Too Late The Hero (1970)

[Menard]

I just posted a review for this on Amazon and thought I would share it here for anybody interested.

Too Late The Hero (1970)
Directed by Robert Aldrich
Cast: Cliff Robertson, Michael Caine, Denholm Elliot, Ian Bannon, Harry Andrews, Robert Fraser, and Ken Takakura



Though this film seemingly has an anti-war message, much like the character development and plot, that is a bit of confusion unto itself.

The premise of the film is a group of allied soldiers, one American and the rest British, is on a suicide mission to disable a radio communication the Japanese apparently make at a scheduled time (must be in the program listings), and, if possible, to make their own communication to the Japanese with false information. For this, they need someone who can speak Japanese, and that is where the American soldier comes in, who is played by Cliff Robertson.

One of the main problems with this film, which inherently creates inconsistencies within the film, is its lack of commitment to a core philosophy, or theme, if you will.

Cliff Robertson's character is initially a communications officer who intercepts and translates Japanese radio communications. He is only looking for a way out, and not into combat. Once introduced into the mission, his reluctance has dissolved almost immediately as he displays quite an aptitude for combat and bravado, both of which he has neither experienced nor displayed before. To me, it seems like his character would have been more fleshed out if he did have some kind of inner struggle with heroism or cowardice.

Some of the other characters, however, are at least more consistent with their portrayal.

Michael Caine's character is initially laid back, though sarcastic about the success of the mission, and at least does become the dissenting voice later on in a plea to focus on saving their asses rather than getting them shot off.

Other characters maintain a consistency as well. We have the leader of the team who, though courageous himself, lacks the ability to lead and more often needs threats to motivate the men. There is the thief among them who not only robs the bodies of Japanese soldiers but of his own as well, and even turns to murder to save his hide.

The team as a whole is lacking in...well...much of anything needed to complete a mission. They are constantly at each others throats with a volume of arguing that could literally wake the dead, and makes one wonder how the Japanese could not have heard them coming. Their tactics early on in an ambush of a Japanese patrol results in them shooting several of their own.

Several of the inconsistencies within the characters and the plot, though, do serve to move the movie forward when it needs it.

What is a raw nerve in this film, though, is the portrayal of a sympathetic and honorable portrayal of the Japanese, while the allied forces generally come off as incompetent, corrupt, and there is no lack of shooting the enemy in the back. Even with what would seem to be an anti-war message in that, the heroes are still that, despite everything they have done to this point, as what they have done is seen as necessary and an inner conflict, though between two characters, does surface when they are in possession of intel that could save hundreds of lives, and heroism wins out in the end.

Somewhere in this film, there may be a message, though it seems as though the film itself is confused about that. Perhaps Aldrich is playing with the viewing audience by presenting conflicting viewpoints. Perhaps there is even anti-British sentiment within the film (amazing with such a conflagration of British cast) where a reluctant American, when thrown a bad situation, becomes the hero among a group of otherwise squabbling, incompetent, and cowardly British (I am only using this for the review, it is not my viewpoint). Perhaps that message is even driven further by the preposterous open field through which soldiers must run amid a rain of enemy gunfire because apparently nobody can think of moving the gun turrets closer or devise an otherwise better plan than standing around in an artificial safe zone cheering them on as they are being mowed down.
Looking for a message in the Vietnam Wartime film is going to leave you with an anti-war message, a pro-war message (which seems less likely), possibly an anti-British message, or just plain confused.

Ultimately, though, when all is said and done, Too Late The Hero does work. It has a runtime of 2 hours and 13 minutes, and succeeds in keeping a pace, advancing the plot, and entertaining for that duration.

If you are looking for Patton or Apocalypse Now in this, you are likely not to find it. If you are looking to find an entertaining war movie of the type that makes for a good Saturday afternoon matinee or late night movie, that is definitely here.