Marine Raiders (film)
Encyclopedia
Marine Raiders is a 1944 RKO war film
showing a fictional depiction of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion and 1st Marine Parachute Battalion on Guadalcanal, R&R
in Australia
, retraining in Camp Elliott (where much of the film was made) and a fictional attack in the Solomon Islands
. Produced by Robert Fellows
, and directed by Harold D. Schuster, it stars Pat O'Brien
, Robert Ryan
, and Ruth Hussey
.
facing a Japanese assault that became the Battle of Edson's Ridge
. When Captain Craig discovers the body of one of his lieutenants who had been tortured and executed by the Japanese, he goes on a one man army kill crazy rampage of revenge in the jungle with his Reising gun (that jams) and his M1911 pistol.
Major Lockhart, his enraged commander, criticises Craig for his disgraceful conduct that has no place in combat. The only thing saving Craig from being relieved of his command is the Japanese night attack that is beaten off during a night of hard fighting.
The depleted units go for rest and recreation in Australia. The troubled Craig meets a knowledgeable and sympathetic Flight Officer Ellen Foster of the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
who has two brothers serving in North Africa
. The two fall in love and wish to be married but Craig is wounded in a Japanese air attack.
When Lockhart visits Craig in the hospital he finds out that he wishes to marry Ellen. Thinking Craig out of his mind, Lockhart transfers him immediately back to the United States.
The recovered Craig and Lockhart are bitter enemies as they report to Camp Elliott. Both are shocked that so many men are being trained as Marines compared to the pre-war size of their highly selective Corps. When told how many men the Corps has recruited, Lockhart exclaims that there aren't that many potential Marines in the entire country. The film shows its audience views of actual training of Marines filmed at the base.
Lockhart ends up defending Craig when he is thought unstable and presses for his return to active service. Preparing for an invasion of an unnamed South Pacific island whilst back in Australia, Craig marries Ellen. Lockhart changes his mind on marriage when meeting her and all are reconciled.
In a fictional assault that a map identifies as Bougainville, Craig's Paramarines jump behind Japanese lines to relieve pressure on a beachhead
where Lockhart's Raiders and other Marines have landed. Ellen proudly hears the news of their exploits on radio in Australia.
and The Iron Major with RKO's contract star Pat O'Brien. O'Brien was impressed by the newcomer Ryan who he worked with and recommended him to RKO over several other stars for the leading role of Dan Craig. Ryan's performance was noticed by a reviewer of the Nation who compared him to Gary Cooper
. Shortly after filming his part, Ryan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
in January 1944 serving as a Drill Instructor
at Camp Pendleton, later being discharged in November 1945 as a Private First Class
.
The film was made at the Marine base at Camp Elliott near San Diego with Captain Clay Boyd as the technical advisor
. Boyd, the son of a World War I Marine was a former enlisted Marine commissioned in 1941 who was a platoon commander with the 1st Raider Battalion at Guadalcanal and twice reconnoitered New Georgia
prior to the invasion where he was a company commander.
Other actors in the cast were Frank McHugh
(comedy relief
), Barton MacLane
, Martha Vickers
and Richard Martin
as a secondary romantic couple, and Blake Edwards
. Robert Wise
directed pick up and additional scenes. Nicholas Musuraca, famed for his cinematography on many Val Lewton
horror films and film noir
classics filmed the two battle scenes at night.
Roy Webb
's score includes Bless 'Em All
as a theme for the Australian locales.
War film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
showing a fictional depiction of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion and 1st Marine Parachute Battalion on Guadalcanal, R&R
R&R (military)
R&R, military slang for rest and recuperation , is a term used for the free time of a soldier in the US military or International UN staff serving in non-family duty stations. R&R includes various forms, including mail, sports, film screenings, using the services of prostitutes and leave time...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, retraining in Camp Elliott (where much of the film was made) and a fictional attack in the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
. Produced by Robert Fellows
Robert Fellows
Robert Fellows or Robert M. Fellows was an American film producer who was once a production partner with John Wayne and later Mickey Spillane.-Biography:...
, and directed by Harold D. Schuster, it stars Pat O'Brien
Pat O'Brien (actor)
Pat O’Brien was an American film actor with more than one hundred screen credits.-Early life:O’Brien was born William Joseph Patrick O’Brien to an Irish-American Catholic family in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served as an altar boy at Gesu Church while growing up near 13th and Clybourn streets...
, Robert Ryan
Robert Ryan
Robert Bushnell Ryan was an American actor who often played hardened cops and ruthless villains.-Early life and career:...
, and Ruth Hussey
Ruth Hussey
Ruth Carol Hussey was an American actress best known for her Academy Award-nominated role as photographer Elizabeth Imbrie in The Philadelphia Story.-Early life:...
.
Plot
Major Steve Lockhart, commander of a Marine Raider battalion and Captain Dan Craig, commander of the Paramarines are together on GuadalcanalGuadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
facing a Japanese assault that became the Battle of Edson's Ridge
Battle of Edson's Ridge
The Battle of Edson's Ridge, also known as the Battle of the Bloody Ridge, Battle of Raiders Ridge, and Battle of the Ridge, was a land battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II between Imperial Japanese Army and Allied ground forces...
. When Captain Craig discovers the body of one of his lieutenants who had been tortured and executed by the Japanese, he goes on a one man army kill crazy rampage of revenge in the jungle with his Reising gun (that jams) and his M1911 pistol.
Major Lockhart, his enraged commander, criticises Craig for his disgraceful conduct that has no place in combat. The only thing saving Craig from being relieved of his command is the Japanese night attack that is beaten off during a night of hard fighting.
The depleted units go for rest and recreation in Australia. The troubled Craig meets a knowledgeable and sympathetic Flight Officer Ellen Foster of the Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force
The Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force was formed in March 1941 after considerable lobbying by women keen to serve and by the Chief of the Air Staff who wanted to release male personnel serving in Australia for service overseas. The WAAAF was the first and largest of the World War II...
who has two brothers serving in North Africa
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
. The two fall in love and wish to be married but Craig is wounded in a Japanese air attack.
When Lockhart visits Craig in the hospital he finds out that he wishes to marry Ellen. Thinking Craig out of his mind, Lockhart transfers him immediately back to the United States.
The recovered Craig and Lockhart are bitter enemies as they report to Camp Elliott. Both are shocked that so many men are being trained as Marines compared to the pre-war size of their highly selective Corps. When told how many men the Corps has recruited, Lockhart exclaims that there aren't that many potential Marines in the entire country. The film shows its audience views of actual training of Marines filmed at the base.
Lockhart ends up defending Craig when he is thought unstable and presses for his return to active service. Preparing for an invasion of an unnamed South Pacific island whilst back in Australia, Craig marries Ellen. Lockhart changes his mind on marriage when meeting her and all are reconciled.
In a fictional assault that a map identifies as Bougainville, Craig's Paramarines jump behind Japanese lines to relieve pressure on a beachhead
Beachhead
Beachhead is a military term used to describe the line created when a unit reaches a beach, and begins to defend that area of beach, while other reinforcements help out, until a unit large enough to begin advancing has arrived. It is sometimes used interchangeably with Bridgehead and Lodgement...
where Lockhart's Raiders and other Marines have landed. Ellen proudly hears the news of their exploits on radio in Australia.
Production
Producer Robert Fellows had previously filmed BombardierBombardier (film)
Bombardier is a 1943 film war drama about the training program for bombardiers of the United States Army Air Forces. The film stars Pat O'Brien and Randolph Scott. Bombardier was nominated for an Academy Award in 1944 for the special effects used in the film...
and The Iron Major with RKO's contract star Pat O'Brien. O'Brien was impressed by the newcomer Ryan who he worked with and recommended him to RKO over several other stars for the leading role of Dan Craig. Ryan's performance was noticed by a reviewer of the Nation who compared him to Gary Cooper
Gary Cooper
Frank James Cooper, known professionally as Gary Cooper, was an American film actor. He was renowned for his quiet, understated acting style and his stoic, but at times intense screen persona, which was particularly well suited to the many Westerns he made...
. Shortly after filming his part, Ryan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
in January 1944 serving as a Drill Instructor
Drill instructor
A drill instructor is a non-commissioned officer or Staff Non-Commissioned Officer in the armed forces or police forces with specific duties that vary by country. In the U.S. armed forces, they are assigned the duty of indoctrinating new recruits entering the military into the customs and...
at Camp Pendleton, later being discharged in November 1945 as a Private First Class
Private First Class
Private First Class is a military rank held by junior enlisted persons.- Singapore :The rank of Private First Class in the Singapore Armed Forces lies between the ranks of Private and Lance-Corporal . It is usually held by conscript soldiers midway through their national service term...
.
The film was made at the Marine base at Camp Elliott near San Diego with Captain Clay Boyd as the technical advisor
Technical advisor
A technical advisor is an individual who is expert in a particular field of knowledge, hired to provide detailed information and advice to people working in that field...
. Boyd, the son of a World War I Marine was a former enlisted Marine commissioned in 1941 who was a platoon commander with the 1st Raider Battalion at Guadalcanal and twice reconnoitered New Georgia
New Georgia
New Georgia is the largest island of the Western Province of the Solomon Islands.-Geography:This island is located in the New Georgia Group, an archipelago including most of the other larger islands in the province...
prior to the invasion where he was a company commander.
Other actors in the cast were Frank McHugh
Frank McHugh
Francis Curray "Frank" McHugh was an American film and television actor.Born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, McHugh came from a theatrical family. His parents ran a stock theatre company and as a young child he performed on stage...
(comedy relief
Comic relief
Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character, scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension.-Definition:...
), Barton MacLane
Barton MacLane
Barton MacLane was an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter. Although he has appeared in many classic films from the 1930s through the 1960s, he was known for his role as Gen...
, Martha Vickers
Martha Vickers
Martha Vickers was an American television and film actress.-Early life and career:Born Martha MacVicar in Ann Arbor, Michigan, she began her career as a model and cover girl...
and Richard Martin
Richard Martin (RKO actor)
Richard Martin was a prolific RKO contract actor. He was most known for his role as Chito Rafferty, the Irish-Mexican Western comedy relief sidekick of Tim Holt...
as a secondary romantic couple, and Blake Edwards
Blake Edwards
Blake Edwards was an American film director, screenwriter and producer.Edwards' career began in the 1940s as an actor, but he soon turned to writing radio scripts at Columbia Pictures...
. Robert Wise
Robert Wise
Robert Earl Wise was an American sound effects editor, film editor, film producer and director...
directed pick up and additional scenes. Nicholas Musuraca, famed for his cinematography on many Val Lewton
Val Lewton
Val Lewton was an American film producer and screenwriter, best known for a string of low-budget horror films he produced for RKO Pictures in the 1940s.-Early life:...
horror films and film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
classics filmed the two battle scenes at night.
Roy Webb
Roy Webb
Roy Webb was a film music composer.Webb has hundreds of composing credits to his name, mainly with RKO Pictures, and while most of the movies he scored were fairly light in content, he is today best known for his dark horror and film noir scores...
's score includes Bless 'Em All
Bless 'Em All
"Bless 'Em All" is a war song credited to have been written by Fred Godfrey in 1917 and first recorded by George Formby, Jr...
as a theme for the Australian locales.