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Beachhead

Play trailer Poster for Beachhead Released Feb 5, 1954 1h 30m War Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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During World War II, four Marines land on a Pacific island to execute the rescue of French planter Bouchard (Eduard Franz) and his daughter, Nina (Mary Murphy). With Japanese soldiers hidden throughout the dense jungle landscape, the Marines face a daunting trek to reach their target and must endure even greater danger on the return trip with the two French citizens. In the end, one of the Marines, Burke (Tony Curtis), carries the responsibility of getting everyone to safety.
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Beachhead

Critics Reviews

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Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Satisfactory action-packed World War II drama. Rated: B- Jun 4, 2011 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Abbey G There has never been a war film that so much I wanted the Japanese to win. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 12/02/23 Full Review Audience Member Put me to sleep in the middle of the day and I have insomnia. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Audience Member ok WWII pic post WWII Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member Forgettable B-grade WWII movie with beautiful Kauai scenery. The acting was decent and plot mildly entertaining. I've seen better and I've seen worse. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member I almost fell asleep watching 30 minutes or more of this jungle WWII romp. Now, you may find it egrossing, so don't pass this one up as it proves once again, just where would Hollywood be without World War Two? Oscar nominee Tony Curtis "blends hard-hitting toughness with humor" (Los Angeles Times) as a Marine who must battle Japanese soldiers, private demons and fellow Marines in this "gripping" (Variety) World War II saga. "Bristling with suspense and rugged action" (The Hollywood Reporter), Beachhead is a classic war drama that delivers plenty of "emotion-stirring heroics" (Boxoffice). Four Marines embark on a hazardous island mission to verify reports about a secret Japanese minefield. The intelligence comes from a French planter - who may or may not be an Allied spy - and his beautiful daughter. If their story is true, can the Marines outgun their enemies, make it through the treacherous jungle, and rendezvous with American forces in time to prevent disaster? "On a Japanese-occupied island during World War II, only two soldiers remain alive after a mission attempt goes horribly wrong. Trapped on the island, they must escort a scientist and his daughter to the other side of the island where their ship awaits. They must battle nature, hard terrain, and advancing Japanese troops." Written by Jeremy Kirk NOTES: 1 One of Tony Curtis' early starring roles is this war film of a detachment of Marines sent out to locate a planter and verify a message he sent concerning the location of Japanese minefields on the island. 2 Said one comment: "When I watched this on tv as a kid, my small adolescent mind thought this was a gritty depiction of real world combat. I watched this yesterday on TCM and saw the most outlandish scene ever appearing in a war movie. At it's conclusion, a Japanese destroyer blows up a PT boat. When Tony Curtis spies an oil slick in the water, he swims out and tosses a grenade in the general direction of the PT wreckage. I couldn't believe what happened next. The oil slick catches fire, travels a mile or so to the destroyer and blows it up!!! Incredible! The fact that we didn't laugh at this scene in the 50's is absolutely amazing to me . . ." Beachhead Original Release Date: Jan 1, 1954 Cast Tony Curtis Frank Lovejoy Mary Murphy Edvard Franz Skip Homeier Crew Cinematographer: Gordon Avil Composer: Arthur Lange Producer: Howard W. Koch Director: Stuart Heisler Composer: Emil Newman Editor: John F. Schreyer Screenplay: Richard Alan Simmons Producer: Aubrey Schenck Gross:$1,400,000 (USA) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member a young tony fighting as a u.s. marine on a japanese-occupied island in the pacific Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Beachhead

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Movie Info

Synopsis During World War II, four Marines land on a Pacific island to execute the rescue of French planter Bouchard (Eduard Franz) and his daughter, Nina (Mary Murphy). With Japanese soldiers hidden throughout the dense jungle landscape, the Marines face a daunting trek to reach their target and must endure even greater danger on the return trip with the two French citizens. In the end, one of the Marines, Burke (Tony Curtis), carries the responsibility of getting everyone to safety.
Director
Stuart Heisler
Producer
Howard W. Koch
Screenwriter
Richard Alan Simmons
Production Co
Aubrey Schenck Productions
Genre
War, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 5, 1954, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 16, 2008
Runtime
1h 30m
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