PACIFIC, THE: PELELIU LANDING {EPISODE 5} (TV)

Summary

The fifth episode in this ten-part historical miniseries, a companion piece to 2001's "Band of Brothers," depicting the Pacific Theatre of World War II as described in the memoirs of several United States Marine Corps veterans. In the States, Basilone struggles with his new celebrity status as he reminds the American people to "back the attack" alongside starlet Virginia Grey. After a sexual encounter, she tells him that he has "no idea" what awaits him. His brother George visits him before shipping out and asks him just how frightening it was on Guadalcanal, and Basilone urges him not to try to "prove" anything by acting rashly while in battle. In June 1944, Sledge and fellow private Bill Leyden land on Pavuvu and receive a less-than-warm welcome from their fellow K-Company members, including Corporal Burgin and Privates Shelton, called "Snafu," and De L'Eau. De L'Eau shows them around the camp, pointing out the compassionate Captain "Ack-Ack" Haldane, while elsewhere Leckie returns from his stay in the hospital and greets his friends with early Christmas presents.

Phillips is elated to spot his old friend Sledge, and an amused Haldane witnesses their reunion. Later, several of the new recruits are assigned to scrub out oil drums, and Snafu watches them smugly. Sledge and Phillips talk privately on the beach, and when Sledge asks for the truth about the battlefield, Phillips tells him about Gwen and explains that war is the brutal polar opposite of what they shared. At night, the Marines enjoy a screening of "For Whom the Bell Tolls," starring the glamorous Ingrid Bergman. The next day, however, Sledge is upset to find that Phillips has shipped out without him. He visits Leckie's makeshift "library," briefly discussing "the other war" in Europe, where Sledge's brother is fighting. Leckie observes that Sledge is a believer, and they have a philosophical debate about free will and predestination, wondering about God's role in the war, with Leckie concluding that he "believes in ammunition." In September, the Marines head for Peleliu and find themselves on the chaotic beach, taking heavy fire and enduring many casualties. Sledge tries to master his fear as Leckie mans the machine gun, and Hoosier is shot in the leg and appears close to death as Leckie frantically tries to aid him.

Sledge and Snafu operate the mortar and try to take out several Japanese tanks, though they are soon forced to retreat. Leckie updates Runner about Hoosier, and Sledge's company settles in for the night in a safe area. Snafu shows him kindness by trading rations, but Sledge is disturbed when he casually digs the gold fillings out of a nearby Japanese corpse. At night, they watch the battle continuing on the airfield, and Private Oswalt compares the experience of battle to the Grand Canyon as something that must be seen in person to be truly believed. Sledge reflects that they must cross the dangerous, exposed airfield on the following day.

Details

• NETWORK: HBO
• DATE: April 11, 2010 9:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:49:05
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: 110532
• GENRE: Drama, historical
• SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, historical; World War II - Pacific campaign; Miniseries
• SERIES RUN: HBO - TV series, 2010
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Tom Hanks … Executive Producer
• Steven Spielberg … Executive Producer
• Gary Goetzman … Executive Producer
• Eugene Kelly … Co-Executive Producer
• Tony To … Co-Executive Producer
• Graham Yost … Co-Executive Producer
• Bruce C. McKenna … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
• Tim Van Patten … Supervising Producer
• Steven Shareshian … Producer
• Todd London … Producer
• Cherylanne Martin … Producer
• George Pelecanos … Co-Producer
• Kirk Saduski … Co-Producer
• Robert Schenkkan … Co-Producer
• Miura Kite … Co-Producer
• Jonathan Brytus … Associate Producer
• April Nocifora … Associate Producer
• Jennifer Jackson … Associate Producer
• David Taritero … Visual Effects Producer
• Christina Graff … Visual Effects Producer
• Emily Wallin … Visual Effects Producer
• Tom Clary … Visual Effects Producer
• Ineke Majoor … Visual Effects Producer
• Carl Franklin … Director
• Laurence Andries … Writer
• Eugene B. Sledge … Based on the book by
• Robert Leckie … Based on the book by
• Chuck Tatum … Based on the book by
• Hans Zimmer … Music by
• Blake Neely … Music by
• Geoff Zanelli … Music by
• James Badge Dale … Cast, PFC Robert Leckie
• Joe Mazzello … Cast, Pvt. Eugene Sledge
• Jon Seda … Cast, Sgt. John Basilone
• Brendan Fletcher … Cast, PFC Bill Leyden
• Leon Willem Ford … Cast, 1st Lt. Edward "Hillbilly" Jones
• Scott Gibson … Cast, Capt. Andrew Haldane
• Josh Helman … Cast, PFC Lew "Chuckler" Juergens
• Ashton Holmes … Cast, PFC Sidney Phillips
• Rami Malek … Cast, PFC Merriell "Snafu" Shelton
• Martin McCann … Cast, Cpl. R.V. Burgin
• Keith Nobbs … Cast, PFC Wilbur "Runner" Conley
• Jacob Pitts … Cast, PFC Bill "Hoosier" Smith
• Gary Sweet … Cast, Sgt. Elmo "Gunny" Haney
• Anna Torv … Cast, Virginia Grey
• Dylan Young … Cast, PFC Jay De L'Eau
• Christian Barratt-Hill … Cast, Corpsman
• Nathin Butler … Cast, Young Butler
• Mark Casamento … Cast, George Basilone
• Aaron Cottrell … Cast, Lieutenant
• Matthew Dale … Cast, Sgt. John Marmet
• Matthew Green … Cast, Brunette Marine
• Sam Hall … Cast, Second Marine
• Andrew Lees … Cast, PFC Robert Oswalt
• Jay Pace … Cast, Prep Chef
• Ben Ridgwell … Cast, Sous Chef
• Bob Rumnock … Cast, Waiter
• Toby Schmitz … Cast, Capt. Burns Lee