Hell in the Pacific (1968)
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64% of critics liked it
(14 reviews) -
75% of users liked it
(3,775 ratings)
The entire cast of Hell in the Pacific consists of two high-powered international stars: Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune. The time is World War II. A downed American marine pilot (Marvin), is stalked on a remote Pacific island by a Japanese navy officer (Mifune). The Japanese officer captures the… More The entire cast of Hell in the Pacific consists of two high-powered international stars: Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune. The time is World War II. A downed American marine pilot (Marvin), is stalked on a remote Pacific island by a Japanese navy officer (Mifune). The Japanese officer captures the American, but this situation is reversed when he manages to wriggle free. The two enemies finally decide to live and let live, each moving to their own separate portion of the island. By and by the adversaries come to rely upon one another to survive; they set up living quarters in a deserted camp, get drunk together, and almost -- but not quite -- become friends. The present ending of Hell in the Pacific is greatly at odds with director John Boorman's original vision, in which the Japanese officer angrily kills two Japanese soldiers who have come across the American and decapitated him. As it now stands, viewers are left with an explosive "lady or the tiger" denouement. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- John Boorman
- Written By
- Alexander Jacobs, Eric Bercovici
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1968 Wide
- On DVD
- Mar 13, 2001
Critic Reviews
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Intriguing but finally dissatisfying.
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A.H. Weiler, New York Times
Hell in the Pacific grapples with the arresting relationships of character, communication and survival, but succeeds only fitfully in dramatically projecting these elemental qualities.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The acting is acceptable but is as extravagant as the script, and Boorman's direction is repetitive and ponderous, beating that single antiwar theme to death long before the adversaries do.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
More like a silent than a talkie.
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Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Two WWII enemies face off, but then depend on each other. Fascinating Boorman.
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Cast
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Lee Marvin
as American Soldier
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Toshiro Mifune
as Japanese Soldier