With a title that sounds like vintage Sam Fuller, Hell in the Pacific is the sort of film that is likely to grab the attention of the unfamiliar just with a quick roll-call of those involved and a quick summary of the plot. Made in 1968, it's a WW2 movie with only two actors. Intriguing? It get's better. One of the them is Lee Marvin, the other is Toshiro Mifune. You heard. And it's directed by none other than John Boorman. Interested? Good. Because it's also smartly written (by Alexander Jacobs and Eric Bercovici from a story by Reuben Bercovitch) and photographed (by Conrad Hall) and features a score by Lalo Schifrin.

It's 1944 and the war in the Pacific between the United States and Japan is at its height. Forced to crash-land his plane into the ocean, a US naval pilot (Marvin) manages to make his way to a small island, where he hopes to find provisions to help him survive and, eventually, some chance of discovery and rescue. Expecting the island to be deserted, he is surprised to discover another inhabitant, a similarly marooned Japanese navy captain (Mifune).

Natural enemies, the two men initially continue their futile hostilities, regularly coming to near-deadly blows and eventually, by turns, taking each other prisoner. It soon becomes apparent, however, that in order to survive they must cease their fighting, settle their differences and work together, despite the barriers of language and culture. But can suspicion, pride and mutual hatred, be overcome even though a failure to do so must surely result in the death of at least one of them?

Virtually silent and featuring just two actors, Boorman's beautifully shot film is a textbook example of virtuoso filmmaking featuring a pair of powerhouse performances from stars Marvin and Mifune.

Hell in the Pacific will be released on UK DVD by Fremantle Home Entertainment on 27th October 2008 at the budget price of £5.99. No extras are expected and no news on aspect ratio or sound. We can only hope Hall's 2.35:1 framing is preserved.