Watching war films.......yikes

[stona]

Tom Cruise is the same height as me, about 171cm or about 5' 7" tall. I thought he was shorter, sadly enough.

So did I, I stand (no pun intended) corrected

"Lawrence of Arabia", good film but I think I can say, with no fear of contradiction, that it does go on a bit. Then there's the bloody camels!

"The Cruel Sea", just a good film. It illustrates the point that a good war film has to be first a good film.

Cheers

Steve

.

[Guest]

That as maybe but I don't think the ancients would have put the loading ramp at the front ............And in any case I don't think they would have got one across the channel. The loading ramp if it had one, would be at the side for floating dynamics.

Contact Dr Cheryl Ward and state your case Harry

She's a professor of history and the director of the CCU centre for archaeology.

She started a project (experimental archaeology) in 2010 with building replicas of Egyptian seafaring vessels depicted on drawing of the time, one or two designs of which (used for livestock and wheeled items) were 'similar' to today's landing craft idea with a drop down 'ramp' at the front, this was above the water line and so didn't suffer with buoyancy issues.

[Guest]

So did I, I stand (no pun intended) corrected "Lawrence of Arabia", good film but I think I can say, with no fear of contradiction, that it does go on a bit. Then there's the bloody camels!

Steve

.

Agree Steve the second half of the film did not meet the expectation of the first half. But in like some film it was true in it's story.

On the camel thing I liked that the gait of the camels & that gamely throwing about of the riders. Actually to appreciate the film & likewise the story you have to read the Seven Pillars of Wisdom by Lawrence. The passages of the crossing of the desert in the book, which are so vivid with the camels dying & lack of water, enhance enjoyment of both the film & book or books it is a long story.

It is a pity it can not be put on at a cinema with all sound tracks & the huge rounded screen as it is just captivating. Watching it on TV is no substitute, unfortunately, once seen in a theatre.

Laurie

[Guest]

Tom Cruise is the same height as me, about 171cm or about 5' 7" tall. I thought he was shorter, sadly enough.

Are you sure he was not wearing his high heels ? I am half an inch taller (taller ha ha) & he looks to me like youth.

Laurie

[Guest]

I have never seen the film Lawrence of Arabia.

I have been to his house in Dorset.

[stona]

"Seven Pillars of Wisdom" even in the much abridged versions generally available today needs an effort to read! I inherited a copy of the full 1922 text from my father, but have no idea where it is (I just had a quick look for it!) It is not a historical document either. Think of it as a novel based on facts, rather like an Hollywood war film

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Cruel Sea ......it was on filum 4 the other day in the afternoon just caught the end of it where they kill the sub.

Cruel Sea a very interesting film. A book written by Monsarat as fictional but as he served in the RN on escort duty I am sure most of the book is from personal or heard incidents. Made when budgets were tight not long after the war. Very well made with again close ups which were rare in film work at that time. Very nice filming with real boats & none of the superficiality of modern films. Some nice cameos when the First Lieutenant for instance beds down the Captain after he had killed some of his own side in mistake for a submarine. Also well filmed after they were chasing a U boat in a 48 hour stint. The FIrst Lieutenant rubs the captain up the wrong way. Thought that brought home some at least of the cruel world they lived in at that time but with some human feeling. When do you get that in films nowadays.

Also fascinating that the Captain gives a commentary during the film which in a strange way gave it an authenticity.

A great story to read & a very nice film from a number of stand points sadly missed in filming now as it tells a human story. All good films tell that human story. Our life revolves around humans observing humans & films that are good do the same. Films with fireworks are forgotten the next day. This is why books are so good as they portray human feelings & that is only carried through into films by the best of directors. Alfred Hitchcock was a master. In Psycho at the beginning of the film as the women drives away with the money. Nothing is said as she is alone driving but her feelings & the tension is built by Hitchcock with close ups of he face with the wipes whirring on the windscreen & the rain lashing down. Brilliant portrayal of stress & what is going to happen next.

Laurie

[stona]

...... the Captain after he had killed some of his own side in mistake for a submarine........ Laurie

"Instantaneous echo Sir".........".Fire one!"............................................. ..."BLOODY MURDERER."

Later this exchange.

Capt. Ericson: I had to do it!

Lockhart: Anyway, it's all in the report.

Capt. Ericson: It was my fault!

Lockhart: I... I identified it as a submarine. If anyone murdered those men, I did.

Capt. Ericson: No one murdered them - it's the war, the whole bloody war! We've just got to do these things and say our prayers at the end.

It doesn't get much better than that.

Cheers

Steve

[Ian M]

We were Soldiers That was what it was called.! A great film with good depth and a great story.

Surprised no one has mentioned Bridge over the River Kwai.. (?)

Ian M

[Guest]

Star Trek's George Takei was also in Bridge over river Kwai (he missed the start of the 2nd season because he was in the orient, filming with John Wayne and Sir Alec Guinness). I met him back in 2008 and spoke Japanese with him at a convention. His jaw hit the floor as it was about the last thing he was expecting. He said that I spoke the language like a Japanese, and I said it was my family talent with music. I can't play an instrument, but I have a way with pitch and tone and am good with accents.

We got this as a result...

[ATTACH]72135.IPB[/ATTACH]

[Guest]

And yet another. Caine Mutiny. Pure fiction. First a great book fascinating to read even though there is a bit of romance in it. Read it I suppose 5 times (there were intervals between each read : I am not stupid).

A great film in two halves. First the Sea bit with the Hurricane Mutiny & for the time it was made a good effort in the hurricane scenes. Second the Court Martial nice to the point stuff. very precise you are not kept waiting about.

If you have not seen it you have a pleasure to come. The film just romps along.

Great appearances by Humphrey Bogart & Van Johnson. Not a great lover of USA films as they mostly are hero worship things. In this case it is a serious attempt with no heroes but lots of character human interest stuff. Very little military action and that, that there is, is very incidental. What a relief !

Laurie

[flyjoe180]

Gallipoli comes to mind now we are delving into the depths of some older and less-remembered movies. A bit skewed with its view on the British landings of reinforcements north of ANZAC during the August 1915 offensives (and also fails to mention huge sacrifices made by British, French and Commonwealth countries other than NZ or Australia in the south of the Peninsula), but it captures nicely the futility of the charge at the Nek by the Australian 3rd Light Horse. If you have any interest in the futility of the Gallipoli Campaign or indeed any war, you should read John Hamilton's "Goodbye Cobber, God Bless You" which is a historical account of exactly what happened on that day at the Nek and at other places like Chunuk Bair, Lone Pine and Chocolate Hill. The name of the book comes from the epitaph of one Trooper Harold Rush who was killed in the charge, it was apparently the last thing he said to the guy next to him before stepping out into certain death.

And for another aviation themed film, the Blue Max. Some great flying with some very nicely made aircraft. A bit '60s with the womens hair dos and make up but otherwise I enjoy this film. And, on the vintage theme and it's not a war movie, but Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines is a true classic. I love the stereotypical characters!

[AlanG]

I actually think some of the best 'War' movies are the ones that follow a human story amidst the conflict and horror.

Films could take note of what the 'Band of Brothers' series did. They in my opinion (especially the ETO series) had enough action scenes and also got you involved with the characters too. I actually cared what happened to people like Dick Winters, Gonorrhea and Joe Toye etc etc. Showed the brutality of war and also the emotional side too.

[Guest]

"Murphys War" that had a U boat in it. Thoroughly enjoyable yarn.

Anything with a story of a submarine is a good un.

[Guest]

OK Harry if you like submarine films you will like this one.

Good story & clever way of taking the story along by explanation for conversations. The story is straight forward without any clever bits. Very enjoyable film which I regularly revisit.

And the film IS. The Enemy Below. WW11. A US Destroyer (Robert Mitcham) & a German U Boat (Curt Jurgens great acting). The Destroyer is on the tail of the U Boat which is on a mission. Both Captains are very experienced 7 the crux & interest is in the interplay between the Captains.

Laurie