I'm outraged!!
For a war film, this has to be a classic, not in conventional terms, but for being what a war film traditionally is: A good ol' war story.
Erm.... all I have to say really. Feel free to just generally talk about the film, I suppose :D
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Outraged is a little strong?
The film is (mostly) well crafted, in deference to 'Totenkopf' Michael Caine is STILL Michael Caine! It can be viewed as a 'Good Germans' vs 'Nazis' type film, and it is very much influenced by 'Went the day Well?'. But it has a coherence, a strong story line. For the most part characters are well shaped and contemporary (OK , HE doesn't ask to blow the doors off!. There is an undercurrent of unease, the 'Allied' troops are 'Polish'. The Agutter/Sutherland characters are very suspect!
I have a long list of other titles that I will have queued for my death bed before I get to this one. But it has its place in that queue!
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Very interesting theory BlueBeard. I think you're right too.
I recon Himmler didn't want the regular Wehrmarcht overshadowing the Waffen SS by completing such an extraordinary mission.
By the way, is this film/book based on a true attempt??
Also, Donald Sutherland's Irish accent is probably the best American attempt I've seen so far. :P
- D
Higgins claims in his book that the attempt was true. He states something along the lines that 50% of the book is fact, 50% is fiction, but it's up to the reader to figure out which is which. I don't really know if that's just his way of spinning a good yarn, of course.
Regarding Donald Sutherland, he's (at least originally) Canadian, not "American", and he started his film career in the UK. Many Americans actually think he's British!
This film is absolute and utter rubbish - have any of you a discerning cell in your bodies?
shareAww poor woo.
Don't like the movie/book? Don't rain on people who like it.
Now, I've never seen the movie, but I love the book (big Higgins fan).
Cop: Stop right there!
Crow (as man with gun): Its too late! I'm not there anymore!
I saw the movie years ago, remembered it fondly.
I read the book last year, liked it a great deal.
I just re-saw the movie, and it wasn't very good. Of course, that's what usually happens when you've read the book!
More specifically, much of the dialogue was directly from the book and while it worked on the page, it didn't really work when said out loud. Michael Caine is one of my favorite actors, but he's way too soft both in appearance and manner to be Kurt Steiner. Donald Sutherland is another one of my favorites, but seems too young for the role of Devlin. Etc. The book must have been a huge hit, as the movie was made the following year with top actors. Perhaps due to this it didn't seem the screenwriter took very many liberties with the original, which may have been a mistake in this case.
If you like the book see the movie.
This is one of the best movie adaptations of an action novel I can think of.
The movie is faithful to the original source, doing a great job without just cramming it all into 2 hours. There are additions that make it worth seeing in its own right.
In re Sutherland's Irish accent... he's Canadian, not American. There is a difference.
Cheers.
Canadian eh? Well... ye learn something new everyday.
shareIf Germany is in Europe they are europeans. Right? Now, get a map. In what continent find we Canada? What are they then?
shareOf course a Canadian is an American, just like a Brazilian or Peruvian.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/america