Battle at Bloody Beach

I was at the premiere of this movie in San Diego. And yes, it was a pretty awful movie. In fact, I can not remember any thing about the movie. So why am I writing this review? Because I knew Audie Murphy, and was on the location set while filming aboard the submarine. Audie was not in the best frame of mind during this movie, often looking depressed. Even the camera man was concerned. But when called to do his scenes, Audie did his best. As for the movie itself, I can only guess it is best forgotten, because I am certain Audie never included it in his best performances. I don't think it is on DVD, and probably never will be. The battle at bloody beach was also part of the battle going on in Murphy's head.

No amount of charisma from Audie Murphy was ever going to be able to rescue this from obscurity. Determined to emulate other stars of his era and move away from the declining Western genre with which he had some success, he takes on the role as American civilian "Benson" who works with the local Filipino population following the Japanese invasion of the islands during WWII. It's not really up to much, this film - a sort of rose-tinted look at the aftermath of the occupation that really focusses more on his determination to find "Ruth" (Dolores Michaels) rather than for any more laudable cause - he ends up helping because of her, rather than for any principle. It's strangely flat and un-engaging; there is some action but for the most part it rumbles along for 80 minutes with an inevitability about it that is quite dull and entirely predictable with a star far from his best.

I've often wondered how WWII action flicks played with audiences of the early 1960s--did movie-goers still feel patriotic about them or was there a sense that it was time to move on from stories pitting Americans against the ruthless Japanese? Here, married Audie Murphy sails the Pacific searching for his missing spouse, eventually finding her on an island in the Phillipines along with a band of Americans and Polynesians being threatened by the relentless Japanese army. In Audie's absence, his Mrs. has taken up the guerrilla fighter's cause--and with thin-but-swarthy soldier Alejandro Rey!--but when they're surrounded by bloodthirsty Japs, the group must put aside their differences long enough to survive. Typical war movie, though with the added pleasure of some campy action and not-bad black-and-white cinematography. Murphy was never much of an actor, but here his stolid manner is a relief from all the hysteria. The director shows absolutely no sympathy for the dead or the dying (on either side), but the central romantic situation is handled with surprising skill and the climactic battle, though hurt by choppy editing, is nevertheless involving. ** from ****

Audie Murphy was actually a better actor than he was usually given credit for--he did excellent work in "The Red Badge of Courage" and his own biography, "To Hell and Back"--but you couldn't tell by this low-rent war picture. Murphy pretty much walks through the picture, although co- star Alejandro Rey tries to breathe some life into it. The sloppy direction, poor script, overacting by Gary Crosby (as usual), tired performance by a tired-looking Dolores Michaels and its overall cheesiness combine to make this picture definitely one of Murphy's lesser efforts. A burst of not particularly well done action at the end can't really save it. The ending is predictable, trite and not even remotely believable. Overall, pretty much of a dud.

Small-scale story of individuals caught up in a giant war, as opposed to a big WWII blockbuster. Low-budget black and white movie, but that's OK since it is not a blockbuster. However, the combination of low budget, poor script and below-average direction prevents this film from being worthwhile. It appears to have been filmed very quickly, maybe in a matter of days or a couple of weeks.

Audie Murphy has a lot of screen "presence" and he elevates what is otherwise not much here. Dolores Michaels is great as always and very watchable. Her leading-lady talent is far above this insignificant movie. Alejandro Rey is watchable as he again elevates one of his many B-movie roles and TV appearances (he had a remarkable ability to do this).

The cheap California island location filming is surprisingly adequate as a substitute for the real would-be scene of the action.

Can't really recommend this, but the movie's stars outshine the material and are individually fine.