Merrill's Marauders (film)
| Merrill's Marauders | |
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Original film poster
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| Directed by | Samuel Fuller |
| Produced by | Milton Sperling (United States Pictures Productions) |
| Written by |
Samuel Fuller Milton Sperling |
| Based on |
The Marauders by Charlton Ogburn Jr |
| Starring |
Jeff Chandler Ty Hardin Andrew Duggan Claude Akins Peter Brown Will Hutchins John Hoyt Samuel V. Wilson |
| Music by |
Howard Jackson Franz Waxman (uncredited score from Objective, Burma!) American Patrol by F. W. Meacham |
| Cinematography |
William H. Clothier Technicolor Cinemascope |
| Edited by | Folmar Blangsted |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
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Release date
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Running time
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98 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Merrill's Marauders is a 1962 Cinemascope war film directed and co-written by Samuel Fuller based on the exploits of the long range penetration jungle warfare unit of the same name in the Burma Campaign, culminating in the Siege of Myitkyina.
The source is the non-fiction book The Marauders, written by Charlton Ogburn Jr., a communications officer who served with Merrill's Marauders. Filmed on location in the Philippines, the economical historical epic film stars Jeff Chandler (in his final role) as Frank Merrill and several actors from the Warner Brothers Television stock company who were then the lead actors in American television shows.
The film begins with off-screen narration over black-and-white historical footage of the World War II Burmese campaign, including mention of all American allies who participated. The film then segues into Technicolor as we observe Lt. Stockton’s (Ty Hardin) platoon moving through the jungle toward their first objective, the Japanese-held town of Walawbum. After Stockton radios Gen. Merrill (Jeff Chandler) that they are nearing their goal, he and the rest of the brigade carry out a successful raid.
Afterwards, General Joseph Stilwell (John Hoyt) arrives in Walawbum to order Merrill on another objective, the railroad center of Shaduzup, and ultimately the strategic airstrip at Myitkyina. With reluctance, Merrill later summons Stockton to brief him on their next mission and the unit continues their march through hellish swamps before taking Shaduzup from the enemy.
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