Pride of the Marines

source: Pride of the Marines

Trailer—Pride of the Marines

Pride of the Marines

I have always liked john Garfield and his films. It is a shame he is not better known except for film buffs. He was an excellent actor who always gave a spot on performance. This film is no different. Before he is blinded he is easy going. Once he is blinded you can see a complete change in him. You can see and feel how bad war really is. I found this film to be fairly accurate. My dad was in the pacific in ww2 and told me how it was. I also found that Garfield could transition easily from role to role. I saw the despair in him when he had to figure how to deal with a new way of living with his handicap. I remember Mr. Russell in the other great war film. This film and the other one on par with each other.

This was one of the better or best WWII movies of its time. It hasn't been shown on TV in quite a while and am wondering why. John Garfield was perfect as Al Schmid, the blinded hero of Guadalcanal. The action sequence of him holding off a superior Japanese force with a machine gun was spellbinding. He was awarded the Navy Cross although I thought he should have gotten the Medal of Honor. Why isn't this movie on VHS or DVD? He was one of the real heroes of the Pacific war and his story should be available to today's generation. Instead we were bombarded by the media of Pvt Jessica Lynch who never even fired her weapon at anyone and came home a hero. Where is the justice?

A wonderful and gritty war film that focuses on the inner torment of blinded marine Al Schmid. Although it is tough and unpleasant it IS in the end heroic - Schmid's triumph over disability and depression. The battle scene was superb. But one bone to pick. No matter how many .50 bullets they fired I never saw any water or dirt being kicked up by the impacts! It hurt the realism, but I can live with it. Fine performance by Eleanor Parker, again, as his girl friend.

This is a great film Classic from the 40's and well produced. There are very dramatic scenes in this film with John Garfield,(Al Schmid),"Force of Evil",'48 and Dane Clark,(Lee Diamond),"Last Rites",'88, fighting the Japs during WWII being completely surrounded and with only one machine-gun. When Al Schmid was able to go home after being wounded with a horrible injury, his problems just started to begin with his family and engaged girl friend. Dane Clark gave an outstanding supporting role as Lee Diamond, who did everything to help his buddy Al get his life together again. There is never a complete victory to War and lets not forget all the Brave Wounded Military personnel in Veterans Hospitals from All the Wars and our present Iraq Vets!

Of the many fine talents in the Warner Bros. "stock company," the three leads in "Pride of the Marines" may be considered the "cream of the crop." John Garfield, Eleanor Parker and Dane Clark really never gave a bad performance. Each seemingly could take on any role and make it his/her own. No matter how weak the script may be, these professionals could work wonders with their honed skill and formidable natural talent. In the case of this film, they had very good material to work with, and their chemistry is invigorating. Garfield, Parker and Clark are at the peak of their careers here, and it's a pleasure to watch them move from light comedy to serious drama effortlessly. Franz Waxman's score is likewise to be commended, along with the secure direction and razor sharp cinematography. A most enjoyable and moving film.

Though not central to the story of Al Schmid's difficult rehabilitation, the short segment depicting his combat on Guadalcanal is superbly done. It is so technically accurate that it might serve as an instructional film on use of the Browning M1917 heavy machine gun. This level of authenticity was extremely rare in the 1940s and bespeaks a serious commitment by the director and (presumably) the marine corps. Apart from that, however, the tension and terror of nocturnal combat is extraordinarily well depicted. Such realism was rare in the decades before "Saving Private Ryan."

Having seen this film about 20 years ago, but I was impressed to find it even more moving when viewed today. John Garfield and Dane Clark gave two of their finest performances in this movie about a Marine blinded on Guadacanal. This story of survival is told in a realistic mixture of the brutal, the bitter and the enduring spark of hope that make living, rather than dead heroes. Some would surely disagree, but I can't help but think that some of the guys who find themselves in Walter Reed and other veteran hospitals recovering from their today's war wounds might get a great deal out of this beautifully acted--and seldom shown--"period piece". It's a pity it's not on dvd/vhs. WHY??