Go for Broke! (1951)

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Go for Broke! (1951)
Topic Started: May 16 2009, 03:02 PM (115 Views)
Laughing Gravy	May 16 2009, 03:02 PM Post #1
Revered in the UK Posts: 11,060 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: August 31, 2005	Van Johnson is reluctantly assigned to head the 442, a WWII regiment made up entirely of Japanese-American volunteers, many of whom had family members in U.S. internent camps. The regiment ends up earning his respect and becomes one of the most highly-decorated units in the war, known as the "Purple Heart" regiment. Most of the cast is portrayed by actual 442 veterans, two of whom were present at today's big-screen showing of this film at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento, part of this year's annual Japanese film festival. While I was a little disappointed to learn that no Kurosawa film or other vintage Japanese offering would be part of this year's festival, this was a good entry. The film serves as both a typical WWII picture and a social commentary on men who considered themselves American before anything else, even when many of their fellow citizens didn't see them that way. Some nice comic bits with the soldiers too. I don't care for Van Johnson very much and would've much rather seen somebody else (John Wayne?) in his part, but that's my only quibble. If you look fast you'll see Hugh Beaumont as a Chaplain.



Frank Hale	May 16 2009, 06:26 PM Post #2
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 828 Group: Members Member #59 Joined: October 6, 2005	“Go For Broke” is a PD film and was also included on one of those WB triple-features discs a while back. I found it well intentioned, but very tired and clichéd. It seems to me the problem was not Van Johnson, but a studio (MGM) totally at sea in the face of the television threat. These were the Dore Schary lost years when a few films worked and most didn't, and things only got worse.



Laughing Gravy	May 16 2009, 11:21 PM Post #3
Revered in the UK Posts: 11,060 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: August 31, 2005	Hmmm... Y'know, I expect EVERY WWII movie I see to be cliched; there seems to be the same stock characters, the gruff commander that learns a lesson, the minor characters who die just as we get to like them... I don't think many combat movies were much different. So I look for something with a different slant, and this film - with its portrayal of Japanese-American soldiers, actually portrayed by veterans - was different and interesting. To me at least.



Frank Hale	May 17 2009, 04:39 AM Post #4
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 828 Group: Members Member #59 Joined: October 6, 2005	I don’t mind clichés if they’re put over with some enthusiasm. This film just seemed exhausted before it even began. By way of camparison, I find the slightly earlier “Battleground” (same star, same studio, same clichés, better director) a much livelier affair.



Laughing Gravy	May 24 2009, 06:35 AM Post #5
Revered in the UK Posts: 11,060 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: August 31, 2005	I have the DVD of Battleground and will check it out, thanks.


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