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How sad is this?

it is finally so absorbing because it plays like a lyrical road odyssey that’s also a detective story.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

I enjoy watching war films and have seen countless films from the 30s onward to today. While this is not the best of the best, it is also far from the worst of the worst. An above-average war film.This film is a classic Hollywood War Film made during WWII in order to uplift the nation during its darkest days, sell War Bonds, and generate the much needed support for the United States Armed Forces in a time war! To rate this film based on today's standards is to do a disservice to the film and the period. Sure, this film has all of the clichés of a typical 40s Hollywood film. But, you have to understand that this was a way for many in Hollywood who chose not serve or could not serve for various reasons to assist in the war effort. In addition, it does a very good job as portraying the Marines as the best fighters of the US Military forces, no offense intended to the other branches. The Marines are known for hitting the beaches first and leaving last.Wallace Beery does an excellent job telling the story of the tough drill Sergeant who has passed on his skills and knowledge for thirty years waiting for his chance to see combat. He does his job well but wants what every Marine wants, to put his skills to the test.One rarity in Hollywood is the parts of the Filipinos and Japanese fighters are not being portrayed by White Men.In response to the Star-spangled hogwash review by Fred_Rap, I agree with Wholeben that Mr Rap's comments are out of context and unnecessarily harsh.The film was well made and made good use of scenery. While the "green screen" scenes are obvious, the actors deliver their performances well. The weakest part may be the overly friendly competition for the Helen Bailey's affections.The standout performance and reason to see this film is Wallace Beery's portrayal of a Marine who is a Marine regardless of whether he is in uniform. His speech after the Japanese bombing to Colonel Casper was very powerful. In addition the bar brawl against the Merchant Marines was great fun! Sergeant Major William Bailey will not allow anyone to disrespect his Marine Corps! My favorite scene in the film is the final moments with Beery in his Dress Blues sitting with his wife who has stayed behind to help instead of leaving with the other women and children. While she prayed for peace, when war came she stood by her husband and does what she can to help in his "War"!PS: The Japanese soldiers in this film were also portrayed fairly considering when the film was made. There is even a comment made about how smart their officers are in leading their troops. While the Japanese are portrayed as being "sneaky" in using the fishing fleet to prepare for invasion this is entirely understandable considering that the Attack on Pearl Harbor happened only two years prior to the film's release.

"Salute to the Marines" ranks as a first-class example of Technicolor World War II propaganda. The action opens and closes with the rousing Marine Corp anthem. The first thing that we see is Marines splashing ashore from transports, bailing out of a C-47, flying fighters at low altitude, and careening through the jungle in tanks. The formulaic plot occurs largely in flashbacks after the musical opening and ending gambits. Not surprisingly, MGM released "Salute" the same year it released one of its more memorable last stand sagas "Bataan" with Robert Taylor, Lloyd Nolan, and Robert Walker. In both movies, the heroes must destroy a bridge that the Japanese enemy needs to spearhead its advance, and our rough and tough leatherneck heroes perish in the process. Basically, the title tells the tale about a veteran Marine drill instructor, Sergeant-Major Bailey (Wallace Beery of "The Champ") that's spent 30 years in the Corp, but has never acquired first-hand combat experience. If there is anything that Bailey yearns for, it is to get into the thick of the shooting, so he can earn battle medals. As the storm clouds of war huddle on the horizon, his long-time friend and Commanding Officer, Colonel Mason (the great Ray Collins of "Citizen Kane"), dispatches him to train Philippine civilians, an assignment the hard-nosed, blustering hero reluctantly carries out. Thick-waisted Wallace Beery looks a mite long in the tooth to be playing such a vigorous man of action, but he delivers one of his best performances. The dressing down that he gives a Marine about shoelaces during a barracks inspection is a great scene. Look closely and you'll spot future "Dallas" TV star Jim Davis as a Marine private who butts heads with Beery's gruff sergeant-major. Watch Beery during a barroom brawl scene as he drunkenly runs one hand over his head before he wades into a crowd of Merchant Marines and throws punches, eventually knocking everybody out cold on the floor about the time that the MPs enter the saloon. When "Salute" isn't a hymn to the Marines, the filmmakers pay tribute to the valiant Philippines natives. Initially, Beery condescends to these "little fellows." Before long, however, he alters his way of thinking and grows to admire them. Check out the machete scene, and you'll see what I saying. It's a masterpiece of understatement with comedic elements. Beery trains the Phillipinos in the use of the bayonet. A villager introduces our hero to the destructive power of a machete. Berry tests it and agrees with him, so much so that he allows the native warriors to pack them as part of their regulation equipment. The Beery character is inexplicably married to a woman (Fay Bainter) who hates the Corp and pleads with Bailey to hang up his bayonet and live a quiet peaceful life in her community of peace-lovers. Meanwhile, his grown-up daughter Helen (Marilyn Maxwell of "Champion") sympathizes with him. Clearly, this community of anti-war advocates serves as a metaphor for the United States before the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. Like other movies of its day, "Salute" chronicles the premeditated nature of the Asian Axis enemy. The Japanese are portrayed as subhuman vermin. The showdown between the captain of the steel-hulled Japanese fishing boat and Bailey is a classic, one-upsmanship encounter. Later, the Nipponese strafe and bomb a church during worship service. They bomb innocent, defenseless women and children. We watch in horror as a white woman running with a baby in her arms falls down between large explosives and lies strewn in the dirt dead. A Japanese tank runs over a Philippine soldier. Were that not enough, a young Robert Blake dies as the hands of the Japanese. Of course, "Salute to the Marines" isn't very politically correct now, because the Japanese are no longer our enemies. S. Sylvan Simon directs the action scenes with lean, muscular economy. "Salute to the Marines" never runs out of steam.

Wallace Beery is a fine, wonderfully rugged actor with a touch of tongue n' cheek hanging around in his lines. He did a marvelous job in this old vintage Hollywood movie. I had not thought of him as a leading man, but by golly he carries it off in fine form. The Marines should be proud! Semper Fi! Oooooorah! The movie with heart & humor. I liked it very much. It just played on AMC on Cable TV. It tells the story of a real war hero who won a medal. It takes place in the Phillipines. It tells a fine tale, the characters are genuine and not too polished. If I am not mistaken, there are real Marines in the parade sequences. Highly recommended for a "good read". It enables me to grok what all those brave and remarkable young and older men did for us in WWII. May God Bless em' and may we always honor their service.

I was only about 8 years old when I saw this film, I'm 69 now,but I never forgot it. In fact it may have played a part in my joining the Marine corps 10 years later. As I recall the story takes place in the Phillipine islands at the beginning of WW2. Sgt. Baily is a crusty old recently retired Master Sergeant who does his best to repel the invading Jappanese with the help of a Phillipino boy. The scene I remember the best was when US forces were trying to blow up a bridge and kept getting shot as they tried to set the charges. I remember It was filmed in color. I would sure like to see it again but I'm sure it must have been destroyed by time and neglect.