Once Before I Die (1965)

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Japanese forces turn their attention to the Philippines. After being attacked, an underequipped unit of the 26th Cavalry slowly marches toward Manila through hostile territory amid Japanese strongholds. A lone woman (Ursula Andress) accompanies the soldiers. Based on the novel QUIT FOR THE NEXT by Lt. Anthony March and directed by actor John Derek. Derek was married at the time to the film's leading lady Ursula Andress but by the time the movie was released, they were divorced. It's a well intentioned but poorly made anti war film. Derek's lugubrious pacing, his overuse of freeze frames and dubious "artistic" decisions like having a silhouette of Andress placed over a raid by the Japanese only serve to call attention to Derek's pretensions. With the exception of Richard Jaeckel as a psychotic Lieutenant, the performances are weak. With Ron Ely, Jock Mahoney and Rod Lauren.