DAS BOOT (1981)

Featuring: Jurgen Prochnow; Herbert Gronemeyer; Klaus Wennemann

Director: Wolfgang Petersen

Although this film is not quite as 'ancient' as the three others I looked at this month, it is already regarded as an all time classic WWII movie. Director Wolfgang Petersen is also no stranger to the movie scene. Besides for numerous German films and TV series, he is also known for famous movies like The NeverEnding Story (1984); Airforce One (1997) and Troy (2004).

During the War the German navy deployed clusters of submarines or u-boats, called 'wolf packs' to attack and sink as many Allied supply ships as possible. This is the story of one such boat and its crew.

It is a fascinating look at what it is like to live for weeks on end in such a claustrophobic space. It also shows the constant fear and suspense the men on board is subjected to due to the fact that their vessel can be detected and sunk at any moment, sending them to a watery grave. The DVD I watched had an English soundtrack but I am sure the original soundtrack (with subtitles) is even more effective in portraying the gloomy mood of the film. It is therefor highly recommended (in either guises) and I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pzKyeIex2Y

 Director Wolfgang Petersen in action

THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)

Featuring: William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins

Directed: David Lean

From the director of Lawrence Of Arabia (1962) and Doctor Zhivago (1965) came this earlier multi award winning movie. Among others it won seven Oscars, one of which was the coveted Best Picture Award. However, at the time, it got seriously scythed by the critics. The general feeling was that it misrepresented the real events it was supposed to be based on and caused embarrassment for the English soldiers involved.

Be that as it may, the story goes that during WWII a company of British POW's ends up in a camp in Japanese occupied Burma. When they are forced to build a vital supply railway line and bridge, a battle of wills ensues between the commanding officer of the troops and the Japanese officer in charge of the camp. Eventually a compromise is reached and the construction work can continue. In the meantime, Allied special forces plan to send in saboteurs to blow up the bridge as soon as it is completed.

War politics aside, it is a plausible story and at times quite suspenseful. As long as one keeps in mind that it is a movie from the fifties with typical period stilted acting techniques (method acting hadn't exactly caught on yet) it is rather enjoyable. Anyhow, no half decent DVD collection is complete without this one. I rate it 3 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlC7XBayj0s

 Alec Guinness

THE GUNS OF NAVARONE (1961)

Featuring: Gregory Peck, David Niven, Anthony Quinn

Director: J. Lee Thompson

Alistair MacLean only ever wrote one sequel to any of his works and that was Force 10 From Navarone which was the follow-up novel to The Guns Of Navarone. Both were made into movies but of cause the most famous of the two is the latter.

In 1943, two thousand British troops found themselves trapped on a Greek island somewhere in the Mediterranean. Initially all attempts to rescue them are thwarted by two massive German guns hidden high up in a mountain fortress that simply blew everything out of the water that even so much as try and reach the island. In a last ditch effort to save their trapped soldiers, the Allies assemble a group of specialist saboteurs to go and blow up the guns.

This multi award winning film, which included an Oscar for best special effects and a Golden Globe for best motion picture, stars an A-list cast which included Gregory Peck, David Niven, Anthony Quinn and Anthony Quayle. It is therefor no wonder that The Guns Of Navarone is generally regarded as one of the best WWII movies ever made. I can highly recommend it for any DVD collection and award it 4 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhQvkPMNt70

 

  David Niven, Gergory Peck, Anthony Quayle and Anthony Quinn

THE GREAT ESCAPE (1963)

Featuring: Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough

Director: John Sturges

This month I want to look at a few classic war movies, starting with The Great Escape. Not only does it star some of the biggest names of the 60's and 70's but maybe also in movie history. Besides for the three actors mentioned above it also features Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Donald Pleasence and James Donald. And then, of cause, there is the famous theme tune... 

(click on the link below to listen to it https://www.youtube.comwatch?v=MbsuAbTTsV8 )

As the title suggests, it tells the true story of one of the most remarkable and daring escape attempts by Allied POW's from a German maximum security prisoner of war camp during WWII. 

This is also not only for war movie fans. Everybody will enjoy it for its suspenseful plot as well as for its wit and humor. And as can be expected from a cast like this the acting is outstanding all round. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars.

Trailer link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbVCgc-4zj8

 Richard Attenborough and Steve McQueen in a scene from the movie