MovieChat Forums > Battle of the Bulge (1966) Discussion > Is this movie a comedy?

Is this movie a comedy?

posted 20 years ago by Pokeoddsponge
17 replies | jump to latest

I find it hard to belive that this movie was directed by the same guy who directed the longest day. Ive seen this a few times, and, it looks like the writers and director knew nothing about the battle, so they went to the library and took out "the childrens book of WWII" and then based it off the information "The Germans attacked in the winter, and the americans didnt anticipate it, but in the end the americans won."

Theres a bunch of things in the movie that crack me up, the tanks I can understand, not the best choice to represent for a Pz VI-B, and the Shermans are practically toy tanks, but the whole thing is jsut so funny, between the fake acting, desert tank battle, and the ending scene at the fuel dump. In the real battle General Patton came to the rescue with the third army, what stopped the attack in the movie rendition? 5 guys cut off from the squad roll fuel barrels down a hill at the approching tanks. There the big heros of the war.

I got a kick out of the ending credits too. Something about how "The battle was generalised to capture the spirit of the fight." or something. The movie has nothing to do with actual events. Atall.

[–] iceskaterman 20 years ago

I agree with your assessment of this movie. I just recently read where back in 1965 General Eisenhower former Supreme Allied Commander in WWII blasted the movie as being not at all representative of what actually happened in the battle of the bulge.

[–] championofcathay 20 years ago

"5 guys cut off from the squad roll fuel barrels down a hill at the approching tanks. There the big heros of the war."

I totally agree with you man, the idea of some 5 guys thwarting the Hitler's last gamble just cracks me up. LOL

[–] Captainbadd 19 years ago

well if you compare the two, you'll see that both films are steeped in the same sort of mellow-drama. It just seems that in Bulge the director took more, shall we say, "creative liberties". I was raised on old war movies however, and i think it's great fun to watch.

[–] pyramidster 19 years ago

This movie was a joke from start to finish.

[–] artemus043 19 years ago

"In the real battle General Patton came to the rescue with the third army,"

In the "real battle", Patton rescued the 101st Airborne at Bastogne.

"what stopped the attack in the movie rendition? 5 guys cut off from the squad roll fuel barrels down a hill at the approching tanks."

They didn't stop the attack at Bastogne. They simply prevented the Germans from seizing a fuel depot. Hardly the same thing.

[–] filme24 19 years ago

I agree it seems to be a comedy.THey use M48 Patton pretending to be Panthers or Tigers.It's simply ridiculous.
Then the set up , it seems that has been shot somewhere in the US.The scene with the tunnel with the "tiger" and the train is a good example.
Historically speaking this movie can only be a comedy.Where's the ultra dense forest of the Ardennes region???
One of the final scenes, the final tank battle is fought on an arid plain(between M48 and Chafee's which are both american, the m 48 was used only after the war), there are no arid regions such as that in that region of Belgium.
The cast was good though.The movie didn't depict at all the Battle of the Bulge , whih was a bloody battle and important one to the allies ,the last german chance(which was minimal).If i was a soldier of the US army or ally or even german i would be most offended with such movie.They didn't fight in the desert!!They fought in winter with snow and the worst weather conditions.
1 out of 10 historical accuracy and 7 out 10 for the cast which gives to me 3.5 in 10 overall

[–] stangosrest 19 years ago

I have a hard time believing that the American Army pulled it off without John Wayne. If he were in this film, he would have punched Robert Shaw's teeth in.

[–] championofcathay 19 years ago

he sure would, through the frontal armor of that Tiger II too.

[–] cwarton 19 years ago

one problem comedy are funny cause there good

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] bigkeeko 19 years ago

Realistic or not its entertaining, and if you can get your nerdy heads round the inaccuracies then lighten up.Its an old film and at least the Americans didn`t `save the world` like they do in most movies today.

[–] andywuk 19 years ago

There are several aspects of the film I find comical, compared to what actually happened.

A) Where during the film does it mention that Eisenhower took 4 Days to decide what orders to give his troops. whereas Montgomey took less than 24 hours to decide that the Germans were going for Antwerp, and ordered his Army to break off an attack on the German front Line, and form a defensive line using the River Muese.

B) Where during the film does it mention that Montgomery was given command of all the American Forces North of the Bulge.

C) Where in the film does it show that Patton on his drive north to save the 101st Airborne at Bastonge, was held up for 3 days by a scratch division of partly & badly trained troops. Also Patton's drive to the North took him away from another German breakthrough further south, if he had being where he was supposed to have been, this second breakthrough could have been dealt with sooner than it actually was. This second breakthrough was where the American & French Armies joined each other.

D) Where in the Film does it show British/Canadian Troops fighting side by side with American Troops, during the advance from the River Meuse, after the Germans had run out of fuel.

[–] The_Khazi 19 years ago

Your points do seem to have a particular theme behind them but don`t forget that it was an American battle 99%.Montgomery did take command of the North & certainly stabilized things after the initial panic but the British contribution (appreciated i`m sure by the U.S.) was much smaller.Fatalities for the British have been listed as 1,500 whereas U.S. forces suffered approx 76,000.

Deeply flawed that he was, I always thought Patton`s 90 degree turn to engage German forces attacking Bastogne was pretty remarkable.

I`m sure we could go up to Z with all the things wrong with this film but just take it for what it is:a silly bit of nonsense which,while totally inaccurate,is pretty good entertainment.Of course if it was re-made today i`d expect a lot better.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] The_Khazi 19 years ago

Apparently some members of the 101 did state they didn`t need saving & i`m perfectly sure they could have held out without any help but these comments (if true) do smack of ingratitude considering other U.S. troops lost their lives trying to help them.I`m also sure lives were saved amongst the defenders by Pattons` remarkable about turn.

[–] 19 years ago

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