While this is a very good film, I didn't love it. Probably the biggest reason was that I generally disliked the multi-mega star war flicks so popular in the 1960s and 70s. They all tend to bombard you with top-notch Hollywood actors BUT the stories themselves aren't necessarily improved by all the special guest appearances. Some good examples are THE LONGEST DAY, MIDWAY, TORA TORA TORA and this film. While I don't necessarily dislike any of these films (except for the historically and technically inept MIDWAY), the films' realism lagged because of all these stars. They remind me, in a way, of THE MUPPET MOVIE (now that's a comparison I bet you weren't expecting)--with countless walk ons that rarely did much to improve the film and often tended to bog it down just a little.
My other complaint is the sleazy guy portrayed by Kirk Douglas. While I know soldiers and sailors have been known to commit rapes, this didn't do much to help endear the film to me.
So, apart from all that, you still have a very good war film about the beginning of the war in the Pacific. Also, look for an older Brandon De Wilde--the young boy from the movie SHANE. He only made a few films as an adult and was tragically killed at age 30 in an auto accident.
My other complaint is the sleazy guy portrayed by Kirk Douglas. While I know soldiers and sailors have been known to commit rapes, this didn't do much to help endear the film to me.
So, apart from all that, you still have a very good war film about the beginning of the war in the Pacific. Also, look for an older Brandon De Wilde--the young boy from the movie SHANE. He only made a few films as an adult and was tragically killed at age 30 in an auto accident.