Description
It’s our 100th episode and also Women’s History Month! So it’s only fitting that in this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we discuss So Proudly We Hail (1943), a World War II film about American Army nurses during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in 1941–1942. The story follows a group of nurses working in increasingly desperate conditions as the war closes in, from jungle hospitals on Bataan to the evacuation from Corregidor.
We also explore how the film reflects 1940s attitudes toward women, including Hollywood stereotypes, and obviously wartime propaganda. Along the way, we look at the real stories of the nurses on Bataan and Corregidor. These women kicked ass!
So Proudly We Hail trailer
Historical context for So Proudly We Hail
The story of So Proudly We Hail takes place during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines in the early months of the Pacific War. The film draws heavily on real events and the experiences of American military nurses who served in the region during one of the most desperate periods of World War II.
The Philippines at the Start of the Pacific War
At the time, the Philippines was an American territory, and thousands of American troops and medical personnel were stationed there. When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, the Philippines quickly became one of the next targets in Japan’s rapid expansion across Southeast Asia. Japanese forces launched air raids and amphibious assaults across the islands, quickly overwhelming many defensive positions.
The Defence of Bataan and Corregidor
American and Filipino forces were pushed back to the Bataan Peninsula and the island fortress of Corregidor, where they attempted to hold out despite severe shortages of food, medicine, and ammunition. Hospitals were frequently bombed, supplies ran out, and both soldiers and medical staff suffered from starvation and disease. Medical personnel worked under constant danger, often treating the wounded in makeshift facilities while air raids continued overhead.
The Fall of the Philippines
The fall of Bataan in April 1942 and Corregidor in May 1942 marked one of the most devastating defeats in American military history. Many captured soldiers were forced to endure the Bataan Death March, a brutal forced march in which thousands died from exhaustion, starvation, and abuse.
The Angels of Bataan and Corregidor
American nurses who remained behind were taken prisoner and spent years in Japanese internment camps. Despite the harsh conditions, they continued to care for the sick and wounded whenever possible. These nurses later became known as the “Angels of Bataan and Corregidor,” and their courage and dedication became an enduring symbol of service and sacrifice during World War II.
Other episodes mentioned
Ep 59 – The Narrow Road to the Deep North – Australian POWs and the Burma Railway
In this episode of Rosie the Reviewer, we unpack The Narrow Road to the Deep North, the harrowing new WWII series starring Jacob Elordi as Australian surgeon Dorrigo Evans. Based on Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize-winning novel, the show follows Dorrigo’s life before, during, and after his time as a POW forced to build the Burma Railway. We talk symbolism, adaptation choices, and why every character in this show feels trapped—by war, by love, by legacy. Plus, we ask, once again, why is it so f*cking dark?
Ep 15 – WW2 Media & Mythmaking Part 2 – A Global Perspective on How History Is Shaped
In part two of our mythmaking episode, we discuss the mythmaking about WW2 in our respective countries (the Philippines, Canada and the Netherlands) and Germany. (Psst. Listen to part one first if you haven’t.)
Sam (our guest from the Philippines) joins us for this one again.
Ep 13 – WW2 Media & Mythmaking Part 1 – Dissecting the Messages We Consume
In this episode, we explore how WW2 media creates myths, with our guest Sam from the Philippines, and critically analyze films and shows from different perspectives. This two-part episode kicks off with a discussion on how historical media shapes our understanding of the past and what truths may be hidden in plain sight.
Book Rec by Sam
A wartime memoir written by an American Army nurse who served in the Philippines at the outbreak of the war. It offers a firsthand account of the chaos, exhaustion, and determination of nurses working in jungle hospitals under bombardment.
A detailed account of the American nurses who served in the Philippines and later endured years of captivity after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor.
