Ambush Bay (1966)

General MacArthur doesn't know it but he's headed for an ambush. Hugh O'Brian Mickey Rooney and James Mitchum star in this "well-made" (Los Angeles Times) World War II nail-biter that'll keep you on the edge of your seat with "consistent excitement" (The Film Daily) right until the explosive ending.A marine patrol secretly lands on the Japanese-occupied island of Siarago. Their mission: to locate a Japanese-American girl with vital information concerning General MacArthur's pending Philippine invasion. What they uncover instead is a Japanese plot to detonate underwater mines as the US fleet enters the bay. Cut off from outside communication these brave marines must find a way to prevent what could be the worst naval tragedy from ever happening.System Requirements: Running Time 110 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR UPC: 027616921659 Manufacturer No: 1008117 Product Description

One of the finest Pacific Theater WW II films!

Hollywood simply did not make enough of these great color, letterbox format, Pacific Theater, WW II films! Director Ron Winston did a fine job with this one which is one of the best I've seen.

A young James Mitchum, (talented brother of Robert and John Mitchum), holds the starring role here over Hugh O'Brian and Mickey Rooney. Mitchum plays Private Grenier, a smart-aleck rookie U.S. Marine who has gotten himself shanghaied into a top secret special operation in the Phillipines during the Japanese occcupation. All the other marines, about a dozen of them, are highly-trained and experienced specialists in their respective fields. Mitchum, the radio guy, was grudgingly brought along as a last-minute replacement for the regular top communications specialist who came down with illness just prior to this imperative guerilla operation.

They are secreted to the island by float-plane at night. Soon after entering the jungle, the Captain of the operation is killed during a desperate scuffle with some Japanese soldiers at their campfire. Hugh O'Brian, playing the Lieutenant, takes over command and he doesn't much like Mitchum, viewing the Private as trivial and immature. Mitchum is eventually told the purpose of the operation: A Phillipine guide will take them across the jungle island to the Japanese base where their contact person, a covert Allied agent, will provide information that is critical to MacArthur's immanent Allied re-invasion of the Phillipines. Thus, it will eventually fall on Mitchum, the most important member of the team in terms of duty, to convey this critical intelligence by radio.

In yet another early confrontation with a small platoon of Japanese infantry, who are also equipped with a very cool little army tank, more Marines are killed and this also sets the Japanese hot on their trail through the jungle. Just before their destination is reached the Marine's native guide, the only person who knew who the identity of the contact agent, is killed -- Hugh O'Brian is forced to sneak into the Japanese-infested village and ferret out the contact agent at great risk. I'll have to stop here to avoid a SPOILER!

One of the best features of this movie is the superb filmscore, composed and conducted by Richard LaSalle. It's one of those atmospheric sixty-ish scores reminiscent of those fine soundtracks previously conveyed by Hugo Friedhofer and Les Baxter. It really adds to the suspense and to the ambiance of this fine film.

The abundance of tropical flora, great locations and sets, the super cinematography, and, the great casting additionally support the superb quality of the movie. Compare this film to yet another of these singular film treasures:

Never So Few

It's all really just first-class. If you enjoy World War II films, especially those concerning the Pacific Theater, you'll love this terrific 1966 entry. My highest recommendation! January 27, 2008

Basically a good movie that portrays the wrong unit

A squad of Marines is inserted onto a Philippine island in 1944 by seaplane and rubber raft for a scouting mission prior to MacArthur's invasion. They link up with a Philippine Guerrilla to locate a Japanese American agent with vital information.

The movie has a good cast and lots of good action scenes, I just can't give it five stars due to one large technical inaccuracy; the Marine Corps did not operate in the Philippines in 1944, they were in the Central Pacific at the time. And they certainly didn't perform special reconnaissance for MacArthur.

The Sixth Army Special Reconnaissance Unit - also known as the Alamo Scouts - did perform many missions similar to the one portrayed in this movie, both on New Guinea and in the Philippines.

The Alamo Scouts worked in small teams, were often inserted by seaplane and rubber raft, wore the leopard pattern camouflage and soft caps worn by the Marines in this movie, and would sometimes liaison with Philippine Guerrillas.

Having the Marines on a scouting mission in the Philippines is sort of like having the Army invade Tarawa. Still, all in all, this is a fun movie to watch. Strictly speaking, it isn't factual, but it speaks to some of the facts. I could have given it five stars if the unit had been portrayed as Alamo Scouts.

People knowledgeable in WWII weapons will probably notice the scoped M1 sniper rifle carried by one of the Marines isn't a true M1C or M1D configuration as it should have been.



July 16, 2007

Entertaining, if somewhat cliched, WWII adventure

Ambush Bay is an entertaining WWII action movie that uses too many war movie cliches, but overall doesn't take away the enjoyment of an exciting movie. In October 1944, a specialist team of Marines lands in the Phillipines to complete a mission, meeting a source that has some key information, that could play a big part in the retaking of the islands. Among the nine-man team is a inexperienced radio man, Grenier, who was a last minute replacement and is not quite sure why he had to come along. While trekking through the jungle, Grenier must try and fit in without having the team turn on him. But as the team of Marines travels across the island, they find themselves battling the Japanese every step of the way, and their numbers begin to dwindle. The story isn't groundbreaking, and it doesn't need to be, the movie moves at a lightning quick pace and there is action around every corner. At times, the characters are nothing more than stereotypes, but you don't even notice, the action moves too quickly. Non-stop fun throughout with plenty of action and excitement.

With a script that focuses on three main characters, Hugh O'Brian plays the lead, Sgt. Steve Corey, a tough-as-nails veteran who finds himself in command after the mission leader is killed early on. O'Brian brings a hard-edged touch to the role as the no-nonsense leader. Mickey Rooney seems to be having a great time as Gunnery Sgt. Ernie Wartell, O'Brian right hand man who seems to be the only one trying to help Private Grenier, the inexperienced radioman. Grenier is played by James Mitchum, and though he might not have the acting chops his father Robert did, James is pretty good in the part. Grenier narrates the film so as a viewer I found myself feeling for him and this very dangerous, confusing situation he finds himself in. The rest of the nine-man team is given little to do in the way of lines, but they don't stick around long. Tisa Chang plays Miyazaki, the spy in the Phillipines who has some key information that could save the invasion by MacArthur that finds herself attractive to O'Brian's Sgt. Corey. The DVD has a nice-looking widescreen presentation, the movie was filmed on location in the Phillipines and really benefits from it, and a theatrical trailer. Overall, an exciting, action-packed WWII movie in the Pacific with good performances from its three main leads. Give Ambush Bay a try! March 22, 2007

Ambush Bay -- not art

Ambush Bay is not art. It is not entertainment. It is not even interesting. Ambush Bay is without a doubt one of the worst WWII movies ever produced. The best part of this movie is Robert Mitchum's red cap, worn while he is in the Philippine jungle hiding from Japanese soldiers. Red cap.... Why not wear universal orange?

I've seen the movie twice. Once with the sound on. It was awful. I watched it again, with the sound off. It was better this second time. It had the feel, without sound, of an ok comedy. With the sound it was pathetic.

Don't both buying it. Spend your money on something more useful or entertaining.

March 13, 2007

Understated

I enjoyed this movie very much. True it's not a classic war film but it stands out among the run-of-the-mill TV type of fare. The ending was curiously muted but it made the film raise itself a few notches. The weaponry was accurate (although I doubt the silencers used on both pistol and carbine were WW2 issue) and the uniforms tally with the photographs I have seen of USMC reconnaisance units. Definitely Hugh O'Brian's best work. March 8, 2007

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