Made during the mayhem of World War II, "Objective, Burma!" remains an exciting war picture by one of Hollywood's most prolific and reliable action directors, Raoul Walsh. Assembling a superb cast - including a small role for Hugh Beaumont ("Leave It To Beaver") - the production is further strengthened by a powerful score from Franz Waxman, one of Hollywood's top composers.

The standard mono mix is layered with plenty of sound effects and music, and the ultimate fusion of sound and picture occurs early on, during an incredible parachuting sequence over Burma. Incorporating actual newsreel footage with production material, Walsh, editor George Amy, and cinematography James Wong Howe milk every tense moment as the troupe awaits their drop point, while nervous team members and an aging reporter fear the worst. As the men jump from the plane, Waxman's dissonant score barrels from the speakers, and perfectly captures the danger, the gung-ho excitement, and urgency as the men scramble into the trees, bury their chutes, and trek to the radio station for their demolition assignment.

The transfer is first-rate, showing no artifacting, and preserving Howe's immaculate cinematography; anytime you see the veteran cinematographer's name in the credits, you know you're in for a visual treat. The image clarity even reveals beads of sweat on the actors' porous faces.

The final title crawl reflects the nation's sentiments in 1943 - Japan and Germany weren't just global enemies, but evil to the core - and while an exciting action film, "Objective, Burma" should be watched with an awareness that's the film was an obvious morale booster, and reflects the strong anti-Japanese sentiments of the time.

In keeping with the film's archival value, the DVD includes two amazing propaganda shorts, made for the Department of Defense.

"The Tanks Are Coming" is a gorgeous 1941 Technicolor featurette, starring "Objective" co-star George Tobias as a do-good New York City cab driver who volunteers and enters training for tank driving. The humour is broad, the enemy insults overt, but the training film also offers a fascinating glimpse at basic training for tank drivers, and a sample of America's mobilization of industries for war production. (Watch for Gig Young as the geeky radio operator after the Declaration of Independence material at the beginning.)

"The Rear Gunner" follows the same recruitment pattern, in which little guy Pee Wee Williams shows he's a grand marksman, and graduates to rear gunner under the command of Ronald Reagan. Like "Tanks," "Gunner" follows our hero through rifle, machine gun and ballistics training, and makes for a fascinating glimpse into army training films in 1943. Naturally the pitch is clear: don't feel left out if you're short - the army has an important role for you!

© 2003 Mark R. Hasan