BACK TO BATAAN (1945) B/W 95m dir: Edward Dmytryk

w/John Wayne, Anthony Quinn, Beulah Bondi, Fely Franquelli, Richard Loo, Philip Ahn

An American colonel forms a guerrilla army in the Philippines to fight the Japanese. Well-made, exciting war drama.

From Variety's review of the film: "Events are based on fact, according to forward, and clips of several U.S. fighting men released from Jap prison camps with the return of MacArthur's army are used both at beginning and end. Plot [from a story by Aeneas MacKenzie and William Gordon] spans time from fall of Bataan and Corregidor to the Yank landings on Leyte, and depicts adventures of John Wayne as a colonel leading Filipino patriots in undercover sabotage against the 'islands' temporary conquerors.

"Love interest is given over to Anthony Quinn, portraying the descendant of the Filipino hero, Bonifacio, and Fely Franquelli, Manila contact for the band of heroes. Quinn does a particularly outstanding job, as does Franquelli. Wayne makes a stalwart leader for the guerrillas, commendably underplaying the role for best results."