10 reviews
Pretty Good Flagwaver
A better than average American propaganda film.
"Manila Calling" is a WWII propaganda film made to bolster the war effort. Being made in 1942, it came out about the same time that the US was in some of its darkest days of the war...when victory seemed out of reach. Just after the fall of the Philippines came this picture...to encourage everyone that just because these islands fell does not mean that the war is over or even close to it.
The story begins just after the fall of the islands. A group of American and Filipino folks have gathered together to form a band of guerillas. Their goal is to resist and fight the Japanese military occupation to the end. The film is about their struggle and eventual decision to create a clandestine radio station to encourage the locals to fight.
This is a decent propaganda film because although this ragtag group of folks seem to have almost super-human fighting abilities, they are NOT impossible to stop. One by one they are killed and the message is not that resistance is without costs or that impossible odds are actually very possible....something I appreciated. Worth seeing if a bit jingoistic at times.
The story begins just after the fall of the islands. A group of American and Filipino folks have gathered together to form a band of guerillas. Their goal is to resist and fight the Japanese military occupation to the end. The film is about their struggle and eventual decision to create a clandestine radio station to encourage the locals to fight.
This is a decent propaganda film because although this ragtag group of folks seem to have almost super-human fighting abilities, they are NOT impossible to stop. One by one they are killed and the message is not that resistance is without costs or that impossible odds are actually very possible....something I appreciated. Worth seeing if a bit jingoistic at times.
- planktonrules
- Feb 1, 2019
- Permalink
Situation Hopeless
Lloyd Bridges and a handful of American and Filipino guerillas hold out in the jungle hills of the Philippines. Some Americans who didn't make it out with MacArthur show up, including Carole Landis.
It's a handsomely cast 20th Century-Fox B movie, with James Gleason, Cornell Wilde, Ralph Bird, Elisha Cook Jr., and Harold Huber filling out the cast, but when I wasn't lusting for Miss Landis, I was riveted by Nolan, who's always believable in this sort of movie, as an ordinary Joe caught up in a situation and doing a job against impossible odds. That's just the way Americans like to think of themselves, like Bogart but without the world-weary despair that paralyzes him at the start of the movie.
It should be noted that the movie doesn't pull any punches. Bridges' position and those who stick with him are hopeless. The best he or anyone can do is go out fighting, and shouting defiance against the Japanese. Would that we could all do as much in those situations which overwhelm us!
It's a handsomely cast 20th Century-Fox B movie, with James Gleason, Cornell Wilde, Ralph Bird, Elisha Cook Jr., and Harold Huber filling out the cast, but when I wasn't lusting for Miss Landis, I was riveted by Nolan, who's always believable in this sort of movie, as an ordinary Joe caught up in a situation and doing a job against impossible odds. That's just the way Americans like to think of themselves, like Bogart but without the world-weary despair that paralyzes him at the start of the movie.
It should be noted that the movie doesn't pull any punches. Bridges' position and those who stick with him are hopeless. The best he or anyone can do is go out fighting, and shouting defiance against the Japanese. Would that we could all do as much in those situations which overwhelm us!
Great Performance By Carole Landis
If you are a fan of 1940s actress Carole Landis this is a must-see movie. I'm thrilled that Fox has finally released it on DVD. Carole plays a showgirl who gets trapped with a group of soldiers in the Phillipines during World War 2. Her costar and love interest is the always terrific Lloyd Nolan. This drama has a really wonderful cast including Cornel Wilde, Elisha Cook Jr, and James Gleason. The groups tries to stay alive on a plantation when they get attacked by the enemy. Manila Calling has some great action and a few heart wrenching scenes. It's one of my favorite WW2 movies and one of Carole's best performances. TEN STARS!!!!! For years this movie was very hard to find but now Manila Calling is available on DVD from amazon and movies unlimited. I highly recommend it :-)
- HarleanHayworth
- Nov 2, 2014
- Permalink
My comments about this film are formulated from the mind of a young boy of nine or ten.
The war in my town of Cabanatuan in the center of Luzon island in the Philippines just ended although there were still Japanese die-hards hiding in the foothills around our town, taking pot shots at GIs, civilians etc. I remember seeing this movie, "Manila Calling," in this kind of postwar atmosphere. I must have been in first grade, knowing no English except "Hello Joe," "Victory Joe," "Got chewing gum, Joe?" but I remember understanding and being able to follow the story line or plot of the movie. I loved this movie as I loved all the other American war movies that I saw as a little boy, just delivered from the misery of war and the brutality of the Japanese conquerors. The GIs and General MacArthur were our heroes. After a span of more than five decades I can remember vividly Lloyd Nolan's character trying to outwit the Japs and get an old, broken down two-seat civilian airplane started so he can escape. It's kind of hazy, being not able to understand the dialogue, but I do remember that before fleeing from the Japanese, Nolan and the townspeople were desperate in their attempt to find fresh water as the Japanese either poisoned or cut off the town's water supply. I wish I can see this movie again, either on TV or to purchase or rent a VHS version of it.
GREATEST US vs JAPAN WAR FILM EVER
During the late 60's & early 70's N.Y. WWOR CHANNEL 9 would run the same movie every day for a week (this was a long time before VCR's). I would watch it every chance I had, unfortunately it's not currently available in any format. This movie is where Steven Spielberg came up with the ever so "original" sniper praying to hit his mark. As I remember the soldiers were stationed in a barbedwire fenced compound which reminds me of the T.V. series Daktari. The "japs" would snipe at the Americans, and in turn the Scottish sniper would slip out and hunt the "japs". Other films of this quality; BATAAN, GUNG HO! (1943)
Cliché calling
Lloyd Nolan (Lucky) leads a small group of US guerrillas engaged in warfare against the invading Japanese in the Phillipines. The purpose of the guerrillas is debated and it is finally agreed that they are there to broadcast the truth to the world.
The main problem with this film is the manner which most of the cast play it. Lloyd Nolan seems the only one taking this situation seriously. Elisha Cook Jr (Gillman) seems more interested in his pet monkey and chicken, which is ridiculous, and showgirl Carole Landis (Edna) fires out one too many wisecracks as do many others in the cast. This is a serious war situation! Something else – Cornel Wilde (Jeff) is the group's leader for most of the film but just doesn't have the presence and is totally undermined in his position by Nolan who seems the far more commanding personality. Bad casting. The story is flag-waving propaganda with a corny broadcast at the end. It's OK to watch but I was disappointed with this effort.
The main problem with this film is the manner which most of the cast play it. Lloyd Nolan seems the only one taking this situation seriously. Elisha Cook Jr (Gillman) seems more interested in his pet monkey and chicken, which is ridiculous, and showgirl Carole Landis (Edna) fires out one too many wisecracks as do many others in the cast. This is a serious war situation! Something else – Cornel Wilde (Jeff) is the group's leader for most of the film but just doesn't have the presence and is totally undermined in his position by Nolan who seems the far more commanding personality. Bad casting. The story is flag-waving propaganda with a corny broadcast at the end. It's OK to watch but I was disappointed with this effort.
Could have been a remade western
The storyline is rather familiar. It reminded me of a western. It was a fairly average flag waver with little to distinguish it.
How come that Carole Landis never sweats and was a pristine white blouse which does not get dirty. Rather strange.
How come that Carole Landis never sweats and was a pristine white blouse which does not get dirty. Rather strange.
- malcolmgsw
- Nov 5, 2021
- Permalink
Buy War Bonds At This Theater
It's great when a good picture shows up when you weren't expecting one - and this was a good picture. Can't tell if it was a strong 'B' or a weak 'A', but it was worth the 80 minutes I spent on it. It is a jingoistic, patriotic, support-the-troops World War II film that is thoroughly enjoyable. Lots of action throughout, and with lots of dead (as I lose myself in the heat of the moment) Japs, and with good jobs all around in the acting department. Stalwart Lloyd Nolan is the star of the picture, but when Carole Landis is on screen it's hard to take your eyes off her.
Nolan leads a group of civilian engineers in the Phillipines trying to string wire prior to the arrival of Japanese forces. They wrest a ranch/farm from a garrison of Japanese soldiers as a base of operations and Landis arrives with another civilian purported to be her boyfriend - or maybe not. From there on things don't go well for the Americans, among them James Gleason as a caricature of an Irishman and Cornel Wilde as an assistant engineer.
There are several good firefights and a rousing speech on the short wave by Nolan, and I gave the whole production a rating of 7. It was at least that good. This film is not available in any format and I bought a print from one of the many fly-by-night film copiers found in magazines and newspapers.
Nolan leads a group of civilian engineers in the Phillipines trying to string wire prior to the arrival of Japanese forces. They wrest a ranch/farm from a garrison of Japanese soldiers as a base of operations and Landis arrives with another civilian purported to be her boyfriend - or maybe not. From there on things don't go well for the Americans, among them James Gleason as a caricature of an Irishman and Cornel Wilde as an assistant engineer.
There are several good firefights and a rousing speech on the short wave by Nolan, and I gave the whole production a rating of 7. It was at least that good. This film is not available in any format and I bought a print from one of the many fly-by-night film copiers found in magazines and newspapers.
A tribute to American soldiers in the Luzon during world war II
Manilla calling chronicles the activities of a group of Americans, cut off and trapped in Luzon by the Japanese advance. They elected to hide in the mountains rather than surrender and go to Japanese prison camps. Lloyd Nolan plays a role as a tough guy with a soft heart. It has little hype and no revisionist history, an accurate account of how it was.