Too Late the Hero (1970)

Director:

Robert Aldrich

Writers:

Robert Aldrich (screenplay)
Robert Aldrich (story)

Release Date:

2 November 1970 (Denmark)

Genre:

Action | War | Drama

Tagline:

War. It's A Dying Business.

Plot:

A WWII film set on a Pacific island. Japanese and allied forces occupy different parts of the island...

Plot Keywords:

Jungle | Transmitter | Prisoners Of War | Bren Gun | Colour Sergeant

Cast

Michael Caine	...	Pvt. Tosh Hearne
Cliff Robertson	...	Lt. (j.g.) Sam Lawson
Ian Bannen	...	Pvt. Jock Thornton
Harry Andrews	...	Col. Thompson
Ronald Fraser	...	Pvt. Campbell
Denholm Elliott	...	Capt. Hornsby
Lance Percival	...	Cpl. McLean
Percy Herbert	...	Sgt. Johnstone
Patrick Jordan	...	Sergeant Major
Sam Kydd	...	Colour-Sergeant
William Beckley	...	Pvt. Currie
Martin Horsey	...	Pvt. Griffiths
Harvey Jason	...	Signalman Scott
Don Knight	...	Pvt. Connolly
Roger Newman	...	Pvt. Riddle

Also Known As:

Suicide Run (USA) (TV title)

Runtime:

Argentina:145 min | USA:133 min (video compilation) | USA:133 min (TCM Print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (Westrex Recording System) (70 mm prints) | Mono (Westrex Recording System) (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | West Germany:16 (f) | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG | Singapore:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Boracay Islands, Malay, Aklan, Panay, Visayas, Philippines

Company:

ABC Pictures

Trivia:

At the time, the largest production to be filmed in the Philippines.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Lt. Lawson confers with Col. Thompson in the HQ, the Union Flag on the wall behind Col. Thompson is upside down. In another shot, it is up the right way. During the shoot at Cubi Point in he Philippines, someone stole the flag sometime during the night. They had to send to Hong Kong for another one and the new one was replaced the right way up.

Quotes:

Captain Hornsby: What an extraordinary fellow!
Colonel Thompson: Well, he is an American.

Movie Connections:

References The Killing of Sister George (1968)

commandos on a island take up a impossible mission

TOO LATE THE HERO is a top notch war film about a british unit plus one american who must destroy a japanese communications station on a island. The mission for all purposes is impossible. TOO LATE THE HERO is long in a few spots, yet the film overcomes this flaw and the pace flows smoothly again. The film has a gritty realism to it which is aided by the deep jungle locations the film was shot at. Fans of FARWELL TO THE KING will enjoy this film as well, as it is up the same alley as that Nick Nolte film. OOne thing I enjoyed about this film were the casualty levels on the japanese and allied sides; these were were very realistic.