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Surrender Hell (1959) ... Keith Andes ... VCI Ent. (2008)"

J. Lovins | Missouri-USA | 08/26/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"VCI Entertainment presents "SURRENDER HELL" (26 July 1959) (222 mins/Color) (Dolby digitally remastered) -- Keith Andes was an actor, usually the second lead, in films in the 1950s and 1960s --- He attended Oxford University and graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia in 1943 with a bachelor's degree in education --- He studied voice at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music --- His sons, Mark and Matt, are accomplished rock musicians.

John Charles Andes (his birth name) began his Broadway career while serving in the Air Force during World War II --- His first screen role was a minor part in the film Winged Victory (1944), followed by a small role in the film The Farmer's Daughter, which starred Loretta Young, and for which she won her Best Actress Oscar. In 1947 --- Keith Andes received a Theater World Award for his debut performance in The Chocolate Soldier, and later starred in Kiss Me, Kate.

In 1952, he appeared as Marilyn Monroe's sweetheart and Barbara Stanwyck's brother in the cult film Clash by Night (directed by Fritz Lang and co-written by Clifford Odets). He appeared with Robert Newton in Blackbeard the Pirate --- On television, he played an amateur sleuth on the short-lived 1963 sitcom, Glynis, that starred Glynis Johns (who played his wife). He also appeared in the equally short-lived police show This Man Dawson (1959-60).

Andes starred opposite Lucille Ball in the Broadway musical Wildcat in 1960, and later appeared on her 1960s sitcom, The Lucy Show --- His career spanned three decades, appearing in episodes of Cannon, Death Valley Days, Daniel Boone, I Spy, The Andy Griffith Show, Star Trek (in the episode, The Apple) --- His work included voice acting in the animated Birdman and the Galaxy Trio (1967) --- Late in life, he appeared in films such as ...And Justice for All and Tora! Tora! Tora! (about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor) --- (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Under the production staff of:
John Barnwell - Director / Screenwriter
Edmund Goldman - Producer
Philip Harkins - Book Author
Higuel Accion - Cinematographer
Mike Accion - Cinematographer
Francisco Buencamino, Jr. - Composer (Music Score)
Hugo Grimaldi - Editor
Richard Abelardo - Art Director

Our story line and plot, Donald D. Blackburn (Keith Andes), a lieutenant in the U.S. Army, is in the Philippines at the outbreak of World War II --- Shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, when American forces headed by Gen. Douglas MacArthur are overwhelmed at Bataan, Blackburn refuses to retreat or surrender and escapes to the hills with the help of a Filipino woman named Delia Guerrero (Susan Cabot) --- During their treacherous journey, Blackburn contracts malaria but recovers with Delia's help --- Later, locals lead Blackburn to the camp of Pilar (Paraluman), a Filipino woman who heads a group of guerrilla fighters. Although at first only thinking of his own freedom, Blackburn soon comes to respect and admire the Filipino fighters, who are capable and brave --- Blackburn then resolves to organize the informal band into a fighting unit to help defeat the occupying Japanese --- For the next four years, Blackburn trains and fights alongside the Filipino band, which includes many headhunting natives --- Eventually, the band grows to over one thousand --- Although the Japanese offer a 50,000-peso reward for Blackburn's capture, no one betrays him --- Blackburn and his men eventually become known as the Eleventh Army, and when MacArthur is about to take back the Philippines, they coordinate efforts with him by capturing the northern shore of Luzon, a strategic location --- Despite being outnumbered by the Japanese by more than ten-to-one, the guerrillas are successful.

the cast includes:
Keith Andes ... Col. Donald D. Blackburn
Susan Cabot ... Delia Guerrero
Paraluman ... Pilar
Nestor De Villa ... Major Bulao

BIOS:
1. Keith Andes
Date of Birth: 12 July 1920 - Ocean City, New Jersey
Date of Death: 11 November 2005, Canyon Country, California

2. Susan Cabot
Date of Birth: 9 July 1927 - Boston, Massachusetts
Date of Death: 10 December 1986 - Encino, California

SPECIAL FEATURES:
1. Bonus War Documentaries:
2. John Ford's "This Is Korea!"
3. John Huston's "The Battle of San Pietro"
4. "The Stilwell Road" narrated by Ronald Reagan
5. Scene Selection
6. Original Theatrical Trailer

Hats off and thanks to Robert Blair and his staff at VCI Entertainment --- VCI was named in Variety and Hollywood Reporter as the first company to produce and release motion pictures directly to the home marketplace --- order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment where there are plenty of copies available on DVD, stay tuned once again for top notch releases --- VCI are experts in releasing long forgotten films and treasures to the collector -- looking forward to more Nostalgic Collections --- Western Classics --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 222 mins on DVD ~ VCI Entertainment KPF-579 ~ (9/16/2008)"

Andes is on duty chasing the skirts more than the enemy!

Hollywood Hack | 02/28/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Did not dwell too long on first reviewer's ad for this film. Now, let's go to the film itself and a real review. Andes seems to be so busy romancing Susan Cabot and Philipino glamor beauty Paraluman that he doesn't find much time to organize and lead his troops of civilians and headhunters to defeat the Japanese. The script in fact seems to overplay the bravery of his female soldiers and spies more than his own--after all, Paraluman is captured and dies in a sacrifice for their victory. His speech while accepting a medal from Gen. McArthur about having "learned to love another race" was one of the film's best points. The trailer did go overboard in promoting risque scenes and suggesting more was there than ever really was."