Suicide Battalion

1958 film by Edward L. Cahn

February 28, 1958 (1958-02-28) (US^[1])

Running time

79 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$100,000 est.^[2]

Suicide Battalion is a 1958 World War II film directed by Edward L. Cahn and starring Mike Connors and John Ashley, who made the film while on leave from the United States Army. In 1968, it was remade for television by Larry Buchanan as Hell Raiders, which was the film's original working title.^[1]^[3]

American International Pictures originally released it as a double feature with Jet Attack.^[4]

Plot

The story takes place during World War II in the Philippines. A group of American soldiers are recruited for a dangerous mission to destroy an enemy base and keep strategic documents out of the reach of the invading Imperial Japanese Army.

Cast

Mike Connors as Major Matt McCormack
John Ashley as Pvt. Tommy Novello
Jewell Lain as Elizabeth Ann Mason
Russ Bender as Sgt. Harry Donovan
Bing Russell as Lt. Chet Hall
Scott Peters as Pvt. Wally Zagorsky
Walter Maslow as Pvt. Marty Green
John McNamara as Colonel Craig
Clifford Kawada as Colonel Hiosho
Bob Tetrick as Pvt Bill
Marjorie Stapp as Beverly
Jan Englund as Annette
Isabel Cooley as Julie
Hilo Hattie as Mama Lily
Sammee Tong as Papa Lily
Art Gilmore as Captain Hendry
Jackie Joseph as Cho-Cho

Production

The film was an original story by Lou Rusoff reportedly based on the capture of General William Dean during the Korean War. It was announced for production in November 1955 as Hell Raiders. It was to star Lance Fuller who had made Apache Woman for producer Alex Gordon and had signed a ten-film deal with AIP (or ARC as it was then known), to make two films a year for five years. Filming was to begin January 1956.^[5]

Filming was pushed back and Fuller did not make the movie. In April 1956 AIP announced that Richard Denning would star and that Edward L. Cahn would direct.^[6] Denning ended up not appearing in the film either, which was not made until late 1957.

Filming began on 12 November 1957.^[7] Star John Ashley was doing a six-month stint in the army at the time. The producers got him an early release to make the movie.^[8] Ashley later had a noted association with filmmaking in the Philippines.^[9]

Reception

"A very poor man's half-Naked half-dead" wrote the Los Angeles Times. "The good basic idea is hopelessly messed up with tritisms."^[10] Jackie Joseph called it "this B minus war movie."^[11]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c AIF Database: Suicide Battalion Linked 2014-06-24
^ Lamont, John (1990). "The John Ashley Filmography". Trash Compactor (Volume 2 No. 5 ed.). p. 26.
^ Scheuer, Philip K. (Nov 28, 1955). "Drama: Betta St. John Beguiles Tarzan; Hayden Bedded; Actor Set for Five Years". Los Angeles Times. p. A11.
^ "SUICIDE BATTALION". Monthly Film Bulletin. Vol. 25. 1958. p. 78. ProQuest 1305819789.
^ Scheuer, P. K. (Nov 28, 1955). "Drama". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 166867337.
^ Schallert, E. (Apr 11, 1956). "Drama". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 166927373.
^ Schallert, E. (Nov 6, 1957). "Unique shaw play slated". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167138746.
^ Schallert, Edwin (Oct 23, 1957). "George Pal to Delve Into Space Again; Akim Tamiroff Aids 'Colonel'". Los Angeles Times. p. B11.
^ Vagg, Stephen (December 2019). "A Hell of a Life: The Nine Lives of John Ashley". Diabolique Magazine.^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Stinson, C. (Mar 20, 1958). "War films lacking realism". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest 167237389.
^ Weaver, Tom (2004). Science Fiction and Fantasy Film Flashbacks: Conversations with 24 Actors, Writers, Producers and Directors from the Golden Age. McFarland. p. 190. ISBN 9780786420704.