- Actors: Michael Caine, Cliff Robertson, Ian Bannen, Harry Andrews, Ronald Fraser
- Directors: Robert Aldrich
- Writers: Robert Aldrich, Lukas Heller, Robert Sherman
- Producers: Robert Aldrich, Walter Blake
- Format: Anamorphic, Colour, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
- Language English
- Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
- Region: Region 1 (US and Canada DVD formats.)
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 1.78:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) (US MPAA rating. See details.)
- Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
- DVD Release Date: 25 May 2004
- Run Time: 145 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0001GF2GU
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 130,005 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Amazon.co.uk Review
Set on a Pacific island in 1942, Too Late the Hero is a hard-as-nails "men on a mission" war movie: a group of British soldiers have to traverse the New Hebrides to destroy a Japanese radio transmitter, then get back to safety while being hunted all the way. Inevitably everything goes wrong, but director Robert (The Dirty Dozen) Aldrich turns the book of WWII movie clichés on its head and springs some unnerving surprises. Even the token American star, Cliff Robertson--echoing William Holden's grafted-on role in The Bridge on the River Kwai--proves less than obviously heroic, while an outstanding Michael Caine brings considerable depth to his usual cynical cockney. Henry Fonda gets heavily billed for a brief guest appearance, but there are star performances such fine British character actors as Denholm Elliot, Ian Bannen, Ronald Fraser and Lance Percival. This portrait of battle-worn men offers greater complexity than Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan, while the jungle trek was more recently paralleled in Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line. Only the attitudes--more 1970 than 1942--detract from Aldrich's tellingly realistic vision, which with a thoughtfully ironic script and a succession of tense set pieces and brutal firefights, builds to a harrowing climax.
On the DVD: The picture is presented at approximately 1.7:1, reformatted from the original 2.2:1 70mm theatrical presentation. Despite approximately 25 per cent of the original image being missing, this loss is only really noticeable in a few scenes. Apart from the occasional fleck, the print is in superb condition, and despite the lack of anamorphic enhancement the picture is sharp, detailed and has excellent colour. The surround sound (not mono as listed on the packaging) is highly effective, with the tension being increased by a considerable amount of the music coming from the rear speakers. The special features are simply a few static pages of biographical and production notes. --Gary S. Dalkin
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best War Movie,
By A Customer
This review is from: Too Late the Hero [DVD] (DVD)
This is a great war movie from director Robert Aldrich. The film sees a group of british soldiers led by an incompotent captain(Denholm Elliot) and a US Leitenant(who does not know what he is doing there) set off into the jungle to destroy a japaneses radio transmitter. The patrol is made up of great actors like Ronald Fraser and Ian Bannen all of whom play great characters. The patrol soon become demoralised by there captains inability to command and the patrol turns into a bit of a shambles. The best part for me is when Michael Caine finds Ronald Fraser to have stolen some ciggeretes from the dead Sergeant and all hell breaks loose. This film has been on TV quite often recently and is now available on dvd. If you like your war films you will love this one.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A brilliant war film,
By A Customer
This review is from: Too Late the Hero [VHS] (VHS Tape)
I had forgotten how good this film was,having not seen it for some years until recently.a tight, tense and exciting film with rousing direction from Robert Aldrich.The film is brutal but honest in its depiction of soldiers in combat on both sides.As for the performances,they are superb Cliff Robertson was never better and Ronnie Fraser plays a memorable slimy villain,but the standouts are definitley Micheal Caine and Denholm Elliott who give the performances of their careers.....sit back and enjoy....great to see this in widescreen.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the all time great war film,
By
This review is from: Too Late the Hero [DVD] (DVD)
When I first saw this movie years ago in the cinema, it had me on the edge of the seat, and it still does, and I know the plot!.Plus being slightly deaf, the subtitles on the dvd are really superb. The story centers around a hapless reluctant American hero, who is ordered to 'accompany' a British patrol,led by a naive officer, on a dangerous patrol deep into an enemy infested jungle. He speaks fluent Japaneese(of course), but refuses to help the Brits. until at the end he....... I'll ruin it if I mention the ending, just watch and enjoy. Superb acting from all the cast, great ending, and who makes it back to camp...well just wait and see!.
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