Back to Bataan

Back to Bataan

Year: 1945

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: English

Director: Edward Dmytryk

DramaWar

SEE! Battle of Bataan! March of Death! Guerilla Raids! Fierce bolo fighters in action! An Army colonel leads a guerrilla campaign against the Japanese in the Philippines.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Back to Bataan (1945)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Back to Bataan (1945). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1942–1944

The narrative moves from the brutal defense of Bataan in March 1942 to a climactic guerrilla campaign and liberation efforts on Leyte in 1944. It captures the arc of occupation, surrender, and organized resistance. The period is defined by brutal combat, propaganda, and acts of sacrifice.

Location

Bataan Peninsula, Leyte, Philippines

The film unfolds across two Philippine fronts during World War II: the besieged Bataan Peninsula in early 1942 and the Leyte island during the 1944 American liberation. The landscapes range from rugged jungles to mountain passes, shaping guerrilla tactics and survival. The Philippines' wartime spirit, resistance, and renewed hope are central to the plot.

🪖 War 🌍 Philippines

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:13

Main Characters – Back to Bataan (1945)

Meet the key characters of Back to Bataan (1945), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Colonel Joseph Madden (John Wayne)

A seasoned U.S. Army Ranger leader who inspires and coordinates American and Filipino fighters. He is pragmatic, stern, and driven by duty, yet cares deeply for his men. He orchestrates covert operations and leadership under pressure, including the Leyte mission.

🪖 Leader 🧭 Strategic 🛡️ Protector

Captain Andrés Bonifacio (Anthony Quinn)

Filipino guerrilla officer and grandson of a national hero, Bonifacio rises to command under fire. He is resourceful, courageous, and capable of fierce improvisation when facing Japanese forces. His loyalty to his people strengthens the resistance.

🗡️ Guerrilla Leader 💪 Courage 🧭 Strategic

Bertha Barnes (Beulah Bondi)

An American schoolteacher who joins the guerrillas, providing morale, education, and a humane voice to the group. She helps unify villagers with the fighters and embodies resilience amid tragedy. Her acts bind the community under fire.

🏫 Educator 🤝 Ally 💪 Resilience

Dalisay Delgado (Fely Franquelli)

Initially suspected of collaborating with the Japanese, Dalisay secretly uses the broadcasts to relay information to the resistance. Her loyalty is revealed through a pivotal broadcast that spurs Filipino uprising. She embodies moral ambiguity and personal sacrifice.

💡 Double Agent 🧭 Hidden Loyalty 🔥 Determination

Maximo Cuenca (Ducky Louie)

A young student who becomes entangled in the conflict when captured and used as a lure for Madden's hideout. He is beaten into revealing the guerrilla location, then dies heroically, highlighting the war's brutality on innocents.

👦 Child 💔 Tragedy 🕊️ Sacrifice

Lt. Cmdr. Waite (Lawrence Tierney)

U.S. Navy officer who coordinates the Leyte operation with Madden and Bonifacio. He is composed under pressure and helps bring American reinforcements to support the Filipino resistance.

⚓ Navy Officer 🧭 Strategy 🤝 Ally

Col. Coroki (Philip Ahn)

A Japanese commander who pursues the guerrillas and attempts to suppress the resistance. His presence represents the occupying force and the stakes of each raid.

🎖️ Japanese Commander 🗡️ Opponent

Gen. Homma (Leonard Strong)

A high-ranking Japanese general whose strategic decisions impact the broader occupation. He embodies the martial hierarchy opposing the resistance and the challenge for Filipinos and Americans alike.

🏛️ General 🗡️ Opponent

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:13

Major Themes – Back to Bataan (1945)

Explore the central themes of Back to Bataan (1945), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🪖 Courage

Bravery under fire drives both American troops and Filipino guerrillas. The characters repeatedly risk their lives to defend their comrades and civilians. The story emphasizes resilience in the face of overwhelming odds and loss.

🎭 Loyalty & Deception

Propaganda and covert information create tension as characters hide true loyalties. Dalisay's broadcasts reveal a dual allegiance that tests trust within the resistance. The film explores moral complexity when survival hinges on tricky choices.

🎖️ Resistance & Liberation

Guerrilla operations, bold raids, and the planned invasion paint a picture of a people fighting for freedom. Strategy, unity, and timely reinforcements turn the tide of battles. The finale juxtaposes the human costs with the hope of liberation.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:13

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Guerilla Warfare Movies like Back to Bataan

Films about clandestine fighters battling against an overpowering occupying force.If you liked the guerrilla tactics and resistance movement in Back to Bataan, explore more movies about desperate fighters operating behind enemy lines. This thread features similar war stories and historical dramas where cunning and local knowledge are the keys to survival against a formidable foe.

tenseresilientclandestinestrategicdangerouspatrioticgrim

Narrative Summary

Stories in this thread follow a resistance movement or group of partisans as they plan and execute covert operations against a dominant occupying power. The narrative is driven by missions, betrayals, and the constant threat of discovery, often highlighting the psychological toll of living a double life and the moral complexities of asymmetric warfare.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on guerrilla tactics, the theme of resistance against occupation, and the tense, high-risk atmosphere of operating in secrecy. They share a common narrative structure of planning raids, facing internal and external threats, and celebrating small, hard-won victories.

Grim War Dramas with Heavy Sacrifice like Back to Bataan

Stories of heavy sacrifice and unyielding spirit amidst the brutality of war.For viewers who appreciated the heavy emotional weight and grim determination in Back to Bataan, this thread features similar war movies. These films share a focus on the high cost of conflict, the trauma of loss, and the powerful, often bittersweet, resolve of those who fight for survival and freedom.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern revolves around characters who are pushed to their absolute limits by war. They experience significant personal loss and witness great suffering, but their journey is defined by a stubborn, often somber, determination to persevere. The plot is punctuated by moments of sacrifice that underscore the heavy price of victory.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together because they share a heavy emotional weight, a grim and tense tone, and a central theme of enduring profound hardship with resilience. They balance the brutal honesty of war's costs with a narrative that ultimately finds hope in human courage and sacrifice.

Unlock the Full Story of Back to Bataan

Don't stop at just watching — explore Back to Bataan in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Back to Bataan is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Back to Bataan Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Back to Bataan, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Back to Bataan Summary

Back to Bataan Timeline

Track the full timeline of Back to Bataan with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Back to Bataan Timeline

Back to Bataan Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Back to Bataan that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Back to Bataan Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Back to Bataan

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Back to Bataan: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Back to Bataan

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