Merrill's Marauders (1962), which was made during the waning days of the studio system (greenlighted largely to give Warner Bros. contract players something to do), is interesting today mainly because it was a) directed by cult favorite Sam Fuller, and b) was the last film of ‘50s star Jeff Chandler, playing Brigadier General Frank Merrill, the colorful commander who leads a volunteer American unit across steamy Burma to push back a Japanese invading force during the early days of World War II. That the film turned out much better than expected is a tribute to former-GI Fuller's commitment, including his insistence that much of the movie be shot in the Philippines rather than on Warner's back lot. Although there's no shortage of action in Merrill's Marauders, the film sidesteps the usual gung-ho clichés of war movies by lavishing attention on Merrill's close personal interaction with his men, including oversensitive young officer Lee Stockton (an excellent Ty Hardin, then popular as the title character of Bronco, one of Warner's popular Western TV shows), whose mettle is tested throughout the campaign. While not the most important entry in Fuller's filmography, it's a more-than-competent picture that still reflects credit on everyone involved. Recommended. (E. Hulse)
Merrill's Marauders
Warner, 98 min., not rated, DVD: $19.98 Volume 23, Issue 4
Merrill's Marauders
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