{"id":84281,"date":"2022-05-22T10:32:59","date_gmt":"2022-05-22T17:32:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=84281"},"modified":"2022-05-22T10:32:59","modified_gmt":"2022-05-22T17:32:59","slug":"merrills-marauders-1962","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=84281","title":{"rendered":"Merrill&#8217;s Marauders (1962)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;What&#8217;s Merrill volunteering us for this time?&#8221; <\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Poster-213x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"213\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-84282\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Poster-213x300.png 213w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Poster-91x128.png 91w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Poster-192x270.png 192w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Poster.png 589w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 213px) 100vw, 213px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nDuring a Burmese campaign of World War II, General Frank Merrill (Jeff Chandler) pushes his men to the brink of exhaustion, leading his second lieutenant (Ty Hardin) to question his leadership, and his doctor (Jack C. Williams) to worry about his health.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Jeff Chandler Films<\/li>\n<li>Sam Fuller Films<\/li>\n<li>World War II<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nJeff Chandler&#8217;s final film (before dying prematurely at age 42) was this World War II-era drama based on a non-fiction book by <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Charlton_Ogburn\">Charlton Ogburn<\/a>, about the heroic efforts of a volunteer <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Long-range_penetration\">&#8220;long-range penetration&#8221;<\/a> patrol that culminated in the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Siege_of_Myitkyina\">Siege of Myitkyina<\/a> in Burma. Its primary focus is on Chandler&#8217;s (Merrill&#8217;s) relentless determination to push his men towards this final goal, despite their obvious exhaustion and his own ticking timebomb of a heart condition. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Chandler-Pipe.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Chandler-Pipe-1024x435.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"272\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84285\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Chandler-Pipe-1024x435.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Chandler-Pipe-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Chandler-Pipe-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Chandler-Pipe-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Chandler-Pipe-604x257.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Chandler-Pipe.png 1301w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As noted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s2573merr.html\">DVD Savant in his review<\/a>, Fuller&#8217;s film &#8212; often referred to as a precursor to his dream personal project, <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=118\"><em>The Big Red One<\/em> (1980)<\/a> &#8212; remains &#8220;a refreshingly straight combat film&#8221; with &#8220;war movie clich\u00e9s [kept] to a minimum&#8221; and only one obvious instance of comedic relief, as Charlie Briggs adoringly cares for a hatted mule named Eleanor. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Mule.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Mule-1024x433.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"271\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84286\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Mule-1024x433.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Mule-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Mule-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Mule-768x325.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Mule-604x256.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Mule.png 1297w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>However, it will primarily appeal to fans of wartime flicks, since there is little else to hold our attention except the fighting (and preparation for fighting). The film&#8217;s most strikingly filmed scene occurs when &#8220;the troops take a railroad yard, engaging in a crazy-suicidal close combat in an Escher-like maze formed by concrete supports for oil tanks.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Maze.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Maze-1024x431.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"269\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84287\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Maze-1024x431.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Maze-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Maze-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Maze-768x324.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Maze-604x254.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Maze.png 1303w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>William Clothier&#8217;s cinematography is also a plus. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>William Clothier&#8217;s cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Solitary.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Solitary-1024x427.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"267\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-84283\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Solitary-1024x427.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Solitary-300x125.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Solitary-128x53.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Solitary-768x321.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Solitary-604x252.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Merrills-Marauders-Solitary.png 1296w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though Fuller fans will of course want to check it out. Listed as a Cult Movie and a Personal Recommendation in the back of Peary&#8217;s book. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0056234\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/16881\/merrills-marauders#articles-reviews?articleId=480779\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s2573merr.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/reviews\/review\/33102\">DVD Talk Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;What&#8217;s Merrill volunteering us for this time?&#8221; Synopsis: During a Burmese campaign of World War II, General Frank Merrill (Jeff Chandler) pushes his men to the brink of exhaustion, leading his second lieutenant (Ty Hardin) to question his leadership, and his doctor (Jack C. Williams) to worry about his health. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Jeff Chandler Films Sam Fuller Films World War II Review: Jeff Chandler&#8217;s final film (before dying prematurely at age 42) was this World War II-era&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=84281\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84281","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84281","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=84281"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84281\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84291,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/84281\/revisions\/84291"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=84281"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=84281"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=84281"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}