It started with films like 'Lost Patrol' and 'Objective, Burma', but completely exploded into a sub-genre with the likes of 'The Guns Of Navarone' and 'Bridge On The River Kwai', these two films creating such momentum that for the next two decades the sub-genre ruled box office draws like a tornado. What made these films special? For one, they were usually set in far away, exotic, dangerous and exciting places. Places you never even heard of, so remote, not even the characters in the film knew where they were. But this still is not a sufficient explanation to why we find these films appealing. No, they're appealing because of the men. Send a group of men far away on a mission behind enemy lines, where the minutest mistake could be the difference between life and death, and you have a 'time bomb'. Characters are vital for the success of these films. Each in the unit must have a different background, be flawed in some way, have a weakness and strength. Only together they will succeed in achieving their goal. We love to listen to the briefings, objectives and the planning phase and we enjoy watching the selection process because we anticipate that by the end we will know these men like they were our own brothers. Once deployed, the film really begins and we are in for an adventure of a lifetime. We know what the men must do, but we don't know how. And once there is opposition among the men, the tension really begins. Subconsciously, after watching the men interact and counteract and delve deeper behind enemy territory toward their goal, you cannot help but feel you are part of a unit. Your only world is the group. They are your family. And voilà, magic!
Rarely has a sub-genre such as this been defined so well as by the classic "Too Late The Hero". It has it all. Exotic jungle, hot weather, rugged terrain, arrogant men from all walks of life, impossible mission orders, uncharted territory and a mighty enemy. No silly actresses or damsels in distress for comic or tragic relief, this film is like Rorke's Drift in the tropics. Everyone is tough and if they're not tough, tough luck, because once behind enemy lines there is no turning back. And this film has the most colorful ensemble of character actors I've ever seen. Cliff Robertson plays that lackluster turned reluctant hero character he's so good at playing. Michael Caine eats the scenery as the Cockney loud-mouth. Denholm Elliott is still lost in his own museum. Harry Andrews and Henry Fonda play themselves (which isn't a bad thing as they both deserve all accolades they ever received). Supporting cast is made of character actors playing roles that range from 'slum rat' unreliable type to 'strictly by-the-book' stiff-upper-lip type, from paranoid, insecure type to hard-as-nails tough S.O.B. Denholm Elliott falls into all categories throughout the film as the mission takes its toll on his nerves.
The film's setup is so riveting. You have an island situated somewhere in the pacific. Two settlements both on opposite sides of the island, both represent the enemy to the other. The Americans have sent one of theirs on a mission that is as daring as the quest for the Golden Fleece. A unit of British soldiers is assembled when the American arrives to the island's southern settlement, a settlement surrounded by an oval of grass clearing (to allow for a visible barrier around the settlement). The men set off, their objective being to locate a radio-tower at the Japanese settlement on the other side of the island and neutralize it. Why not just send planes to raid it by air? The Japanese will hear them coming and will radio for reinforcements. This is not what the British want. A complete element of surprise is crucial to finding the radio and destroying it, so that when a British ship passes the Japanese settlement, no transmissions can be made for help. This means the brave soldiers must walk into the lion's den. Led by the American (Cliff Robertson), they must cut their way through humid, sticky, wet, dense jungle completely unnoticed for miles, through night and day, and find the settlement, the radio tower, blow it to smithereens, neutralize the enemy and run for their lives back to base .back to where they started, with the impenetrable jungle, and the invisible mines and soldiers camouflaged by the green in between them and freedom. But if that were not enough, the tension and confusion between the men builds to such intensity that mutiny seems inevitable.
If you're looking for a jungle suspense fest, you've found the film you're looking for. The whole cast delivers. You finish the film feeling worn out, tired, secure and relieved ..the kind of relief you get when you feel free and safe .the actors pull it off so convincingly that you could almost taste their sweat. It's sheer brilliance and an amazing realization of heroism. The direction was claustrophobic and fast-paced, as was the desperate dialog between the men. The script consistently holds your attention, never letting go, always leaving you on the edge-of-your-seat until the powerful finale. One of the greatest complements to the film was the lack or little use of music. This is used to great effect as the REAL music comes in the form of snapping twigs, leaves moving, water trickles, bird chirping and other wildlife .and absolute MAYHEM.
But the greatest monument to the film, the force behind its very success, is the combined efforts of all actors involved. They MADE the film. It's completely character driven .it's about the men ..about the heroics of those who never thought they could accomplish anything, who under the odds accomplished everything.
If you're getting a little tired of watching Colin Farrell, Will Smith and Brad Pitt, borrow this film and relive a time when films were made with professional actors ..not bum fluff.
Rarely has a sub-genre such as this been defined so well as by the classic "Too Late The Hero". It has it all. Exotic jungle, hot weather, rugged terrain, arrogant men from all walks of life, impossible mission orders, uncharted territory and a mighty enemy. No silly actresses or damsels in distress for comic or tragic relief, this film is like Rorke's Drift in the tropics. Everyone is tough and if they're not tough, tough luck, because once behind enemy lines there is no turning back. And this film has the most colorful ensemble of character actors I've ever seen. Cliff Robertson plays that lackluster turned reluctant hero character he's so good at playing. Michael Caine eats the scenery as the Cockney loud-mouth. Denholm Elliott is still lost in his own museum. Harry Andrews and Henry Fonda play themselves (which isn't a bad thing as they both deserve all accolades they ever received). Supporting cast is made of character actors playing roles that range from 'slum rat' unreliable type to 'strictly by-the-book' stiff-upper-lip type, from paranoid, insecure type to hard-as-nails tough S.O.B. Denholm Elliott falls into all categories throughout the film as the mission takes its toll on his nerves.
The film's setup is so riveting. You have an island situated somewhere in the pacific. Two settlements both on opposite sides of the island, both represent the enemy to the other. The Americans have sent one of theirs on a mission that is as daring as the quest for the Golden Fleece. A unit of British soldiers is assembled when the American arrives to the island's southern settlement, a settlement surrounded by an oval of grass clearing (to allow for a visible barrier around the settlement). The men set off, their objective being to locate a radio-tower at the Japanese settlement on the other side of the island and neutralize it. Why not just send planes to raid it by air? The Japanese will hear them coming and will radio for reinforcements. This is not what the British want. A complete element of surprise is crucial to finding the radio and destroying it, so that when a British ship passes the Japanese settlement, no transmissions can be made for help. This means the brave soldiers must walk into the lion's den. Led by the American (Cliff Robertson), they must cut their way through humid, sticky, wet, dense jungle completely unnoticed for miles, through night and day, and find the settlement, the radio tower, blow it to smithereens, neutralize the enemy and run for their lives back to base .back to where they started, with the impenetrable jungle, and the invisible mines and soldiers camouflaged by the green in between them and freedom. But if that were not enough, the tension and confusion between the men builds to such intensity that mutiny seems inevitable.
If you're looking for a jungle suspense fest, you've found the film you're looking for. The whole cast delivers. You finish the film feeling worn out, tired, secure and relieved ..the kind of relief you get when you feel free and safe .the actors pull it off so convincingly that you could almost taste their sweat. It's sheer brilliance and an amazing realization of heroism. The direction was claustrophobic and fast-paced, as was the desperate dialog between the men. The script consistently holds your attention, never letting go, always leaving you on the edge-of-your-seat until the powerful finale. One of the greatest complements to the film was the lack or little use of music. This is used to great effect as the REAL music comes in the form of snapping twigs, leaves moving, water trickles, bird chirping and other wildlife .and absolute MAYHEM.
But the greatest monument to the film, the force behind its very success, is the combined efforts of all actors involved. They MADE the film. It's completely character driven .it's about the men ..about the heroics of those who never thought they could accomplish anything, who under the odds accomplished everything.
If you're getting a little tired of watching Colin Farrell, Will Smith and Brad Pitt, borrow this film and relive a time when films were made with professional actors ..not bum fluff.