'The Pacific'

[Oberon]

From the people who brought you 'Band of Brothers'....

An interview with Dale Dye - Technical advisor for The Pacific, Band of Brothers and Saving Private Ryan

JRH: You recently finished work on “The Pacific” which follows the Marines in their battles with Imperial Japan. What battles can we expect to see?

DD: This new HBO miniseries is really close to my heart as a Marine. It follows my old outfit - the 1st Marine Division - through all of its major battles in the Pacific campaigns of World War II. We follow three major characters - one from each of the division’s rifle regiments, 1st Marines, 5th Marines and 7th Marines - from the opening salvos at Guadalcanal, re-fitting in Australia after the Solomons Campaign, on to Cape Gloucester on New Guinea, to Peleliu and then on to Okinawa and back home at war’s end.
JRH: How would you compare this series to “Band of Brothers”?

DD: “The Pacific” is presented in the same ten-part format as “Band of Brothers” and I think it will prove to be just as popular as the ETO series…especially among Marines and veterans of the Pacific Theater of Operations. That said, it’s very different from “Band”. It’s as different as World War II in the Pacific was from World War II in Europe. It’s much darker and more brutal but that was the nature of fighting on those Pacific islands. Just ask any veteran for confirmation of that. Tom Hanks who is one of our Executive Producers likes to say it will take the audience on a brutal journey to hell and back; the same sort of journey that was experienced by the men who fought the real battles. I think he’s right on the mark with that. From a personal perspective as the Senior Military Advisor, it was an honor and a real treat to command a unit of World War II Marines - actors and special ability extras - for a full year. As we did with Band of Brothers, we stayed in character the entire time. And the training in the jungles of Far North Queensland, Australia was really rugged. I don’t think any of the guys will ever forget that.

JRH: When can we expect to see it?

DD: We’re finishing post-production on “The Pacific” right now. HBO tells me they plan to air it beginning early in 2010. I’m trying to get them to do an exclusive preview at the traditional home of the 1st Marine Division just down the road at Camp Pendleton.

In my opinion, this looks excellant, and I'm sorry if this is a repost, but I've only just discovered it. Band of Brothers was one of the most epic TV series ever, accessible to all and a fantastic tribute to the men who ended the war in Europe.
If 'The Pacific' turns out any bit as good as Band of Brothers, then it will be a winner.