OBJECTIVE BURMA

US, 1945, 142 minutes, Black and white.
Errol Flynn, James Brown, William Prince, George Tobias, Henry Hull, Warner Anderson, Mark Stevens.
Directed by Raoul Walsh.

It was often joked that John Wayne won the war because of the many war films both during and after the war. It was also said of Errol Flynn – with, perhaps, more justification. During the 1940s he made quite a number of ware films: beginning in 1941 with Dive Bomber already indicating the war with Japan followed by Desperae Journey, Edge of Darkness, Northern Pursuit, Uncertain Glory and, finally, Objective, Burma. During this period he made only two other films – They Died with Their Boots on, as General Custer, and Gentleman Jim as boxing champion James J. Corbett. His war career was very strong in winning the war on all different fronts.

That said, Objective, Burma is a high-powered war film, focusing on a group of Americans who are parachuted into Burma, have to destroy a radar station, have to meet together but find the Japanese waiting for them and have to make their way through the jungle to safety. Errol Flynn leads a cast of young actors at Warner Brothers, a number of whom became prominent character actors.

The film’s story was written by Alvah Bessie, a communist who had fought in Spain, worked in Hollywood but was one of the Hollywood Ten and blacklisted. However, many of the Hollywood Ten wrote strong, patriotic American films during the war, especially because of the United States’ alliance with the Soviet Union during the war.

The film was directed by veteran Raoul Walsh who had been directing films from the early silent days. He directed Northern Pursuit as well as Desperate Journey and Uncertain Glory, a collaboration with Errol Flynn. He also directed him with They Died With Their Boots on and Gentleman Jim. Walsh had a long career right into the 1960s with some hard-hitting films in the 40s, including White Heat, and some much more spectacular films during the 1950s like Battle Cry and The Tall Men.

1. The impact of this war film? As a morale booster in the forties? Glorifying the Americans in war? The British controversy about the treatment of the British in Burma? The impact in the forties? The impact now?

2. Audience expectations of war films? Action, the details of war, comment on war, patriotism?

3. The quality of this film? The use of locations, the emphasis on people and personalities, the visualizing of war and its horrors, the details of strategy, the importance of a mission? This group as a microcosm of war?

4. The presentation of the broader sweep of World War Two? The introductions, American strategy, the role of Burma in Asia? The terrain of Burma, the people?

5. The picturing of the Japanese and the Americans? The attitudes of the forties? The picturing of the Japanese pursuing the Americans? "Infesting the jungles"? The pursuit and tricking of the Americans?

6. The picture of those in command and the wisdom of their overall strategy? The small group not knowing the purpose of their mission? The trust in authority?

7. The film's focus on the men, their initial training, details of morale, humour? Their working together in the mission? Their clashes of personality? Tension under stress? The details of the individuals?

8. Nelson as the American hero? His leadership capacity, welding of the men together, heroics? The 'Errol Flynn' hero? How human? The nature of his decisions? The loyalty of the men?

9. The character of the reporter? Testing the role of soldiers In war? The explanations to him as a help for the audience? His commentary on the various incidents? His being helped? His age? His death?

10. The filming of the execution of the mission? Training and parachuting, the siege, the bombing, the escape, the difficulties? Survival?

11. The portrayal of patriotism? A balanced presentation?

12. The impact of the hardships, the river and the Japanese pursuit, starvation, the mountains?

13. The picture of the Japanese attacks? The siege of the mountain? Their warding off the Japanese?

14. The sense of helplessness and the response to the flights and the rations being parachuted?

15. The final sense of achievement? The impact of the whole film then? Now?