Sadly Over-hyped

Highly Overrated But Still Good

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

sorry, i just couldn't finish it. this film sucks big time. the screenplay was so bad, the dialog so pretentious and boring, the sound track that tried so hard to make this film look patriotic, only turned it into a formulaic farce. the directing was just as terrible as there was nobody even gave a darn. why most of such movies involved American nurses would always cast beautiful nurses? did the casting agencies ever realize that these stupid arrangements only made them look more phony? this badly scripted film was a loosely knitted structure as a broken fish net that gave almost every one who played a role some crappy uninteresting dialog. i was bored and became so impatient to sit tight to let this film run its course. so many unnecessary dialog, unnecessary roles, unnecessary dialog, lousy scene after scene. this film was like directed by an old granny who just jabbered and blabbered uncontrollably. what a tiresome WWII film. yes, this film is so rare that only the couch potatoes would find it interesting and great.

If I hadn't paid attention to the opening credits, I never would have guessed that this was directed by Cecil B. DeMille. For years, I have disliked his films (particularly those made in the sound era)--mostly because his epics all seem to have cool special effects but also lag way behind the average film when it comes to characterizations. In other words, the films look good but often the dialog is silly and the characters very under-developed. However, unlike films such as THE TEN COMMANDMENTS or REAP THE WILD WIND, this one had a lot of heart and was an excellent picture in all respects. Sure, the special effects and cinematography were great (really great), but it didn't surprise me that the sets looked like Java--after all, it's DeMille. But for once, the supporting characters were rather three-dimensional and the only complaint I have about any of them is Loraine Day. Her character and how it was integrated into the plot didn't seem to work very well--but this is a very, very minor quibble.Gary Cooper plays the title character. He also starred in two other DeMille films, THE UNCONQUERED and NORTHWEST MOUNTED POLICE, though I think he was best in this film because his part was a little more subdued--creating a quiet strength instead of the usual macho hero (probably because Dr. Wassell was a real person). This doctor was one of the last to try to vacate Java when the Japanese invaded in 1942 and the film was intended as a propaganda piece to encourage Americans at home and abroad due to the heroism in the story. Along with Cooper is a fine ensemble cast of supporting characters. And, thankfully, these supporting characters generally were not just cardboard stereotypes--a definite plus over some other similar films from the period.All in all, it's an interesting film that's worth your time and an excellent example of the type of films DeMille could do had he chosen to focus more on people than special effects and spectacle.

This is an entertaining movie if somewhat dated ,still worth an occassional veiwing. Gary Cooper carries the film with a great performance showing him for the star he was. The cast is packed with good character actors and actresses,and is filmed in colour,based on a true story that De Mille heard on the radio as told by FDR. The story of how the doctor rescues some badly injured sailors in the Phillipines is told in a flagwaving way,with humor and tragedy side by side. One reveiwer asks about Hoppy a badly wounded soldier who is left stranded on the wrong side of a demolished bridge,the film shows the Japanese closing in on him and a nurse then they disapear. In C.B,deMILLES BIOGRAPHY he reveals that Hoppy did survive and at the end of the credits he told the film audience this fact.

True-story of WWII at its best. Cooper shows his versatility as both dramatic and comedic actor. Knowing it's a true story helps to make the story-line more believable, bearing in mind the Hollywood touches. Nice to see a movie with less "career-army" attitude and more of the "we're all in this together" from other walks of life. Shows the comaraderie of both different countries jointly in the war, as well as people from all aspects of life. Wassell also depicts the vulnerability of us all and allows us to hope that when times get tough that we, too, will use the right/best judgement when it counts.[Did Hoppy make it?]