Raetsonwe
Redundant and unnecessary.
ChanBot
i must have seen a different film!!
Rosie Searle
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
JohnHowardReid
Producer: Mark Sandrich. Copyright 22 June 1943 by Paramount Pictures Inc. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall: 9 September 1943 (ran 4 weeks). U.S. release: 26 June 1943. Australian release: 18 February 1944. Sydney opening at the Prince Edward: 18 February 1944 (ran 9 weeks). 11,351 feet. 126 minutes.WHAT IT'S ABOUT: Nurses stationed in Bataan. NOTES: Nominated for four Academy Awards (winners in brackets): Supporting Actress, Paulette Goddard (Katina Paxinou in For Whom the Bell Tolls), Original Screenplay (Princess O'Rourke), Black-and-White Cinematography (Song of Bernadette), Special Effects (Crash Dive).One of the top thirty box-office attractions in the U.S./Canada for 1943, the picture did even better in Australia, coming in 2nd to Double Indemnity as Paramount's top draw of 1944. Number 9 in The Film Daily "Ten Best" poll of American film critics. COMMENT: Seen to-day, Allan Scott's script could be accused of conventionality. But at the time of release, it seemed more daring and original. Certainly a military withdrawal (in this case from Bataan) has never been more graphically depicted than in this stunning picturization (produced and directed by the man whose present fame rests entirely upon his Astaire-Rogers musicals). Made with the extraordinary co-operation of the United States Defense Department, the action scenes are the most harrowing and realistic ever seen in a movie of this period. The usual jingoism is still abundant, but on this occasion it serves to heighten the picture's hideously stark realism. No expense has been spared in bringing these terrors to the screen. The technical skills, both behind and in front of the camera, are formidable.
kenjha
This WWII film looks at the lives of a group of nurses as they serve from Pearl Harbor to Bataan. Made while the war was still raging, it's understandably patriotic. It offers a rare glimpse at the distaff side on the war front. Colbert is solid as the head nurse. Goddard is wonderful in an Oscar-nominated performance. Although a popular star at the time, Lake has a brief and rather strange role as a disgruntled nurse. Future Superman Reeves plays Colbert's hunky love interest. Coincidently, there's a scene where Goddard is telling kids about Superman. Sandrich, a veteran of Astaire-Rogers musicals, is surprisingly effective in staging the Bataan battle scenes.
blanche-2
Claudette Colbert heads up a team of army nurses caring for the wounded and dying in "So Proudly We Hail!" It's a great ensemble of fine actresses, including Paulette Goddard, Veronica Lake, Barbara Britton and others. This is the women's story, not often told, but certainly harrowing and inspiring. These nurses are in the Phillipines when MacArthur pulls out and they become stranded on Corregidor.The film is told in flashbacks, when the women are actually on their way home by ship, and Colbert, who plays "Davy" (Janet Davidson) is catatonic. The ship's doctor is trying to figure out how to help her and asks the women to tell their story. It's a rough one, filled with bombings, filth, malaria, little food, exhaustion, and dying.When "So Proudly We Hail!" was released, no one knew how the war would end as we do now, and the fall of the Philippines was seen as a major defeat for the U.S. I suspect that although the impact of seeing it today is very strong, it must have been a lot stronger for wartime audiences.As mentioned, it was wartime, so Hollywood didn't have a lot of men to choose from. George Reeves - today himself the subject of a film - plays Davy's love interest, John, and he's not only hunky but excellent. I couldn't figure out if he had a good speaking voice or I was just so used to hearing it after growing up with "Superman." But he's very effective, and it's sad that after serving in the war, he couldn't get his career back on track. Unfortunately, that happened to many actors who were just getting a foothold when war broke out.The other actor is the often maligned Sonny Tufts, a big, good looking blond who wasn't much of an actor, but he doesn't detract from the film either. He was probably more suited to this role than he was to others later on.But this is a women's movie all the way. At 40, Colbert was probably a little old for the role. However, she does a good job as a tough but motherly woman, protective of her nurses and quite the rule-breaker herself after she meets John. Veronica Lake gives what is perhaps her best performance as the angry Olivia. The supporting Oscar nomination should have gone to her - it's a showy role, and she does a fantastic job. Paulette Goddard did receive the nomination. She's a flirty, sexy man magnet and extremely likable. I've always thought in real life, with all that charm and charisma, she must have had to beat men off with a stick."So Proudly We Hail!" gives as realistic a depiction of the conditions of war and the tremendous work of the nurses who served. It covers the same material as the excellent "Cry Havoc!" - also about nurses on Bataan. I highly recommend both films.As a bit of trivia, there were nurses who did not get out of Corregidor and were captured. They worked in the prison hospitals and had to endure terrible conditions, but surprisingly, they did survive -a tribute to their incredible inner strength and devotion to the wounded.
ccthemovieman-1
Without some of the sappy romances, I would have rated this powerful movie a couple of stars higher. That's only my tastes in films. For the ladies, they might like this "war movie," a lot more because it pays tribute mainly nurses and all the romances are probably just the ticket.But for 126 minutes, I would have liked to see a bit less courtship scenes, which included some corny dialog. I realize they needed to break up the action scenes and give something for the females to watch, but they often made no sense. For example, near the end Colbert marries George Reeves (yes, Superman) even though she admits she knows almost nothing about the man!!. I did enjoy watching Claudette Colbert, Paulette Goddard and Vernoica Lake, however. All of them looked very pretty. Lake was missing her peek-a-boo long blonde hair but probably - at least facially - looked better than I've ever seen her. Her role was the most interesting.The movie succeeds in paying tribute to unsung heroes of any war: the nurses. They were an extremely hard-worked, under-appreciated group during World War II, so this tribute is well- earned and I'm glad to have seen it. God bless those ladies who made such sacrifices.
