Raid at Cabanatuan - Depictions in Film

Depictions in Film

"People everywhere try to thank us. I think the thanks should go the other way. I'll be grateful for the rest of my life that I had a chance to do something in this war that was not destructive. Nothing for me can ever compare with the satisfaction I got from helping to free our prisoners."

—Capt. Prince, reflecting on the public reaction to the mission

Several films have focused on the raid, while also including archival footage of the POWs. Edward Dmytryk's 1945 film Back to Bataan, starring John Wayne, opens by retelling the story of the raid on the Cabanatuan POW camp. Based on the books The Great Raid on Cabanatuan and Ghost Soldiers, the 2005 John Dahl film The Great Raid focused on the raid intertwined with a love story. Prince served as a consultant on the film, and believed it depicted the raid accurately. Marty Katz conveyed his interest in producing the film: "This was a massive operation that had very little chance of success. It's like a Hollywood movie—it couldn't really happen, but it did. That was why we were attracted to the material."


  • Camp Pangatian Memorial Shrine (Raid at Cabanatuan City, maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission)

  • The Park Memorial beside the Main Monument and Sundial Museum

  • "Hour of the Great Rescue" Sundial Monument and Museum

  • Green entrance to the Memorial with mango trees

  • The interior of the Park

  • The names of the War Heroes in marble I

  • The names of the War Heroes in marble II

  • Another view of the green entrance to the Memorial


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