Suicide Battalion
Suicide Battalion is a 1958 World War II film directed by Edward L. Cahn and starring Mike Connors and John Ashley, who made the film while on leave from the United States Army. In 1968, it was remade for television by Larry Buchanan as Hell Raiders, which was the film's original working title.[1][3]
| Suicide Battalion | |
|---|---|
Original film poster by Albert Kallis | |
| Directed by | Edward L. Cahn |
| Written by | Lou Rusoff |
| Based on | story by Rusoff |
| Produced by | Lou Rusoff executive Samuel Z. Arkoff James H. Nicholson |
| Starring | Mike Connors John Ashley Russ Bender Bing Russell Jewell Lain Scott Peters Walter Maslow John McNamara Clifford Kawada Bob Tetrick |
| Cinematography | Floyd Crosby |
| Edited by | Robert S. Eisen |
| Music by | Ronald Stein |
Production company | Zuma Productions[1] |
| Distributed by | AIP (US) Anglo-Amalgamated (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 79 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $100,000 est.[2] |
American International Pictures originally released it as a double feature with Jet Attack.[4]
Premise edit
The story takes place during World War II in the Philippines. A group of American soldiers are recruited for a dangerous mission to destroy an enemy base and keep strategic documents out of the reach of the invading Imperial Japanese Army.
Main cast edit
- Mike Connors as Major Matt McCormack
- John Ashley as Pvt. Tommy Novello
- Jewell Lain as Elizabeth Ann Mason
- Russ Bender as Sgt. Harry Donovan
- Bing Russell as Lt. Chet Hall
- Scott Peters as Pvt. Wally Zagorsky
- Walter Maslow as Pvt. Marty Green
- John McNamara as Colonel Craig
- Clifford Kawada as Colonel Hiosho
- Bob Tetrick as Pvt Bill
- Marjorie Stapp as Beverly
- Jan Englund as Annette
- Isabel Cooley as Julie
- Hilo Hattie as Mama Lily
- Sammee Tong as Papa Lily
- Art Gilmore as Captain Hendry
- Jackie Joseph as Cho-Cho
Production edit
The film was an original story by Lou Rusoff reportedly based on the capture of General William Dean during the Korean War. It was announced for production in November 1955 as Hell Raiders. It was to star Lance Fuller who had made Apache Woman for producer Alex Gordon and had signed a ten-film deal with AIP (or ARC as it was then known), to make two films a year for five years. Filming was to begin January 1956.[5]
Filming was pushed back and Fuller did not make the movie. In April 1956 AIP announced that Richard Denning would star and that Edward L. Cahn would direct.[6] Denning ended up not appearing in the film either, which was not made until late 1957.
Filming began on 12 November 1957.[7] Star John Ashley was doing a six-month stint in the army at the time. The producers got him an early release to make the movie.[8] Ashley later had a noted association with filmmaking in the Philippines.[9]
Reception edit
"A very poor man's half-Naked half-dead" wrote the Los Angeles Times. "The good basic idea is hopelessly messed up with tritisms."[10] Jackie Joseph called it "this B minus war movie."[11]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c AIF Database: Suicide Battalion Linked 2014-06-24
- ^ Lamont, John (1990). "The John Ashley Filmography". Trash Compactor (Volume 2 No. 5 ed.). p. 26.
- ^ Scheuer, Philip K. (Nov 28, 1955). "Drama: Betta St. John Beguiles Tarzan; Hayden Bedded; Actor Set for Five Years". Los Angeles Times. p. A11.
- ^ "SUICIDE BATTALION". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 25. 1958. p. 78. ProQuest 1305819789.
- ^ Scheuer, P. K. (Nov 28, 1955). "Drama". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 166867337.
- ^ Schallert, E. (Apr 11, 1956). "Drama". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 166927373.
- ^ Schallert, E. (Nov 6, 1957). "Unique shaw play slated". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167138746.
- ^ Schallert, Edwin (Oct 23, 1957). "George Pal to Delve Into Space Again; Akim Tamiroff Aids 'Colonel'". Los Angeles Times. p. B11.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (December 2019). "A Hell of a Life: The Nine Lives of John Ashley". Diabolique Magazine.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Stinson, C. (Mar 20, 1958). "War films lacking realism". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167237389.
- ^ Weaver, Tom (2004). Science Fiction and Fantasy Film Flashbacks: Conversations with 24 Actors, Writers, Producers and Directors from the Golden Age. McFarland. p. 190. ISBN 9780786420704.
External links edit
- Suicide Battalion at the American Film Institute Catalog
- Suicide Battalion at IMDb
- Suicide Battalion at the TCM Movie Database
- at BFI
- Suicide Battalion at Letterbox DVD
- Review of film at Harrison Reports
- Review of film at Variety