Too Late the Hero (1970)

TOMATOMETER

62%

——

Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

73%

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Movie Info

Cliff Robertson stars as an opportunistic, mildly cowardly US navy lieutenant who is reluctantly recruited for a suicide mission. When his CO is killed, Robertson is forced into a leadership position, ordering his men forward to destroy a Japanese outpost. Michael Caine, Harry Andrews and Denholm Elliott play key roles, while Henry Fonda makes a pre-credits guest appearance as the man who gives Robertson his marching orders. Suicide Run caused a serious rift in the relationship between star Cliff Robertson and director Robert Aldrich, when the latter would not give the former time off from shooting so he could go to the Academy Awards ceremonies to pick up his Oscar for Charly.

Cast

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

All Critics (13) | Top Critics (4)

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

Apr 20, 2010 | Full Review…
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.

Mar 26, 2009 | Full Review…
Variety
Top Critic

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.

Jun 24, 2006 | Full Review…
Time Out
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 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review…
New York Times
Top Critic

One might have thought that one Dirty Dozen was enough for a filmmaking career.

Jul 17, 2018 | Full Review…
The Spectator

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

Apr 20, 2010 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
TV Guide
View All Critic Reviews (13)

Audience Reviews for Too Late the Hero

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