So the film became Battle for Blood Island to help it sell at the drive-ins (it was on a double-bill with Ski Troop Attack). (The director was not happy with the changes.) So, additional material was filmed in California. Then, a few years later, television came along, and scenes needed to be added to make the film into a standard length for television. Corman therefore needed to make some changes to make the film viable for the drive-in theater market.
#BATTLE OF BLOOD ISLAND FILM PLOT MOVIE#
When the completed movie was shown to the critics, it was not received well enough to justify a release to the art houses. There's some uncertainty about how the movie got its final 'introduction' scenes. (He's better remembered today for his voice work.) Ron Kennedy (AKA Ron Gans) is his co-star he was a friend of the director, and helped finance the picture in order to get the role of soldier Ken. The star is Richard Devon, who had previously appeared in several Corman films, including as the star of War of the Satellites. Joel was serious about this movie, however, and hoped it could be marketed through "art house" theaters. soldiers on a Japanese-held island – that could be filmed inexpensively! Roger made low-budget movies, and the important thing about the screenplay is that it primarily involved two U.S. This DVD uses the print that Fred Olen Ray saved.)
It's fun to listen to, though he doesn't spend much time discussing the movie we're watching! (Years ago, Fred Olen Ray wanted to see this film, and ended up buying a theater copy that he had to put on a projector. I have the Roger Corman Puerto Rico Trilogy DVD set, and it includes a commentary track with director Joel Rapp (with Fred Olen Ray). Joel Rapp and his friends put up some of the financing, and he was the director he had acquired the rights to a short story, Expect the Vandals, by not-yet-famous Philip Roth. This is one of a trio of movies that Corman made in Puerto Rico for tax purposes. I recently watched this Roger Corman WWII film, and thought I'd tell you about it.