Go for Broke! *** (1951, Van Johnson) – Classic Movie Review 13,287

MGM’s 1951 black and white war film Go for Broke! stars Van Johnson in a strong, decent World War Two movie centring on the brave American soldiers of Japanese descent.

Writer/ director Robert Pirosh’s 1951 MGM black and white war film Go for Broke! stars Van Johnson in something a bit different and remarkable for the time, a strong, decent World War Two movie centring on the brave American soldiers of Japanese descent, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, started in 1943.

Van Johnson plays Lieutenant Michael Grayson, a Texas bigot sent to train their regiment, who then go on to fight in Italy and France, with their bravery swinging Grayson over to their cause.

Johnson reteams successfully with director Pirosh after their 1949 Battleground hit. The director was Oscar-nominated for his surprisingly credible and subtle script, treating a difficult serious, contentious subject with respect. Unusually for a Hollywood studio movie of its time, it portrays Asian Americans favourably, showing Japanese Americans’ sterling war efforts on behalf of the US, while America confined their families in camps.

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team fought in Europe during World War Two and became the US military’s most decorated unit for size and length of service, as well as having among the highest casualty rates.

The film co-stars six veterans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, along with Henry Nakamura, Warner Anderson, and Don Haggerty in its large cast.

Lane Nakano as Sam, George Miki as Chick, Akira Fukunaga as Frank, Ken K Okamoto as Kaz, Henry Oyasato as Takashi Ohhara and Harry Hamada as Masami are the six actual veterans of the 442nd.

Also in the cast are Henry Nakamura as Tommy Kamakura, Warner Anderson as Col. Charles W Pence, Don Haggerty as Sgt Wilson I. Culley, Gianna Maria Canale as Rosina, Dan Riss as Captain Solari, John Banner as a German officer Jerry Fujikawa as Communications Sergeant, Richard Anderson as Lieutenant, Hugh Beaumont as Chaplain, Frank Wilcox as HQ General, Mario Siletti as Italian Farmer, Edward Earle as General at Dress Parade, and Ann Codee as Pianist.

Surprisingly, the film was popular in the US, resulting in a profit for MGM of $761,000.

The film entered the public domain in 1979 in the US because MGM failed to renew its copyright registration.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,287

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com