I was perusing my film collection and came across "A Long Day's dying". It's a 1968 film with David Hemmings and Tom Bell. Three British paras need to get back to their lines.
Simple but gripping film.
Any other good but forgotten films on a military subject?
"Ice Cold in Alex" would be my pick
I'll add "They Were Not Divided" about the Guards Armoured Division in WWII.
Best line is a RSM seeing a soldier freewheeling on a bike "Never seen such a fing in my life! Riding a by-cycle in a slovenly manner!"
Classic.
Charlie Wilson's War. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472062/ (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0472062/)
An absolute cracker.
Hmmm ... from the clip there's more bikinis than I usually expect in a war film, but hey! Life is like a box of chocolates!
Hell in the Pacific or Attack
I remember years ago watching a Japanese film about a Private second class, it was in B&W and really really good, cant remember the name of it for love nor money
Tora! Tora! Tora! Or The Last Valley
Mollinary
Go Tell the Spartans.
A Vietnam war film with Burt Lancaster, set in 1964.
Quote from: Fenton on 12 May 2013, 11:49:18 AM
Hell in the Pacific or Attack
I watched "Attack" a few days ago. I always have to team it up with "Hell is for Heroes". Amazing cast - Steve McQueen, James Coburn, Harry Guardano, Bobby Darin and poor Bob Newhart trying to deliver typewriters.
"Hell in the Pacific" got remade as a SF film "Enemy Mine" with Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett Jr.
I'd add to the list "the Bride" - the 1950's version in German. End of WWII. German boys told to defend a bridge that's supposed to be unimportant, just to get them out the way. Remade recently I think.
Quote from: fsn on 12 May 2013, 01:11:30 PM
I'd add to the list "the Bride" - the 1950's version in German. End of WWII.
"The Bride"?! :-\ :-\ :D
Mollinary
Best Forgotten - "The Black Shield of Falworth" - An early Tony Curtis film
Underrated - "Silent Running" - Bruce Dern
Chad
Quote from: mollinary on 12 May 2013, 01:43:27 PM
"The Bride"?! :-\ :-\ :D
Mollinary
... or the "Bridge". :-[
Quote from: Chad on 12 May 2013, 03:14:40 PM
Best Forgotten - "The Black Shield of Falworth" - An early Tony Curtis film
"Yonder stends the cassle of moi fader".
Hi
From some of earlier posts
"Last Valley" mentioned Michael Caine et al in 30years war with script I think by George Macdonal Fraser - excellent and one of the few on the period
Charge of the Light Brigade with David Hemmings and Trevor Howard was brilliant and actually had some link to reality unlike the one with Errol Flynn
Many of the foreign language films are inspiring "Letters from Iwo Jima" directed by Clint Eastwood
"Downfall" last days of Hitler - superb for claustrophobia and sheer admiration for the German adjutant and an amazing performance by the entire group of actors who play the Goebels family.
"Das Boot" even better on the fate of a U-boat
"Battle of Algiers" by Pontecorvo which I believe should be required viewing for anyone involved in the war on Terror even though now nearly 50 years old
"Come & See" on the partisan war on the Eastern Front
Abel Gance's "Napoleon"
For old movies Lew Ayres young German soldier in "all Quiet on the Western front" is still one to beart
Haven't watched "Downfall" from choice. Haven't had an opportunity to see "Come and See".
"The Last Valley" is a forgotten diamond, but I found "Napoleon" at 6 hours (?) I found a bit long for a silent film. All the rest I would put on my list - except the "Charge of the Light Brigade".
I think I was about 7 or 8 when I went to see it. We went as a family to celebrate the return of my colostomy from whence it came. After a spectacular and exciting film we returned home to find my bowels seeping slowly from a reopened wound. For some reason I've avoided the film since then.
I just watched 1612 yesterday enjoyed it a lot once I had paused the film and looked up Russian history at this time
Ok
84 charley mopic " Vietnam"
The Beast "Afghanistan"
Assembly " Chinese war film"
Tali hasi 44 "Finish war film" even has real stug's and Kv 1's
Max manus "Norway ww2"
39th Battalion "koda trail"
And many others
You intrigue me Sir!
I have not dipped my toe in the Nordic war film. I have "Ambush 1941" on my Amazon wish list. I shall take your recommendation and try it.
"84 Charley Mopic" is an odd film - bit like "Blair Witch Project" meets "Platoon", but gripping for all that. "39th Battalion" is just harrowing, but like many Australian films well put together.
"The Bedford Incident" with Richard Widmark and Sidney Poitier. A gripping cold war film of hunter and hunted
Quote from: Dickie255 on 13 May 2013, 05:49:01 AM
"The Bedford Incident" with Richard Widmark and Sidney Poitier. A gripping cold war film of hunter and hunted
Looks good! Same sort of tension as "the Enemy Below"?
Cromwell
Richard Harris as Cromwell was a bit mind boggling, but Alec Guiness was great as Charles and Timothy Dalton was a believable fop as Rupert.
I also miss/enjoy Full Metal Jacket which doesn't seem to have been on TV for ages!
Quote from: Nosher on 13 May 2013, 03:57:25 PMI also miss/enjoy Full Metal Jacket which doesn't seem to have been on TV for ages!
We have it on DVD :) Haven't watched it for ages, though :(
Quote from: mart678 on 12 May 2013, 05:50:47 PM
Tali hasi 44 "Finish war film" even has real stug's and Kv 1's
I think it also shows a very brief glimpse of the Lahti L-39 anti-tank rifle. Which, as anti-tank rifles go, is a bit of a beast.
Quote from: fsn on 12 May 2013, 06:19:05 PM
You intrigue me Sir!
I have not dipped my toe in the Nordic war film. I have "Ambush 1941" on my Amazon wish list. I shall take your recommendation and try it.
Tali-ihantala 44 is a good film. Especially with the armour. Ambush 41 is also good, but I think the best Continuation War film is 'Beyond Enemy Lines' about the Swedish speaking Finns. The one that is critically acclaimed, but I have yet to see, is 'The Unknown Soldier': the black and white 1956 version rather than the 1985 remake.
LM
"Cockleshell Heroes" and "Went the day well", both splendid flicks. :)
Quote from: Nosher on 13 May 2013, 03:57:25 PM
Cromwell
Richard Harris as Cromwell was a bit mind boggling, but Alec Guiness was great as Charles and Timothy Dalton was a believable fop as Rupert.
WORST historical movie on record (tho' I wouldn't kick Timothy Dalton out of bed either).
Ice Cold in ALex.....
The Duellist not the best uniforms for French cavalry but still a jolly good romp (well it is from memory anyway)
Letters from IWO JIMA
Lets not forget the Longest Day, Overtaken by Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers... but still a good one
The Long and the Short and the Tall... With Ronald Reagan
Platoon and then Hamburger Hill has it's moments
Yeah Downfall - not a nice film, but some good acting, wished I hadn't seen it for about two weeks afterwards
will think of some more tomorrow...sleep beckons
(:| (:| (:|
I'd also go for Tora Tora Tora, brilliant battle scenes. The Longest Day also ranks high in my collection. Hardly forgotten, though.
Paths of Glory is one of my favourites
Though I suppose not a war film in the traditional sense ' A very long engagement' is good as well
Quote from: Dickie255 on 13 May 2013, 05:49:01 AM
"The Bedford Incident" with Richard Widmark and Sidney Poitier. A gripping cold war film of hunter and hunted
Thank you Dickie255 for this film. I have just watched it whilst sitting at home with men replastering a wall in another room! Fantastic, captures the Cold War so well. You didn't mention the supporting cast - James McArthur, Martin Balsom, Ed Bishop, Donald Sutherland and a magnificently brooding Eric Portman as an ex-U-boat captain.
Brilliant!
I was watching "War of the Dead" in which a platoon of Finnish & American soldiers in 1941 attack a Russian bunker that produces zombie super soldiers.
The Yanks were wearing the wrong helmet, the Finns were using the PPSH41, and they were fighting with the Finns when a) the Yanks didn't join in until late '41 and b) the Finns were on the "wrong side".
Moaned about this for ages, totally ignoring the obvious plot flaw that the Russian didn't create zombie super soldiers.
Why's everyone going on about war films?
My fault. I was looking for a good war film I hadn't seen.
Surprised to see some these films callsed as forgotten. The Longest Day is on almost very day on some SKy channel or other.
It's true that's I'd forgotten I had The Last Valley (poor old Brian Blessed!)
Along with the German The Bridge (or Bride as the case may be ;)) I'd recommend Das Abenteur des Werner Holt, an East German offering which shows some of the last ditch fighting on the Eastern Front plus a general overview of wartime society.
Quote from: Malbork on 14 May 2013, 01:26:49 PM
It's true that's I'd forgotten I had The Last Valley (poor old Brian Blessed!)
How true! The film that answers the question "What is that spiky thing on top of his hat for?" Ouch :o :o :(
Mollinary
I have another couple
Stalingrad By the same director as Das Boot
Saint's amd Soldiers WW2
When trumpets fade WW2
Revolution the Americans did not like it as it showed them doing what they normaly did when the british fixed bayonets and charged R** ***Y
Regards
Martin
Quote from: fsn on 14 May 2013, 11:24:58 AM
I was watching "War of the Dead" in which a platoon of Finnish & American soldiers in 1941 attack a Russian bunker that produces zombie super soldiers.
The Yanks were wearing the wrong helmet, the Finns were using the PPSH41, and they were fighting with the Finns when a) the Yanks didn't join in until late '41 and b) the Finns were on the "wrong side".
Moaned about this for ages, totally ignoring the obvious plot flaw that the Russian didn't create zombie super soldiers.
=O :-B =O
Cheers!
Meirion
Always liked 'The hill' with Sean Connery.
I Forgot the grestest war film ever
To Hell and Back with the lead actor actually being the real lead character the man the US Marines turned down
Martin
A couple I like that don't get shown too often
Tarnished Heroes which is a sort of British Dirty Dozen saw it about 20 years ago (when Channel 4 shows a lot of stuff that wasn't 'reality' crap) but not since. It will probably turn out to be one of those that I remember fondly but does not bear watching again if I ever do track it down.
A Walk in the Sun gets shown on Movies 24 or one of the others like it on Sky. Manages to convey the periods of seemingly boring inactivity between bursts of combat whilst still gripping the viewer. The short story by the same name which the film was adapted from is excellent too.
I got a copy of "Tarnished Heroes" a few years ago. Very British, made on a small budget. Cheap 'n' cheerful. Anton Rodgers was in it, if memory serves.
The problem I have with "Walk in the Sun" is that it does convey the boredom of war by being ... boring. I think perhaps a lot of the war film cliches were born in this film.
Quote from: Malbork on 14 May 2013, 01:26:49 PM
Surprised to see some these films callsed as forgotten. The Longest Day is on almost very day on some SKy channel or other.
Well, I did say it was "hardly forgotten". More 4 was running a series of post WW2 "weren't we awfully brave, chaps" war films in the mornings recently, including
The Battle of the River Plate, notable for Lionel Murton's turn as an excitable American reporter in Montevideo and the appearance of a decidedly toothless H.M.S. Cumberland as herself.
The Battle of the River plate starring an American Crusier as the Graff Spee
Yes, it was the USS Salem.
Quote from: republic of tolworth on 15 May 2013, 12:14:14 PM
Always liked 'The hill' with Sean Connery.
I'm a huge Sean Connery fan. He's been a RAF Aircraftman in "On the Fiddle", a Commando in "The longest day", a tank sergeant in "The Hill", a Victorian solder in "The Man Who Would be King", a Para general in "A Bridge too Far" but never been a RN sailor, when in fact he was in the service for a short time.
He was a Russian sub captain in "Hunt for Red October" and US Military Cop in "The Presidio".
"On the Fiddle" (in USA "Operation SNAFU") is probably my favourite.
Quote from: fsn on 16 May 2013, 05:21:53 PM
I'm a huge Sean Connery fan. (...) never been a RN sailor,(...)
Commander Bond ? ;)
Connery fan here too, but I canhappily get by without watching The Hill again. Movies which avoid a musical score lose so much and gain so little.
Quote from: FierceKitty on 17 May 2013, 02:44:02 AM
Connery fan here too, but I canhappily get by without watching The Hill again. Movies which avoid a musical score lose so much and gain so little.
What theme music do you suggest for a fairly grim film about a British military prison staffed by alcoholic sadists, FK? :D
it would have to be something about "bars". :P
I've not seen it for years, but I remember The Hill to be a terrific little film, right up until the last scene, which is terribly staged. Really, really theatrical. Let the flim down badly I thought.
Also another vote for The Beast - about a T-55 trundling around Afghanistan. Another terrific little film.
Cheers, Martyn
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