The hero of Mindanao

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Movie
German title The hero of Mindanao
Original title American Guerrilla in the Philippines
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1950
length 104 minutes
Age rating FSK 12
Rod
Director Fritz Lang
script Lamar Trotti
production Lamar Trotti
music Cyril J. Mockridge
camera Harry Jackson
cut Robert L. Simpson
occupation

The Hero of Mindanao is an American war film by director Fritz Lang from 1950. The screenplay is based on the novel American Guerrilla in the Philippines (1945) by Ira Wolfert . The premiere in Germany took place on May 30, 1952.

action

The Second World War in the Pacific in the summer of 1942. An American torpedo boat is attacked and destroyed by Japanese planes. The survivors, including Ensign Palmer, reach the bank. There they should split up into small groups. Together with his comrade Mitchell, Palmer meets Colonel Benson. General Douglas MacArthur orders him to surrender as soon as possible.

Palmer meets Jeanne Martinez. The French woman is married to the Filipino planter Juan. Palmer is giving medical assistance to a pregnant woman. Jeanne implores Palmer to stay and fight. But Palmer buys a sailboat and hires a crew to reach Australia. When the boat sinks, the crew is rescued by Miguel, a Filipino resistance fighter. The Americans avoid capture. Palmer meets Jeanne again, this time also her husband Juan, who secretly supports the resistance.

Palmer is ordered to remain in the Philippines . He is supposed to help the resistance fighters to build up a spy network. After Juan dies, Jeanne joins the resistance. Again she comes into contact with Palmer, this time the two fall in love.

Palmer, Mitchell, Jeanne and the Filipino fighters can dodge and fight the Japanese for three years. But then they run into a church with a Japanese patrol. A fight ensues in which the defeat of Palmer and his people seems sealed. American planes race across the sky, explosions can be heard. The Japanese flee, the group can get to safety.

background

The 20th Century Fox film was shot in the Philippines.

Jack Elam can be seen here in his ninth film role, more precisely: in his fifth role, which is mentioned in the credits. The western veteran, who died in 2003, appeared in 200 films. For the French Micheline Presle it was the second work in Hollywood.

The multiple Oscar-winning Lyle R. Wheeler , Stuart A. Reiss and Thomas Little were responsible for the set of the film, while the costumes were designed by the Oscar winner Travilla , who was supported by Charles Le Maire. Oscar winner Fred Sersen produced the special effects. The musical direction was also in award-winning hands, namely those of Lionel Newman.

Reviews

"Anything but a war film to be taken seriously, the events are presented as patriotic cinema adventures in the style of a brightly colored Western. A loveless commissioned work that never betrays Fritz Lang's personal signature."

literature

  • Ira Wolfert : American Guerrilla in the Philippines . Simon and Schuster, New York 1945, 222 (IX) S. (so far no German translation exists)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. cf. Lexicon of International Films 2000/2001 (CD-ROM)