Screenplay by MILTON SPERLING and SAMUEL FULLER Book by CHARLTON OGBURN JR. Directed by SAMUEL FULLER CAST JEFF CHANDLER as Brig. Gen. Frank D. Merrill TY HARDIN as 2nd Lt. Lee Stockton PETER BROWN as Bullseye Wheeler ANDREW DUGGAN as Capt. Abe Kolodny, MD WILL HUTCHINS as Chowhound CLAUDE AKINS as Sgt. Kolowicz Luz Valdez as Burmese Girl John Hoyt as Gen. Stilwell Charles Briggs as Muley Chuck Roberson as Officer Chuck Hayward as Officer Jack C. Williams as Doctor Chuck Hicks as Corp. Doskis Vaughn Wilson as Bannister Pancho Magolona as Taggy

This was a typical Warner's production in that most of the actors, other than Jeff Chandler, were Warner's contract players who could be paid sweat wages for what promised to be a real sweat war epic filmed in hardship locations in the Philippines.   Still and all, they ended up with a film that told a compelling tale of sheer endurance in one of the toughest campaigns of WWII.  It plays frequently on The History Channel.  Merrill's Marauders was a provisional, composite unit sent to Burma which included Yanks, Scots, Brits, Irish, Aussies, Sikhs, New Zealanders, etc.

JEFF CHANDLER Brig. Gen. Frank D. Merrill

TY HARDIN  2nd Lt. Lee "Stock" Stockton

PETER BROWN  Bullseye Wheeler

WILL HUTCHINS  Chowhound

CLAUDE AKINS   Sgt. Kolowicz

ANDREW DUGGAN  Capt. Abe Kolodny, MD

Charles Briggs as Muley

The Marauders first assignment was to take the main Japanese supply base at Walawbum.  Peter is the first actor we see alone on screen as he takes point for the advance platoon in what was called "the cruelest jungle on earth".  As we first see him, he's a confident, cocky  sharpshooter who reminds us a little of Chad Cooper, the character he would play a few years later in Laredo.

General Merrill is a few miles behind leading the main force across the river.  He orders Stock to take out a gun nest that is bombarding his men.  Bullseye takes out the officer and the platoon takes out the guns.  We get our first sight of Chowhound when Bullseye stops him from taking some of his ammunition.

As the platoon moves on, Bullseye angrily reminds Chowhound to leave his food alone too.  The  men are then forced to make a fast paced twenty mile march to beat a Japanese battalion to Walawbum.  Stock's platoon is again sent ahead, this time to get behind the supply depot as the main force hits it from the other side.

Stock and the General have a relationship that goes back to when Stock was a sergeant and Merrill was a Major.  When Stock questions the doctor about Merrill's health, we get the impression all is not well with the general.

As Stock's leads his platoon to their goal behind Walawbum, the sergeant reminds Stock that his new bars means he's top man in the platoon and shouldn't be walking point.  Stock puts Bullseye at point.  [That's okay with us.]

Bullseye on point

Bullseye tells Stock he can take out the watchpost he found but Stock has more important plans for him a the supply depot.

At the synchronized time, Stock has Bullseye take out the supply depot guard tower.

After a fierce battle, the men rest and start wondering when they'll be going home.  They've been promised as much.  The Burma campaign is not their first.  They're veterans of other major jungle battles such as Guadalcanal.

Sarge thinks they'll be relieved by the British.  The men are excited when a British force straggles in but they soon learn they're destined to take the railhead at Shaduzup instead.

When Bullseye sees Stock talking to the General, he rushes over to ask when they'll be going home.  All he gets for his trouble is the Sarge reminding him to address Stock, as "lieutenant"

When the British troops arrive and inform Merrill's men they're on their way to Mitchina, Merrill's men feel sorry for the poor bastards who have a miserable 500 mile trek and a good chunk of the Japanese Imperial Army in front of them.  However, it soon turns out that they themselves are a bunch of poor bastards because General Stillwell lets Merrill know his men are headed to Mitchina as well.  Merrill tries to argue that his men are sick and fatigued but to no avail.  Not only are they going to Mitchina, they must take the railhead at Shaduzup on the way.

Merrill decides not to tell the men about Mitchina until after they take the railroad out of commission.  He tells Stock they'ill be taking Shaduzup where the Japanese will be expecting them.  So they'll go the hard way, through the swamp.

Men drop like flies from sickness in the swamp.  They run low on food and water.

They burn off leeches with lit cigarettes.

Chowhound, true to form, tries to steal food from the others while they're sleeping.  They finally get word of a supply drop only to have Merrill let them know they can't pick anything up as the parachutes will have the enemy swarming to the area and they need to vacate.

Chowhound ignores orders and goes for the food.

Chowhound watches the supply drop

And is killed for his disobedience when the Japanese respond to the parachutes.

Chowhound taken out by waiting Japanese soldiers

The men take the depot and drop exhausted and hungry.

Except for Stock who has time to rescue a native girl.

The natives finally come out of hiding and bring them some food.

Stillwell tells Merrill they need to take Mitchina, but he asks the question, "Can you do it?"  The doctor urges Merrill to decline.  The men have nothing left.
 
 

MERRILL'S MARAUDERS Pt. II

Contact us at:
outrider@peterbrown.tv