Beachhead (1954): Cast & Plot
Beachhead is a 1954 war film directed by Stuart Heisler, starring Tony Curtis as Burke, John Doucette and Frank Lovejoy. It runs 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 30m (90 min)
- Director
- Stuart Heisler
- Genre
- War
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Aubrey Schenck Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Beachhead About?
The premise of Beachhead without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
More than a war film, it follows two surviving soldiers on a Japanese‑occupied Pacific island in World II after a mission goes disastrously wrong. Trapped, they must escort a scientist and his daughter across hostile jungle and rugged terrain to a rendezvous where a ship awaits, while battling relentless Japanese troops and the harsh environment.
Beachhead Themes & Keywords
· 37 tags- amphibious landing
- u.s. marine
- amphibious vehicle
- semiautomatic rifle
- tommy gun
- gun
- bolt action rifle
- year 1943
- military
- u.s. military
- u.s. soldier
- soldier
+25 more Show fewer
- world war two soldier
- 20th century
- 1940s
- enemy
- japanese soldier
- death
- explosion
- weapon
- rifle
- knife
- reference to route 66
- scene during opening credits
- father daughter relationship
- usmc united states marine corps
- island
- landing
- booby trap
- sniper
- authentication
- radio message
- japanese army
- jungle
- diversion
- world war two
- based on novel
Beachhead Cast & Characters
Tony Curtis leads the cast as Burke, with John Doucette as Maj. Scott and Frank Lovejoy as Sgt. Fletcher. Directed by Stuart Heisler; 10 actors are credited in all.
- Director Stuart Heisler
-
Tony Curtis as Burke - John Doucette as Maj. Scott
- Frank Lovejoy as Sgt. Fletcher
- Eduard Franz as Bouchard, French Planter
Also Starring in Beachhead
· 6 more- Mary Murphy Nina Bouchard
- Dan Aoki Japanese Sniper
- Skip Homeier Reynolds
- Alan Wells Biggerman
- Akira Fukunaga Terrified Japanese Sailor
- Steamboat Mokuahi Native
More from Stuart Heisler
More films directed by Stuart Heisler, best-rated first: The Star, Hitler, The Burning Hills and I Died a Thousand Times.
Beachhead Plot Summary
What happens in Beachhead from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
S. ** Among the troops, a four-man reconnaissance team is assembled to carry out a high-stakes mission. The team is led by Burke Tony Curtis, with Maj. Scott John Doucette shaping the plan from behind the scenes, and Sgt. Fletcher Frank Lovejoy trying to keep discipline and morale intact under pressure. Their objective is precise but perilous: locate a French planter who has managed to send a solitary radio message describing a mined zone in the area. If the information turns out to be true, it could save as much as 18% of the Marines’ invasion force, a number that makes every risk seem worth taking.
Full summary
The whole story of Beachhead, scene by scene
Beachhead Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Beachhead.
How Well Do You Know Beachhead?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor plays Burke, the leader of the four-man reconnaissance team?
Seen Beachhead?
Movies Like Beachhead
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Beach Red, Tarawa Beachhead and Hell in the Pacific.
Beachhead FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Beachhead, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Beachhead?
Beachhead runs 1 hour 30 minutes (90 minutes).
When was Beachhead released?
Beachhead was released on February 5, 1954.
Who directed Beachhead?
Beachhead was directed by Stuart Heisler.
More films by Stuart Heisler Who is in the cast of Beachhead?
Beachhead stars Tony Curtis as Burke, John Doucette as Maj. Scott and Frank Lovejoy as Sgt. Fletcher, among 10 credited actors.
Does Beachhead have a post-credit scene?
No. Beachhead has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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