None but the Brave


is a 1965 anti-war film produced and directed by Frank Sinatra from a screenplay by John Twist and Katsuya Susaki. The film stars Sinatra, Clint Walker, Tommy Sands, Brad Dexter, Tony Bill, and Sammy Jackson as U.S. Marines, and Tatsuya Mihashi, Takeshi Kato, Homare Suguro, Hisao Dazai, Kenji Sahara, and Mashahiko Tanimura as Imperial Japanese soldiers. Stranded on the same uninhabited island during the Pacific War, the two opposing platoons are forced to cooperate to survive.
The film was the first American-Japanese co-production to be shot in the United States, and Sinatra's sole directorial effort. Japanese co-producer Kikumaru Okuda conceived the story. Raoul Walsh, who initially planned to direct, collaborated with Twist on the script before selling it to Sinatra in late 1963. Principal photography commenced in April 1964 on the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi, and wrapped that June at Warner Bros. Studios Burbank, with a budget. While Sinatra directed most scenes, Kazuo Inoue helmed those featuring only the Japanese cast. During a filming break, Sinatra was saved from drowning by co-star Dexter, enabling production to proceed as scheduled. Special effects, directed by Eiji Tsuburaya, were shot between May and August 1964. John Williams composed the score, with Kenjiro Hirose advising on Japanese music.
None but the Brave was released in Japan on January 15, 1965, and throughout the United States in February 1965, to mixed reviews. Critics were divided over Sinatra's direction, the screenplay, and performances; Sinatra's performance, the Japanese cast, cinematography, special effects, and musical score received praise, while Sands' acting drew criticism. It was among the highest-grossing films of 1965, culminating in North American box office rentals alone. In recent years, None but the Brave has been critically re-evaluated and noted as an anti-war film predating late 1960s counterculture cinema.

Plot

During the Pacific Theater of World War II, a platoon of seventeen Japanese soldiers is stationed on an island in the Solomon Archipelago. After American forces bypass their position and a storm destroys their radio, the platoon is stranded. Lieutenant Kuroki maintains discipline as he oversees the construction of a boat for their escape.
One day, an F4U Corsair escorting an R4D Skytrain to Peleliu is intercepted by an A6M Zero. Both fighters engage in a fierce dogfight, destroying each other. The Skytrain crash-lands, killing two aircrew members and stranding nineteen American survivors, including Captain Dennis Bourke, Chief Pharmacist's Mate Francis Maloney, Air Crewman Keller, 2nd Lieutenant Blair, Sergeant Bleeker, and a Marine infantry platoon. Discovering Japanese forces, Blair and Bleeker initially rally the Marines for combat but transfer command to Bourke, who urges restraint. That night, Bourke and Craddock ambush the Japanese investigating the Skytrain, wounding Lance Corporal Hirano before retreating.
The next day, the Americans spot a U.S. Navy warship searching for the lost Skytrain and try to send a smoke signal. A Japanese attack kills a Marine and a Japanese soldier. The warship, mistaking the Americans for Japanese, shells the beach and leaves. Later, Craddock, struggling to lead, tries to capture Japanese Private Okunda, but Okunda's jovial nature leads Craddock to trade with him, providing rare levity for Kuroki. After losing another Marine at a freshwater spring ambush, the Americans attempt to steal the Japanese boat for rescue. The battle destroys the boat and inflicts heavy casualties, deepening the disillusionment of both sides. Another Japanese soldier disarms, seeking peace, but is killed, prompting both sides to retreat. Hirano, desperate over his leg injury, attempts suicide, but is interrupted. Kuroki, determined to save him and tired of loss, negotiates a truce with Bourke for Maloney to amputate Hirano's leg in exchange for resources.
With the truce in effect, the Americans and Japanese split the beach between themselves. They often cross the border to cooperate or spy on each other. The truce is nearly broken when Keller, wary of Japanese intentions, wounds a Japanese soldier who approaches their secret radio post, revealing Keller's defensive instincts. Their standoff is interrupted when a major storm hits the island, destroying their camps. Forced by circumstances, the Americans and Japanese work together to build a flood wall and a shared base, demonstrating a shift from suspicion to cooperation. The next day, Kuroki finds Keller's radio post, which leads him to lose trust in the Americans and fuel his suspicion of potential betrayal. Okunda, who had been trying to provide food for his group, is killed by a shark while fishing, marking the loss of a key provider and affecting group morale.
Keller reestablishes radio contact with the U.S. Navy and arranges a rescue. Kuroki ends the truce after overhearing the plan, while Bourke and Blair suggest surrender. Both sides reluctantly resume hostilities. As USS Walker approaches, the eight remaining Japanese soldiers Banzai charge the eleven Americans, sparking a firefight that leaves only Maloney, Bourke, Blair, Bleeker, and Corporal Ruffino alive. Maloney finds Kuroki's journal and gives it to Bourke, who considers returning it to Kuroki's wife, Keiko. In his final journal narration, Kuroki urges Keiko not to grieve, assuring her their spirits endure beyond death.

Cast

American platoon

Japanese platoon

Uncredited

  • Laraine Stephens as Lorie, Bourke's fiancée who was killed in an air raid
  • Nami Tamura as Keiko, Kuroki's wife
  • James E. McLarty as Patrol member
  • Joe Gray

    Production

Development

None but the Brave was initiated in the early 1960s by aspiring Japanese producer Kikumaru Okuda, who developed the original story and co-produced for Tokyo Eiga. The film's title is taken from John Dryden's 1697 poem, Alexander's Feast, stanza 1: "None but the brave/deserves the fair". The script was co-authored by American screenwriter John Twist and Japanese writer Katsuya Susaki, a surviving kamikaze pilot. Their collaboration aimed to present balanced perspectives from both sides of the World War II conflict.
Filmmaker Raoul Walsh worked on the script with Twist and initially expected he would direct, encouraged by friends in Japan to film there. On September 3, 1963, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that filming was scheduled to begin in Japan within weeks under Walsh's direction. However, Twist and Walsh ultimately sold the script to Frank Sinatra. In October, Warner Bros. Pictures president Jack L. Warner disclosed that None but the Brave would be the first of three films in a new contract between Warner Bros. and Sinatra's production company. Although None but the Brave marked Walsh's final film involvement, he was no longer scheduled to direct by November and received no credit in the finished film.
Frank Sinatra took a keen interest in the script after discovering it at Warner Bros. and eventually decided to helm the film himself. In February 1964, it was reported that the film would mark Sinatra's directorial debut. He and executive producer Howard W. Koch traveled to Japan that same month to collaborate with Toho, securing Japanese actors and a special effects crew. Koch emphasized that None but the Brave would be the first American film to portray Japanese soldiers sympathetically, and expressed optimism about Sinatra's directorial vision, noting that a successful outcome could lead to Sinatra directing a comedy next. Ultimately, the film was the sixth of nine produced by Sinatra and his sole directorial credit.

Casting

In April–May 1963, Clint Walker entered negotiations to star in the film, marking its initial development announcement and signaling his potential return to Warner Bros. after his seven-year contract with the studio expired. When Walsh was to direct, Troy Donahue, who had recently starred in Walsh's A Distant Trumpet, was attached to appear. John Wayne was later reported by The Hollywood Reporter in January 1964 as slated to play Captain Dennis Bourke, but Walker ended up taking on the role. Rock Hudson was also considered for the role.
The American cast featured several actors with prior ties to Sinatra. Frank's cousin, Richard Sinatra, appeared in a minor role as a background soldier. Tommy Sands, who played a supporting role, was Sinatra's son-in-law at the time, married to Sinatra's daughter Nancy. A few actors had previously collaborated with Sinatra: Tony Bill, who portrayed a young soldier, had played the son of Sinatra's character in Come Blow Your Horn, while Richard Bakalyan had co-starred alongside Sinatra in Robin and the 7 Hoods. Newcomer Jimmy Griffin, who later gained fame as a co-founder of the rock band Bread, had signed a recording contract with Sinatra's Reprise Records in 1962. Other notable American cast members included Stephens, making her film debut, and she was one of only two women in the cast. Former Olympian Rafer Johnson was the only African-American actor among the ensemble. Larry Glenn of The New York Times noted Johnson's casting as reflective of Warner Bros.' early 1960s efforts to promote racial diversity in films not explicitly addressing racial issues.
By March 11, 1964, Walker and Sands had secured their roles, and Sinatra was attempting to convince Robert Mitchum to join the cast. Toshiro Mifune signed on, persuaded by Sinatra making Toho a partner on the production; however, Mifune ultimately did not appear in the film. Al Silvani was also cast in the film as a U.S. Marine and present during the Hawaii shoot.
Sinatra traveled to Japan to cast Japanese actors. Toru Ibuki recounted meeting Sinatra at the Hotel Okura, also being hired as one of Sinatra's bodyguards, working for around five years. Mihashi, making his Hollywood debut, had joined the cast by March 18. Casting had been completed by April 16, 1964.