Back to Bataan (1945)

Directed by Edward Dmytryk
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(DVD, Warner Bros)

John Wayne is the Army colonel who leads a group of Philippine guerrillas against the invading Japs. The patriotism of the time tends to send this one over the line of American propaganda, in particular its characterization of the invaders as cruel torturers of women and children. Nonetheless, Wayne is the indefatigable American hero, oblivious to pain or death while fearlessly leading his troops to victory. Anthony Quinn is miscast as the Philippine guerrilla leader.