1965 - NONE BUT THE BRAVE, an anti-war film from Frank Sinatra!

This film has the you asked for it team of singer turned director Frank Sinatra and Japanese special effects master Eiji Tsuburaya one of the creators of Godzilla.

During World War II, an airplane loaded with marines crashes on a Pacific island which just happens to have a camp full of Japanese soldiers.  At first the two sides shoot it out with each other.  Gradually they arrive at a truce and learn to trust each other in order to survive on the island.  It all ends tragically in yet another blow for international brotherhood.

Obviously a personal project for Frank Sinatra since his company produced the film and he directed for the only time in his career.  The film is really a victim of the screenplay which has some simple minded ideas about war, peace and coexistence.  The film was shot in Hawaii so it does have some nice scenery. Tsuburaya obviously created the special effects for the big hurricane scene.

   

The cast has Sinatra top billed as an alcoholic medic although in reality he has a supporting role.  Big Clint Walker is the captain in charge of the marines. Walker is so tall he hovers over the Japanese actors and frankly the American actors like the giant in Jack and the Bean Stock.  Singer Tommy Sands was Sinatra's son in law so he got the part of a hardnosed Marine Lieutenant.  Apparently someone maybe director Sinatra told Sands to scream his dialog out every time he opens his mouth.  His performance is ludicrous.  I recognized some of the Japanese actors from Tora Tora Tora, The Seven Samurai and that Toho film classic Rodan. They really don't make much of an impression.

 None But The Brave is what I would call your typical anti-war film.  Everyone blabs on and on about the futility of war until they pull out their guns and start shooting at each other.  To quote a film critic, "peace is peachy but fighting is more exciting."  Needless to say this film was clobbered by the critics at the time of release.

Written by John Twist and Katuya Susaki, the running time is 105 minutes.