What movie did YOU just FINISH watching?
Oct 6, 2018 18:28:37 GMT
ZolotoyRetriever and teleadm like this
Post by kijii on Oct 6, 2018 18:28:37 GMT
Merrill's Marauders (1962) / Samuel Fuller
Rented from Amazon Prime
The story presented here is true, but it was extremely hard to watch as Brig. Gen. Frank D. Merrill (Jeff Chandler) pushed his men way beyond what was possible to recapture areas of Burma in 1944. This was thought necessary since Japan was capturing more and more territory to the west at the time. The fear was that Japan was getting close to India and a linkup with Germany was thought possible. Japan had already captured much of the South Pacific and Southeast Asia. The allies had to hold. But, as Merrill kept pushing his troops further and further, I felt it hard to slog my way through this movie.
If this link works, it will give you some history about the story presented in the movie: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrill%27s_Marauders
Full TCM synopsis with SPOILERS:
Rented from Amazon Prime
The story presented here is true, but it was extremely hard to watch as Brig. Gen. Frank D. Merrill (Jeff Chandler) pushed his men way beyond what was possible to recapture areas of Burma in 1944. This was thought necessary since Japan was capturing more and more territory to the west at the time. The fear was that Japan was getting close to India and a linkup with Germany was thought possible. Japan had already captured much of the South Pacific and Southeast Asia. The allies had to hold. But, as Merrill kept pushing his troops further and further, I felt it hard to slog my way through this movie.
If this link works, it will give you some history about the story presented in the movie: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrill%27s_Marauders
Full TCM synopsis with SPOILERS:
In 1944, Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill's 5307th Composite Unit, known as Merrill's Marauders, is deep behind Japanese lines in the dense Burma jungle. Even though the 3,000 men suffer from exhaustion, illness, and starvation, they are ordered to capture a gun emplacement, an enemy arsenal, and a railway yard. Merrill realizes that his men cannot be an effective fighting force without rest, but he also knows that they must make the 500-mile trek to Myitkyina to prevent Japanese and German armies from merging in India. Following an enemy raid, however, the Marauders are virtually walking dead men, physically and mentally incapable of launching a new attack, and Merrill himself collapses from a heart seizure. He arises from the stretcher, however, and urges the men to keep moving. They watch in silence as he staggers among them and falls unconscious, until Lieut. Lee Stockton, inspired by Merrill's indomitable spirit, rallies the men for one last campaign and drives them forward. When Merrill regains consciousness, fresh troops and supplies are landing on the Myitkyina airfield, which has been liberated by the Marauders.