Blood and Steel

Blood and Steel (1959)

** (out of 4)

WW2 film produced by Gene Corman so that should tell you that we're dealing with a low budget. Four American soldiers wind up on an Island help by the Japanese and must find a way to get off. This film actually looks a lot better than it should due to the low budget but in the end it really doesn't offer anything we couldn't see elsewhere. The cast, including a young Brett Halsey, are pretty good with performances that won't win them Oscars but they're worthy enough for the film. There are a couple good gunfight scenes and there's some nice visuals captured in the scope frame but again, we've seen this type of film countless times.

Four Seabees land on "Gizo Island" in 1943 in order to survey it for an airstrip to be built for the U.S. during the war against the Japanese. On the island is a contingent of Japanese soldiers bored with their occupation. Eventually both sides clash. As for the island natives themselves, the film makers were apparently so cheap that they only provided for one, as embodied by Ms. Rodann. James Hong, a familiar Asian actor, plays one of the Japanese occupiers. The four Seabees are a dull lot with the possible exception of James Edwards, a capable black actor, who is wounded and fights his way back to the dinghy that brought the men to the island. Of course the fact that he's black would have eliminated him from the mission during WW2, unfortunate truth-be-told. It doesn't matter. The film is short, filled with action, yet still boring. Calvin Jackson tries to keep things lively with his music score, but this is still nothing more than a 50's TV-level war drama of little consequence or interest. And the futility of its ending is enough to make you feel you've wasted an hour watching the whole wretched thing.

The only good thing is that I saw it in LBX, such a rare opportunity for such a rare film. They are mostly in pan f... scan. I have always been interested to watch B movies in LBX, such as Maury Dexter's films for Regal Pictures. This war film brings nothing to the genre, only the characters seem a bit interesting; there were batches of such fims, especially in the sixties and seventies, small budgets, filmed in Philippines, psychotronic war films as I call them. This is an early job from Bernie Kowalksi, the future director of KRAKATOA EAST OF JAVA and MACHO CALLAHAN. It is well done, good camera work but you have the feeling that the director lacked ambition. Try, just try it.

Four American Seabees land on a Pacific island held by a small, bored, left behind Japanese garrison. Their mission is to determine whether an airfield can be built on the island, and then get out and report back. However they run into the Japanese almost immediately and wind up running and fighting for the rest of the film.

The movie fails on many levels.

It is not credible as an action movie. The Americans hide almost effortlessly from the Japanese, who seem listless and lackluster in their pursuit. The Americans' Tommy guns never seem to need reloading. They talk in almost normal voices in spite of nearby Japanese. They almost always spot the Japanese first and hide successfully in places where they should be spotted pretty quickly.

It's just as bad as a character movie. The officer in charge is irascible and arbitrary. The men aren't entirely believable. The Japanese, even though they have small parts, are better presented as people. The single girl in the story, who is completely unbelievable as a native islander, is given a totally predictable and mechanical part.

The plot lurches from action to action, almost as if the writers wrote a scene, the company played it, and then the writers asked themselves, Now what should we do next?

Perhaps, as others have suggested, this was a pilot for a TV series that was never made. It has a few good touches, but they are overwhelmed by the failures.

Gene Corman's involvement as producer gives a certain impression about the movie well before one starts to watch, as does the list of credits for director Bernard L. Kowalski. (Though if nothing else is true, Kowalski made 1971 horror western 'Black noon,' which I think is utterly outstanding.) Our suspicions are borne out very quickly, at least in part, as this proves itself to boast a somewhat modest budget (though that's no reflection of quality), and be decidedly brusque and direct right out of the gate in terms of both writing and direction, including plot development. Despite any limitations the production may have faced, however, and any expectations we might have, this isn't half bad. There's no mistaking that this is effectively a B-grade war flick, but far bigger pictures have done worse with more.

Sure, it's hardly perfect. Whether owing to scarce resources or just in keeping with the overall tenor of the feature, some facets rather come across as doing the bare minimum - Calvin Jackson's score, for example, is fine as it serves its purpose, but is kind of bland and unremarkable. Some parts of the screenplay (chiefly, portions of the dialogue) feel too much like a first draft that never had the benefit of any rewrites before filming began, or even just a second pair of eyes or a basic review. This is seen not least of all in those sparing quiet moments (early on) between characters when we get background or hear their thoughts or feelings; 'Blood and steel' tries very hard to Be Smart and possibly say something, but the effort is so weak and ill-considered that it feels forced and empty. While period-appropriate, one should also note the use of racial slurs as the U. S. soldiers speak of Japanese combatants.

For any such issues one may discern, however, I'd call this a lot more enjoyable than not. If brief, fairly light, and imperfect, the scene writing and especially the narrative is pretty solid, and reasonably engaging. I appreciate that 'Blood and steel' is a war movie that takes place during a historic conflict, yet unlike most of its brethren this isn't about honor and glory, but the more low-key and less grandiose elements of military operations. The crew put in fine work, including sets, costume design, special makeup, and effects; bursts of action are executed well, and I actually do like Kowalski's direction. And thanks largely to the more successful facets of Joseph C. Gilette's writing, but also the contributions of all others involved, the feature even successfully fosters a tinge of tension and suspense as the tale progresses over these sixty minutes.

No, this isn't perfect. Yet earnestness goes a long way, and there was meaningful care and intelligence poured into it, and even some definite cleverness. There's no chance of 'Blood and steel' getting confused with its big-budget cousins; in comparison to other titles Corman or his brother have been involved with, however, or other fare of a second- or third-tier nature, the fact remains that this can claim unexpected, honest value. I will note furthermore that while his is only a supporting part, fans of James Hong may be glad to know this marks an early entry in his extraordinarily prolific film career. It's nothing you need to go out of your way to see, perhaps, but if you have the chance to watch, are looking for something light and uncomplicated, and don't mind when features are less than AAA in nature, then 'Blood and steel' is fairly worthwhile.