Hell in the Pacific (1968) – A unique film
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Genre – War Movie
Time: 1 Hour, 43 minutes
Platform: You Tube Free
Director: John Boorman.
Cast: Lee Marvin. Toshiro Mifune.
There are war movies and then there is Hell in the Pacific. A unique film with ONLY two characters onscreen. The American cannot speak Japanese while the Japanese cannot speak English. The American is an airman whose plane has crashed and he has now drifted into the island. The Japanese is living a solitary existence on the island which is disturbed by the sudden appearance of the American.
They sight each other and the battle between them starts. The American and the Japanese try various tricks to best the other – be it getting a fresh water source or the food source. Due to the heat and the environment soon, their clothes are in tatters and they only have rags to cover them. Both arrive at the conclusion. They can help each other – to get off the island. Can they?
Can you even imagine how the film could be ? Only two characters onscreen ? No gigantic explosions? No bullets flying ? No “hero giri” but brutality of man against fellow man turning into something else ?
The film may sound experimental but it doesn’t get more mainstream Hollywood than this one. Marvin had always a nasty edge to his onscreen portrayals, coming out of many years portraying nasty villains which also carried over to his mainstream lead roles. Toshiro Mifune was already an international star thanks to his continued work with his friend and mentor Akira Kurosawa. So getting two such dynamic stars who were at the peak of their prowess is fraught with peril as the ego on both sides could have taken over as to who would get more screen time.
Thankfully that doesn’t happen. We don’t see Marvin or Mifune but an American and a Japanese struggling for supremacy.
The story is fictional but there were many instances of Japanese soldiers being abandoned when their islands were bypassed by the advancing Americans . So this COULD have happened.
There is still a lot of controversy about the ending. The original ending as as shown in this version on You Tube.
The studio executive cut that with the alternative ending which is available on the DVD version (and which I have). John Boorman , the director discussed both the original ending and the “alternate ending” which was done without his permission. Both endings are shown in the interview at the time mark 30:09
So what’s the essence of the film? Is there a message ? Within 20 years of the end of WW2, the former enemy Japan was dominating the world electronics and car markets . This also came at the height of American involvement in the Vietnam War. So, I leave the interpretation to you as it is a snapshot of those years with the Japanese and Germans not being painted as beasts but as humans. After all there was a Cold war also going on eh ? 😉
Historical Background – 4 out of 5
Script – 5 out of 5
Story – 5 out of 5
Direction – 5 out of 5
Photography – 4 out of 5
Total – 4.6 out of 5
PS : What Hollywood does, cant India do ? Yes – there is an equivalent movie . Kya Dilli Kya Lahore (2014). Except that the Indian soldier cook and the Pakistani soldier compare Abdul chaacha’s Aloo Paratha from Delhi to Lallu Chaacha’s from Lahore!
Nice review. I will see the movie, since most of Rammesh’s reviews / recommendations are spot on!
Thank you very much. It will be worth your time.
Hi Rammesh,
Another well-written review. I did not know of this film and will add it to my list!
Just some brief comments:
1
“The film contains little dialogue, and, is not dubbed or sub-titled, thus authentically portraying the frustration of restricted communication between the Japanese- and English-speaker.” (Wiki)
2
“Both actors served for their respective countries during the Pacific War. Marvin, who was in the US Marines, was wounded and received the Purple Heart during the Battle of Saipan in 1944. Mifune served in the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service.” (Wiki)
—
3
You comments on Gulzar’s equivalent – now, now, I know they are your tongue-in-cheek.. but I thought it was a sincere attempt by Gulzar on a subject he is so passionate about and lived the reality, during The Partition.
“Producer Karan Arora added that this “is not like a typical Bollywood extravaganza, it is a simple film.” He (Gulzar) is “not worried about the commercial viability” of Kya Dilli Kya Lahore and is content to know that he made “an honest film.: (Wiki)
4
As a coincidence, the evening before your review was published, I was watching Tom Hanks’ 2000 ‘Cast Away’.. Not really relevant to ‘Hell In The Pacific” (though that could well have been an alternate title).. was reflecting on films where the actor carries almost the entire load on his/her shoulder. Cast Away is 90% Tom Hanks… and he certainly delivers.
On the other side and Rajesh Khanna in ‘Ittefaq’ – a hit at the time, but watched today, a serious case of overacting ?! (just my opinion)
I have yet to watch Sunil Dutt’s ‘Yaadein’, another notable film with a minimal star cast, in this case, just one. That takes courage and confidence, to make such a film.
Such films are unique and probably merit a separate discussion.
Sorry, diverging from your primary point – the review of a very fine war film, ‘War Is Hell’… in the end, ”ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee”.
Regards,
Robin
Dear Robin
My comments as below
On point 3 – I had mentioned in my book Lights Camera War that the film has its heart in the right place. As you know from the book there is Indian war movie cliche no. 5 = we are brothers why are we fighting each other. The film is just an over extended cliche no.5. I also agree that the Partition generation may agree with the sentiments – not the current generation on both sides of the Indo-Pak divide brought up as they are on hatred for “the others”. This too was mentioned in my book.
On point 4 – Yaadein – Have seen it in 1982 during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Indian cinema. Its purely experimental in nature. At least I wasn’t impressed and I could see people walking out of the small cinema (Akashwani cinema at Churchgate) where the film was being screened. I like SUnil Dutt very much as his screen persona was that of a gentle urbane man – yet somehow he couldnt carry it off. The supposed icing on the cake is Nargis Dutt off screen voice – so technically its not a”mono act” movie. Its about his relationships in the movie – nothing much explained as to why he is doing what he is doing onscreen. very courageous of Dutt to do so but somehow in the larger scheme of things it didnt work for me.
KVR