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Too Late the Hero (1970)

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Average Rating: 6/10
Reviews Counted: 11
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 3

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 2

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Average Rating: 3.4/5
User Ratings: 1,356

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Movie Info

Filmed on location in the Philippines Robert Aldrich's Too Late the Hero is set in the last months of World War II. Lackadaisical navy lieutenant Cliff Robertson, who happens to speak fluent Japanese, is ordered to go on a suicide mission to wipe out an enemy observation post. Robertson's equally unwilling partners in this venture are British captain Denholm Elliot and pugnacious cockney private Michael Caine. All three men prove to have unsuspected reserves of courage when the going gets toughest. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

PG, 2 hr. 13 min.

Drama, Action & Adventure

Directed By: Robert Aldrich

Written By: Robert Aldrich, Lukas Heller

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1970 Wide

On DVD: May 29, 2001

Cast

Michael Caine
Pvt. Tosh Hearne
Cliff Robertson
Lt. Lawson
Henry Fonda
Capt. Nolan
Ian Bannen
Pvt. Thornton
Harry Andrews
Lt. Col. Thompson
Denholm Elliott
Capt. Hornsby
Ronald Fraser
Pvt. Campbell
Lance Percival
Corporal McLean
Percy Herbert
Sgt. Johnstone
Michael Parsons
Pvt. Rafferty
Harvey Jason
Scott
William Beckley
Private Currie
Don Knight
Private Connolly
Sean MacDuff
Pvt. Rogers
Roger Newman
Private Riddle
Ken Takakura
Maj. Yamaguchi
Sam Kydd
Sgt. -Major
Marlin Horsey
Pvt. Griffiths
Patrick Jordan
Sgt. Major
Frank Webb
Ensign

Critic Reviews for Too Late the Hero

All Critics (11) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (3) | DVD (6)

The most aggravating thing about Too Late the Hero is that Aldrich is a film maker of some accomplishment.

April 20, 2010 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine

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TIME Magazine

Top Critic

An okay World War II melodrama, featuring Michael Caine and Cliff Robertson as antagonists who come to respect each other in the course of destroying a Jaanese radio transmitter.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety

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Variety Staff

Variety

Top Critic

Although committed to the notion that war is an inclusive system of betrayals, the film subverts that notion and settles instead for some fashionable ironies and remarkably conventional jungle warfare displays.

May 9, 2005 Full Review Source: New York Times

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Roger Greenspun

New York Times

Top Critic

Finds veteran action director Aldrich resting on his laurels, delivering a rather bland retread of past success.

April 20, 2010 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide

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TV Guide's Movie Guide

A Dirty Dozen formula macho war drama about war as betrayal.

January 11, 2007 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews

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Dennis Schwartz

Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The action has its moments (with the patrol's paranoia fed by taunting messages from Japanese loudspeakers hidden in the jungle), and the bantering dialogue is often very funny.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

Memorable conclusion, exciting war adventure.

October 30, 2004 Comment

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan Source: Kansas City Kansan

Just another war movie, really, with only the lengthy roster of star names and claustrophobic island location to set it apart from its peers.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Film4

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Film4

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Audience Reviews for Too Late the Hero

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Another underrated gem from Aldrich, with a stellar cast. This is a bit less exploratory and meaty as Aldrich's other stuff, but it's nonetheless highly entertaining from start to finish. The climax, in particular, is magnificent - Caine and Robertson making their mad dash for freedom in long shots, so that they're

February 20, 2011