Wake Island (1942)

100% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(145 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 rivalry… 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

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: John Farrow
Written By: W.R. Burnett, Frank Butler
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Aug 11, 1942 Wide
On DVD: May 25, 2004
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.

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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)
            
See full cast

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