A very unusual anti-war war film co-scripted by an American and a Japanese. It’s a sad story about the slender thread of human tolerance and understanding, and how easily it can be tied and snapped again.
It’s 1944 and a crippled C-47 transport plane carrying US Marines crash lands on a remote coral island in the Pacific which is held by a platoon of the Japanese Imperial Army, who are also cut off from their command.
After rival snipers have whittled both sides down to a handful of men, the leaders, Kuroki (Tatsuya Mihashi) and Bourke (Clint Walker) launch an uneasy truce.
The men enjoy a few days of blissful relaxation from war and even come to respect one another as men – but the flashpoint to violence is never far away.
Frank Sinatra – who also directs in his only film director role – takes a subsidiary role as the island’s “doctor”, Francis Maloney. His son, Richard, also appears.
Lt. Kuroki
Tatsuya Mihashi Sgt. Tamura
Takeshi Katô Lance Cpl. Hirano
Homare Suguro Cpl. Fujimoto
Kenji Sahara Lead Pvt. Ando
Masahiko Tanimura Pvt. Arikawa
Tôru Ibuki Pvt. Okuda
Ryûchô Shumpûtei Pvt. Tokumaru
Hisao Dazai Pvt. Goro
Susumu Kurobe Pvt. Ishi
Takashi Inagaki Pvt. Sato
Kenichi Hata Chief Pharmacist Mate Francis Maloney
Frank Sinatra Capt. Dennis Bourke
Clint Walker 2nd Lt. Blair
Tommy Sands Sgt. Bleeker
Brad Dexter Air Crewman Keller
Tony Bill Cpl. Craddock
Sammy Jackson Cpl. Ruffino
Richard Bakalyan Pvt. Johnson
Rafer Johnson Pvt. Dexter
Jimmy Griffin Pvt. Searcy
Christopher Dark Pvt. Hoxie
Don Dorrell Pvt. Magee
Phillip Crosby Pvt. Waller
John Howard Young Pvt. Swensholm
Roger Ewing Pvt. Roth
Richard Sinatra
Director
Frank Sinatra
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Lead Pvt. Ando
Chief Pharmacist Mate Francis Maloney
