SALUTE TO THE MARINES

US, 1943, 101 minutes, Colour.
Wallace Beery, Fay Bainter, Reginald Owen, Ray Collins, Keye Luke, Marilyn Maxwell, William Lundigan, Donald Curtis.
Directed by S.Sylvan Simon.

Salute to the Marines is MGM’s war effort film, starring Wallace Beery and Fay Bainter, with solid support from Ray Collins, comic touches from Keye Luke, romance with Marilyn Maxwell and William Lundigan.

The main part of the action takes place in the Philippines in 1940, with the American presence, the prospect of Filipino independence from America in 1945. There is also the Japanese infiltration as well as German fifth columnists in the guise of promoters of peace.

The focus of the story is Wallace Beery, with one of his typical performances, as a 30 years Sgt major who trains Marines, wants action and some recognition. He is retired and does not go into action in other parts of Asia, stayes in the Philippines with his wife and daughter, faces the taunts of the Japanese, goes into action after Pearl Harbor, drawing on his skills, saving his daughter and the Filipinos, staying behind and being killed by the invading Japanese forces.

The film gets the MGM treatment, especially in colour, contrast to the black-and-white war effort films from Warner Bros. The film was directed by S. Sylvan Simon, who died at the age of 41, and made entertainment films, often supporting features such as the Whistling series, a Lassie film, and some action and adventures.

1. A film of its time? MGM and the war effort? Propaganda? Enlisting American morale, the condemnation of the Japanese?

2. MGM production values, superior to those of similar films from Warner Bros? Colour photography, sense of location in the Philippines, the cast, musical score? The sense of patriotism?

3. The title, the marching Marines, the ethos, officers, ordinary Marines, training, warfare? A sense of pride? The re-playing of the musical theme?

4. The end of training, 1943, the sense of the war, John Mason and the other officers, observation of training and tactics, for the Pacific? The ceremony, Mason telling the story about Bill Bailey?

5. The flashbacks to 1940, the situation of the war, America not involved, the Japanese Ambassador going to Washington, the Japanese deceit, the presence of the fifth columnist and Germans in the Philippines under the guise of conscientious objectors and campaigners for peace? The reality of December 7, 1941?

6. Wallace Beery, his screen persona, gruff, tough, the touches of humour? 30 years as Sgt major, his training the marines, discipline, not praising them to their face, yet pride in them? His being assigned to train civilians? The comic touches with the Filipinos, talking amongst themselves, the machetes rather than bayonets, the lack of discipline? Laughing at the Americans? Bailey and his exasperation, his assistants, the gradual weeks of training and improvement?

7. Flashy Logaz, as a Filipino, boxing, ambitions in the US, Bailey managing him? His assisting Bailey, presence with the Filipinos, support?

8. Bailey and his retirement, wanting action after 30 years, some medal or recognition? The news of the troops going to Asia, his hurrying back, the discussions with John Mason, neither of them going? Bailey and his retirement, the honour and the troop marching past?

9. Bailey and his wife, her joining the peace group, disdain of war, 30 years of marriage, love but her exasperation and embarrassment? Her being happy that he had retired?

10. The group, Caspar as leader, the doctor, the minister, religious services, the discussions about peace, turning the other cheek? The personalities involved? The children and Bailey enjoying playing with them?

11. Helen, devoted to her father, Rufus and James following her? John Mason as godfather? The supporting her father rather than her mother in the war effort? The scenes with the two men, the choice of Rufus? The finale and her being presented with her father’s medal?

12. The Japanese presence, the boat, the martial arts and Bailey and the Japanese throwing each other? His wife’s embarrassment?

13. December 7th, Rufus and James in the plane, the news about Pearl Harbor, firing at the aircraft, landing, going to help Bailey?

14. Caspar and his revealing himself as a Nazi, stirring the people, Flashy arguing against him, his leading people against the Americans?

15. The bridge, getting his daughter and the others across the bridge? Bailey and his uniform, with Flashy, the Marines and their putting dynamite on the
bridge, blowing it up? The guns, the firing, the machetes, the repelling of the Japanese? The arrival of American troops, planes?

16. Bailey, his death with his wife, the Filipinos, his men?

17. This kind of story being told in films in 1943, insights into the war, but morale-based?