Margaret Sullavan made only sixteen movies. This is her second last. The none-too-interesting plot is built around army nurses on Bataan. At 97 minutes, it runs a little too long, but it's competently directed by journeyman Richard Thorpe and imaginatively photographed by Karl Freund. On the other hand, screenwriter Paul Osborn makes almost no attempt to disguise the film's origins in a stage play. Almost the whole of the movie's action is confined to a one-room dug-out. True, there are actually two or three cinematic forays into the outside world to accommodate a bit of action (put across with rapid tracking shots), but director Thorpe is content to play along with the stage groupings in the dug-out. Although obviously dated, the movie is comparatively restrained in its patriotic flag-waving. The cast is sound, but embarrassing propaganda in long takes and flat, medium shots, make this journey a somewhat weary 97 minutes.
Review of Cry 'Havoc'
