Beachhead (1954) – Nostalgia Central

This World War II story centres on a handful of US Marines on a mission in the jungle of a South Pacific island.

American forces are to make a heavy attack on Bougainville, but a French planter on a nearby island has radioed a Marine commander that he has plans he stole from the Japanese, which show the beachhead to be used for the landing is heavily mined.

Heavy losses in the operation must be prevented by reaching the planter, obtaining the plans and communicating them to the striking force.

Light Marine forces on the neighbouring island are ordered to create a diversionary action to mislead the Japs, and a detail of four men is dispatched to locate the Frenchman, Bouchard (Eduard Franz).

Heading the four is Sergeant Fletcher (Frank Lovejoy), and under him are Privates Burke (Tony Curtis), Reynolds (Skip Homeier), and Biggerman (Alan Wells).

Fletcher lost most of his platoon at Guadalcanal. The orders he issued there resulted in many casualties. Now the three men under him have no respect for him as a leader and are antagonistic towards him, especially Burke.

Fletcher lacks confidence but is determined to do his best to protect the men in the scheduled landing.

Every few yards, the Marines find evidence of the presence of Japs and frequently exchange shots in breaks in the dense undergrowth (much of the action was shot on location in Hawaii, though the tropical jungle often looks like it might be an unkempt acre on a small cabbage farm in California).

Fletcher orders Biggerman to blow up an enemy tank, and the Marine loses his life. Burke and Reynolds curse the sergeant, but when a dozen of the enemy corner them, Reynolds is also killed.

Fletcher and Burke move stealthily on and finally locate Bouchard and, surprisingly, his young, attractive daughter, Nina (Mary Murphy), who is attracted to Burke.

The four must now hasten to the beachhead, and the sergeant has plenty of opportunity to prove his bravery and judgement.

Burke
Tony Curtis
Sgt. Fletcher
Frank Lovejoy
Nina Bouchard
Mary Murphy
Bouchard
Eduard Franz
Reynolds
Skip Homeier
Maj. Scott
John Doucette
Biggerman
Alan Wells
Terrified Japanese Sailor
Akira Fukunaga
Japanese Sniper
Dan Aoki

Director
Stuart Heisler