After December 7, 1941, most Americans woke up to a burning anger that they had not felt in decades. Recruiting stations were swamped with volunteers. Into this fervent revival of old-fashioned flag-waving patriotism came Hollywood. WAKE ISLAND was one of the first efforts to stiffen our spines for the duration of hostilities. Director John Farrow recreated with only a few distortions the controlled chaos that ruled during those precious early weeks of the war when each passing day that the beleaguered marines held out brought one more day closer to the time when the United States would strike back at Guadalcanal.
Traditionally, Hollywood has presented war films on a level allowing the viewer to connect emotionally with the complicated mixture of battle and soldier. Farrow wisely focused the struggle on Wake Island through the combined perspectives of the commanding officer, played by Brian Donlevy, who maintained the 'big picture' view with the more narrowly focused, yet more blue collar appeal of William Bendix and Robert Preston, who battled each other fully as much as they did the Japanese.
Farrow shows the battle for control of Wake Island in three discrete stages. The first is the moment after the marines learn of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Brian Donlevy organizes his forces for what he knows is the onrushing rising sun. Somehow Bendix and Preston still find time to punch each other's heads in a brawl. The second stage is the stirring initial defense of the island. One of the most dramatic countdowns in film occurs during the approach of the first wave of Japanese destroyers and cruisers. As they approach, they cannonade the island in a withering volley. Since the defenders' own artillery does not have the range of the Japanese's, Donlevy must wait until the enemy ships approach closely enough for the shore batteries to fire. The range finder intones in decreasing units the remaining distance in meters before the Americans can return fire. When that distance in reached, Donlevy orders, "All batteries, open fire!" I can only imagine the cheering that must have occurred in the theaters at that time. The Japanese fleet was severly mauled and had to retreat. During this middle part of the movie, newspaper headlines flashed on the screen proclaiming "Wake Island Still Holds Out!"
The euphoria of this short-lived success faded when the final third of the movie emerged. Here, the Japanese landed, and the remainder of the film is a series of vignettes about the gradual killing of the island defenders. Bendix and Preston gallantly fall. A Japanese officer bursts into the radio room and points his pistol at the American radio operator who is still trying to get out a message at the last instant. The Japanese barks out some order, to which the radio man replies, "Be with you in a second." The Japanese shoots him dead. By the film's end, the audience is filled with a burning rage and desire for revenge, a response which was probably exactly expected by Farrow.
Thus, WAKE ISLAND takes its place in the pantheon of war movies that is at once gripping, emotional, and motivational. The war movies of today tend to focus on the first two. The motivational aspect is no longer politically correct. Pearl Harbor and the events of September 11 indicate that it takes a swift kick in the rear to include the third in any Hollywood response.

Rating:
Summary: Wake Island: America "Woke" Up
Review: It has been said that Americans are slow to anger but quick to act. Usually,however, with reference to the use of movies to catch the political pulse of America, the reverse is more often true. After December 7, 1941, most Americans woke up to a burning anger that they had not felt in decades. Recruiting stations were swamped with volunteers. Into this fervent revival of old-fashioned flag-waving patriotism came Hollywood. WAKE ISLAND was one of the first efforts to stiffen our spines for the duration of hostilities. Director John Farrow recreated with only a few distortions the controlled chaos that ruled during those precious early weeks of the war when each passing day that the beleaguered marines held out brought one more day closer to the time when the United States would strike back at Guadalcanal.
Traditionally, Hollywood has presented war films on a level allowing the viewer to connect emotionally with the complicated mixture of battle and soldier. Farrow wisely focused the struggle on Wake Island through the combined perspectives of the commanding officer, played by Brian Donlevy, who maintained the 'big picture' view with the more narrowly focused, yet more blue collar appeal of William Bendix and Robert Preston, who battled each other fully as much as they did the Japanese.
Farrow shows the battle for control of Wake Island in three discrete stages. The first is the moment after the marines learn of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Brian Donlevy organizes his forces for what he knows is the onrushing rising sun. Somehow Bendix and Preston still find time to punch each other's heads in a brawl. The second stage is the stirring initial defense of the island. One of the most dramatic countdowns in film occurs during the approach of the first wave of Japanese destroyers and cruisers. As they approach, they cannonade the island in a withering volley. Since the defenders' own artillery does not have the range of the Japanese's, Donlevy must wait until the enemy ships approach closely enough for the shore batteries to fire. The range finder intones in decreasing units the remaining distance in meters before the Americans can return fire. When that distance in reached, Donlevy orders, "All batteries, open fire!" I can only imagine the cheering that must have occurred in the theaters at that time. The Japanese fleet was severly mauled and had to retreat. During this middle part of the movie, newspaper headlines flashed on the screen proclaiming "Wake Island Still Holds Out!"
The euphoria of this short-lived success faded when the final third of the movie emerged. Here, the Japanese landed, and the remainder of the film is a series of vignettes about the gradual killing of the island defenders. Bendix and Preston gallantly fall. A Japanese officer bursts into the radio room and points his pistol at the American radio operator who is still trying to get out a message at the last instant. The Japanese barks out some order, to which the radio man replies, "Be with you in a second." The Japanese shoots him dead. By the film's end, the audience is filled with a burning rage and desire for revenge, a response which was probably exactly expected by Farrow.
Thus, WAKE ISLAND takes its place in the pantheon of war movies that is at once gripping, emotional, and motivational. The war movies of today tend to focus on the first two. The motivational aspect is no longer politically correct. Pearl Harbor and the events of September 11 indicate that it takes a swift kick...to include the third in any Hollywood response.

Rating:
Summary: Our new Independence Day tradition!
Review: My husband and I have watched this film together on the 4 of July for two years running. It's a pretty good film that demonstrates the courage of the average fighting man in a pretty dismal spot. The continuous bombing and strafing by Japanese forces did take place; it wasn't Hollywood artistic license. I think it's good to be reminded that our freedom -- the freedom to dislike the conservative right or hate the liberal media -- was hard fought and hard won.

Rating:
Summary: Classic WWII Propaganda Film
Review: One of the very first WWII films produced during the war to showcase American heroism. Stylized, fictionalized docudrama, with names of the heroes changed to protect their anonymity. Since all Americans on Wake Island were killed or taken prisoner, somewhat remarkable that the movie is even this close to the basic facts of the battle. Although Wake Island was a total defeat, at least they went down fighting and took some of the enemy with them. After Pearl Harbor that served as some motivation to the American public, inspiration of an eventual victory, and an advertisement for War Bonds. If you're interested in WWII films of the period, this one must be seen.

Rating:
Summary: Better than remembered
Review: Saw this long ago on TV. We had no Saturday morning cartoons then, only seemingly endlessly repeated WWII movies. This DVD isn't bad at all. Yes, we have all the cliché military and civilian types we're supposed to have in movies of this sort. Yes, we have some VERY well done camera work also. William Bendix and Brian Donlevy great. Worth a look, not "Zulu" but worth a look.