So Proudly We Hail

So Proudly We Hail! is a 1943 American war film directed and produced by Mark Sandrich from a screenplay by Allan Scott based on the book I Served on Bataan by Lieutenant Colonel Juanita Redmond. Claudette Colbert, Paulette Goddard, and Veronica Lake star as U.S. Army nurses sent to the Philippines during the early days of World War II. George Reeves, Sonny Tufts (in his film debut), and Mary Servoss also star in major supporting roles. Produced by Paramount Pictures, the film was one of several pieces portraying the Philippines campaign, specifically the Angels of Bataan. At the time of its release, the nurses in Bataan were still being held as prisoners of war. After backlash to the inaccuracy of other projects with the same theme, Paramount took great lengths to ensure that the film was accurate by collaborating with Redmond, the War Department, and several advisors. Although the love-story plot line is the primary thrust of the film, the difficulties and emotional toll of war are also shown. The film was released by Paramount on September 9, 1943, over a year after the Philippines campaign. The film received critical acclaim, with praise towards Sandrich's direction, performances of the cast, and accuracy to its subject. The film received numerous Academy Awards nominations, including Goddard for Best Supporting Actress. The film has also been examined in modern times for its perspective of female military service during World War II.