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Back to Bataan

Play trailer Poster for Back to Bataan 1945 1h 37m War Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 42 Reviews 62% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
This World War II film sees American army colonel Joseph Madden (John Wayne) stationed in the Philippines with much of his military support forced out of the region by Japanese troops. Despite the grim situation, the tenacious Madden attempts to rally Filipino guerrilla fighters to continue assaults on the Japanese. Among Madden's band of soldiers is Captain Andres Bonifacio (Anthony Quinn), who struggles with the burden of being the grandson of a war hero.
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Back to Bataan

Back to Bataan

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Critics Consensus

Well-intentioned, albeit occasionally clumsily so, Back to Bataan is a rousing war picture featuring an array of fine performances.

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Critics Reviews

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Mildred Martin Philadelphia Inquirer 02/01/2023
There are excellent and exciting battle sequences, as well as one throat-tightening, laudably un-Hollywoodized, glimpse of the infamous Death March. And there are also numerous good performances under the firm, capable direction of Edward Dmytryk. Go to Full Review Ida Belle Hicks Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com 02/01/2023
The picture, which drew its vitality from the front pages of the newspapers, goes deeper than the headlines and delves into the human story behind the guns and bayonets. Go to Full Review Jack Karr Toronto Star 02/01/2023
As films of this type go, the R.K.O. production ranks above average. Go to Full Review Virginia Wilson Modern Screen 02/01/2023
Back To Bataan has more excitement per reel than anything you've come across in some time and explodes the theory that war pictures are necessarily dated. Go to Full Review Ethel Hoffman Buffalo News 02/01/2023
The picture's strength is its fast action. Go to Full Review Harold V. Cohen Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 02/01/2023
Back to Bataan is a bang-up show and a bitter . memory, its hair-raising thrills tempered by its aching terrors. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Trent K 06/10/2023 Great older movie if you love history. It has some fictional characters and elements but the truth is true. The Japanese were ruthless to the the Philippine people and worse to the American soldiers during the Batan death march. We must remember our history or we are doomed to repeat it. See more william d @acsdoug 04/02/2021 The combat scenes are pretty standard WWII action fare. What makes the movie interesting is that Wayne and the Americans are not front and center the whole picture. This is really told from the Filipino point of view, although not in a historically accurate sense (Anthony Quinn's character, the supposed grandson of Philippine national hero Andres Bonifacio, never existed; Bonifacio never fought the Americans as intimated in the movie, he died in 1897). See more 02/15/2020 Great movie. John Wayne is the man See more 03/19/2018 An overly tough, and surprisingly serious, (all be it a little too much so), addition to John Wayne's list of remarkable War classics. See more 11/12/2014 Engaging and sometimes moving, but it has lost some of its effect nowadays. 57/100 See more 05/25/2014 The noir cinematography of Nicholas Musuraca (The Spiral Staircase, Cat People, Out of the Past) was an unexpected treat. His masterful use of light and shadow redeems a sappy script. See more Read all reviews
Back to Bataan

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Cast & Crew

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Edward Dmytryk

Director

John Wayne

Col. Joseph Madden

Anthony Quinn

Capt. Andrés Bonifácio

Beulah Bondi

Bertha Barnes

Fely Franquelli

Dalisay Delgado

Richard Loo

Maj. Hasko

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Back to Bataan

Back to Bataan (1945) Back to Bataan (1945) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis This World War II film sees American army colonel Joseph Madden (John Wayne) stationed in the Philippines with much of his military support forced out of the region by Japanese troops. Despite the grim situation, the tenacious Madden attempts to rally Filipino guerrilla fighters to continue assaults on the Japanese. Among Madden's band of soldiers is Captain Andres Bonifacio (Anthony Quinn), who struggles with the burden of being the grandson of a war hero.
Director
Edward Dmytryk
Screenwriter
Ben Barzman, Richard H. Landau
Distributor
RKO Radio Pictures
Production Co
RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Genre
War
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 31, 1945, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 11, 2008
Runtime
1h 37m
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