Melbourne
- Episode aired Mar 28, 2010
- TV-MA
- 56m
After arduous months in Guadalcanal, exhausted Marines are given rest and recreation in Melbourne, where they find the girls friendly and the beer cold.After arduous months in Guadalcanal, exhausted Marines are given rest and recreation in Melbourne, where they find the girls friendly and the beer cold.After arduous months in Guadalcanal, exhausted Marines are given rest and recreation in Melbourne, where they find the girls friendly and the beer cold.
- PFC Eugene Sledge
- (as Joe Mazzello)
- (credit only)
Featured reviews
Okay, despite all the good bits that I will like to say about the miniseries "The Pacific", I just couldn't stand two episode in this show, which are E03 & E08. Why the heck did either the screenplay writer or the director as well as the producers find it interesting to put so many sex scenes in a movie that was suppose to present a bloody HELL in the war? And why should the personal "romance" of John Basilone take almost an entire episode?? Why did the producers think the audiences who are paying their respect to that part of history and to those who sacrificed tremendously should care about some marines' love story? Honestly, I don't get it! I think it is ridiculous that almost 90 out of 540 minutes in this series contributed to that kind of stuff. E01 and E10 are not very good as well. They could have dug much deeper rather than showing, yes again, some "romance"!
But there are very good stuff in this series, things that are subtle yet touching. After watching Band of Brothers, I was touched deeply by the fraternity in a war. I had my admiration for some of the main characters in BOB. After watching this series, all I want to say is that there is no glory in this war or any war, and the only difference between wars is which one is more ugly and more devastating.
You'd think an episode set in a city would provide some sense of relief, but no - Melbourne serves only to remind us that, even off the battlefield, these characters are incapable of finding peace. The episode drifts between awkward social interactions, strained relationships, and the general malaise that defines the entire series. Leckie, our ever-present guide, stumbles through it all with his signature mix of detachment and complete lack of charisma, managing to make falling in love look as exciting as filling out a tax form.
Meanwhile, the rest of the characters wander aimlessly, struggling with the concept of downtime, as if the writers themselves weren't quite sure what to do with them. But who needs meaningful character development or emotional depth when you can just have Leckie sulk in the background and call it a day?
In the end, Melbourne feels like a vacation no one asked for, providing an uneasy and depressing breather between bouts of violence.
First of all, Izmir (it was no longer called as Smryna after conquered by Turks) was a Turkish soil for over 600 years before it was "invaded" by the Greek army in 1919. Since Turks take back what was theirs, it can't be considered an "invasion". For this reason, there is no logical reason for Turks to sack and set their own city on fire. On the contrary Greeks had many reasons to burn the city of Izmir: Stalling the rapid march of Turkish army to the coast, buying time for evacuation and taking a last revenge against the triumphant Turks before leaving.
Even the given the facts appoint the Greek army, the issue whether the responsibility of burning of Izmir belongs to Greeks or Turks is still disputed. One sided narrative of a such disputed matter in the series as a historical fact is very inaccurate.
Secondly, an average Greek family doesn't allow a complete stranger man into their home, especially where a young and single daughter lives within.
The soldiers come off like drunk idiots, which they probably were. But the actors as old as they are don't look like a bunch of dumb 18 to 22 year olds and so it feels almost like a reenactment than a retelling.
Generally this episode either needed to come later and water down the bad romance, be a much shorter episode, or just not have happened.
Did you know
- TriviaThe ship depicted arriving at the port in Australia was the USS West Point/SS America. It would become one of the most beloved and appreciated cruise ships of her day. Built in 1940 but requisitioned in 41 as a troop ship she would go on to a very successful career after the war and meet one of the most terrible and astounding fates of the time. After being sold and renamed over a half a dozen times she was sold and was going to be converted to a floating hotel in Thailand but while under tow she broke the tow lines and grounded at Playa De Garcey. She could not be pulled off the shoal and for the next 14 years she became a spectacle that drew thousands of tourists while she broke in half and slowly deteriorated. The stern collapsed first leaving the front 2/3's above the surf leaning over to port more each year until she disappeared under the waves in 2007.
- GoofsSeveral times Marines are referred to as being AWOL (Absent Without Leave). However AWOL is a term used by the Air Force and Army, the Marine Corps and the Navy use the term UA (Unauthorized Absence) for personnel who leave base without authorization.
- Quotes
PFC Robert Leckie: [strolling around drunk, he sees Stella getting onto a tram] Hey, beautiful!
[she smiles at him, the tram pulls away, and he runs after it]
PFC Sidney Phillips: Oh, what the Hell's he doing? Where's that tram go?
Girl in Bar: That's the Preston line. He'll end up in Perth!
PFC Sidney Phillips: Oh, hey, hey Leckie, c'mon!
PFC Lew 'Chuckler' Juergens: Leckie, what the Hell!
[they chase after him]
PFC Robert Leckie: [on the tram, pushing his way between people] Excuse me, sir, ma'am, I apologize. Excuse me.
[he sees Stella and grins]
PFC Sidney Phillips: Hey, Leckie!
[Leckie turns quickly and falls at Stella's feet]
PFC Lew 'Chuckler' Juergens: Whoa! Attaboy, Leckie!
Stella: Proposing already, Yank?
PFC Robert Leckie: [flirting] I'm proposing that you take a walk with me. You never know what the future may bring.
Stella: You know what "take a walk" means?
PFC Robert Leckie: Oh...
[chuckles awkwardly]
PFC Robert Leckie: ma'am, ma'am, ma'am - miss, miss, I'm a foreigner on your shores. Forgive my ignorance of your customs, but... my invitation remains an offer.
Stella: [considers, then smiles] You're a bold one sotted, let's see you in the light of day.
[she writes down her address and gives it to him. Chuckler and Sid watch from the doorway]
Stella: Collect me at home. Being sober would be a plus.
[she gets up to leave the tram]
Stella: I'm Stella, in case you were wondering what to call me.
[Leckie grins and bows proudly to his friends]
PFC Sidney Phillips: Well, you've got guts, Leckie. You'd better laminate that piece of paper.
PFC Lew 'Chuckler' Juergens: Thank you very much! That made my night. That made my night!
- ConnectionsReferences A Family Affair (1937)
Details
- Runtime
- 56m
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.78 : 1