AMERICAN GUERILLA IN THE PHILIPPINES (1950) * I have no doubt that very, very heroic things were done in the Philippines during World War II in the ultimately successful efforts to save it from the Japanese. I have no doubt that many, many of them were done by Americans, who made incredible and tremendous sacrifices, indeed giving their lives by the thousands. Unfortunately this is one of those films that makes you feel like it's you that is the prisoner of war. Tyrone Power has been, ahem(!), better. More's the tragedy that no one around him is any better. That the stupid and absurd romance between him and Michelene Presle is....so stupid and absurd...isn't entirely either of their faults. It's wrapped around depictions of very serious events in an effort that successfully ensures that (a) none of it is taken seriously, and (b) mainly (a) but also that any further depiction of the principals would be considered deplorable. McCarthy era, I'll name a name: Fritz Lang. How could you? He must have had a brief period as fifth columnist for the Village Idiots Entertainment Army.
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