Company Thunderbolt (film)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Movie
German title Company Thunderbolt
Original title 'Gung Ho!': The Story of Carlson's Makin Island Raiders
Country of production United States
original language English
Publishing year 1943
length 85 minutes
Age rating FSK 16
Rod
Director Ray Enright
script Lucien Hubbard
production Walter Wanger
music Frank Skinner
camera Milton R. Krasner
cut Milton Carruth
occupation

Enterprise Thunderbolt (original title: Gung Ho! ) Is an American war film by director Ray Enright from 1943. The film is based on the story of the same name by Lieutenant WS LeFrancois of the US Marine Corps. The premiere in Germany took place on June 20, 1958.

action

For a dangerous mission during the Pacific War , the US Marine Corps, under the direction of Lieutenant Cristoforos, is looking for volunteers to be assigned to a special unit. The unit's commander, Lieutenant Colonel Thorwald, fought on the side of the Chinese against the Japanese in order to learn from them guerrilla tactics . Now he wants to form a unit that internalizes the Chinese “Gung Ho”, team spirit and cooperation.

There are many different characters among the volunteers: Tedrow, a hillbilly who has no qualms about killing someone; Harbison, who wants to keep a secret that he is an ordained priest ; the professional boxer Matthews trying to escape poverty; Richter and O'Ryan, who fell in love with Navy nurse Kathleen; Montana, a former street boy; a Filipino who wants to avenge his sister, who was raped and murdered by the Japanese; as well as a veteran of the Spanish Civil War who sees the war as a continuation of the fight against fascism.

The volunteers undergo tough training, some of which are dropped out. The others are shipped to Hawaii for special jungle fighting training. There you can see the destruction caused by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor . The battle for Guadalcanal is later announced on the radio . With two submarines, the men are shipped to an island held by the Japanese for a command company.

The Americans landed on the island in rubber dinghies and were taken under fire by Japanese snipers in the palm trees. The riflemen are killed, the Japanese headquarters attacked, the crew and the material destroyed. The men are brought back in the submarines.

Reviews

"Shot during the Second World War to strengthen the will to defend, the war fiend, also perceived by American critics as chauvinistic, reveals hatred and irreconcilability towards his former opponents even in the softened German dubbed version."

background

  • At the time of filming, the US was at war with Japan. The Japanese were represented by Filipinos and Chinese.
  • The training scenes are real footage shot by Chet Huntley.
  • Well-known employees in film circles: cameraman Krasner (Oscar 1955), art director Alexander Golitzen (Oscars 1944, 1961, 1963), his colleague John B. Goodman (Oscar 1944), set decorator Russell A. Gausman (Oscars 1944, 1961) , Sound engineer Bernard B. Brown (Oscar 1940, plus a special Oscar 1945) and special effects technician John P. Fulton (Oscars 1946, 1956, 1957).
  • Military and technical advisers were Lieutenant Colonel Evans F. Carlson, Lieutenant WS Francois, and Gunnery Sergeant Victor Maghakian, all of the US Marine Corps.

Web links

Individual evidence

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