Wake Island (1942)
-
100% of critics liked it
(5 reviews) -
61% of users liked it
(151 ratings)
The winner of four Oscar nominations, Wake Island was one of the first major Hollywood films to deal with America's forced participation in World War II. The first two reels takes place in the weeks prior to Pearl Harbor, as Wake Island military commander Brian Donlevy carries on a friendly… More The winner of four Oscar nominations, Wake Island was one of the first major Hollywood films to deal with America's forced participation in World War II. The first two reels takes place in the weeks prior to Pearl Harbor, as Wake Island military commander Brian Donlevy carries on a friendly rivalry with Seabee supervisor Albert Dekker. Once the US is in the shooting war, all previous differences are forgotten and the Wake Island personnel begin pulling together. Despite being heavily outnumbered during the subsequent Japanese attack on Wake, the Americans put up a valiant fight, at great cost to the Imperial Forces. In a scene calculated to evoke long, loud cheers from the audience, Donlevy, weary and battle-stained, relays to the American mainland the legendary (if offensive) challenge "Send us more Japs!" As in the like-vintage Bataan, the military defeat of the Americans is treated-and justifiably so--as a moral victory. Utilizing some of the top male talents in Paramount's contract pool-Donlevy, Dekker Robert Preston, MacDonald Carey, William Bendix--Wake Island remains an excellent example of propaganda-as-entertainment ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- John Farrow
- Written By
- W.R. Burnett, Frank Butler
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Aug 11, 1942 Wide
- Studio
- MCA Universal Home Video
Critic Reviews
-
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Though largely fictionalized, this is a moving report of the defense of the Pacific Island base, with strong emphasis on the heroic gallantry of three Manrines, played by Robert Preston, Brian Donlevy, and William Bendix.
-
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Succeeds in its attempt to dramatize the war effort.
-
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
A good, old-fashioned war movie, the kind of movie you watch with your dad on a Saturday afternoon.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
No Featured Audience Ratings Found…
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
Other Retailers
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Subscription Services
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Cast
-
Brian Donlevy
as Maj. Caton
-
Robert Preston
as Joe Doyle
-
Macdonald Carey
as Lt. Cameron
-
Albert Dekker
as Shad McCloskey
-
Barbara Britton
as Sally Cameron
-
William Bendix
as Smacksie Randall
-
Mikhail Rasumny
as Probenzki
-
Walter Abel
as Commander Roberts
-
Damian O'Flynn
as Capt. Patrick
-
Bill Goodwin
as Sgt. Higbee
-
Phillip Terry
as Private Warren
-
Don Castle
as Private Cunkle
-
Rod Cameron
as Capt. Lewis
-
Frank Albertson
as Johnny Rudd
-
Holly Bane
as 1st Lieutenant
-
Hugh Beaumont
as Captain
- Hillary Brooke
-
Jack Chapin
as Squeaky Simpkins
-
Dane Clark
as Marine
-
Ángel de la Cruz
as Rodrigo
-
Edward Earle
as Commander
-
Frank Faylen
as Wounded Marine
-
William Forrest
as Maj. Johnson
-
Richard Loo
as Mr. Saburo Kurusu
-
Patti McCarty
as Girls at Inn
-
Ivan Miller
as Colonel
-
Jack Mulhall
as Dr. Parkman
-
Anthony Nace
as Gordon
-
George Nielson
as Charles Trowbridge
-
Willard Robertson
as Col. Cameron
-
Rudy Robles
as Triunfo
-
John Sheehan
as Pete Hogan
-
Mary Thomas
as Cynthia Caton
-
Charles Trowbridge
as George Nielson
-
Philip Van Zandt
as Cpl. Goebbels
-
James Brown
as Wounded Marine
-
Mary Field
as Miss Pringle
-
Alan Hale Jr.
as Sight Setter
-
Marvin Jones Darrin Smith
as Tommy
-
Keith Richards (II)
as Sparks Wilcox
- Keith Richards (I)
- James Brown (II)
