Objective, Burma!

Objective, Burma! is a 1945 movie which depicts a commando-style raid in the China Burma India Theater of World War II. The lead is played by Errol Flynn as Captain Nelson, in charge of a detachment of United States Army paratroopers who are dropped into Burma to destroy a Japanese radar station, then miss their pick-up and have to survive in the enemy-occupied jungle.

Among the attractions of the movie is that it was filmed with authentic WWII American military material, aircraft and gliders. These give the movie a very credible feel, despite being shot in California. The opening scenes contain some authenthic footage from historical military leaders.

The film was withdrawn from release in the United Kingdom after protests stemming from the Americanization of what had been a mainly British, Indian and Commonwealth conflict. Winston Churchill was so infuriated that the movie was not shown in the UK until 1952, then accompanied by an apology. There were also objections to Errol Flynn playing the hero as despite being Australian he had stayed in Hollywood during the war, unlike actors like David Niven or James Stewart.

Nominations

• Film editing - George Amy
• Original Music Score - Franz Waxman
• Writing Original Screenplay - Alvah Bessie

Other notable cast

• George Tobias
• Henry Hull
• Mark Stevens
• Hugh Beaumont (uncredited)
• Erville Alderson (General Stilwell, uncredited)

References