DVD/BluRay review: Wake Island (1942)

The WW2 combat film is a fascinating sub-genre. Many of the films were made as the war was going on, and produced to help uplift the people at home. "Wake Island," newly released on blu ray by Kino Lorber, is one of the very best of these films.

The story is about an actual battle that took place after the attack on Pearl Harbor. "Wake Island" is a patch of land that is really of no consequence, and the troops who are stationed there are without incident. But after the Pearl Harbor attack, the island becomes a stronghold that is attacked by the Japanese.

"Wake Island" brilliantly sets up the characters during its first 30 minutes then develops into battle scenes that are well presented and exciting. Actors like Brian Donlevy, William Bendix, Robert Preston, MacDonald Carey, and Albert Dekker fill out the roles in the ensemble cast and John Farrow's direction is so well done, it resulted in him getting a long term contract with the studio (Paramount). William Bendix was nominated for an Oscar, as was the screenplay and the film for Best Picture. Made for just over $800,000, it grossed over $3 million at the box office.

The filmmakers did everything right. W.R. Burnett and Frank Butler's screenplay was sent to the marines for their approval. The depth of character for each actor (unusual in an ensemble piece), and the exciting battle sequences (some helmed by second-unit director Hal Walker) made the film both exciting and compelling. In fact, actor MacDonald Carey was so inspired by the experience of working on this movie, he joined the Marines upon its completion. The film was shown to soldiers to help boost morale.

Although "Wake Island" is largely a fictional account of the actual battle, the realism offered by the film caused New York Times critic Bosley Crowther to state: "Except for the use of fictional names and a very slight contrivance of plot, it might be a literal document of the manner in which the Wake detachment of Marines fought and died in the finest tradition of their tough and indomitable corps."

Despite being Hollywoodized for audience consumption, "Wake Island" avoids the flag-waving propaganda that seems so forced in movies of this type, especially when screening them nearly 80 years after their initial release. "Wake Island," however, is perhaps a cinematic blueprint for Steven Spielberg's acclaimed "Saving Private Ryan," with interesting characters involved in tense battles.

Kino Lorber's blu ray features an optional audio commentary by film historians Steve Mitchell and Steven Jay Rubin the latter having written the book "Combat Films: American Realism" (McFarland). The blu ray is available at this link: Wake Island