MOVIEGOER

Steady slogging through some of the worst jungle in the world is not only uncomfortable but makes dull copy, which is no doubt why Burma has become the most forgotten front of the war. "Objective Burma" is Warner Brothers' attempt to give the front its due, and is a good professional job of movie-making as well.

Spearheading the invasion of Burma, Errol Flynn's company of Rangers parachutes behind the Japanese lines and destroys an enemy radar station. So far so good, but getting back is another story. Heading for a clearing to be picked up by a transport plane, they find themselves cut off by the Japanese. Directed to another map reference they fight their way to it through half the Japs in Burma and arrive to meet the Allied glider fleet.

Errol Flynn surprises by doing his best to forget he's a matinee idol, and pretty nearly carries it off. Henry Hull is excellent as a rather improbable superannuated newspaperman who gets himself taken along on the theory that someone is needed to relate the action to the philosophy of global war. For the fans, the Flatbush soldier is here, too, played by George Tobias.

Perhaps the picture seems overly long, and the audience may weary of tonsely watching rustling leaves to see if there are Japs behind them, but in Burma the Japs are real.