All three of this week’s Classic Movie Buzz picks are World War II backstories with “down under” settings. One took place entirely in New Zealand, another in New Zealand and various Pacific islands, and the third mostly in Malaya but ending in Australia. Regardless of story setting, all three were largely FILMED in California and UK locations, though.
That said, if you need some an extra nudge getting into the “down under” mood before learning more about these movies, give the following 1981 music video a play:
Battle Cry
RELEASE DATE: 1955 DIRECTOR: Raoul Walsh STUDIO: Warner Brothers HEADLINERS: Van Heflin, Aldo Ray, Nancy Olson, Mona Freeman, James Whitmore, Dorothy Malone, Tab Hunter, Ann Francis RUN TIME: 2 hours, 29 minutes FILMED IN: Black & Color IMDb RANK: 6.4
SYNOPSIS: The dramatic story of U. S. Marines in training, in combat, and in love, during World War II. The story centers on a major who guides the raw recruits through their first overseas posting in Wellington, New Zealand, and onto action against the Japanese at Guadalcanal and Tarawa.
NOTES: Based on the 1953 novel by former Marine Leon Uris, who also wrote the screenplay. Shot at Camp Pendleton, CA and featured a large amount of cooperation from the US Marine Corps. It also debuted the song “Honey-Babe” by Art Mooney, which reached #6 on the U. S. pop chart in 1955. Aldo Ray’s fabulous performance as PFC Andy Hookens typecast him as the gruff tough guy throughout the rest of his acting career.
A Town Like Alice
RELEASE DATE: 1956 DIRECTOR: Jack Lee STUDIO: Arthur Rank HEADLINERS: Virginia McKenna, Peter Finch RUN TIME: 1 hour, 57 minutes FILMED IN: Black & White IMDb RANK: 7.2
SYNOPSIS: A British woman returns to Malaya to build a well for villagers who helped her during World War II. She also recalls the Australian POW who made a great sacrifice to aid her and her fellow prisoners of war. Stories about his home in Alice Springs, Australia, kept both of them going, and in spite of painful memories she recounts, she decides to visit.
NOTES: From the 1950 novel by Nevil Shute. The film’s premiere was held in Alice Springs, Australia, and was the third most popular film at the British box office in 1956. Finch and McKenna are both superb. Largely filmed in the UK, though some was shot in Malaya and Australia. Remade as a five-hour TV miniseries in 1981, starring Bryan Brown.
Until They Sail
RELEASE DATE: 1957 DIRECTOR: Robert Wise STUDIO: MGM HEADLINERS: Jean Simmons, Joan Fontaine, Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, Charles Drake, Sandra Dee RUN TIME: 1 hour, 34 minutes FILMED IN: Black & White IMDb RANK: 6.5
SYNOPSIS: Four sisters in New Zealand fall for soldiers en route to the Pacific theater in WWII with unforeseen consequences and divergent endings.
NOTES: Based on a story in the 1951 James Michener anthology, Return to Paradise. Burt Lancaster, Glenn Ford and Stewart Granger were all considered for the male lead before finally casting Paul Newman. The film was Sandra Dee’s first, and she’s charming as the youngest sister, with a respectable grasp on a Kiwi accent. Title song with Sammy Kahn lyrics is sung by Edyie Gorme. Although director Wise visited Christchurch, New Zealand, to get a feel for the place, the entire movie was filmed on an MGM back lot.
Use the comments to share…
- If you have seen one of these movies and what you thought of it
- If you have a favorite movie in the “heist goes bad” genre
You might also enjoy Classic Movie Buzz…
- #1: The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming!, Passport to Pimlico, The Children’s Hour
- #2: Lawrence of Arabia, Serious Charge, Mandy
- #3: An App to Track Your Classic Movie Finds plus Across the Bridge, The Mark and Back from Eternity
- #4: Gaslight, Scream of Fear (Taste of Fear), So Long at the Fair
- #5: An App to Cast Movies from Phone to TV plus How to Steal a Million, Gambit and Who’s Minding the Mint?
- #6: Take a Winter Vacation on the Cheap by Streaming 3 Movies Set in Sunny Italy: Summer Affair, Three Coins in the Fountain, Light in the Piazza
& {sometimes} WHY 
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