Command Decision offers an interesting counterpoint to 12 O’Clock High. Among its cast are two USAAF veterans: Clark Gable and Cameron Mitchell. Art imitating life, Mitchell portrayed a bombardier in the film, having served in that capacity during the war.
Thanks for including a nonwestern occasionally. It's like having a new but tasty spice on a favorite dish! Here's one candidate for a list like this: Hell to Eternity (1960) This is the true story of Guy Gabaldon, a Latino in a troubled home taken from a gang life and raised from age 12 by a Japanese family in Los Angeles. In 1943, age 17, he enlisted in the Marines and was trained as a scout and observer. At age 18, on his own (nearly court-martialed for this at first) he began leaving his post on Saipan to get Japanese soldiers and civilians to surrender. This island had been known as suicide Island for the number of soldiers and civilians who chose suicide over surrender. Guy managed to bring in (both on Saipan and Tinian) about 1,500 persons according to his commanding officer, who formally approved Guy's efforts once he saw the results. Guy received the Silver Star for this, which was later upgraded to the Navy Cross (the second highest US military decoration for valor).
Once again you have come up with another great list , there are a lot of films from both the UK & the USA that fall in to this Category , below i have listed just a few of my fav`s 1942, Went the Day Well ..Leslie Banks , Mervyn Johns 1953, The Cruel Sea ..Jack Hawkins , Donald Sinden 1956, A Town Like Alice .Virginia McKenna , Peter Finch 1958, Dunkirk ..John Mills , Bernard Lee 1958, Ice Cold In Alex ..John Mills , Anthony Quayle 1958, Carve her Name with Pride ..Virginia McKenna , Paul Scofield 1959, Danger Within ..Richard Todd , Bernard Lee 1964, The Train .Burt Lancaster , Paul Scofield 1969, The Bridge at Remagen ..George Segal , Robert Vaughn 1969, The Battle of Britain ..Robert Shaw , Michael Caine
_Battle of the Bulge_ & _Midway_ with Charlton Heston - are two God Awful movies. The thing that most people don't get about _Twelve O'clock High_ - is that Gregory Peck - isn't the hero - he's the Villain. The Unit in question had undoubtedly been committed to soon because the Senior Manager wanted to get those bombers in the sky. So - not being prepared - it does poorly. Rather than admit that it is because of THEIR mistake in committing the unit before it's training was complete - they blame the CO - and send Peck in to take his place. They have the unit taken off line so they can get the training they should have had in the first place - and that is the solution to the units problems. But - being a Management Clone he tries all these stupid little motivation ideas - which blow up in his face - and he's dependent on other men in the unit pulling his chestnuts out of the fire. Finally - in the end - he can't take it - and one of the men he had most unjustly condemned - has to take over for him. THAT is what is really happening in this movie - but most people don't get that. They think that Peck's character is a hero - and he's not. He's the worst sort of Management Clone, who had no idea what he's doing and has to have other people save the unit from his stupidity. .
I was so disappointed in The Thin Red Line because Jones's novel is outstanding, so much better than that film. I couldn't put the book down but the movie I could take or leave and haven't watched it again. That's often true when I've read the book and then see the movie that I'm disappointed in the movie, which was also true of The Eagle Has Landed. The movie Attack is a nice little sleeper WW2 film. Sailor of the King is a good WW2 movie that doesn't get enough credit. Totally agree about The Big Red One, outstanding WW2 movie.
It's nearly impossible for a movie to recreate the magic of a good source book. It has to try for something different. If it succeeds, it creates its own kind of magic....
Planet of the Apes. Author Pierre Boulle even said the film was better. Here are a few more.,A Clockwork Orange, In The Heat of the Night and The Godfather.
@@bravehome4276 I've seen a few movies from books that were as good or better but not many. I don't like Hollywood writers messing with a good book though. Like The Firm, great book and great ending but the movie's ending just leaves you flat. True Grit, both versions, are almost as good as the book. One movie better than the book is Charlie Wilson's War but the book is great. The Outpost is another excellent movie that does a great job translating the book to the screen.
@@davidbrown386 I have to say those are movies I've seen and not read the books and did enjoy most of those (not a big fan of The Godfather but I don't like Mafia movies, so that's a bias on my part).
@@unbreakable7633 I practically lived in the library growing up in the 50s, so I have a deep prejudice for books. I don't tend to compare a movie based on a book with the book. I try to evaluate the movie independently to see if it works for me on its own, despite its source material.
The Battle of the Bulge was a terrible movie for the reasons you cited, including one more: the weather. At the time of the German offensive, Europe had the worst weather in decades! Snow, ice and below freezing temperature that grounded everything to a halt. All that was missing in the movie. I love Kelly's Heroes, but to me its not real WWII movie, it had too much humor infused from the Viet Nam War.
@@kenkahre9262 I’d rate Kelly’s Heroes high for authenticity of uniforms, equipment, vehicles, and location, better than certain bigger budget WWII epics with “the wrong stuff.” And as any veteran will attest, every generation has its “oddballs.”
You obviously didn't read the novel The Thin Red Line. It is not an autobiographical novel. If you had read the book you would know there was no central character and Fife was just one of the more than 125 characters.
You missed one of the best..."Cross of Iron", the only war movie directed by Sam Peckinpaugh and starring James Coburn as Sgt. Steiner. There was a sequel to it where Richard Burton replaced Coburn as Steiner, which wasn't worth the time to watch it.
12 0'Clock High was never underrated and the Battle of the Bulge is an awful movie. The Gallant Hours is very underrated to the point of being almost unknown today. It is the accurate story of Halsey at Guadalcanal. The only historical error is placing the Yamamoto shootdown in 1942 instead of 1943. The Solomons Campaign is the high point in Halsey's career. It was all down hill from there.
His serious error in judgment at the Philippines in '44 was only saved by the bravery of the Taffey 3 sailors, a story that deserves a movie -- the last stand of the tin can sailors.
What's Next? WW2 Prisoner of War Films/WW II Escape Films? My Vote for the Most Unique films of the Genre: The Brylcreem Boys (1998) The One That Got Away (1957)
1: Maybe the underrated WW II film was Foreign Correspondent. Why? It was praised by none other then Joseph Goebbels. Think about it: An ANTI Nazi film praised by the Nazi Propaganda Minister. Why did he praise it? Because paraphrasing Goebbels it was a perfect blend of propaganda and entertainment. Others: 1: 36 hours ( maybe James Garner’s best acting performance), 2: Last Train From Madrid ( actually cast Hispanics Anthony Quinn and Gilbert Roland ( Both from Mexico) as Spaniards). 3: Ice Cold In Alex ( can never go wrong with Sir John Mills). 4: The 7th Victim ( overlooked but great Spencer Tracy film). 5: Crossing To Freedom ( A rare remake I preferred to the original. Why? Filmed on location in France plus Peter O’Toole over Monty Woolley) 6: Where Eagles Dare: ( Richard Burton in an action movie with Clint Eastwood). 7: The Story of Dr. Wassell: ( Directed by DeMille and starring Gary Cooper). 8: Never So Few: (Why? Gina Lollobrigida in the bathtub. Film that made Charles Bronson and Steve McQueen). 9: The Pigeon That Took Rome: (Why? I love Elsa Martinelli). 10: The Captive Heart: ( Why? One of the best POW films ever).
