BY DOUG OSWALD
A
Japanese Naval officer and an American Marine Corps aviator are marooned on a
Pacific island during WWII in “Hell in the Pacific,†available on Blu-ray from
Kino Lorber. The film is a virtual silent movie with the exception of the
Pacific island sounds of surf, wind, birds and the occasional words spoken by the
co-protagonists portrayed by Toshiro Mifune and Lee Marvin. However, neither
understands the other’s language. The film opens with Mifune scanning the
horizon for any signs of rescue when he spots a deflated life raft. The rubber
raft belongs to Marvin who is hiding in the thick jungle growth nearby. Marvin is
able to elude discovery by Mifune, but eventually thirst forces him to reveal
himself on the beach.
Mifune
captures Marvin after several attempts are made by Marvin to take water from Mifune’s
water supply as well as other general mayhem like stealing fish from Mifune’s
fish trap. Mifune ties him to a stock and Marvin is forced to drag a piece of
driftwood up and down the beach. Mifune also blindfolds Marvin because he
doesn’t want Marvin looking at him. Later, Marvin tricks Mifune and the tables
are turned. Mifune is now forced to drag the log while tied to a stock and
blindfolded. The island is not so much Hell, but a sort of Purgatory where each
man takes turns harassing the other. Eventually, Marvin tires of this and
releases Mifune, much to Mifune’s befuddlement. The men form a grudging alliance
and focus their efforts on building a raft to escape the island. They do
escape, only to arrive at a larger bombed out island once occupied by both
sides. Perhaps this is their fate, to repeat the cycle.
Although
the setting is World War II in the Pacific, the movie could just as well be set
in a post apocalyptic or alien world. The 1985 science fiction film “Enemy
Mine†offers an alternate version of “Hell in the Pacific†and was clearly partially
inspired by that film. Although based on a 1977 novella, “Enemy Mine†is a
unique, but maintains the basic plot of two enemies forced to work together in order
to survive. This story concept served as a template used in countless
television series from “The Twilight Zone†and “Star Trek†to “The Rat Patrolâ€
and “Battlestar Galactica.â€
Directed
by John Boorman, “Hell in the Pacific†was released four years before his 1972
box office hit, “Deliverance.†He previously worked with Marvin on the 1971 thriller
“Point Blank.†While not a prolific director, Boorman directed several high
profile movies such as “Zardoz†(1974), “Exorcist II: The Heretic†(1977), the
ultimate Arthurian epic “Excalibur†(1981), “The Emerald Forrest (1985), the
autobiographical “Hope and Glory†(1987), “Beyond Rangoon†(1995) and “The
Tailor of Panama†(2001). I have no doubt Boorman put his heart and soul into
every production.
Released
by Cinerama Releasing Corporation in December 1968, the movie under- performed
at the box office. This was probably due to the unusual nature of the film with
sparse dialogue, no subtitles, bleak setting and downbeat ending. The original
ending as directed by Boorman was scrapped in favor of the ending fans are
familiar with as seen in the theater, on television and on the initial home
video releases. The DVD release by MGM was the first release to include the
original ending as does this Blu-ray release. Making great use of the wide
screen lens, the movie was filmed on location in the Palau Islands which are located
north of New Guinea and east of the Philippines where the WWII Battle of
Peleliu took place from September to November 1944.
Both
Marvin and Mifune served in the Pacific during WWII. Marvin was a Marine
wounded during the Battle of Saipan in 1944. Mifune was in the Japanese Army
Air Service. Mifune was the most famous actor from Japan at the time and Marvin
had recently received an Oscar for “Cat Ballou†(1965) and was in one of the
biggest box office hits of 1967, “The Dirty Dozen.†Both men featured in many
now classic movies in a variety of genres from detective thrillers, dramas and
comedies to samurai films (Mifune) and westerns (Marvin). “Hell in the Pacificâ€
is a must-see movie if, for no other reason,n than to experience the result of
the creative triumphant of John Boorman directing Toshiro Mifune and Lee
Marvin. Both Marvin and Mifune deserve praise for their performances.
The
Kino Lorber Blu-ray looks and sounds terrific and is a worthy upgrade from the early
DVD releases by Anchor Bay and MGM. Extras on the disc include an insightful
audio commentary by Travis Crawford and Bill Ackerman, in-depth discussions by director
John Boorman and another by Art Director Anthony Pratt. The disc also includes
subtitles which reveal the dialog spoken in Japanese by Mifune and the dialog spoken
by Marvin. The real treat comes in the form of an option to view the movie as
originally seen upon release in theaters or with the alternate ending. The
alternate ending is more accurately Boorman’s original filmed ending. As for
me, I prefer Boorman’s version, but I’m pleased both are offered. The previous
MGM DVD release only offered the Boorman ending as an extra on the disc and did
not edit it back into the movie as this release does. The disc also includes reverseable sleeve artwork and
the trailers for five other Kino releases. Unfortunately, a trailer for this
movie is not included. This is a movie which needs to be watched multiple
times; with the original ending, with the theatrical release ending, with the subtitles
and also with the audio commentary. Well worth it for fans of this outstanding
movie. It’s a terrific Blu-ray release from Kino Lorber.
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