Oscar Keesee Movies
In this WW II drama, a Yankee POW is busily gathering secret information near the island of Leyte to help General MacArthur prepare an invasion when he is captured by the Japanese who begin torturing him. Despite their cruelty, the soldier reveals nothing so they inform him that they will kill one innocent Filipino a day until he spills the beans. At the same time, an American paratrooper jumps on to the island and begins encouraging the Filipino rebels to organize a raid to free the POW. Unfortunately, the rebels lose and the executions continue. Just as the POW decides to speak up, he is killed by enraged Filipinos, an action that spawns a native revolt and inspires the rebels to launch another, more successful, attack. As the POW dies, he is able to fatally stab his tormentor. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jennings Sturgeon, Michael Parsons, (more)
Surely Benjamin Appel's novel Fortress in the Rice was more interesting than its static film adaptation Cry of Battle. Van Heflin plays a crusty soldier of fortune fighting with the Philippine partisans during World War II. James MacArthur co-stars as the wealthy, aimless son of a businessman who joins the partisan cause for a lark. He is toughened up by Heflin and romanced by local girl Rita Moreno. Life's just full of surprises, isn't it? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Van Heflin, Rita Moreno, (more)
- 1961
George Montgomery directs, stars, and co-scripts this routine, somewhat dated wartime drama set in the Philippines during World War II. Capt. John Larsen (Montgomery) has to go behind enemy lines at the beginning of the war to rescue a general from Japanese captivity. Instead of breezing through the assignment, Larsen discovers that the general has died, and it is almost impossible to get back to his rendezvous point. Filipino guerrillas help him out, but then he is handicapped by an injured woman in need of medical attention. The "steel claw" of the title is a hook that the one-handed Larsen fastens onto himself, a prosthetic straight out of Peter Pan. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Montgomery, Charito Luna, (more)
A man who was the lone survivor of a shipwreck is rescued, only to discover that he's in greater danger than ever before in this horror story inspired by H.G. Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau. After his ship sinks in the midst of an ocean crossing, William Fitzgerald (Richard Derr) is near death when he finds his way to a remote island off the shore of Peru. Fitzgerald is discovered and given shelter by Dr. Girard (Francis Lederer), a scientist who has set up a lab on the island with his wife Frances (Greta Thyssen). It seems that most of the natives have fled the island in fear of what Girard is doing, and Fitzgerald soon discovers why -- the doctor has unusual theories about the links between humans and animals, and he has performed bizarre experiments on a panther that has transformed the feline into a man. The creature has gotten loose from Girard and now prowls the island with a thirst for blood; Fitzgerald's danger is only increased when he discovers that Frances has fallen in love with him. Terror Is a Man was also distributed under the titles Blood Creature, Creature from Blood Island, and The Gory Creatures. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Francis Lederer, Greta Thyssen, (more)
