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Wake Island (1942)

Wake Island (1942)
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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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Starring:
Brian Donlevy, Robert Preston, (more)
Director(s):
John Farrow
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of Wake Island

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

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
88 mins

Complete Cast of Wake Island


Director(s):
John Farrow
Writer(s):
Frank R. Butler, W.R. Burnett
Producer(s):
Joseph Sistrom
Categories:
War
Wake Island Awards:
  • 1942 - Film Daily - 10 Best Films
  • 1942 - New York Film Critics Circle - Best Director
  • 1942 - New York Times - 10 Best Films
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    Member Reviews
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    Bruce D.

    A great historical movie that got it correct despite only having the records and reports from the battle. It would be 4 more years before the actual survivors of the battle who became POWs would be available to be interviewed. This was a great home front movie to inspire the american people early in WWII. The scenes and layout for Wake Island were very close to the actual layout of the islands.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Lisa S.

    Not only do you get the normal fighting scenes, but you get to know the men and the different emotions they expierenced.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Walter R.

    Great Movie. It shows the courage of our fighting marines.

    Yes   |   No

     
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