Hell to Eternity
| Hell to Eternity | |
|---|---|
 Original film poster |
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| Directed by | Phil Karlson |
| Produced by | Irving H. Levin |
| Written by | Gil Doud (story) Walter Roeber Schmidt |
| Starring | Jeffrey Hunter David Janssen Vic Damone |
| Music by | Leith Stevens |
| Cinematography | Burnett Guffey |
| Editing by | Roy V. Livingston George White |
| Distributed by | Allied Artists |
| Release date(s) | September 30, 1960 |
| Running time | 131 min. |
| Country | U.S.A. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $800,000 |
Hell to Eternity is a 1960 World War II film starring Jeffrey Hunter, David Janssen, Vic Damone and directed by Phil Karlson. This film biopic is about the true experiences of Marine hero Pfc. Guy Gabaldon (played by Hunter), a Los Angeles Hispanic boy raised in the 1930s by a Japanese American foster family, and his heroic actions during the Battle of Saipan.
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[edit] Plot summary
During the Depression-era, Los Angeles Orphaned street tough Guy Gabaldon is adopted by a Japanese American family.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor and the US entry into World War II, Gabaldon's Japanese foster family is sent to an Internment Camp at Camp Manzanar. Initially rejected from the US Navy, Gabaldon appeals to be enlisted in the Marines.
Gabaldon's ability to speak Japanese helps him become a lone-operating Marine hero. During the bloody campaign for the island of Saipan, he convinces the Japanese general to order approximately 1000 Japanese soldiers to surrender to the U.S.
[edit] Cast
- Jeffrey Hunter as Guy Gabaldon
- David Janssen as Bill
- Vic Damone as Pete
- Patricia Owens as Sheila Lincoln
- Richard Eyer as Guy, as a boy
- John Larch as Capt. Schwabe
- Bill Williams as Leonard
- Michi Kobi as Sono
- George Shibata as Kaz Une
- Reiko Sato as Famika
- Richard Gardner as Polaski
- Bob Okazaki as Papa Une
- George Matsui as George, as a boy
- Nicky Blair as Martini
- George Takei as George (as George Takai)
[edit] Notes
- This was an early appearance of George Takei, made famous later as Sulu on Star Trek. Takei was himself sent to an internment camp during the war.
- After the war, Gabaldon lived on Saipan for several years.
- Guy Gabaldon, a Mexican American, was portrayed as a "white Angeleno" in the production.
- Gabaldon was nominated for the Medal of Honor and instead was awarded the Silver Star citation for his actions during the Battle of Saipan.
- His commanding officer, Capt. John Schwabe, noted that Gabaldon single-handedly captured more than ten times the number of prisoners taken by Sgt. Alvin C. York in World War I.
- Gabaldon's World War II exploits became public when in 1957, he was the invited guest of This is Your Life, a popular television program aired by NBC in the 1950s, hosted by Ralph Edwards.
- After his exploits became public, his Silver Star citation was upgraded to a Navy Cross Medal which is the Marine Corps second highest military decoration to the Medal of Honor.
- The film was made on Okinawa with members of the 3rd Marine Division and Japanese extras trained by a Japanese World War II veteran. The savage bayonet fighting depicted in the film was done with much enthusiasm.
- Gabaldon named a son after Jeffrey Hunter.
[edit] DVD release
The DVD of the film was released on June 5, 2007 in the United States.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Hell to Eternity at the Internet Movie Database
- Hell to Eternity at AllRovi
- Hell to Eternity at the TCM Movie Database
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