Brigadier General Frank D. Merrill leads the 3,000 American volunteers of his 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional), aka "Merrill's Marauders", behind Japanese lines across Burma to Myitkyina, pushing beyond their limits and fighting pitched battles at every strong-point.
Direction
Fuller's documentary combat footage energy, zero glory.
Practical Effects
Real Philippine jungle, real suffering, no comfort.
Director
Samuel Fuller
Jeff Chandler
Brig. Gen. Frank D. Merrill
Ty Hardin
2nd Lt. Lee Stockton
Peter Brown
Bullseye
Andrew Duggan
Capt. Abraham Lewis Kolodny, MD
Will Hutchins
Chowhound
Claude Akins
Sgt. Kolowicz
Luz Valdez
Burmese girl
John Hoyt
Gen. Joseph Stilwell
Charlie Briggs
Muley (as Charles Briggs)
Chuck Roberson
Officer
Chuck Hayward
Officer
Chuck Hicks
Cpl. Doskis
Pancho Magalona
Taggy
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Fuller was the last Hollywood director to film actual combat footage before this—he wanted that documentary stink on every frame.
The real Marauders were deactivated immediately after Myitkyina; Fuller knew this was a story of men used up and thrown away.
US
