Guadalcanal Diary

Starring:Preston Foster, Lloyd Nolan, William Bendix, Richard Conte, Anthony Quinn, Richard Jaeckel, Roy Roberts, Minor Watson, Ralph Byrd, Lionel Stander, Reed Hadley, John Archer, Allen Jung, Paul Fung, Warren Ashe, Eddie Acuff, George Holmes, Charles Lang (III), Russell Hoyt, Louis Hart
Director: Lewis Seiler
Studio: Marathon Music & Video
Product Type: DVD

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."

Customer Reviews:

Guadalcanal Diary.......2007-03-09

This firm was advertized on Amazon as being in "color." A black and white version was delivered to me, even though I had inquired of Amazon if the film was actually "color" and Amazon had assured me that it was definitely color. I knew the film was originally in black and white, but was swayed to buy the film in the belief, as marketed, that it had been colorized, which is what I was looking for.

For its time, actually pretty accurate.......2007-01-05

Like most war movies created in the early 40s, their one main purpose was to inspire Americans to buy more war bonds. Therefore, stories of valor, likable characters (many of whom get killed), fluff dialogue, and innaccurate retelling of battles were the mainstay of the films. "Guadalcanal Diary," however, was different than most. Rather than the glorification of battle and the 'good guys always winning with no problem,' there is a good deal of hardship here. Impressively, the movie portrays some of the angst and helplessness of the nighttime navel shelling that both sides participated in.

Also, there is a part early on that tells the true story of one detachment's fate on the far side of the island when they run into a Japanese force. Only one soldier survived to tell the tale. His account is very accurately portrayed. Of course, perhaps the US War Department was more interested in showing the grittier side of the war in order to promote those war bonds. Guadalcanal certainly provided enough true life grit for several movies.

It is definitely a condensed version of the events that took place on that island, but overall it is a well-acted and fascinating movie. For historical accuracy, it stands fairly well the test of time, although it is not as concerned with facts as with emotions. Still, there is great acting and good special effects (again, for the time) and fans of the era and of World War II history should enjoy this period piece regardless of the subtle marketing throughout.

Terse and violent, close in atmosphere and technique to "Wake Island"........2007-01-02

Guadalcanal is the second largest island (after Bougainville) of the Solomons and largest of the Solomon Islands Protectorate southwest Pacific...

During World War II it was the scene of bitter land and sea fighting between U. S. and Japanese forces...

On August 1942, the U.S. Marines, in the Allies' first major offensive in the Pacific, seized a Japanese airfield, Henderson Field, on the island...

On November, in a naval engagement, the Allies prevented the Japanese from landing reinforcements... By February 1943 the Japanese, badly outnumbered, were forced to evacuate Guadalcanal and by the end of the year they were on the defensive in their last stronghold in the Solomons, Bougainville Island...

"Guadalcanal Diary" is based on the best-selling book by war correspondent Richard Tregaskis... It follows the career of a platoon of Marines from Pre-landing shipboard briefings through two months slow murderous fighting in the taking of the South Sea jungles...

The film gives a realistic view of the hardships of war, and has its moments... Perhaps the most touching scene is at the climax when the tired veterans watch the fresh, green troops marching past them... The feeling is one of a continuous hard effort... The impudent newcomers have yet to face the revolting horrors that an American soldier is subjected to... Certainly, they will fight as well as those before them, however, we cannot but help feeling sad for those who will never return...

The film reveals the hard life in camps, shelters, patrols, hospitals, beaches and jungles in absolute reality... It is terse, violent, close in atmosphere and technique to "Wake Island" (1942).

Propaganda film.......2006-11-04

This film is about WW II, and one of the key, islands we took from the Japanese. I find it very, well acted (in a hammy, sort of way).

Really authentic dramaziation of the pacific war.......2006-07-05

The only thing that prevented me from giving this movie a 5 star
was the occasional schmalsty, goffy comments made in jest during
the film. But I beleive this was common in pictures made during
the war in the 40's.

Heroes of War Collection - Frontline Combat (Halls of Montezuma, Decision Before Dawn, D-Day the Sixth of June, Guadalcanal Diary)

Average customer rating:

War Collection

Heroes of War Collection - Frontline Combat (Halls of Montezuma, Decision Before Dawn, D-Day the Sixth of June, Guadalcanal Diary)
Starring: Richard Widmark , Jack Palance , Reginald Gardiner , Robert Wagner , and Karl Malden
Director: Lewis Milestone , Anatole Litvak , and Lewis Seiler
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

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( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

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Heroes of War Collection - Soldier's Stories (Men of Honor / Courage Under Fire / Tigerland / The Thin Red Line)
The Desert Fox
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Film Noir Classic Collection, Vol. 3 (Border Incident / His Kind of Woman / Lady in the Lake / On Dangerous Ground / The Racket)

ASIN: B000EMGJE0
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Description

Episode Description: GiftSet Includes The Following Titles:

**D-Day: The 6th of June **Decision Before Dawn **Guadalcanal Diary **Halls of Montezuma

Customer Reviews:

War Collection.......2007-02-07

I felt that these movies were very good. The war collection was a great collection to add to my library. It was great seeing Richard Widmark in a war movie. In fact he is still living and is over 90 years of age.

Average customer rating:

Guadalcanal Diary
For its time, actually pretty accurate
Terse and violent, close in atmosphere and technique to "Wake Island".
Propaganda film
Really authentic dramaziation of the pacific war

Guadalcanal Diary [Region 2]
Starring: Preston Foster , Lloyd Nolan , William Bendix , Richard Conte , and Anthony Quinn
Director: Lewis Seiler
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Halls of Montezuma
Wing and a Prayer
Wake Island
The Desert Rats
The Desert Fox

ASIN: B0001XLXH0

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

Guadalcanal Diary.......2007-03-09

For its time, actually pretty accurate.......2007-01-05

Terse and violent, close in atmosphere and technique to "Wake Island"........2007-01-02

Propaganda film.......2006-11-04

This film is about WW II, and one of the key, islands we took from the Japanese. I find it very, well acted (in a hammy, sort of way).

Really authentic dramaziation of the pacific war.......2006-07-05

Average customer rating:

Guadalcanal Diary
For its time, actually pretty accurate
Terse and violent, close in atmosphere and technique to "Wake Island".
Propaganda film
Really authentic dramaziation of the pacific war

Guadalcanal Diary
Starring: Preston Foster , Lloyd Nolan , William Bendix , Richard Conte , and Anthony Quinn
Director: Lewis Seiler
Manufacturer: Marathon Music & Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video