MovieChat Forums > Merrill's Marauders (1962) Discussion > Merrill's Marauders

Merrill's Marauders

posted 19 years ago by avgx
12 replies | jump to latest

I know this has been said before but Hollywood really stole the Burma theatre from the British and Indian forces ... what with Merrill's Marauders and Objective Burma.

Despite this they're both good American war movies.

Saw Merrill's Marauders again the other day and was reminded of just what a gruelling, emotionally exhaustive campaign this was.

The acting's a bit wooden ... but Chandler was never better .. and I love the frenetic combat scene among those weird concrete structures at the rail junction.

And I've never been quite able to shake from my head .. Myktina and Wallabum .. something really poetic about those place names.

Yeah .. not the best of the American war movies..but not far from the best .. and one that lingers in the mind of this war movie freak.

The death of poor old Elmer the mule lingers too .. sentimental I know .. but it gets me every time.

[–] scarcrow7 18 years ago

My grandfather served in the army and was in the elite group Merrill's Marauders. He fought in the Burmese jungle and survived the grueling war. God bless his soul! RIP!

[–] bd18packer 17 years ago

My uncle, my mom's brother, served with Merrill's Marauders as an original member of the 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) during World War II. Our family was very proud of his service record, and he was an active member of the Merrill's Marauders Association, (http://www.marauder.org/marauder.htm). He died about 25 years ago from cancer, and I still miss him.

[–] ccnovicki 17 years ago

My father was a member of Merrill's Marauders also. He just passed away on Aug 10 and I'm hoping his cemetery marker can include the words "Merrill's Marauders." I have his dog tags, his medals including the bronze one and gosh, so many wonderful memories. I miss him terribly.

[–] ljohnson_55 15 years ago

My grandpa also was with the Marauders. I have his medals as well and his dogtags. I am very proud as well because he is honored in a local military museum with his uniform on display. He was a great man an I miss him very much.

"Can you even drive an automatic?"

[–] markayers_00 15 years ago

To all those who have posted on her about their family members being in Merrill's Marauders...

Thank you for their service..They are not forgotten.

[–] Homer900 14 years ago

Yes, thank you. They are never forgotten.

[–] dolphin9731 14 years ago

The mule's name was Eleanor, not Elmer. I remember her handler dying after carrying her pack up the hill, but I do not recall the mule dying. This incident was based on reality too. The Marauders did have some pack mules who wouldn't or couldn't carry their packs on parts of the steep trails, and the men would unload the mule and carry the packs to a point where the mule could handle it again. As I recall from reading, that was 2-3 men on one pack, and not a lone man like the character Muley.

[–] brad-briggs 9 years ago

My dad played the character Muley. I heard many stories of the filming and everything the cast members went through. One can only imagine how it was for the actual men that did it all for real.

[–] richimorton 14 years ago

Yeah the 'chindits' in Burma & the infamous Borneo campaigns of the Australians are probably the most gruelling combat in History. ok Stalingrad was awfull too . . .

That which does not Kill me makes me Stranger . . .

[–] WILLIAMHART 10 years ago

A great movie about a great group on American hero's. Job well done!

[–] bhilburn 9 years ago

To the OP and his statement that Hollywood stole the CBI from the British with Merrill's Marauders and Objective Burma. I'd like to add The Flying Tigers to that list. I can understand how they feel about that position, but nobody is stopping British, Indian or Australian studios from making their own productions about the campaigns there. I'd love to see one on the Chindits or anything set in that area of the war. Movies are made to make money, and a movie made about the British, no matter how important they were in that theater of the war, would not go over well in the U$ markets. Sad but true.

"check the imdb cast list before asking who portrayed who in movies please"

[–] brad-briggs 9 years ago

I though the death of the mule was tough too, it killed my dad in the scene also. He played Muley.