Stars: Errol Flynn, William Prince, George Tobias, Henry Hull, James Brown, Warner Anderson, John Alvin, Mark Stevens

Director: Raoul Walsh

Summary: Captain Nelson leads a crack squadron of paratroopers behind enemy lines to destroy a Japanese radar unit. When an ambush cuts off their only escape route, his troop are forced into the swamp-infested hell of the Burmese jungle. The harrowing fight for survival begins in a realistic account of the grim hardships facing brave men in battle.

A group of paratroopers are dropped into the Burmese jungle to wipe out a Japanese radar station. At first, things seem to be going as planned but the team soon find themselves in a jungle full of Japanese soldiers. Stars Hollywood legend Errol Flynn.

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On its first release in 1945, just after VJ day, Objective Burmacame under fire in the British press--much as Saving Private Ryanwould do some 40 years later--for portraying the jungle war as a solely American operation. But the passage of time has allowed the movie's many merits to outshine its narrow remit. The movie's bone-chilling portrayal of pain, sacrifice and endurance is astonishing; the jungle atmosphere is so persuasive you'd swear it was shot on the actual locations; and you'll never forget the terrifying last dark night on a mountainside--or the crocodiles.

A paratroop captain (Errol Flynn) sets out with a platoon to attack a Japanese outpost in the jungle. The Americans reach their target, take out the enemy with almost balletic precision, then gear up to return home. This feels like the point when a conventional war movie would have reached its action-filled climax, but the journey has only begun. Ahead lies one of the most arduous and agonising adventures any World War II film ever offered, brilliantly directed by that underrated old master Raoul Walsh and photographed with almost tactile realism by the great James Wong Howe. Franz Waxman also contributes one of his finest music scores. Flynn is excellent (he had given his best performance ever in Walsh's Gentleman Jimthree years earlier), and he's backed by a solid cast including Henry Hull (as an ageing war correspondent), James Brown, William Prince, George Tobias and Stephen Richards (soon to change his name to Mark Stevens). Incidentally, two of the writers, Alvah Bessie and Lester Cole, were later blacklisted; see if you can spot any Commie propaganda. --Richard T Jameson

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Trailer - 1. Original Theatrical Trailer, Featurettes - 1. Warner Bros Wartime Shorts
Year:	1954
Release Date:	July 21, 2003
Runtime:	135 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	D 065250
Keywords:	War, Burma, Objective
Genre:	War