Watch Too Late the Hero

Too Late the Hero is a 1970 war film directed by Robert Aldrich, known for his action-packed and violent films, such as The Dirty Dozen and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? The movie is set during World War II in the Southwest Pacific theater and stars Michael Caine, Cliff Robertson, and Ian Bannen as soldiers tasked with a dangerous mission behind enemy lines.

The film revolves around a group of misfit soldiers who are assigned to destroy a Japanese radio station on a heavily fortified island. The soldiers, led by Lieutenant Sam Lawson (Robertson), start their mission by landing on the island, but things do not go as planned. They soon find out that the Japanese are more prepared than expected, and their mission becomes a suicide mission. With only two days to complete their task, the soldiers must work together and overcome their differences to succeed.

Michael Caine plays Private Tosh Hearne, a British soldier who was transferred to the unit after getting into trouble with his previous unit. His character is a bit of a rogue and has a reputation for being a troublemaker. Ian Bannen plays Private Jock Thornton, a Scottish soldier who is constantly drunk but is also an excellent shot. Thornton is initially against the mission but eventually agrees to join the team. The film also features Harry Andrews as Colonel Thompson, the commanding officer who gives the dangerous mission to the soldiers.

One of the film's strengths is how it portrays the soldiers' mental states during the mission. They are often shown not just fighting the enemy but also fighting their own fears and doubts. There is one particularly memorable scene where two soldiers must wait on a cliff for several hours before they can make their move. During this time, they talk about their homes and how they wished they weren't there. The scene effectively shows the human side of the soldiers and how they are just ordinary people caught in the middle of a war.

Too Late the Hero is not a typical war movie; it is more of a character-driven drama that just happens to be set during a war. The film does not glorify war or the soldiers' actions; instead, it shows the brutality and the toll it takes on everyone involved. The soldiers are not just killing machines; they are people with their own strengths and weaknesses. The film's message is that war is a terrible thing, and nobody wins in the end.

The film's action scenes are well-executed, and the cinematography is excellent. The film is shot on location in the Philippines, and the lush tropical scenery adds to the film's immersive atmosphere. The film's score, composed by Gerald Fried, is also worth mentioning. The soundtrack complements the film's emotional scenes and adds to the tension during the action scenes.

In conclusion, Too Late the Hero is a tense and well-crafted war drama that is worth checking out. The film's excellent cast, powerful message, and impressive cinematography make it a standout entry in the war genre. The film is not a typical war movie, but it is a thought-provoking and impactful story about the human cost of war.

Too Late the Hero is a 1970 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 24 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.