Back to Bataan
Directed by Edward Dmytryk
In 1942, after the fall of the Philippines to the Japanese, U.S. Army Col. Joseph Madden stays behind to organize the local resistance against the Japanese invaders.
Where to Watch Back to Bataan
- Mister ArnJune 1, 2025“Back to Bataan” is a classic wartime propaganda piece, aiming squarely at patriotism. John Wayne plays an Army officer aiding Filipino guerrillas against Japanese occupation, in a story that draws sharp lines, heroic Americans and Filipinos on one side, flatly villainous Japanese on the other. The action is passable but rarely surprising, and the film leans hard into its flag-waving sentiment. It’s old-Hollywood heroics at full volume, rousing if you're in the mood, but lacking nuance or realism.
Back to Bataan Trivia
Back to Bataan was released on May 31, 1945.
Back to Bataan was directed by Edward Dmytryk.
Back to Bataan has a runtime of 1h 35m.
Back to Bataan was produced by Robert Fellows.
In 1942, after the fall of the Philippines to the Japanese, U.S. Army Col. Joseph Madden stays behind to organize the local resistance against the Japanese invaders.
The key characters in Back to Bataan are Colonel Joseph Madden (John Wayne), Bertha Barnes (Beulah Bondi), Captain Andres Bonifacio (Anthony Quinn).
Back to Bataan is rated PG-13.
Back to Bataan is a Drama, War, Action film.
Back to Bataan has an audience rating of 6.2 out of 10.