Bataan

A small, ethnically diverse squad of American and Filipino soldiers is tasked with destroying a bridge to delay the Japanese advance during the fall of Bataan, and is picked off one by one defending the position. The film ends with the last defender fighting on alone, symbolizing the doomed but defiant Bataan defense.

The Battle of Bataan in early 1942 saw American and Filipino forces holding out for months against the Japanese invasion before being forced to surrender, leading to the brutal Bataan Death March.

The squad and mission are fictional composites, made as morale-boosting wartime propaganda rather than a depiction of a specific historical action.

Directed by Tay Garnett

Cast: Robert Taylor, George Murphy, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Nolan

Positioned at Early 1942 within the Battle of Bataan phase of the war, as part of the Philippines campaign. This is entry 55 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• Bataan
• Philippines
• last stand
• wartime propaganda
• rearguard

• 

  They Were Expendable

  December 1941 – April 1942

• 

  So Proudly We Hail!

  December 1941 – May 1942

• 

  Back to Bataan

  1942–1945

• 

  The Great Raid

  January 28-30, 1945

• 

  Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo

  April 18, 1942

• 

  Midway

  June 4–7, 1942