Too Late the Hero

A movie that would just about not be able to sneak in to my list of great movies. Actually most purists would not even include it in any list. But, its a good movie. I saw it in Aurora Cinema at King's Circle, Mumbai in 1975 with my father, and later thrice, in 1976 with my grandfather. They came, each time, to see Michael Caine, in an action movie.

I went with them to watch Michael Caine, but ended up watching and appreciating Henry Fonda, instead. The scenes where they run zigzag to avoid the Japanese bullets and the cockroach race, are classic.

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A review -

Filmed on location in the Philippines, Suicide Run is the alternate title of the British war thriller Too Late the Hero. Cliff Robertson stars as an opportunistic, mildly cowardly US navy lieutenant who is reluctantly recruited for a suicide mission. When his CO is killed, Robertson is forced into a leadership position, ordering his men forward to destroy a Japanese outpost. Michael Caine, Harry Andrews and Denholm Elliott play key roles, while Henry Fonda makes a pre-credits guest appearance as the man who gives Robertson his marching orders. Suicide Run caused a serious rift in the relationship between star Cliff Robertson and director Robert Aldrich, when the latter would not give the former time off from shooting so he could go to the Academy Awards ceremonies to pick up his Oscar for Charly. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide