Posted on 11/26/2008 4:39:25 AM PST by mattstat
Here’s my list.
1. Twelve O’Clock High : Inarguably the best. No show, no false notes, no forced emotion like you see so much nowadays. No political correctness in the sense that there are no directorial heavy-handed “war is evil” sub-tones. No actors posing or posturing. Utterly realistic. This takes place during a time when the outcome of the war was by no means assured. The actors believe it: there is no foreshadowing of ultimate victory here as in so many other movies. A son of a general learns his lesson that even the privileged must do what is expected of them. Gregory Peck is the perfect leader, trying to get “Maximum effort” from his men, giving more of himself than he asks from anybody. 2. Tora! Tora! Tora! : Stays exceptionally close to what is known historically. Brilliant idea to have a Japanese director direct Japanese actors reading lines written by Japanese writers. Increases the sense of realism to a remarkable degree. The “special effects” are astonishing, especially since no computers were involved (Thank God). Gordon Prange (who wrote many Pearl Harbor books) contributed to the script—which is why we never see the emperor Hirohito’s involvement (Prange could never let himself believe that the Showa emperor was what he was). People who know me won’t watch this with me anymore because I like to point out just what did and did not happen at each moment in the movie. 3. The Train ...
(Excerpt) Read more at wmbriggs.com ...
The ultimate leadership study.
Striking contrast between effective and ineffective leadership.
... Lee Marvin, who had the distinction of being in both the movie and the event.
I liked “Paths of Glory”, no one else seems to.
Also Marvin was not in the movie "Sands of Iwo Jima" which was made in 1950. Marvin's first film was "Your In The Navy Now" (1951).
Just watched 12 O Clock High on DVD a few nights ago.
No “The Longest Day”?
I’d nominate “Winds of War” with Robert Mitchum in the mini-series catagory. Though that didn’t have a whole lot of combat in it, but then some of these other movies don’t either.
Yes, Braveheart is definitely a classic.
The Patriot has some good scenes in it, but is uneven.
The documentry was based on a Time magazine story about "Charley Company" and a reunion.
I’m just 44. Not quite foggie-hood yet...but I can see it in the distance.
It was a remarkable piece at the time because one part of it included what was basically a mutiny by Charlie Company against their commanding officer.
Yes! That’s the movie! Glad you knew the title. Now I can look for it on ebay! It was a great movie.
What I got out of Twelve O’clock High was that it was about the pressure of command and how a leader cannot be friends with the men he sends into combat. Davenport’s failure was that he could no longer lead his friends. General Savage had that distance, but the presssure still caused his collapse.
What this movie lacked was some truth. High losses were talked about, but in an indirect way. In 1943, Eighth Air Force’s losses were so high that no air crew had a mathematical chance of surviving. In 1949, the military still would not admit that a bomber crew’s tour of duty in 1943 was a suicide mission.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.