Merrill's Marauders |  | Director: Samuel Fuller
Actors: Claude Akins, Charlie Briggs, Jeff Chandler, Andrew Duggan, Ty Hardin
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.98
Buy New: $7.99
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Rating:  32 reviews
Sales Rank: 4046
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Languages: English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled), English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Running Time: 98 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: WARD027312D
UPC: 085391188421
EAN: 0085391188421
ASIN: B0015S2OWI
Theatrical Release Date: 2008
Release Date: April 22, 2008
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Product Description
AN AMERICAN ARMY UNIT BATTLES THROUGH THE JUNGLES OF BURMA, REACHES THEIR OBJECTIVE, BUT THEN FINDS THAT THE REAL FIGHTINGIS YET TO COME.
Amazon.com
The theatrical trailer included in this DVD release of Merrill's Marauders, touting its depiction of "World War II's most fabulous jungle fighters… (as) they showed the world what the American soldier can do," makes director Samuel Fuller's 1962 film sound like jingoistic propaganda, but it's considerably more than that. The year is 1944; the U.S. Army's 5307th Composite Unit, a 3000-strong outfit under the command of Brigadier General Frank Merrill (Jeff Chandler), has already been fighting the occupying Japanese forces in the wilds of Burma for several months when they're assigned to march hundreds of miles through jungles, swamps, and mountains to Myitkyina, a town of considerable strategic importance and the gateway to India, where the Allies fear the Japanese and Nazis will meet and consolidate their forces. Mission impossible? So it would seem, as the men are exhausted, disease-ridden, disheartened, and ill-equipped; his second in command, Lt. Stockton (Ty Hardin), argues that they'll never make it, but Merrill (who has a heart condition that could bring him down at any moment) refuses to let up. There are numerous combat sequences, most of them quite convincing (including a very cool scene in a concrete maze), but the film's strength lies not only in its graphic chronicling of the obvious horrors of war but in its sympathetic (but never condescending) portrayal of the more quotidian aspects of these soldiers' miserable lives, from easy banter to quarrels over food and ammunition, from the interactions with locals to the sheer hell of simply walking another step when you've already passed the limits of human endurance. Grim, gritty, intense, and realistic (Fuller was an Army vet himself), this is an effective precursor to the director's best-known movie, The Big Red One. --Sam Graham
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 32
 Merrill's Marauders August 18, 2000
gobirds2 (New England)
28 out of 28 found this review helpful
This is a rugged and gritty WWII film set in the CBI Theater directed by Samuel Fuller. The action concerns Jeff Chandler, in his last screen portrayal, as Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill. Merrill leads a band of battle fatigued GIs (Ty Hardin, Peter Brown, Claude Akins, Will Hutchins and others) against the Japanese in the Burmese jungle. It is beautifully photographed in color and CinemaScope by William Clothier. Fuller co-wrote the script with Milton Sperling. This film has been highly underrated. It is a good depiction of the stress, determination and humanity experienced by the average GI in everyday face-to-face confrontation with the enemy. Jeff Chandler gives an accurate performance of the real Merrill. Jeff Chandler truly was a gifted actor and deserves more recognition for his talents as this film demonstrates. The VHS copy is in Full-Frame, but it retains the images in vivid color and is very enjoyable. It was released theatrically in 1962.
Merrill's Marauders April 12, 2008
gobirds2 (New England)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
This is a rugged and gritty WWII film set in the CBI Theater directed by Samuel Fuller. The action concerns Jeff Chandler, in his last screen portrayal, as Brig. Gen. Frank Merrill. Merrill leads a band of battle fatigued GIs (Ty Hardin, Peter Brown, Claude Akins, Will Hutchins and others) against the Japanese in the Burmese jungle. It is beautifully photographed in color and CinemaScope by William Clothier. Fuller co-wrote the script with Milton Sperling. This film has been highly underrated. It is a good depiction of the stress, determination and humanity experienced by the average GI in everyday face-to-face confrontation with the enemy. Jeff Chandler gives an accurate performance of the real Merrill. Jeff Chandler truly was a gifted actor and deserves more recognition for his talents as this film demonstrates. Sam Fuller's images in vivid color are indelible. It was released theatrically in 1962.
Classic WW2 Movie..!! March 26, 2008
Seen Them All (SoCal Desert)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is a classic WW2 movie with an excellent cast and script. It's based on the true story of Gen. Frank Merrill and the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) who fought behind the Japanese lines in the China/Burma/India theatre. They walked over 1000 miles and raided Japanese bases in Burma and fought 5 major and 30 minor engagements. It's a story of the battles, the hardships, and the men who made up this unit. Hollywood has taken some liberties, but it's none the less a tribute to these brave men. Excellent story and well worth watching.
From someone who was there..... December 7, 2009
Marin_Guy (Marin, California)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
My father was a staff sargent in MM and, when he saw the movie, said it was pretty accurate. He said the main thing that was left out was the utter brutality. Because they didn't trust the enemy soldiers that they captured (couldn't release them or send them to the rear lines) and were short on ammo, they bayonetted to death "countless" captured enemy soldiers. He said the Japanese soldiers would fight to the death and then some so - no prisoners taken.
A Classic is back! March 27, 2008
L. Cabos (planet earth)
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
A terrific film by the legendary Sam Fuller (BIG RED ONE) and starring Jeff Chandler -- in his last screen performance -- and a slew of Warner Bros tv stars: Ty Hardin, Will Hutchins, Peter Brown and Andrew Duggan. Glad to see that WB is finally bringing this one to DVD. This story was actually done once before with Errol Flynn in OBJECTIVE BURMA. Both are extremely entertaining but the Fuller version rings closer to the truth. Also a nice performance by John Hoyt as Gen. "Vinegar" Joe Stillwell. A great war epic about men being asked to push themselves beyond the limits of human endurance. Jeff Chandler is in top-form in this, his last, performance. Ty Hardin (Bronco Lane of tv fame) as his Lt. Stock -- whom Merrill regards almost as a son. I had the good fortune to actually see this in the theatre when I was a kid.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 32
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