Objective, Burma! (1945)

As an actor Errol Flynn had the dubious distinction of starring in both one of the worst propaganda war films and one of the best war films from a major studio during World War II. The worst was Desperate Journey and one of the best is Objective Burma. It was even recognized by the Academy as such getting Oscar nominations for best original story, film editing and best musical scoring.One category it should have gotten recognition is in the matter of sets. During wartime one could not travel to exotic locations to portray a jungle and a swamp. Warner Brothers did a remarkable job in recreating the Burmese jungle.Errol Flynn kept the bravura heroics which he was known for down to a minimum in this film. Here he is just a professional soldier charged with doing a job which is destroy a radio transmitting station deep in the Burmese jungle. Getting out is another problem as Flynn and his command can't meet their drop and have to march out. That original story was written by Alvah Bessie and the screenplay adapted from it was done by Lester Cole two of the Hollywood 10. No doubt the keepers of our patriotism at the House Un-American Activities Committee poured over the film and script looking for evidence of any suspicious Communist propaganda. I confess I found none.Henry Hull should also be singled out here as well. In many ways he's playing the character he created in Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat now transplanted to the China-Burma-India theater of World War II. Like in Lifeboat, Hull is the epitome of the civilized man whose whole world is shaken when he confronts the brutality of war, be it the evil of Nazi Walter Slezak in Lifeboat or the Japanese atrocities done to our troops in their areas of World War II.Maybe Warner Brothers should have splurged for some color although that was kept to a minimum during the war years to bring out the jungle backgrounds better. It worked well with later films like Never So Few and Merrill's Marauders that dealt with the same war theater.Objective Burma was also castigated in British circles because in point of fact the CBI theater was primarily a British show with Lord Louis Mountbatten as the theater commander and Field Marshal Sir William Slim as the ground commander in Burma. We were there, but a distinct minority and strictly in support.Despite their objections from across the pond Objective Burma is one of the best World War II era films that still holds up well for today's audience.

Objective Burma – Is one of my favorite movies. The inspiring leadership found by Captain Nelson (Errol Flynn) is great. I love the part where Gabby (the comic relief guy) looses his water purification tablets. Captain Nelson orders Gabby to use his. Later on, Gabby says " he would follow him into the mouth of a cannon". Captain Nelson also follows orders even when they do not make sense. Going deeper into enemy territory without knowing why. When they reach their deserted destination he says "What did you expect to find up here, anyway? I don't like this any better than you do. But we had orders to come here, and we'll stay here if we rot waiting.". Some of the footage is actual WWII footage (a little grainy).Some Phrases and terms used at times politically incorrect (by today's standards) , but it reminds me of the attitude back in those days. We had an enemy.I was never in the Military, and I appreciate the tactical military scenes. Some scenes that would probably be skipped in todays movies (like watching the soldiers bury their parachutes and supply boxes or lining up in order of the jump and double checking their parachute chords). This movie does not focus on the toughness of a particular person (no Rambo type here). Soldiers with specific duties and responsibilities working together on a mission. Great leadership, but no Super Heroes.The Parachute scenes with major air drops are spectacular.

Raoul Walsh directed this real life account about a special operations unit of paratroopers led by Col. Nelson(played by Errol Flynn) who are sent into the jungles of Japanese held Burma to destroy a radar station there. The mission is a success, but the unit has difficulty getting out after their rendezvous sight at an old air strip is intercepted by the Japanese, forcing them to make a perilous trek behind enemy lines to a suitable landing point for the rescue mission, though that is many miles away, and not all of them will make it, since the angry Japanese are right behind them... Excellent war film with fine acting(Flynn was never better) and directing, with an insightful script. Quite powerful and harrowing at times in memorable film.

Thrilling as well as exciting flick , it was partially inspired by "Operation Loincloth," a 1943 long-range operation in Burma by the British Chindits . However , members of Merrill's Marauders, who were on location as technical advisers, critiqued the fact that Nelson's men killed all the Japanese at the radar station so quickly with none wounded or escaped . In 1944, a platoon of special ops are tasked to parachute into the distant Burmese jungle and destroy a strategic Japanese radar station, but getting out isn't as easy . Capt. Charlie Nelson (Errol Flynn) is assigned a risked mission , as he leads the group of paratroopers (George Tobias , Anthony Carbone , James Brown , William Prince) into Burma to blow up an important post in advance of the allied invasion. They're accompanied on the assignment by Mark William (Henry Hull) , an American reporter who is there to write about their feats . After destroying the remote post , then the command is forced to get away and continue their exploits . The band of American soldiers must face the treacherous jungle and hostile Japanese in order to reach safety and battle against risks .Zestful Warlike action film in which a platoon suffers several dangers to wipe out Japanese station . This exciting Warlike film packs thrills , noisy action , spectacular battles and lots of gutsy adventure . Epic , sprawling , almost primitive action , teaming across the screen . Impressive images when the platoon discovers a massacre and spectacular square off in a breathtaking climax . Interesting script by 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 . However, producer Jerry Wald also admitted that much of the screenplay was based on ¨Northwest passage¨, a film about the adventures of a long-range ranger unit during the French & Indian War . Raoul Walsh demonstrates a special talent for making the densest action sequences seem uncomplicated and uncluttered and his characters , like the scenes distinguished , often have an unfettered , raw power . All the weapons, uniforms, and gear used in this movie are original and accurate ; this was possible due to the fact that these were still in use to the US military when this film was made , WW2 movies made in recent times use reproduction weapons and gear . This one results to be a top excitement flick and reworked as ¨Distant drums¨ set in the Florida Everglades , being also filmed by Raoul Walsh . Most of the exteriors of Burma were shot at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. The film has an authentic feel to it, thanks to the use of authentic military aircraft and materials . Also, the film includes a large amount of authentic footage taken by U.S. Army Signal Corps cameramen in the China Burma India theater.The motion picture lavishly produced by Jack L Warner was compellingly directed by Raoul Walsh . From his starts in the silent cinema he achieved successful films until the 50s and forward , early 60s , when he was less dominant , but is still stayed lots of lusty adventure , stories of comradeship and friendship , and Raoul makes the most of plentiful action scenes . Walsh was an expert director of all kind genres but with penchant in Western as ¨Colorado territory¨ , ¨They died with their boots on¨, ¨Along the great divide¨, ¨Saskatchewan¨, ¨King and four queens¨ , ¨The sheriff of fractured jaw¨, ¨A distant trumpet¨ ; Adventure as ¨Thief of Bagdad¨, ¨Captain Horatio Hornblower¨, ¨World in his hands¨, ¨Blackbeard the pirate¨ , ¨Sea devils¨ ; Warlike as ¨Objetive Burma¨ , ¨Northern pursuit¨, ¨Marines let's go¨ ; and Noir film as ¨White heat¨, ¨High Sierra¨, ¨They drive by night¨, ¨The roaring twenties¨. Rating : Fairly straightforward movie and better than average . This interesting Wartime film makes it of the finest of Raoul Walsh genre entries .