El frente del amor

While Pat O'Brien's films often lacked realism, he was a fun actor to watch and his films almost never failed to entertain. Robert Ryan was also extremely entertaining (but a bit underrated) but a different sort of actor--much more believable and ordinary (in a good way). With both these wonderful actors in the film, it's no surprise that I'd watch this film!

As far as the film goes, it is a pretty standard WWII action film. It chronicles a group of Marines through some nameless engagements as well as a romance between Ryan and Ruth Hussey--who, inexplicably, was cast as an Australian--though she hadn't a trace of the proper accent. Nothing great here, but competently done. Oh, and despite Ryan receiving second billing, clearly he's the leading man here, though O'Brien was the household name--thus the billing. Worth seeing but not necessary unless you are a Robert Ryan fan.

The last film Robert Ryan made at RKO before he temporarily quit movies for the real thing. It benefits from photography by later film noir maestro Nicholas Musuraca, with whom Ryan would work again under more auspicious circumstances (and also contains a fleeting appearance by Martha MacVickers, soon to play psychotic nympho Carmen Sternwood in 'The Big Sleep').

Although Pat O'Brien's officially the star it's Ryan who carries the film, and it was already clear he was no ordinary hunk.

The jungle battle scenes in opening of this film incorporate an atmosphere one usually finds in film noir. The portrayal of Guadalcanal and the related background music tend in this direction, which was not found in many of the war movies of 1944. Special credit should be given to the director of lighting, especially relative to the deep three-dimensional effect created with the interplay of light and dark.

Up until World War II the US Marines was an elite fighting force and under the control of the Navy. It is still that. But between the World Wars and under the leadership of one far sighted commandant John Lejeune the Marines developed as specialty mission, amphibious landing. When the Pacific war came and would be fought across the ocean from several directions toward Japan, the Marines became invaluable with their training for amphibious landings across those countless Pacific islands. It became in fact four divisions because the USA needed a lot of Marines.

That's what Marine Raiders is all about. A couple of veterans of the Corps, Pat O'Brien and Robert Ryan, are ordered back from combat to train what the Marines hope will be half a million of them. O'Brien says it's orders, but Ryan really resents being pulled from combat. However in combat he could never have met Ruth Hussey and gotten things going with her.

Knowing that background which I described makes you understand Marine Raiders a lot better. It still holds up well and those jungle combat scenes once again have RKO utilizing the old King Kong sets. And it's historically accurate even if it doesn't give all the background I did.

Great movie, true to history as I have read. I am a history buff and have read World War II history. We need more movies of this value today. We need more praise of military today. I feel pride while watching this movie. Alway enjoy Pat O'Brien movies. The music score was a plus to this movie. History was followed to the true events. See the website for Marine Raiders. We must be proud of our Marine Raiders. Truly enjoyed this type of movies. Hollywood doesn't seem to produce this type of movie today. Maybe Hollywood should view the movies of the 1930's and 1940's. I enjoyed watching AMC and TBS for the old movies. Movies like Marine Raiders makes my Day.