The Pacific

The Pacific (2010) TV-MA
This ten part HBO miniseries offers a realistic and horrifying view of World War II in the Pacific. The series is based on the memoirs of two marines who were there, Robert Leckie and Eugene Sledge, and the story of Congressional Medal of Honor winner Sgt. John Basilone. Some episodes are devoted almost entirely to specific battles: Guadalcanal, Peleliu, and Iwo Jima. Others show the marines on R&R in Australia, on medical leave, or in basic training.

The producers (who include Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg) purposely used relatively unknown actors so that the viewer wouldn’t be distracted by recognizing well-known stars showing up in cameos ala The Longest Day (1962).

Check out the books that served as inspiration:

• Helmet for My Pillow (1957) by Robert Leckie
• With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa (1981) by Eugene Sledge
• The Pacific (2010) by Hugh Ambrose is the companion to the miniseries

Did you know? The 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into WWII is Wednesday, December 7.