Back Door to Hell

If it weren't for the presence of Jack Nicholson in the cast of Back Door To Hell I doubt this film would be remembered at all. Watching it today you can see the beginnings of the legendary cynical persona that Jack Nicholson was hewing for his later image that we know so well. That voice is unmistakable.

Although this World War II film was shot on location in the Phillipines for production values it's pedestrian and the direction is non- existent. Singer Jimmie Rodgers is not exactly an inspiring leader of men. Rodgers, Nicholson, and John Hackett are three advance scouts prior to the invasion of Luzon who are seeking intelligence on Japanese troop movements. The story is their mission and how they obtain what they need.

Jack Nicholson fans, this one's for you and very few others.

I am not a great fan of Monte Hellman's films, but they were a witness of the seventies period. This small budget war flick is worth seeing for the directing skills, and the early perfomance of Jack Nicholson. For the rest, it's just another war film, taking place in the Philippines during WW2. Predictable, with no real unforgettable scenes, the short length provides more intensity in this plot which is not that surprising. The result is a sharp and tense story, with enough action scenes to entertain. And Monte Hellman, no matter my taste, is an iconic film maker from the seventies, this movie not his most famous though, but still worth viewing.

This movie begins with three American soldiers by the names of "Lieutenant Craig" (Jimmie Rodgers), a sergeant by the name of "Jersey" (John Hackett) and a soldier with the last name of "Burnett" (Jack Nicholson) wading ashore on the island of Luzon in 1944. Their mission is to scout out the area in preparation of an American landing. To accomplish their mission they need to rely on a Filipino guerrilla leader by the name of "Paco" (Conrad Maga) who harbors a deep resentment for the Americans--but he hates the Japanese even more and so reluctantly agrees to assist them--but everything must be on his terms. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this was a solid World War II film which is probably most notable for featuring Jack Nicholson at a young age in a supporting role. Although the film was certainly watchable I personally thought that the plot was rather basic and could have used a bit more added drama here or there. But that's just my opinion. All in all then, I rate the movie as about average and recommend it to those who might be interested in a film of this type.

Hollywood has frequently (and variably) dealt with the WWII Pacific conflict: this is another such film, for which 'indie' director Hellman managed to secure the backing of a major studio, Twentieth-Century Fox (though the end result being just 69 minutes long, it was clearly sold as a 'programmer'). Anyway, Hellman's talent for introspection is even more evident (in an otherwise slightly-plotted effort) than before, with the emphasis on characterization (pertaining especially to the initial-distrust-which-develops-into-mutual-respect between the different races involved)...though the action, whenever the film resorts to it, is sufficiently well-handled.

Jack Nicholson co-stars as one of a trio of American soldiers who arrive by raft to the Philippines in anticipation of the imminent Allied invasion of Japan. Though good as always, and already displaying his chameleon-like abilities, the role (joker, radio operator and Japanese interpreter all rolled into one!) does not allow him to shine like he did in the simultaneously-shot FLIGHT TO FURY (1964), another Hellman collaboration. The chief reason for this has to do with the fact that the central figures here are Nicholson's conscientious superior (a youthful-looking but undeniably effective Jimmie Rodgers) and the dehumanized leader of the rebel army (imposingly played by Gerald Maga).

The third member of the outfit, then, is blood-thirsty John Hackett (who co-wrote the film!), while the locals also number among them a strong-willed girl who became attached to Maga after he lost his family during the early days of the war. The two units clash over the treatment to be accorded some Japanese officers they capture, but soon they are fighting them side by side: the Americans' radio having been rendered useless in a skirmish, the trio then decide to infiltrate the enemy camp in order to send word back home that their mission is accomplished. Caught in the act, however, Nicholson succumbs to a hail of bullets and, when the two groups eventually reconvene, the girl tells Rodgers that Maga has fallen as well!

Though reasonably impressive as a cinematic exercise, the general tone proves rather too low-key for the film to be properly gripping as a whole. Besides, the overall pace is decidedly leisurely (consequently feeling longer than its running-time would suggest!), while the overly familiar situations that unfold throughout do not exactly help make it a distinguished example within such a prolific genre.

A trio of American soldiers sneak into the Japanese-held Philippines to scout it out for the forthcoming invasion. However, once they meet up with the local partisans, they come to realize that the war these locals have been waging isn't a 'nice' war but a war without rules and a war without pity. At first, the soldiers balk at this--murdering and torturing prisoners ISN'T what they were trained to do! However, they must forge some alliance with these Filipinos and work behind enemy lines without being detected...and this might just mean adopting the same tactics as their new allies.

While the very low budget in this film is rather apparent (with the use of non-stars, at least at that time, as well as a HUGE chunk of stock footage near the end), it's a good but certainly not great film. I appreciated how the film presented a side of war not seen in WWII films made during the war--that sometimes soldiers need to be vicious and not exactly noble creatures! Plus, it gives you a chance to see Jack Nicholson in the sort of film in which you might never expect him to act. Mildly interesting.