The Pacific

About The Pacific

The Pacific is a 2010 American war drama miniseries produced by HBO, Sky Movies, and Playtone. It centers on the United States Marine Corps' actions in the Pacific theater of operations during World War II. The story follows three Marines, Robert Leckie, Eugene Sledge, and John Basilone, from their first battle with the Japanese on Guadalcanal to their return home after V-J Day.

Making / Production

The series was produced by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman in association with HBO miniseries. It was largely filmed in Australia's Far North Queensland and relied a lot on local resources and talent.

Actors

• James Badge Dale as Robert Leckie: An enigmatic and intellectual scout and machine gunner, Dale portrayed Leckie's war experiences with an immense depth.
• Jon Seda as John Basilone: Seda effectively embodied the war hero who was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his service at Guadalcanal.
• Joseph Mazzello as Eugene Sledge: Showcased the physical and psychological toll of war through his heartfelt portrayal of Sledge, a young Alabamian who enlisted later in the war.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series had a budget of $200 million, making it the most expensive television miniseries in history at that time.
• Each episode had its own director, yet all were unified by the same cinematic vision.
• Actors playing Marines underwent a ten-day boot camp to get into their roles.

Awards

The Pacific was a critical and commercial success, winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries, among other awards. It also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Miniseries or Television Film.

Quotes

• "You can only die once, so do it the right way. Don't make your mothers cry." - John Basilone
• "Usually, the thing most shied away from is the truth about oneself.” - Robert Leckie
• "I came to realize that being a Marine was the best thing I could have ever done to myself.” - Eugene Sledge

Music, Soundtrack

• The series' original score was composed by Hans Zimmer, Geoff Zanelli, and Blake Neely.
• The main theme is characterized by a haunting choral arrangement and powerful orchestration.