Hell to Eternity (1960)

Director:

Phil Karlson

Writers:

Ted Sherdeman (screenplay) and
Walter Roeber Schmidt (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

1 August 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | War

Tagline:

THE MARINES' BATTLE CRY OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

When his adoptive Japanese-American family is sent to Manzanar after Pearl Harbor, a young Chicano enlists in the marines to become a hero in the Battle of Saipan.

Plot Keywords:

Japanese American | Saipan | Suicide | 1930s | Manzanar

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jeffrey Hunter	...	Guy Gabaldon
David Janssen	...	Bill
Vic Damone	...	Pete
Patricia Owens	...	Sheila Lincoln
Richard Eyer	...	Guy, as a boy
John Larch	...	Capt. Schwabe
Bill Williams	...	Leonard
Michi Kobi	...	Sono
George Shibata	...	Kaz Une
Reiko Sato	...	Famika
Richard Gardner	...	Polaski
Bob Okazaki	...	Papa Une
George Matsui	...	George, as a boy
Nicky Blair	...	Martini
George Takei	...	George (as George Takai)
Miiko Taka	...	Ester
Tsuru Aoki	...	Mother Une (as Tsuru Aoki Hayakawa)
Sessue Hayakawa	...	General Matsui
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Paul Togawa	...	Freddy (uncredited)

Directed by
Phil Karlson

Writing credits
Ted Sherdeman		(screenplay) and
Walter Roeber Schmidt		(screenplay)
Gil Doud		(story)

Produced by
Irving H. Levin	....	producer
Lester A. Sansom	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Leith Stevens

Cinematography by
Burnett Guffey

Film Editing by
Roy V. Livingston
George White

Art Direction by
Dave Milton		(as David Milton)

Set Decoration by
Joseph Kish

Makeup Department
Bob Mark	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Edward Morey Jr.	....	production manager
Harrold Weinberger	....	production manager (as Harrold A. Weinberger)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Clark L. Paylow	....	assistant director (as Clark Paylow)

Art Department
Max Frankel	....	property
Ted Mossman	....	property
James West	....	construction supervisor

Sound Department
John Bury Jr.	....	sound
Ralph Butler	....	sound (as Ralph E. Butler)
Charles G. Schelling	....	sound editor (as Charles Schelling)

Special Effects by
Augie Lohman	....	special effects

Stunts
Gil Perkins	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Bob Simpson	....	second assistant camera (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Charles Arrico	....	wardrobe
Wesley Jeffries	....	wardrobe (as Wesley Jefferies)
Norah Sharpe	....	wardrobe
Roger J. Weinberg	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Aubrey C. Lind	....	music editor
Leith Stevens	....	conductor
Nathan Scott	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Roland Dupree	....	dance sequences stager: Miss Owens and Miss Sato
David Foos Jr.	....	technical advisor (as Lt. Col. David Foos Jr.)
Guy Gabaldon	....	technical advisor
Harry L. Mandell	....	production executive
Clement J. Sadler	....	technical advisor (as Lt. Col. Clement J. Stadler)
Sam Strangis	....	script supervisor (as Sam J. Strangis)

Production Companies

• Atlantic Productions

Distributors

• Allied Artists Pictures (1960) (USA) (theatrical)
• CBS/Fox (1985) (USA) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Key Video (1985) (USA) (video) (pan/scan)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Department of Defense, The  thanks
• United States Marine Corps  thanks

Runtime:

131 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Japanese

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | USA:Approved (certificate #19675) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Okinawa, Japan

Company:

Atlantic Productions

Trivia:

Tsuru Aoki's first American film in 25 years.

Quotes:

Guy Gabaldon: [after shooting two soldiers] I understood that double-crossing speech! These men died without any reason. I didn't want to kill them! You want to go to your army? All right, you go, but I'm going with you to keep you honest, and you're gonna tell those people on this island that the war is over. Now let's move!

Hell to Eternity

I remember seeing this movie many times in the 60's and 70's at the theater, on television, and on VHS. I grew up watching WWII movies and remember this as one that had a special appeal to me. I guess because I lived in Japan in the 1950's and visited some of the locales from the movie. The acting was well done and the story was well told and realistic. It is interesting to view the cast when they were relatively new to movies. David Janssen and Vic Damone stand out in my memory and Jeffrey Hunter was always a class act in films. I highly recommend seeing it if possible. I do find it hard to believe that it is called a "lost classic" and runs so high for a copy. Anyone know where I could get a cheaper copy, I would like to hear from you.