Product Details

• Actors: Guadalcanal
• Directors: n, a
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Timeless Media Group
• DVD Release Date: July 17, 2001
• Run Time: 180 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005K2XK
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #3,978 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

  #45 in	Movies & TV > Drama > Independently Distributed
  #21 in	Movies & TV > Educational > Social Studies > History
  #29 in	Movies & TV > Military & War > World War II

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

In the summer of 1942, America was still reeling from the attack on Pearl Harbor and the humiliating victories of the Japanese throughout the Far East. Then came the battles of the Coral Sea and the pivotal Battle for Midway. Japan had been effectively countered and it was time to launch an attack. The first landing of American forces on a Japanese held island would occur on Guadalcanal, August 7, 1942. This was the opening of a six month campaign to wrest control of the lower Solomon Islands from the Japanese Empire. From this story of mistakes and heroism would rise the genesis of American strategy for the rest of the war in the Pacific. Contains footage from the National Archives.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE & COHERENT VIDEO ABOUT THE MANY BATTLES FOR GUADALCANAL, January 15, 2007

By	Heather L. Parisi "Robert and Heather Parisi" (St. Augustine, FL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Guadalcanal: The Island of Death (DVD)

IN A NUTSHELL:

Broken into 18 chapters which play for almost 3 hours, the numerous land and naval battles on and around Guadalcanal in 1942-1943 are closely examined.

'Guadalcanal: The Island of Death' uses narration by Dale Reed, interviews and commentary by several historians and a half dozen American combatants, combined with maps, time-lines and very applicable real war footage from the battles. Presented in chronlogical order with graphics, strategic maps and film from the actual events it is possible to grasp the immense and varied struggles that went on fiercely for 6 months. Furthermore, the veterans of the battle are each from a completely different branch of the service which allows for a more balanced collective viewpoint. There is a 'Sea-bee', a 'Medic', a 'Navy Pilot', a 'P.T. Boat Crewman', an 18 year old [1942] 'Marine', all with different stories to tell and all somehow aid in making what happened more comprehensible.

---> CHAPTERS

1-PESTILENCE
2-WATCHTOWER
3-FIRST OFFENSIVE
4-THE BATTLE OF SAVO ISLAND
5-FIRST DAYS ASHORE
6-THE TENARU
7-THE BATTLE OF THE EASTERN SOLOMONS
8-BOREDOM & FEAR
9-THE BATTLE OF EDSON'S RIDGE
10-MATANIKAU RIVER ACTIONS
11-THE BATTLE OF CAPE ESPERANCE
12-THE BOMBARDMENT
13-THE BATTLE FOR HENDERSON FIELD
14-THE BATTLE OF THE SANTA CRUZ ISLANDS
15-ACTIONS AT POINT CRUZ & KOLI POINT
16-THE NAVAL BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL
17-THE SECOND NAVAL BATTLE OF GUADALCANAL
18-THE FINAL PUSH



SPECIAL FEATURE:

'INTERACTIVE TIMELINE OF MAJOR EVENTS' [21 minutes] from May 1942 - February 1943


BOTTOM LINE: VERY EASY TO FOLLOW FOR SO COMPLEX A STORY

Reminiscent of 'The World At War' in style and content, this single DVD gives a 3 hour treatment devoted entirely to the battles on the ground, the air, and the sea for the possession of a strategically situated deserted island in the South Pacific -- Guadalcanal.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent documentary, March 17, 2008

By	Greg S - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Guadalcanal: The Island of Death (DVD)

Due to the enormous scale of WWII the individual campaigns and battles need to be compressed. This DVD spends 3 hrs discussing Guadalcanal from beginning to end. There is a nice outline of events with film footage and 1st hand accounts from veterans in all branches of service. Extremely interesting viewing, multiple times.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Documentary of South Pacific War, August 8, 2007

By	Night Eagle - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Guadalcanal: The Island of Death (DVD)

This DVD covered the Guadalcanal Campaign in a very clear manner with a minimum of distractions. Most of it was drawn from contemporary combat photography and had many scenes that I had not seen before, along with some that were more familiar. It will be useful to students of that time in history.