Search - Guadalcanal Diary on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Content Advisory: Questionable for Children, War Violence Movie Release: 1943 DVD Release: 05/21/2002 Format: DVD - Black and White,Pan and Scan Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 33 mins Studio: 20th Century Fox Members Wishing: 0 Genres: War, Combat Films

20th Century-Fox's 1943 filmization of Richard Tregaskis' best-selling book Guadalcanal Diary does full justice to the spare, lean prose of Tregaskis' eyewitness account. The incidents in the "diary" are tied together by an off-screen narrator into a cohesive storyline. The principal characters in this wartime chronicle are marine sergeant Lloyd Nolan, chaplain Preston S. Foster, Mexican enlistee Anthony Quinn, and a Dodgers-lovin' Brooklynite, played by William Bendix. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Preston S. Foster - Father Donnelly
Lloyd Nolan - Sgt. Hook Malone
William Bendix - Taxi Potts
Richard Conte - Capt. Davis
Anthony Quinn - Jesus "Soose" Alvarez

Based on the best-selling novel of the same name written by Richard Tregaskis, Guadalcanal Diary is a two-fisted World War II drama that is sure to entertain fans of war movies. 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment's DVD looks and sounds fantastic, especially considering that the movie was originally released back in 1943. Presented in its proper full-frame format (1.33:1), the black-and-white picture has been cleaned up considerably and really looks great. The high contrast picture is stable throughout and perfectly balanced. Blacks are appropriate and there is very little glare to the whites. The movie's soundtrack has also been given a boost. Although the original English mono track is available (and sounds fine), the disc comes equipped with an excellent two-channel English stereo track as well. Given the nature of the subject matter, and that there are plenty of opportunities to feel the thunder of the war scenes in the comfort of your own home, the new stereo option is the one to go with. But Fox should be thanked for also including the original mono track. The disc has also been given English and Spanish language subtitle options. The original theatrical trailer has also been included, as well as trailers for other Fox war films. ~ Derek Hill, All Movie Guide