Original U.S. Post-WWII “Halls of Montezuma” 1956 Movie Poster by 20th Century Fox - 22 x 28”

Original Item. Only One Available. Halls of Montezuma is a 1951 American World War II war film directed by Academy Award-winner Lewis Milestone and starring Richard Widmark. It also stars Robert Wagner in his first credited screen role and features Richard Boone in his feature-film debut. The story is about U.S. Marines fighting on a Japanese-held island, and the title is a reference to the opening line from the Marines' Hymn. Real color combat footage from the war in the Pacific was incorporated into the film's cinematography, and scenes at Camp Pendleton, California, were filmed on location with the full cooperation of the Marines.

This is a great worn example of a movie poster for the 1951 film “Halls of Montezuma”. The movie originally came out in 1951, but this poster is from its encore performance, and is dated at the bottom 1956. The poster measures roughly 22 x 28” and is in worn condition with minor tearing along the folding creases as shown. There is also some tearing along the edges. This example should be put into a frame immediately. The color is very well-retained. 

During World War II, a Marine battalion prepares to land on a Japanese-held island in the Pacific. Lieutenant Colonel Gilfillan orders the men to take prisoners in order to gain information about Japanese fortifications. Below deck, veteran Lieutenant Carl A. Anderson reassures a frightened corporal, Frank Conroy, that he has shown courage before and can do so again. In the landing boat heading to shore, Navy corpsman C. E. "Doc" Jones is worried because Anderson has been suffering from "psychological migraines" for months. He relies on Doc to supply him with painkillers to keep him going. Anderson leads the men as they hit the beach and dig in. Later, they try to take a ridge of hills but are deterred by a sudden Japanese rocket attack, during which his radio operator Private Coffman is killed. Afterwards, Anderson meets with other officers at battalion headquarters, where Gilfillan informs them that he has received orders to stop the rockets within nine hours, before the next assault on the hills. He assigns Anderson's platoon the task of capturing Japanese prisoners to interrogate in an effort to learn the exact origin of the rocket fire. The colonel further assigns Sergeant Johnson, an expert in Oriental languages and culture, to assist Anderson.

Among those whom Carl picks for his task, he includes six of his most battle-hardened veterans. Guided by Johnson, he leads them on patrol to a Japanese-held cave, where they are ambushed. But Anderson's men manage to capture five Japanese soldiers and kill the rest. However, during their return to battalion headquarters, their number are reduced. Even Doc, the corpsman who has been with Anderson the longest, does not survive. Finally, Anderson, Johnson, Conroy, two veteran privates, a replacement, and a war correspondent, Sergeant Dickerman, are the only fully able-bodied survivors of the patrol. Anderson takes his prisoners to headquarters, but one Japanese officer commits hara-kiri. Later, Anderson and Johnson learn that one of the prisoners is a highly educated officer disguised as a private. After questioning him, they deduce where the rockets are located.

A map expert at headquarters matches the location. Anderson's mission is thus accomplished, and Colonel Gilfillan offers his grateful thanks. But as Anderson makes his way back to the platoon, he learns Conroy has been killed. Anderson takes the news hard, questioning the meaning of his sacrifice. In response, war correspondent Dickerman reads aloud a note the ill-fated Doc had given him. Anderson, inspired by Doc's appeal for him to be strong for the sake of those whom he survives, throws away his painkillers, smashing them with the butt of his weapon. He leads his men in another assault on the Japanese. As the film closes, U.S. Navy F4U Corsairs fly in and smash the Japanese rocket positions.

A great movie poster, ready to frame and display!