Tarawa Beachhead (1958)
Directed by Paul Wendkos
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Synopsis by Sandra Brennan
A soldier is expected to never question the actions of his commanding officer, but when a Marine sees his CO breaking the law, he finds himself facing a difficult dilemma in this provocative war drama. The trouble begins when the officer kills another soldier during a battle. The Marine who witnesses it wants to report it, but fears that the other superior officers will not believe him. As the battles rage on, the officer and the Marine are frequently paired; the tension between the two mounts. Things get really sticky when the CO marries the Marine's sister and the Marine falls for the slain man's widow. Just before the Marine files formal charges, the CO ends up dying in battle. It seems to be a heroic death. As the story ends, a general, preparing to award the officer a posthumous Medal of Honor, asks the Marine about him. The Marine cryptically quips, "Nobody knows anybody...."
Characteristics
Themes
Keywords
war, battle [war], commander, conscience, courage, crisis, death, honor [recognition], killing, Marines, medal, military, murder, officer, respect, service, silence, sister, soldier, tension, troops, wedding, widow/widower
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