Bataan

Bataan

Year: 1943

Runtime: 114 mins

Language: English

Director: Tay Garnett

DramaActionWar

During Japan’s 1942 invasion of the Philippines, Capt. Henry Lassiter, Sgt. Bill Dane and thirteen American soldiers are ordered to destroy and hold a strategic bridge to buy General MacArthur time to secure Bataan. As the Japanese rebuild the bridge and press forward, the men endure hunger, illness, gunfire and the bleak hope of no relief.

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Timeline & Setting – Bataan (1943)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Bataan (1943). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1942

Set during the early years of World War II in the Pacific, the Bataan stand occurs after the Japanese advance through Southeast Asia. American and Filipino troops fight a fighting retreat, attempting to delay Japanese reinforcements while awaiting a larger counteroffensive. The period is marked by harsh conditions, scarce supplies, and the urgency of stalling operations on the front.

Location

Bataan Peninsula, Philippines

The action unfolds on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines, a strategic corridor between the South China Sea and Manila. A wooden trestle bridge spans a ravine, becoming the focal point of a desperate delaying action. Defenders dig in on a hillside, using makeshift cover as they hold off a much larger force. The location embodies the harsh environment of the Pacific theater and the soldiers' resourcefulness under pressure.

🌍 WWII setting 🇵🇭 Philippines 🏞️ Fortified defense

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:54

Main Characters – Bataan (1943)

Meet the key characters of Bataan (1943), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Sgt. Bill Dane (Robert Taylor)

The stand-in commander whose stoic resolve comes to define the defense. He grapples with leadership under heavy fire, balancing tactical decisions with the memory of a troubled past as a soldier.

🎖️ Leadership 🗡️ Combat 🧭 Duty

Capt. Henry Lassiter (Lee Bowman)

The original commander whose death tests the unit's cohesion. He inspires through presence and experience, though his loss forces a harsher, more improvisational defense.

🛡️ Command ⚔️ Courage 🧭 Leadership

Cpl. Jake Feingold (Thomas Mitchell)

A resourceful soldier who fights alongside the rest of the detachment. His actions contribute to delaying the enemy and keeping the line intact during the critical hours.

🧰 Resourcefulness 🗡️ Combat

Sam Malloy (Tom Dugan)

A frontline fighter whose quick reflexes and bravery help repel air and ground assaults before being killed in action.

🎯 Courage 🪖 Field combat

Cpl. Barney Todd (Lloyd Nolan)

A soldier with a murky past who forms a complicated bond with the others while the threat grows around them.

🧭 Loyalty 🗡️ Combat

Felix Ramirez (Desi Arnaz)

A defender whose presence contributes to the diverse, multinational makeup of the squad and to the cohesion of the group.

🧩 Diversity 🤝 Teamwork

Lt. Steve Bentley (George Murphy)

An Air Corps pilot who, along with Katigbak, seeks to repair and repurpose a Beechcraft to support the ground defense.

🛩️ Tech 🧭 Innovation

Cpl. Juan Katigbak (Roque Espiritu)

Filipino mechanic whose work on a vital aircraft bonds the allied defenders and embodies collaboration under pressure.

🧰 Skill 🧪 Improvisation

Elsie McAlister (Mary McLeod)

A civilian presence who anchors the human cost of war and underscores the stakes for the soldiers.

💞 Humanity 🧭 Perspective

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:54

Major Themes – Bataan (1943)

Explore the central themes of Bataan (1943), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🤝 Camaraderie

Defenders from different units form a tight-knit bond as they share danger and scarce resources. Their mutual trust helps them endure through repeated setbacks and brutal conditions.

🎖️ Duty

Duty drives individuals to hold the line even when leadership is compromised. The passing of command—from Lassiter to Dane—highlights the weight of responsibility and the cost of leadership.

🔥 Perseverance

Under constant attack, the volunteers refuse to yield, pushing through casualties, exhaustion, and fear. The final stand demonstrates stubborn resolve and commitment to the larger war effort.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:54

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Narrative Summary

These narratives follow a distinct pattern: a group, often soldiers or survivors, is tasked with defending a key location against a much larger force. The story unfolds as a linear, escalating series of attacks and losses, focusing on the psychological strain and camaraderie of the defenders as they confront their fate.

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Movies are grouped here based on their shared focus on a hopeless defensive action, high-tension atmosphere, and themes of duty and sacrifice. The unifying experience is the grim, fatalistic mood and the emotional impact of a group's final, defiant act.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative journey in these films is often straightforward, following soldiers through a specific, grueling mission or campaign. The plot serves to expose the constant psychological pressure, the fragility of life, and the bonds formed under extreme duress, typically culminating in significant loss and a somber reflection on the nature of war.

Why These Movies?

These movies are unified by their high-intensity, tense atmosphere, fast pacing driven by combat, and a heavy emotional focus on the psychological toll of war. They share a bleak, realistic tone that avoids sensationalism in favor of a raw portrayal of military experience.

Unlock the Full Story of Bataan

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Bataan Summary

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Bataan Summary

Bataan Timeline

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Bataan Timeline

Bataan Spoiler-Free Summary

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Bataan Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Bataan

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