Objective, Burma! (1945)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Raoul Walsh

Writers:

Ranald MacDougall (screenplay) &
Lester Cole (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

17 February 1945 (USA)

Genre:

War | Drama

Plot:

A group of men parachute into Japanese-occupied Burma with a dangerous and important mission: to locate and blow up a radar station...

Plot Keywords:

Burma | Parachute | Radar | Jungle | USA

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars.

Cast

Errol Flynn	...	Capt. Nelson
James Brown	...	SSgt. Treacy
William Prince	...	Lt. Sid Jacobs
George Tobias	...	Cpl. Gabby Gordon
Henry Hull	...	Mark Williams (American News correspondent)
Warner Anderson	...	Col. J. Carter (CO, 503rd Infantry)
John Alvin	...	Hogan
Mark Stevens	...	Lt. Barker (as Stephen Richards)
Richard Erdman	...	Pvt. Nebraska Hooper (as Dick Erdman)

Also Known As:

Operation Burma

Runtime:

142 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (No. 10098) | Canada:G (video rating) | Norway:16 | UK:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden - 301 N. Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, California, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

The movie was pulled from release and banned in Britain after heated protest from British veterans groups and the military establishment. As the Burma campaign was a predominantly British and Australian operation, the picture was taken as a national insult and highlighted the resentment that many felt was another example of Americans believing they won the war singlehandedly. Incidentally, writer Lester Cole, who co-wrote the somewhat overly patriotic flag-waving script, would be branded an "Un-American" Communist, becoming one of the Hollywood Ten just a few years later.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the company gets to the top of the hill, Nelson is carrying the machine gun, which alternates between top-up and bottom-up.

Quotes:

Mark Williams: What if my parachute doesn't open?
Capt. Nelson: Then you'll be the first one on the ground.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Comedians (1967)

Against all odds the assignment gets done.

Rauol Walsh directs one the greatest war films that exceeds its criticism. Errol Flynn leads a group of U.S. paratroopers on a mission to destroy an enemy radar station in Japanese-occupied Burma. The objective is accomplished, but the patrol goes through Hell as it makes its way back to base. Realistic war scenes with the more savage implied and off camera. No phony heroics, just hard fighting soldiers doing what needs to be done. Flynn is flawless and this might just be one his finest roles. A very strong cast includes: James Brown(of TV's Rin Tin Tin), Henry Hull, Mark Stevens, George Tobias, Richard Erdman, William Prince and Hugh Beaumont. No complaints about the near two and a half hour run time. Top of the line war movie shot in beautiful black and white. Produced by Jerry Wald.