GUNG HO! (1943)Randolph Scott, Alan Curtis & Noah Beery Jr.| History, Drama| Colorized | Retro Movie

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Gung Ho! (full title: Gung Ho!: The Story of Carlson's Makin Island Raiders) is a 1943 American war film directed by Ray Enright and starring Randolph Scott. The story is based somewhat on the real-life World War II Makin Island raid led by Lieutenant Colonel Evans Carlson's 2nd Marine Raider Battalion.

Synopsis

Lieutenant C.J. Cristoforos announces that the United States Marine Corps is seeking volunteers for a hazardous mission and special unit. Among the volunteers are a hillbilly who, when asked whether he can kill someone, responds that he already has. Other volunteers include Harbison, an ordained minister who wants the most dangerous assignment because that is where he will be needed most; "Pig Iron", a boxer from a background of poverty and hard work; Frankie Montana (from Brooklyn), who resents being called a "no-good kid" who is initially rejected by Cristoforos but wins him over; battling half-brothers Larry O'Ryan and Kurth Richter; a Filipino wishing to avenge his sister, who was caught in Manila by the Japanese, who teaches the Raiders knife fighting; an embittered Marine whose brother was killed at Pearl Harbor; a man who fought against fascism in Spain and Greece; and one Marine who admits, "I just don't like Japs".

Sgt. "Transport" Anderof is reunited with the commander of the unit, Lt. Col. Thorwald, with whom he served in China. Thorwald explains that he left the Marine Corps to serve with the Chinese communist Eighth Route Army fighting the Japanese during the Second Sino-Japanese War to find out about them and evaluate their chances. Afterward, Thorwald decided to form a unit using the qualities of Gung Ho or "work together".

Those who make it through the training are sent to Hawaii for further jungle warfare training, where they witness the damage of the attack on Pearl Harbor. In Hawaii they hear a radio bulletin announcing the Battle of Guadalcanal. The Marines are ordered to board two submarines destined for a commando raid on a Japanese-held island.

After a claustrophobic voyage, the Raiders invade the island from rubber boats. The Marine landing is met by fire from snipers hiding in palm trees. The Marines dispose of them, attack the Japanese headquarters, wipe out the garrison, destroy installations with explosives, then board the submarines for their return home.

Cast & Crew

Randolph Scott as Col. Thorwald
Alan Curtis as Pvt. John Harbison
Noah Beery Jr. as Cpl. Kurt Richter
J. Carrol Naish as Lt. C.J. Cristoforos
Sam Levene as Plt Sgt. Leo "Transport" Andreof
David Bruce as Larry O'Ryan
Richard Lane as Capt. Dunphy
Walter Sande as Gunner McBride
Louis Jean Heydt as Lt. Roland Browning
Robert Mitchum as Pvt. "Pig-Iron" Matthews
Rod Cameron as Pvt. Rube Tedrow
Grace McDonald as Kathleen Corrigan
Milburn Stone as Cmdr. Blake
Peter Coe as Pvt. Kozzarowski
Harold Landon as Pvt. Frankie Montana
Chet Huntley as Narrator

Directed by: Ray Enright
Written by: Lt. W. S. LeFrançois USMCR (based on his Saturday Evening Post story "We Mopped Up Makin Island")
Screenplay by:
Lucien Hubbard
Joseph Hoffman
Produced by: Walter Wanger
Cinematography: Milton R. Krasner
Edited by: Milton Carruth
Music by: Frank Skinner
Production Company: Walter Wanger Productions
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Release Date: December 20, 1943 (United States)
Running Time: 88 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English
Budget: $866,898
Box Office: $2,176,489