The Battle Of The Bulge

Jules offers a commemorative post fitting for today:

It began at dawn on Dec. 16, 1944, 64 years ago today, with rapid assaults through the Ardennes forest, as the Germans blitzed one last time, hoping to split the Allied armies and take Antwerp. As Guderian reportedly liked to say, “Man schlägt jemanden mit der Faust und nicht mit gespreizten Fingern.” You punch with the fist and not with the fingers spread.

Comments

[mark l.]

best war scene of any film...Battle of the Bulge-

robert shaw, questioning his very young soldier's ability, and they respond by singing "panzerlied".

(In a theatre, with some volume, the song times itself to one heartbeat, and despite the language barrier, as the song builds in power and volume, you can feel your heart building with the song)

the outcome is known to every viewer, the hopelessness should be obvious, and yet the song still inspires.

[WAHOO WILLIE]

Mark I'll give you "best SONG scene" for Bulge subject films, but Scott's "Any sonvabitch that eloquent has to be saved" must rate up there in the top two......At least considering we know that McAuliff (sp?) told Gerry "Nuts" to his surrender offer.

Fun subject, best war movie scenes..............

[SacTownMan]

Ahh, Patton to the rescue!

I still remember seeing George C. Scott standing in front of the huge American flag as a kid living on Guam during the Vietnam war.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bastogne

And don't forget General McAuliffe of the 101'st that said "Nuts" to the German surrender demands!

The failed last big push by the Germans that made the end come that much faster.

[WAHOO WILLIE]

SacTown, I could watch Patton every month. My fave WWII movie with Longest Day a close second.

[SacTownMan]

You know Willie I would have it;

1. Patton

2. In Harm's Way

3. Battle of the Bulge

4. Tora, Tora, Tora

for the classics and

1. Full Metal Jacket

2. Platoon

and

3. Apocalypse Now for the modern era.

[WAHOO WILLIE]

Good list Sac, all though anymore when I watch full metal jacket, I imagine Harpie sitting in a sink saying "I'm already in a world...of....shit!!" Kinda scary. Man you HAVE to add Longest Day to that list. What about A Bridge too Far (at least for Connery's "it takes an Irishman to play the pipes" Apocalypse is good for some of the lines and being so close to River of Darkness. Best CW movie: Horse Soldiers. Best CW battle scenes though the flick generally sux: Pickett/Pettigrew charge from Gettysburg and Fredericksburg from Gods and Generals. Best WWI movie is Galipoli followed neck/neck with All quiet on the western front.
Best line EVER, EVER uttered by John Wayne in a movie: "Fill your hand, you SONAVABITH!!"

[SacTownMan]

Willie,

I just recall Longest Day being incredibly long with too many stories going on at the same time. It was a major epic with a bunch of big name stars. I just think that George C. Scott's role in Patton stands out. In Harms Way is just an amazing piece of work. Otto Preminger directed this black and white epic. The big naval battle at the end was so cool and looks like it was filmed in a bathtub. Kirk Douglas rapes the young nurse causing her to commit suicide, very edgy stuff for the day.

Tora, Tora, Tora and Midway are right behind the first two for me. Bridge Too Far and Longest Day would make my top 10 but I really like the historical story telling in Patton, Bulge, Midway and Tora.

As far as the latest generation I have a hard time understanding the need for blown-up body parts and squirting blood to tell a story that was done so much better in the heyday of movie making.

Harpo on the crapper playing with his M-16 is a scary thought though!

Favorite line from a war movie is the end of Tora, Tora, Tora when Admiral Yamamoto says;

"I fear all we have done is awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve"

Sound familiar Bin Laden?