TCM Greatest Classic Films: War-Battlefront Asia (4FE) (DVD)
BATAAN Robert Taylor and his squad battle alongside Filipino regiments in a last-ditch effort to destroy a strategic bridge before the Japanese capture of the Philippines. George Murphy, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Nolan, Robert Walker and Desi Arnaz co-star in this fierce and stirring salute to World War II heroes. BACK TO BATAAN John Wayne portrays a squad commander in this heroic salute to the Philippine resistance forces who became effective guerrilla-warfare operatives against the invading Japanese in the years leading to General MacArthurs return. Anthony Quinn co-stars, Edward Dmytryk (The Young Lions) directs. DESTINATION TOKYO In the only military-action film he made during World War II, Cary Grant plays the skipper of a submarine making its battle-strewn way from San Francisco to the Aleutians and into the enemy's front yard. Under the taut direction of Delmer Daves (his directorial debut), John Garfield leads a stellar array of co-stars as boys-next-door gone to war. THE GREEN BERETS John Wayne stars in and co-directs this red-white-and-blue depiction of Americas Vietnam effort, based on Robin Moore's novel about the elite, uniquely trained soldiers of the Special Forces. David Janssen, Jim Hutton and Aldo Ray add star-power to the firepower.
