History Too Rarely Told

The Great Raid (2005) – With the tide of World War II turning against the Empire of Japan, a daring raid was planned to liberate American prisoners of war. 500 soldiers clung to thin strands of hope after three years of confinement. Finally, a combined mission of the 6^th Rangers of the U.S. Army and Filipino guerrillas to bring them home.

Directed by John Dahl

Starring Benjamin Bratt, Joseph Fiennes, James Franco

Why I Liked It – A tension-filled war tale based on the actual rescue at the notorious Cabanatuan prison camp.

The list of movies about Japanese prisoner of war camps is very short, but conditions there were often more horrific than equivalent camps in Europe. Cabanatuan ranks among the largest detention facilities for American servicemen in the Second World War. That included some 10,000 survivors of the Bataan Death March. Because, in part, of the Japanese military cultural disdain for surrender (it was seen as dishonorable), treatment could be severe. Cabanatuan had a very high death rate among prisoners.

But in 1944, plans were developed with the rescue of those soldiers in mind. The fear was that the prison officers would receive orders to kill all the prisoners before retreating in the face of growing American pressure. The 6^th Rangers, along with Filipino allies, would effect a brilliant guerrilla attack on the camps. As long as everything went perfectly, they could pull off the rescue. There was no room for error. Beyond the rescue mission, there was the question of how to transport and care for hundreds of weak and ill soldiers.

History tells us that the raid went virtually perfectly. With fewer than 350 soldiers, crossing through enemy-held territory, and with a final approach that offered no cover, they escaped with only two fatalities among the fighters and two more among the prisoners, while killing hundreds of opponents.

I’m certain that some folks are going to grumble at the tempo of the storytelling in this movie. What I want to suggest is that this mirrors the careful planning of the raid and its execution. The hundreds of details and timing issues meant that the rescue units had to function precisely. Director John Stahl takes the time to walk us through the tension. Inside the wire of the camp, time comes to a virtual halt. Every moment of every day was the same, brutally the same. Once the slow march into position is completed, the action takes off. The assault on the prison fences kicks off a furious onslaught for both the guards and the audience.

The story doesn’t focus on a single “star” soldier; that’s not the nature of units like the Rangers. That doesn’t mean there aren’t wonderful performances here. Benjamin Bratt plays the quiet, dedicated commanding officer Lt. Col. Henry Mucci, while James Franco plays Capt. Robert Prince, the man tasked with planning all the details. To that you have to add Joseph Fiennes as Major Gibson, the inspiration leader of the inmates at the camp. The roles are subtle and understated. Which is appropriate for the story. There’s no John Wayne-style role to be found here, and, in my opinion, inserting such a character or characterization would have been a disservice to the movie, and the people being represented here.

You can stream “The Great Raid” on Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, YouTube, and Google TV.

Rating – **** Recommended