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Guadalcanal Diary (Full Screen)
 
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Guadalcanal Diary (Full Screen)

Preston Foster , Lloyd Nolan , Lewis Seiler    NR (Not Rated)   DVD
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

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From Amazon.com

This is a far cry from The Thin Red Line, but it's engaging and efficient World War II propaganda about the opening of the South Pacific campaign that would ultimately turn the tide of the war. Anxious and unsuspecting Marines land on the Solomon Islands and quickly learn how to engage the Japanese in foxhole warfare. It's full of archetypal characters (tough sergeant Lloyd Nolan, Brooklyn cabby William Bendix, lusty Mexican Anthony Quinn, and gravel-mouthed Lionel Stander) and well-staged battle scenes. There's even a battle-weary narration to provide authenticity and historical perspective. All around, a good grunt film. --Bill Desowitz

Description

One of the greatest war movies of all time, combining action-packed, high-caliber battle sequences with quintessential foxhole-buddy camaraderie. Released in 1943, its authenticity and power remain undiminished.

The story follows one squad of Marines through the bloody assaults on the Solomon Islands during the opening stages of the war in the South Pacific. There's the tough sergeant (Lloyd Nolan), a cab driver from Brooklyn (William Bendix), a Mexican (Anthony Quinn) and a chaplain (Preston Foster). A battle-weary narrator reads from a diary, commenting on the typical grunt's everyday life, and death. Battles and dates of engagement are named, putting the explosive action into a solid historical context.

Based on Richard Tregaski's best-selling book, the script is by renowned screenwriter Lamar Trotti, who also wrote the screenplay for the wartime classic "To the Shore of Tripoli."


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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews
5 star:
 (5)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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4.0 out of 5 stars "boys with a memory of death in their eyes", Jun 15 2004
By 
Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: Guadalcanal Diary (VHS Tape)
Based on Richard Tregaskis' popular book of his account of the action at Guadalcanal, when the first detachment of U.S. Marines landed in the Solomon Islands in August of 1942, this is a tough and gritty war film with a sturdy ensemble cast, who do a wonderful job of recreating the diverse characters in the story, from Anthony Quinn who dreams of his señoritas, to the young Richard Jaeckel, who is always writing home to mom.
Preston Foster, William Bendix, Lloyd Nolan and Richard Conte are the other actors that contribute to make the film interesting, along with the narration by Reed Hadley which contrasts with the everyday speech of the dialogue and at times is quite poetic.

Enduring the humid jungle, often plagued with torrential rain, and at one point running out of food and needing reinforcements, the narrator says of October 10th, "...for we are tired, after days of heat and rain, dust and disease, mud and malnutrition, weeks of constant fighting...", the film depicts a lot of heroism, the caring for one another, and much patriotism.
The battle cinematography by Charles Clarke is visually exciting, though all very sanitized, as none of the intense fighting is graphic, and one must remember that this is a 1943 film, and the language used is far from politically correct; those who can't put it into historical perspective should avoid seeing it.
Total running time is 93 minutes.

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4.0 out of 5 stars Well staged war movie, Oct 28 2003
By 
This review is from: Guadalcanal Diary (VHS Tape)
This account of the struggle to retake the South Pacific island of Guadalcanal from the occupying Japanese army in World War two is marked by superbly staged battle sequences .It -uniquely for the period -eschews the standard gung ho flag waving that marked most Hollywood war movies of the era (understandably ,in my book given the circumstances)and depicts a very matter of fact view of the average soldier's life in combat situations.
The acting honours are stolen by the under-rated Richard Jaeckel but there is sterling support from reliable performers like William Bendix,Richard Conte ,Lloyd Nolan and the great Anthony Quinn.
A war movie showing rare honesty and integrity .
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5.0 out of 5 stars Just Want To Go Home., May 26 2003
By 
J. Hoerth "optiondelta" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Guadalcanal Diary (Full Screen) (DVD)
Set in the early days of WWII in the Pacific, the film follows a unit of Marines as they battle everything from disease and treacherous terrain to just being tired of not being at home. The Marines go from one battle to another, fighting to stay alive and keep there hopes up. There is a rogue Sgt. (Lloyd Nolan), a simple cab driver from Brooklyn (William Bendix), and a troubled Marine (Anthony Quinn)! With well done battle's and a outstanding script, this film is considered to be one of the best films done during WWII! If you can put aside that it was made in 1943, and it is not as realistic as it would be today. It is sure to get the message across and deliver the goods. One of the best war films of all time!
Grade:A
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 Go to Amazon.com to see all 34 reviews  4.1 out of 5 stars 
 
 
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