Guadalcanal Diary (1943) on Netflix
The 1st Marine Division lands on Guadalcanal in August 1942 and takes an airfield the Marines rename Henderson Field. Father Donnelly and Sergeant Hook Malone are among the men.
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- Netflix3.3/5
- IMDb6.6/102,455 votes
- Rotten TomatoesNot available
Trailer
Plot summary
The 1st Marine Division sets out for Guadalcanal on July 26, 1942, and a war correspondent follows the men through the preparations and the landing. The Marines go ashore on August 7 and meet no initial opposition. They come across an empty village and take over an airfield, setting to work to finish it under the name Henderson Field. Father Donnelly, Sergeant Hook Malone, Corporal Taxi Potts, Captain James Cross, Private Soose Alvarez and Private Johnny Anderson are among the Marines. A Japanese deserter says that many Japanese troops at Matanikau want to surrender, and the Marines set out by boat to reach the village.
Cast
Did you know?!Facts and trivia about Guadalcanal Diary (1943)
Can contain spoilers, watch the movie first.
- The film drew on surviving Marines of the ill-fated Goettge patrol: Captain James Cross stood for patrol leader Lieutenant Colonel Frank Goettge, who was killed, and Private Soose Alvarez for Sergeant Frank Few, one of the patrol's survivors.
- Richard Jaeckel made his screen debut in the film while working as a studio messenger boy, and stage actor Robert Rose also made his film debut in it.
- Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton, near Oceanside, California were filmed on maneuvers for the movie, and some of them appeared in the picture in small speaking parts or as extras.
