Back to Bataan (1945)

On Bataan, Colonel Joseph Madden (John Wayne) witnesses the somber reality alongside officers and men on Corregidor. They listen to the radio voice of Dalisay Delgado (Fely Franquelli), a former popular Filipino movie star, who pleads with her countrymen to cease resisting the Japanese invaders. The grim realization hangs heavy – their situation is dire, with no expectations of reinforcements or essential supplies. Captain Andres Bonifacio (Anthony Quinn), a Philippine Scouts officer who once loved Dalisay, is heartbroken by her betrayal.

As Bataan faces an inevitable fall, Madden receives orders to organize guerrilla resistance among U.S. and Filipino troops cut off from support, along with fugitive Filipino citizens. The Japanese arrive, committing atrocities like hanging the school's principal for refusing to lower the American flag. American teacher Bertha Barnes (Beulah Bondi) escapes and joins Madden’s forces, accompanied by her pupil Maximo (Ducky Louie). One of the first acts of the guerrillas is to retaliate against the Japanese officer responsible for the principal's death.

Madden devises a plan to seek aid from the Katipunan, a powerful secret society from Filipino revolutionary days, through Bonifacio. Bonifacio, a grandson of the original leader, is rescued by Madden from the infamous March of Death of the prisoners from Bataan. As General MacArthur heads to Australia and Corregidor surrenders, Bonifacio, bitter over the lack of American aid, initially refuses to involve the Katipunan. However, he agrees to carry a message to Manila, where he discovers that Dalisay is his contact. She reveals her seemingly treasonable broadcasts were a guise to gather vital military information, which she conveyed to MacArthur.

Bonifacio decides to rally the Katipunan and continue the fight. Concerned about the growing power of the guerrillas, the Japanese plan to grant the Filipinos "independence" in a ceremony at Balintowak. In a daring move, Madden’s forces annihilate the Japanese during the ceremony.

The Japanese capture Maximo and resort to torturing him to reveal the guerrilla headquarters. However, Maximo, determined to protect his comrades, steers the truck over a steep cliff, sacrificing himself and the Japanese officers. Two years pass, and with the impending arrival of General MacArthur and the Leyte landing, the guerrillas undermine Japanese defenses, aiding American Rangers in liberating prisoners at Cabanatuan.

Books with substantial mentioning of Back to Bataan

		Fred Landesman The John Wayne Filmography Jefferson, North Carolina, and London, 2004

		Mark Ricci, Boris Zmijewsky, Steve Zmijewsky The Complete Films of John Wayne New York, NY, 1995