Extra Memorial Day Favorite Films Thread - Korea to Best of All

sonofatpatcher2 ^ | May 31, 2004 | sonofatpatcher2

[dts32041]

Don't worry we will get you on th straight and narrow.

BTW am watching the Combat Marathon on the Action channel, just to bring a little TV into the mix.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

The "Cross of Iron", starring James Coburn, Maximilian Schell, James Mason, 1977

Although about a German unit on the Eastern Front in the last days of the war, it is still an excellent WW 2 war film.

Action? It is directed by Sam Peckinpah, nuff said.

[sonofatpatcher2]

Forgot another old IndoChina FFL flick: China Gate (1957) with Nat King Cole, Gene Barry and Angie Dickinson at IMDb at http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0050252/ It is a Sam Fuller production, he wrote and directed many great B War Flims:
The Steel Helmet (1951), The Tanks Are Coming (1951), Fixed Bayonets (1951), The Command (Western) (1954), the laugh out loud sub flick Hell and High Water (1954), Merrill's Marauders (1962) and that's not to mention The Big Red One (1980). Gad, that's four more war films I missed...

Don't get the Action Channel. What am I missing?

TCM is starting Operation Crossbow (1965) another George Peppard flick I missed. Not his best though...

[dts32041]

I first saw Operation Crossbow, in the theaters for 50 cents.

[sonofatpatcher2]

Re: The "Cross of Iron", starring James Coburn, Maximilian Schell, James Mason, 1977. Although about a German unit on the Eastern Front in the last days of the war, it is still an excellent WW 2 war film. Action? It is directed by Sam Peckinpah, nuff said.

You are correctomundo, sir!

[sonofatpatcher2]

Re: I first saw Operation Crossbow, in the theaters for 50 cents.

Well, you weren't overcharged!

As I recall, I went to the Saturday Morning Kiddie Shows at the Ideal Theater in Corsicana, Texas, for two bits in the mid-1950s. Loved Lash La Rue (King of the Bullwhip) and it wasn't even considered S&M...};^)

[dts32041]

Naw wasn't overcharged, it was in the 60's on the b circuit, where 50 cents got you a double feature and a movie.

So great flicks The longest Day, The great Escape (did you mention that), and others.

Of course saw real stinkers to.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

I certainly agree with the pick on Audie Murphy.

"To Hell and Back" Based on the life of one Audie Murphy, and starring Audie Murphy who is one of the most decorated American soldiers in history.

And by Kerry's standards the boy with a seventh grade education should have been elected president the minute he set foot back in America. Kerry would kill for such a record as the young baby faced Murphy accomplished. But the self effacing baby faced Murphy merely settled to become a b-grade movie star until his untimely death in a plane crash. One of Murphy's best was the civil war classic, but Audie was also Good in the "The Unforgiven" with Burt Lancaster.

Click the link for a great read of his bio, especially the part on his simple tombstone that he requested, this is the stuff real heroes are made of , not the phony crap Kerry represents.

http://www.movietreasures.com/main/Audie_Murphy/audie_murphy.html

[demnomo]

Great war movie threads!!! Thanks for making my Memorial Day interesting and educational. I hadn't realized how many good war films have been made, let alone how many I have seen on theatre screens, TV and on my home video. Brings back lots of memories.

[cinFLA]

7. The Quiet American (1958) - I like Audie Murphy's version much better than 2002 version, but the Michael Caine film is more faithful to the book.

The book was anti-American. Wasn't the 1958 film pro-American?

I seem to remember a lot of controversy obout the Caine Film and how the Vietnamese government gave the film 'its blessings'.

[Chi-townChief]

You're missing Korea's "The Steel Helmut" and Vietnam's "Hanoi Hilton."

[sonofatpatcher2]

In the early 1960s I went to a 36th Infantry Division Reunion with my folks. Audie Murphy was there and I got to talk with him for a few minutes. He said the .45 Thompson was the best close combat weapon ever made if you knew how to use it. I hold that memory close as you can tell by the following photo from 1970

and my tagline...

[sonofatpatcher2]

Yes, the Audie Murphy film was slanted to be pro-American...

[AppyPappy]

Heartbreak Ridge

[sonofatpatcher2]

So many war films, so litle time! Sorry I missed Heartbreak Ridge. I must have been off in a clusterfudge...

[sonofatpatcher2]

Watching Operation Crossbow, I find it is a much better film than I recalled. Give my regards and apologies to George Peppard...

They just killed Sophia Loren. What a waste!

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

I once read an old article where he said he especially liked the m-1 carbine as his favorite weapon, because it was magazine fed and was light weight, with his small size that would have meant a lot.

It would also appear he did not need a gun to do damage. In his bio it stated he was once indicted for attemtped murder, seems he almost beat a man to death in a fist fight, but he was cleared of the charge.

[sonofatpatcher2]

Re: I once read an old article where he said he especially liked the m-1 carbine as his favorite weapon, because it was magazine fed and was light weight, with his small size that would have meant a lot.

All I can say is what he told me that night. However, if you watch To Hell And Back, he always carries an M-1 Garand or Thompson. In the Anzio scenes, he says, "Hey, give me back my Thompson!"

There is this one scene just before the TD action for his Medal of Honor. He has a M-1 carbine slung over his shoulder if I recall correctly.

The M-1 carbine is not a man-killer weapon in any event. The round is too light unless it hits a vital spot while the 30-06 and .45 will do some major damage with any hit on the torso.

IMHO Audie Murphy did not need a light weapon as he was a true warrior and used the weapons that got the job done. That being the Garand, Thompson and in a pinch, the German MG-42...

[ExSoldier]

Since this is a Korea to present list you've not included the WWII films, but I always show "The Devils Brigade" to my 9th grade classes and right now "Where Eagles Dare" is on AMC which a total B$ film, but loads of fun.

Care to cook up a WWII list? Omit the bio's on your previous list of famous folks?

[dts32041]

You ever see the Secret Invasion? It was the movie where I saw my first bare boob.