Greetings Warmongers and Warriors of the celluloid loving form.
War films are a genre of film, an important one in fact. It has many splinters, from historical swords and sandals battles - to the World Wars and up to the present day horrors still being fought in far off lands that are alien to most of us. It's a genre of film that can excite and horrify in equal measure.
So what films have you seen of late?
CONTAINS SPOLIERS
1944 (2015)
This Estonian made war film takes place during July to November 1944. It starts with the battle of the Tannenberg Line where German and their Allied forces try to hold back the advancing Soviet Red Army.
The film follows a small detachment of Estonian troops who are fighting for the Germans. The battle is hard fought and results in massive losses to the Red Army. The Red Forces are however far too great and the Germans and Estonians are forced to retreat towards the coast. The first 45 minutes or so follows this group during the battle and retreat.
The film then shifts gear and follows another group of Estonians, this time the men are part of the Red Army. There is a brief fight between the two groups that ends once they realize they are all Estonian. The group fighting with the Germans withdraws leaving the field to the Red Army side. Now the film follows the Estonians who are fighting with the Reds as they advance.
The politics in play here are the same for both sides. In 1940 the U.S.S.R. annexed Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia all at the same time. (The Soviets received a bloody nose when they tried the same move on Finland) The Soviet occupation had been brutal with many killed or shipped off to camps. When the Germans swept through during their 1941 attack on the USSR, they were looked upon as liberators by many.
When the Germans put out a call for men to join an all Estonian unit to fight several thousand men signed up. (Several thousand more were drafted) Most join to get some payback on the USSR. The men fighting for the Reds were men drafted into the Red Army in 1941, or offered freedom from the camps if they fought for the Red Army. Both sides just wanted the war to end.
The film is quite well made with excellent attention to weapons, uniforms etc. The battle scenes are all well handled with plenty of pyrotechnics on display.
The film is a look at a rather unknown (in the west) story of World War Two and is worth the time imo.
CONTAINS SPOILERS
THE SILENT SERVICE "Peto plucks some Chickens" 1958
This is the 47th episode of the U.S. war series, "The Silent Service". The series was about the exploits of the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet. Each episode is a stand-alone tale of the actions of a particular submarine. Most of the stories are about actions against the Japanese Navy and merchant fleet in the Pacific. There is also the odd tale from the Korean conflict. The series ran for 78 episodes during 1957 and 1958. The stories were all based on actual events. Some pretty good attention to detail here with the U.S Navy allowing filming on several WW 2 era Gato class subs.
Each episode started and ended with retired Real Admiral Thomas M. Dykers giving a breakdown of the action. Dykers became a writer, producer and technical adviser after leaving the service. He worked on films such as, TORPEDO ALLEY, FLAT TOP, THE FROGMEN, HELL AND HIGH WATER and SUBMARINE COMMAND.
This episode is about the USS "Peto". The "Peto" was the first US submarine built at an inland shipyard. After her 1943 construction, the submarine was moved down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico for final fitting out.
This episode is about the 10th and last wartime patrol of the "Peto". It is July 1945 and the submarine is on lifeguard duty off the coast of Japan. Her mission is to pick up any downed American aircrew who ditch.
The "Peto" is called in to rescue the crew of an American flying boat. The Martin Mariner had landed to pick up another down pilot and was damaged. The flying boat is sinking fast and the crew now needs rescue themselves. The problem here is that the flying boat had alighted in an area known to be mined.
The "Peto" of course charges in anyway and grabs up the 9 downed fly-boy types. The next day the submarine is called in to pick up several more ditched fly-boys. One of the pilots is badly hurt having collected a 20mm round through his leg. The "Peto" is again on the spot for a successful grab.
The "Peto" completed 10 wartime patrols sinking at least 6 Japanese vessels and damaging several more. The submarine was put into reserve after the war. In 1956 she was serving as a training submarine. In 1960 the "Peto" was sold for scrapping.
The cast includes, Gregory Walcott, Joe Flynn and Don Megowan. The 6 foot 4 Walcott and 6 foot 5 Megowan would have too large for submarine duty in real life. Greg Walcott was best known for supporting bits in many films and television series. He was a regular on several Clint Eastwood films such as JOE KIDD.
CONTAINS SPOILERS
BLACK SHEEP aka "Schwartzes Schap" 2016
This impressive short is a real nasty jewel of a war film. The 57 minute quickie was written, produced, edited, scored and directed by newcomer, Mitchell James Huberty. It looks like Huberty put his whole family to work on this production. Other than one or two professional actors, the production was made by amateurs. And they all do a hell of a job!
The film is set in the summer of 1943 in the deep forests of eastern Poland. A small detachment of SS troops are on an anti-partisan sweep through the country side. Their enemy are Polish partisans and a few Soviet Red Army soldiers that were left behind during the retreat of 1941.
The film focuses on one particular SS private and one particular partisan. Both their background stories are similar and both would rather be elsewhere. The daily grind for the SS troopers is checking the homes and farms of the locals. Whenever evidence of anyone aiding the partisans is found, it is up against the wall for a firing squad. For the partisans, it is raiding German supply trucks and ambushing the opposing forces.
The locals are caught between the old rock and a hard place. The Germans shoot them if they help the partisans, while the partisans do likewise if they collaborate with the Germans. For the most part, the SS types are the winners in the battles in the woods. This anti-partisan war was a particularly nasty conflict with no quarter given by either side.
What really stands out here is the attention to weapon and uniform details. All are accurate to the period. There is also no English spoken in the film. It is all German, Polish or Russian which adds to the film's dramatic impact. The look of the film is top flight with the battle scenes in particular standing out.
Other than actor, Jeremiah Turner, there is not a soul I recognize in the film. Director Huberty also plays one of the major roles in the film. If this was a film school project, then it is a barn-burner of a success. Huberty is destined for big things if this is an example of his skill.
Well done by everyone involved.
CONTAINS SPOILERS
FLIGHT "Chopper Four" 1959
FLIGHT was a military television series that ran on in syndication on U.S. TV during 1958 and 1959. The series had the full cooperation of the US Airforce for the production of the 38 episode run. This is the 33rd episode of the production run.
This episode is set in Feb. 1945, and deals with one of the first uses of an early Sikorsky R-4 helicopter in the Pacific Theater. The action takes place 50 miles outside of Manila in the Philippines. The US forces are engaged in mopping up the last of the Japanese Army.
Due to the dense jungle and hills, the US Army is having trouble evacuating their wounded. One of the newly arrived chopper pilots, Robert Knapp, offers to fly out and pick up some wounded. The small R-4 can at most carry Knapp and 2 others. He flies out towards the area but is soon under fire from the Japanese. The rather under powered R-4 is an easy target and Knapp is slightly wounded. He returns to the base for repairs to the copter and himself.
He has the mechanics install an extra fuel tank so he can go around the area where the Japanese are. He flies out again and reaches the US forces. There is a big problem now. There are two seriously wounded men who must be flown out. They only have hours to reach surgery or die the medic tells Knapp. With the extra fuel tank, Knapp figures he can only carry one man and still avoid the Japanese.
Knapp has a flash and has the Marines load up both wounded. He also takes an armload of mortar rounds. He is going to fly right over the Japanese while tossing mortar rounds out. He hopes that will keep the Japanese heads down. The gag works and Knapp gets the wounded to aid in time.
If the viewer is a military aircraft buff, then this series is for you.
CONTAINS SPOILERS
THE SILENT SERVICE "The S-38 Story" 1958
This is the 48th episode of the U.S. war series, "The Silent Service". The series was about the exploits of the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet. Each episode is a stand-alone tale of the actions of a particular submarine. Most of the stories are about actions against the Japanese Navy and merchant fleet in the Pacific. There is also the odd tale from the Korean conflict. The series ran for 78 episodes during 1957 and 1958. The stories were all based on actual events. Some pretty good attention to detail here with the U.S Navy allowing filming on several WW 2 era Gato class subs.
Each episode started and ended with retired Real Admiral Thomas M. Dykers giving a breakdown of the action. Dykers became a writer, producer and technical adviser after leaving the service. He worked on films such as, TORPEDO ALLEY, FLAT TOP, THE FROGMEN, HELL AND HIGH WATER and SUBMARINE COMMAND.
This episode is the second episode to deal with the USS "S-38". The "S-38" was one of the oldest submarines in service with the Navy. It was based in the Philippines when the war started. After the Philippines became untenable, the submarine was sent to Java in the Dutch East Indies.
In Feb. 1942, the "S-38" was sent out on patrol to find the approaching Japanese invasion fleet. She first stopped off to do a bit of shore bombardment on a recently captured Japanese port.
Of Feb 27th the submarine could see star shell exploding on the horizon. The ship's Captain, Steve Brodie, figured the Combined Allied Fleet had met up with the Japanese. He was right. The American, British and Dutch fleet was thumped in the Battle of the Java Sea.
The next day, the "S-38" finds survivors from the Royal Navy destroyer, "HMS Electra". The 40 or so men are brought on board and the submarine heads for Java. She drops off the Royal Navy personal and heads off to Australia. The island of Java would be invaded three days later.
Sometime later, they meet some of the Royal Navy survivors in Australia. That is the ones who had been lucky enough to escape from Java.
The "S-38"was considered a rather unlucky ship with many mechanical problems popping up during her wartime patrols. These would cause the ship to return early from most wartime patrols. The ship was finally decommissioned in 1944 and expended as an aircraft target in Feb 1945.
Besides Steve Brodie, the cast includes, Robin Hughes, Patrick Waltz, Steve Mitchell and Barry Marvin.
Check out episode 15 for an earlier tale of this particular submarine.
I'll be watching this before the end of the week. Thanks
Last war movie I watched was Aces High a few days ago. Still a darn excellent film - hadn't seen it before.
yeah, it was ok..
try 'the Blue Max" 1960s, if u have not seen it..
Not seen this one so on the list it goes.
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