Le héros du Pacifique

This classic film is about Admiral Halsey's leadership of the US forces in the South Pacific during the early part of World War II. The film is more about leadership than warfare. Combat is not depicted on screen, so this film would not appeal to those who seek lots of action. I strongly recommend the film, especially to history buffs.

This film is a leadership tutorial masterpiece. As a substitute high school math and science teacher, I have run this to conduct leadership laboratories. Additionally, the theme composition that opens the film is marvelous. I have tried to reconstruct the lyrics (had trouble understanding last verse lyrics) so that I could present the composition for adoption by the U. S. Naval Academy Mens' Chorus. Any help along these lines would be appreciated. I have attempted to locate survivors of Ward Costello, its composer, without success...for any necessary permission.

The most memorable scene is between Halsey (Cagney) and the candidate of air group commander (Richard Jaekel), when Jaekel says, "I thought I was alone." Cagney replies, "You were and you always will be."

Arrgghh!! Whether or not this is a good film, I am surprised that most of the reviewers don't mention the god-awful men's chorus that inappropriately drones on and one with even greater solemnity than a Biblical epic!! It's horrible and annoying--and undermines much of the film. Why this was chosen for the soundtrack I have no idea, as it grates on the nerves like no other soundtrack I can recall! Yes, it's that bad and after a while it sounds almost like bees swarming--I kid you not! Aside from the demoniacally-inspired chorus, the next thing you'll probably notice is the unusual style of the film. Instead of a typical bio-pic, this one is told in a semi-documentary style--with very serious narration punctuating various vignettes of a very small portion of Admiral Halsey's life. This small cross-section of his life consists of just five weeks!! So, it's hard to exactly call this a 'bio-pic' as it would seem to imply more than just a tiny portion of the subject's life.

The film is also surprisingly different from what you'd expect because the telling of the story is very straight-forward and without adornment. Simple and direct seem to be the motto for this film...and have a male chorus that sounds worse than cats begin tortured.

If you want a film version of all of Halsey's life or a warts-and-all film, this is not the movie for you. However, it is very competently made and worth seeing...even with the evil chorus from Hell--though I AM deducting two points for this!

When in the days that pass this life that we live,if you happen to come upon this film keep it,view it,and know truly that this is what is meant by the golden age of Hollywood.This is not about the roaring twenties or the 1940s or in fact anything that you can touch.It is a film that involves a time when we in our resolve as a sovereignty were to be attacked by surprise and while unable to provide front line support sufficient to deter such unwarranted aggression we did what we could to figure out how to do what we had as yet been unable to do and that is stop the Japanese.Our military history will recognize that the defense of Guadalcanal will be recognized as a perimeter that was held and cleared at great cost.However,the ability of the Marine Corps to hold were aided by the very gallant efforts of our Navy and so many others that though Guadalcanal was the focus of our efforts,the reader might do well to look up Defense of the South Pacific.This was in fact when we started to take back what was a very high cost to relinquish.Names like battle of savo island,The straights of Iron Bottom Sound,the Solomons,The Tokyo Express,you will learn just how drama can unfold on the silver screen without running up a 300 million dollar tab.This film is about a ordinary man in Admiral William Halsey who at a very critical time in our efforts in the South Pacific took command of our defenses and in a matter of speaking light a fire and proceeded to defend and ultimately defeat the aggression of a dangerous and superior force in the Japanese.This film is not to go past when you come to it.I am personally pleased that where I was a youngster when I first viewed this very fine film, fortunately it has been made available through videotape(VHS)and maybe those that know better would know that these are the films we truly care for.This is in defense of the Gallant Hours, it would do well as a fine package in Digital Versatile Disc.I do not think you can do any better a movie than The Gallant Hours.I can not recommend a picture any more highly than I than this film.A moving tribute to a very ordinary man who said that he would get the credit for the work that was started by others.A worthy movie going experience.It might be well to know that there are subtle ways by which this movie becomes a picture worth saving and it is emphasized in the following words,"I knew a lad who went to sea and left the shore behind him,the lad was me and now I can not find him.Away,away,away he went and left the shore behind him."A do not miss.Sincerely

Straightforward black and white World War II battlefield biography about U.S. Navy Admiral William F. 'Bull' Halsey with zero combat scenes makes it a rough going 116 minutes despite an outstanding James Cagney as Halsey. Dennis "Chester" Weaver—minus his limp from "Gunsmoke"--played his aide. Warning: if you watch this respectable war film, prepare yourself for a male chorus cooing behind the scenes in reverence. After the first 10 minutes, that cooing gets pretty thick. Director Robert Montgomery, who fought in World War II in the European Theater of Operations, reenacts everything in a semi-documentary style and adds to the film's overall sense of credibility. Nevertheless, this Hollywood epic ought to be a regular film on the History Channel because it doesn't deviate from the facts.