Details

Release year: 1943

Storyline

In 1942, in the Bataan peninsula of the Philippines, a ragtag American unit commanded by Sergeant Bill Dane attempts to blow-up a bridge in order to slow the Japanese advance.

Top credits

Directors

Tay Garnett

Writers

Cast

Robert Taylor — Sergeant Bill Dane
George Murphy — Lieut. Steve Bentley
Lloyd Nolan — Corp. Barney Todd
Thomas Mitchell — Corp. Jake Feingold

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Did you know

• Desi Arnaz said it was his idea to recite the Latin prayer "Mea Culpa" during his character's death scene. It was a prayer he learned as a boy in Cuba.

• Prologue: "When Japan struck, our desperate need was time--time to Marshall our new armies. Ninety-six priceless days were bought for us--with their lives--by the defenders of Bataan, the Philippine army which formed the bulk of MacArthur's infantry fighting shoulder to shoulder with Americans. To those immortal dead, who heroically stayed stayed the wave of barbaric conquest, this picture is reverently dedicated."

• At the very end, when Robert Taylor throws down his Thompson submachine gun and goes to the .30-cal. machine gun, as he starts firing he's yelling at the oncoming Japanese soldiers. As the ending music cuts in, you can still see him yelling and when you lip read what he says, he clearly says "Come on, you sons of bitches!!" which was revolutionary for a 1943 movie.