Posted on 07/08/2004 11:58:55 PM PDT by BurbankKarl
Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood are teaming up to bring the story of the Battle of Iwo Jima to the big screen. Eastwood will direct an adaptation of "Flags of Our Fathers: Heroes of Iwo Jima" for DreamWorks that Paul Haggis will write.
The battle, which took place in the winter of 1945, was a turning point in the Pacific Theater. In one month, 22,000 Japanese and 26,000 Americans died, and one of the outcomes was one of World War II's most enduring images: a photograph of six soldiers raising an American flag on the flank of Mount Suribachi, the island's commanding high point.
One of the six was Navy corpsman John Bradley. Bradley never mentioned his experiences to his family, and it was only after his death in 1994 that his son James discovered his father's heroism. James Bradley wrote the book, which was published in 2000, with Ron Powers.
Producers are yet to be determined. At the studio, the project is being shepherded by DreamWorks prodction topper Adam Goodman.
The project is the second collaboration between Spielberg and Eastwood, following "The Bridges of Madison County," which Eastwood directed and starred in and Spielberg produced through his Amblin Entertainment.
Haggis is producing and writing "Million Dollar Baby," which Eastwood is writing, directing and producing, with Hilary Swank starring. He also is adapting "Honeymoon With Harry" for New Line.
Haggis is repped by CAA, Larry Becsey of Becsey/Wisdom/Kalajian and attorney Peter Dekom. Eastwood is repped by Leonard Hirshan and attorney Bruce Ramer.
(Excerpt) Read more at hollywoodreporter.com ...
In TODAY's PC culture, this enduring a lasting monument to those that paid the price with blood, life and limb, would be a NO-NO, lest we offend someone, anyone with the macho bravado claiming IWO JIMA for America. Remember the short-lived raising of our FLAG in Baghdad? Insanity rules!!
There are two of us who believe nukes should be used where possible and damn those who have led us down the present PC cultural abyss.
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