Too Late the Hero

Cliff Robertson stars as an opportunistic, mildly cowardly US navy lieutenant who is reluctantly recruited for a suicide mission. When his CO is killed, Robertson is forced into a leadership position, ordering his men forward to destroy a Japanese outpost. Michael Caine, Harry Andrews and Denholm Elliott play key roles, while Henry Fonda makes a pre-credits guest appearance as the man who gives Robertson his marching orders. Suicide Run caused a serious rift in the relationship between star Cliff Robertson and director Robert Aldrich, when the latter would not give the former time off from shooting so he could go to the Academy Awards ceremonies to pick up his Oscar for Charly.