Bataan (1943) is playing on Turner Classic Movies on Tuesday, February 22 at 2:00 p.m. est.
This is an extremely intense picture, made when nobody knew for sure how the war (World War II) would end. Well worth watching.
This is one of the best war films of its era, and it is actually less anti-Japanese than many that came later, such as John Wayne’s Back to Bataan. But never forget the very real and common – and ubiquitous – Japanese atrocities, which they still are loathe to admit. Here, a small number of Americans are acting as a rear guard preventing the invading Japanese from driving south on Bataan in 1942. They have to blow a bridge and hold a ravine, and are subject to snipers, air attacks, and infantry assaults. It is superbly done with a great cast (Desi Arnaz was quite good too). Robert Taylor cast off forever his pretty boy image of the 1930’s with Garbo in his very tough portrayal of the sergeant.
Most notably, Bataan stands out for perhaps the best and most violent hand-to-hand combat footage ever filmed, certainly the best of its era. Also, and often neglected in reviews, is that Bataan featured a fully INTEGRATED Army: a Jew, a black, an Hispanic, a Filipino, and so on. They were all treated equally and heroically. Bataan could not even be shown in parts of the South in the 1940’s due to this. Only two other movies of the WW II period featured a black fighting bravely – Sahara and Crash Dive, but none as well as here. Bataan is a marvelous film on many levels. A classic. Review by Kirasjeri from Brooklyn, New York for the IMDB.
Some promotional materials:
Robert Taylor Actor 
Awesome! I had just ordered the DVD from Amazon. Had been thinking about this film a lot lately. Intense and my favorite Robert Taylor film.
Introducing it to my new BF and bet he’s going to love it, too!
Thanks for the always interesting post!
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Hi,Martha, you’re very welcome. Tell me how you like the fillm when you and your BF have seen it. Judith
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Have not watched this, but will. Thanks! Robert Taylor is the man! Watched 1935 movie Society Doctor last night.
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hi, Jen, wasn’t Mr. Taylor young in “Society Doctor”? it’s a good film but I didn’t think his voice sounded right.
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Yes he was quite young. But since it was 1935 I think the sound wasn’t the greatest. There was some great dialogue though.
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Why do you bother to follow this website if you are so anti Robert Taylor? Why don’t you take your inflammatory comments elsewhere? You are not welcome here.
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Amen, June. I’m just deleting this troll and hope he will get sick of it and find his kicks elsewhere.
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So glad the talentless pedophile Taylor died of lung cancer at such an early age!
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Japan did not commit any war crimes at all in World War II.
It had never signed the Geneva Convention.
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