Review of Ambush Bay (1966) by M.g. A — 07 Feb 2010
General Douglas MacArthur is about to return to the Philippines as he promised before the Japanese ran him off. A Marine commando force puts ashore to obtain valuable information from a source deep within enemy territory.
As First Sgt. Steve Corey, Hugh O'Brien of "The Brass Legend" is tough-as-nails, and tyke-sized Mickey Rooney is no slouch as Gunnery Sgt. Ernest Wartell with his Thompson machine gun. The youngest member of their unit is Private First Class James Grenier (Jim Mitchum of "Moonrunners") who has never seen combat.
They learn from their contact, Miyazaki (Tisa Chang of "Year of the Dragon") that the Japanese have laid an unusual minefield for the U.S. Navy. These mines are radio controlled and are anchored to the bottom of the bay.
They are released and rise to the surface to blow up whatever they come into contact with. Grenier loses his radio with which he was entrusted. They have no way of contacting the U.S. Navy and MacArthur plans to land in 48 hours! Everybody dies except Grenier.
Rooney has an amusing death scene. The Japanese approach him demanding information or they will kill him. He shows them a pair of hand grenades and calls them potatoes with the jackets on that he is willing to share with them.
They retreat and he hurls the grenades at them. "Ambush Bay" is nothing special as far as behind-enemy-lines combat movies go. Essentially, this is a traditional war movie. The Americans are good guys, and the Japanese--who shoot women in cold blood--are the bad guys.
Good performances, standard-issue heroics and lots of green scenery keep "Ambush Bay" from being too dreary. Incidentally, no sooner do our heroes immerse themselves in combat, their officer is attacked by a Japanese soldier and stabbed to death.
This review of Ambush Bay (1966) was written by M.g. A on 07 Feb 2010.
Ambush Bay has generally received mixed reviews.
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