Guadalcanal Diary (film)
| Guadalcanal Diary | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Lewis Seiler |
| Produced by | Bryan Foy |
| Screenplay by |
Lamar Trotti Jerome Cady |
| Based on | the book by Richard Tregaskis |
| Starring |
Preston Foster Lloyd Nolan William Bendix Richard Conte Anthony Quinn Richard Jaeckel |
| Music by | David Buttolph |
| Cinematography | Charles G. Clarke |
| Edited by | Fred Allen |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
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Release date
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Running time
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93 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $2.7 million (US rentals) or $3 million |
Guadalcanal Diary is a 1943 World War II war film directed by Lewis Seiler, featuring Preston Foster, Lloyd Nolan, William Bendix, Richard Conte, Anthony Quinn and the film debut of Richard Jaeckel. It was based on the book of the same name by Richard Tregaskis.
The film recounts the fight of the United States Marines in the Battle of Guadalcanal, which occurred only a year before the movie's release. While the film has notable battle scenes, its primary focus is on the characters and back stories of the Marines.
The movie was produced by Bryan Foy, who also produced Berlin Correspondent (1942), Chetniks! The Fighting Guerrillas (1943), and PT 109 (1963).
On July 26, 1942 the American Marine invasion task force is sailing towards Guadalcanal. The Marines land on Guadalcanal with no initial opposition. They find an abandoned village and capture an airfield, which the Americans work to complete. Based on a tip from a Japanese deserter, the Marines leave by boat for the village of Matanikau, where there are supposedly a large number of Japanese troops who want to surrender. On the way one boat is destroyed by a Japanese sub before it is sunk by onshore Marine artillery. The Marines walk into a trap, and only Private Soose Alvarez survives to make it back to American lines. The Marines then march on Matanikau in force and on the way, Private “Chicken’ Anderson is wounded by a Japanese soldier who only pretended to be dead. The Marines enjoy mail call, but suffer through Japanese air force bombing raids. Army troops land to support the Marines. They launch a campaign to root Japanese troops out of a series of caves. They try to listen to the results of Game Two of the 1942 World Series, but static unfortunately prevents them from hearing the final score. The Marines are both shelled by the Japanese navy and bombed by their air force. A force of Marine fighter planes land on the island. All the marines write letters home. They launch an attack on the Japanese, during which Pvt. Alvarez is killed. The marines are relieved and evacuated from the island.
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