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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Halo on September 20, 2003, 06:57:18 PM

Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Halo on September 20, 2003, 06:57:18 PM
What's your favorite classic obscure war movie?  Not the blockbusters but the more artsy and often overlooked?

I think mine is The Beast, about a Russian tank that gets separated from its unit in Afghanistan.

There was another whose title escapes me.  Might even have been black and white.  In WWII, a rather average German family sends its father and sons to war but they're not really into the politics, just figure it's a patriotic thing they need to do, and are mostly anxious for it all to end so they can get home.

It ends with most the family on a balcony at their home somewhere in Germany, looking down the street as the conquering Russians draw nearer.  The last statement is something like, "It might not be too bad."

Anyone know the title of that one?
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Dinger on September 20, 2003, 07:33:28 PM
More artsy and overlooked?

Gotta be "Hell Squad" from the early 80s.
a classic film that's withstood the test of time.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: jigsaw on September 20, 2003, 08:52:59 PM
Not sure if it would qualify as "artsy", but I watch "Heartbreak Ridge" several times a year.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Raubvogel on September 20, 2003, 09:04:51 PM
"A Midnight Clear"

About a unit in the Ardennes during Christmas 1944.  They have a snowball fight with the Germans across the line. Pretty good flick.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Curval on September 20, 2003, 09:41:23 PM
Quotes from the above movies I know:

The Beast:

"RPG kaboom tanka"

Heartbreak Ridge:

"It don't mean nothing".

Don't know the others.

An obscure quote from the movie I like:

"Good Italian vine!"
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Tumor on September 20, 2003, 10:24:06 PM
"The Beast" and "A Midnight Clear" are both excellent flicks!
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: -tronski- on September 20, 2003, 10:27:34 PM
The Odd Angry Shot

 Tronsky
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: medicboy on September 20, 2003, 11:03:29 PM
The guns of Navorone
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Martlet on September 20, 2003, 11:06:03 PM
Hmmm, for some reason I keep watching "Castle Keep"
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: SaburoS on September 20, 2003, 11:17:19 PM
When Trumpets Fade
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Gadfly on September 20, 2003, 11:28:00 PM
A boy and his Dog
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Chairboy on September 20, 2003, 11:31:51 PM
'The Beast' is awesome, it was good to watch before the recent stuff in Afghanistan in 2001.

The tank commander: "Out of commission, become a pillbox. Out of ammo, become a bunker. Out of time, become heroes. "
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Holden McGroin on September 20, 2003, 11:37:16 PM
I like "Hell in the Pacific"  at least I think that's it...  Lee Marvin is marooned on an island, alone except for a solo Japanese soldier...

And for those who have never seen a Gary Cooper movie, Sgt. York is a classic.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: vorticon on September 21, 2003, 12:12:18 AM
i liked that movei thing...oh god i liked that...im ezxdetsdf
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: lord dolf vader on September 21, 2003, 01:03:53 AM
the ninth configuration.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Dinger on September 21, 2003, 01:04:30 AM
toshiro mifune holden.

This scares me:
http://www.jabootu.com/commandogirls.htm
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Holden McGroin on September 21, 2003, 01:16:30 AM
Thats him...Toshiro Mifune was also in Seven Samurai and Midway...
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Furious on September 21, 2003, 01:58:26 AM
Gallipoli.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: wulfie on September 21, 2003, 01:59:06 AM
'Shot through the Heart'. Heavily based on a true story and taking place in a war that a lot of people have tried very hard to 'ignore away'. I don't care much for most 'war movies'. Too much 'inspirational' music and too many 'happy' or 'heroic' endings. A Bridge Too Far is the type that is the exception - they tell the story of what really happened and don't try to 'sugarcoat' things. This movie is in the same class but far more relevant in terms of 'modern relevance'.

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0171741/

Mike/wulfie
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: GRUNHERZ on September 21, 2003, 02:03:47 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Curval


An obscure quote from the movie I like:

"Good Italian vine!"


Stalingrad!  

One of my favorites too, very human treatment of a vastly inhuman battle. :)
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Nilsen on September 21, 2003, 06:17:56 AM
The Beast
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: rpm on September 21, 2003, 08:03:20 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Curval
Quotes from the above movies I know:

Heartbreak Ridge:

"It don't mean nothing".

Isn't that from Hamburger Hill?


If you want to see an EXCELLENT WWII film watch "Decision Before Dawn" (1951). I'm surprised this film was never remade.
Title: Not Ground Combat but
Post by: Syzygyone on September 21, 2003, 08:53:56 AM
One of the best war movies I've ever seen is
"Das Boot" Nothing romantic about that.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Hortlund on September 21, 2003, 08:59:58 AM
Winter war

Epic 3-4 hour Finnish movie about the winter war (surprise). One of the best warmovies I've ever seen. Probably THE best until SPR arrived.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Curval on September 21, 2003, 09:28:01 AM
Grun..correct!  :)

rpm...I think you are right man, that was Hamburger Hill.

Heartbreak Ridge quote:

"The Swede will take care of him.  Swede Swede Swede"

:)
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Wanker on September 21, 2003, 09:48:12 AM
Fires on the Plain, 1959

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0053121/combined
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Drifter1234 on September 21, 2003, 09:52:20 AM
"Go Tell the Spartans"

It was a vietnam movie that Bert Lancaster did.

Different point of view on the war for the time.


Drftr
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Angus on September 21, 2003, 11:22:27 AM
Too late the Hero with Michael Caine. Quite a film. Did anyone see it?
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: rpm on September 21, 2003, 12:30:36 PM
Curv, my favorite line from Heartbreak Ridge was a drunken Clint in the jail cell: "You can run me, you can beat me, you can shoot me...Just don't BORE me!" :D
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: 10Bears on September 21, 2003, 07:35:30 PM
The Story of G.I. Joe

Attack!
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: DrDea on September 21, 2003, 08:55:19 PM
Shot through the heart and Castle Keep.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Twist on September 22, 2003, 07:42:09 AM
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: gofaster on September 22, 2003, 07:56:23 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Holden McGroin
Thats him...Toshiro Mifune was also in Seven Samurai and Midway...

Toshiro Mifune is considered to be the ultimate Samurai actor.  He's the equivalent of John Wayne.  No, wait, he's more than John Wayne. He's John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Yul Brenner all rolled into one.  That's how good he is/was/will forever be.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Gunthr on September 22, 2003, 09:15:58 AM
84 Charlie MoPic
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: GrimCO on September 22, 2003, 09:20:12 AM
Quote from the Swede in Heartbreak Ridge:

"I'll wait outside for the MP's sir..."  :)

GREAT MOVIE
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: mtndog on September 22, 2003, 09:50:10 AM
The Bridge
The Train
Five Graves to Cairo

http://www.warshows.com/StoreFront.bok
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Habu on September 22, 2003, 06:40:26 PM
You know Kelly's Heros was my favorite movie as a kid. It still holds up well. I like to see it now to look at all the vintage equipment they had in the movie.

There is a nice movie about a Marine who gets marooned on a Japanese occupied island in the pacific called "Heven Knows Mr. ?????" I forget the name of Marine. Good movie that is quite nail biteing at times first time you see it.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Ripsnort on September 22, 2003, 07:00:03 PM
Fav. obscure and fav. movie of all time:
Dr.Strangelove (Slim Pickens, greatest actor of all time, IMO, and one of the most generous hollywood stars to have ever lived besides Jerry Lewis)
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Halo on December 01, 2003, 06:23:27 PM
Finally found that the answer to my original question might be not a film but a television series:  Heimat #1, color and b&w, 924 minutes on nine VHS tapes, available from the German Language Video Center in Indianapolis, Indiana (1-317-547-1257).  

This is the 16-hour story of a German family (the Simons) from the end of WWI to 1982.  It was shown on PBS, sponsored by WGBH in Boston.  

Apparently it was the ending of one of the shows that impressed me so much.  Not so much, however, that I'm willing to shell out a buncha geld for all those VHS tapes (would consider less expensive DVDs if they ever become available).

This ring a bell with any of you?  Ever recall seeing parts of it?

Other potentially interesting German WWII films are Mein Kreig, I Was 19, The Damned, and the three-part 08/15 (named for a gun that often malfunctioned).  I haven't seen any of these but the descriptions sound interesting.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: mrblack on December 01, 2003, 06:26:14 PM
Firebase gloria
Full metal jacket
the green berets
Saving ryans privates
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: AKS\/\/ulfe on December 01, 2003, 06:31:53 PM
Sahara
-SW
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: 2stony on December 01, 2003, 07:01:34 PM
That movie with Robert Mitchum is called "Heaven Knows Mr. Allison".

The movie I like that I haven't seen in years is "No Man Is An Island" with Jeffrey Hunter. It's a true story about a sailor that hides in the jungles of Guam for three years until the U.S. takes back the island.

:aok
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: FUNKED1 on December 01, 2003, 07:18:37 PM
Quote
Originally posted by gofaster
Toshiro Mifune is considered to be the ultimate Samurai actor.  He's the equivalent of John Wayne.  No, wait, he's more than John Wayne. He's John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Yul Brenner all rolled into one.  That's how good he is/was/will forever be.


Eastwood's "Man with No Name" character in Leone's films (which Clint continued to play in just about every western he did) was based on Mifune's Sanjuro character in Yojimbo and Sanjuro.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: FUNKED1 on December 01, 2003, 07:19:33 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Holden McGroin
I like "Hell in the Pacific"  at least I think that's it...  Lee Marvin is marooned on an island, alone except for a solo Japanese soldier...


And yeah, that's one of my favorites.  Lee Marvin vs. Mifune.  Two guys who actually fought in the war and had the scars to show for it.  Real tough guys, not Hollywood pretty boys.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Dnil on December 01, 2003, 07:40:32 PM
kinda war movie'ish....the sand pebbles with steve mcqueen.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: davidpt40 on December 01, 2003, 07:44:42 PM
Rambo Part II-

Based heavily on a true story, a lone commando goes back to Vietnam to rescue some U.S. POWS.  This film is actually one of the most realistic war movies ever made.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Saurdaukar on December 01, 2003, 10:17:58 PM
The original All Quiet on the Western Front.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Otto on December 01, 2003, 10:46:07 PM
A Guy Named Joe   (1943)

Spencer Tracy, Irene Dunne, Van Johnson and Ward Bond.

Tracy dies bombing a 'German Aircraft Carrier' and comes back as an Angel to help new pilots.  

I also seem to remember his old girlfriend (Dunne) flying a P-38 and bombing a Japanese base ;)
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: SunKing on December 01, 2003, 11:00:19 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Raubvogel
"A Midnight Clear"

About a unit in the Ardennes during Christmas 1944.  They have a snowball fight with the Germans across the line. Pretty good flick.



2nd that.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Dago on December 01, 2003, 11:49:48 PM
In Harms Way

Battleground

Angels Thirteen? (eighteen?)  B/W film about Battle of Britain.




dagooooooo
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: greentail on December 01, 2003, 11:56:57 PM
Dr. Strangelove
Heaven Knows Mr. Allison
All Quiet on the Western Front
Lawrence of Arabia
For Whom the Bell Tolls
(Gary Cooper staying behind to machinegun the fascists so Ingrid Bergman can get away, what a way to go!)
Battan (Robert Taylor, last one alive, machine guns the Japanese, is there a theme here?)
Paths of Glory
12 O'Clock High
Hell's Angels (18 year old Jean Harlow,in a memorable scene involving an extremely scanty robe, need I say more)
Beau Geste (Brian Donlevy, what a great bad guy)
Fort Apache

And an old British movie about an old open bridge destroyer at the beginning of WWII, almost a documentary film on the Royal Navy.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Lazerus on December 02, 2003, 12:18:39 AM
Platoon??


This flick, along with The Deer Hunter, affected me more than any other war movie.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Airhead on December 02, 2003, 12:28:58 AM
Quote
Originally posted by -tronski-
The Odd Angry Shot

 Tronsky


Ditto Tronsky. This is the best Viet Nam movie ever made if realism is to be considered. IMHO, of course.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Sandman on December 02, 2003, 12:42:49 AM
Hmmm... classic and obscure... okay...

The Enemy Below (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050356/)

:)
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Sandman on December 02, 2003, 12:44:10 AM
Quote
Originally posted by mrblack
Firebase gloria
Full metal jacket
the green berets
Saving ryans privates



Cool... I've never heard of any of these. ;)
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: wrag on December 02, 2003, 03:02:53 AM
Hmmm..

I think Cross of Iron was one of my favs for years.

Does anyone remember "They were Expendable"?  Think that was the name.  Was about PT boats?

Then there is that Boggie classic with the Tank in the desert keeping the Germans from the well.

I also seem to remember a movie that took place after the war. It was about a Panzer II or was it a III that someone found with a dead crew and it had valuable gems in it and a bunch of Arabs tryin to shoot it or somethin.  Was very young so don't remember allot about it.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: CyranoAH on December 02, 2003, 03:14:00 AM
Not exactly war movie but post-war one.

"On the beach" still gives me the chills.

Daniel
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Gixer on December 02, 2003, 03:26:31 AM
The Beast (aka The Beast Of War)


...-Gixer
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Sparks on December 02, 2003, 05:03:07 AM
Theres a lot here I need to watch :)

Whats the one, I think it had Lee Marvin in it (terrible memory), which finishes with the guy dragging a torpedo off the beach and dropping it from his crane on the back of the barge onto the disabled submerged U-boat ??

Sparks
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: mora on December 02, 2003, 05:14:43 AM
Quote
Originally posted by Halo
Finally found that the answer to my original question might be not a film but a television series:  Heimat #1, color and b&w, 924 minutes on nine VHS tapes, available from the German Language Video Center in Indianapolis, Indiana (1-317-547-1257).  

This is the 16-hour story of a German family (the Simons) from the end of WWI to 1982.  It was shown on PBS, sponsored by WGBH in Boston.  

Apparently it was the ending of one of the shows that impressed me so much.  Not so much, however, that I'm willing to shell out a buncha geld for all those VHS tapes (would consider less expensive DVDs if they ever become available).

This ring a bell with any of you?  Ever recall seeing parts of it?

Other potentially interesting German WWII films are Mein Kreig, I Was 19, The Damned, and the three-part 08/15 (named for a gun that often malfunctioned).  I haven't seen any of these but the descriptions sound interesting.


I've seen Heimat about 10 years ago. Excellent series, very funny and tragic.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: ravells on December 02, 2003, 06:19:33 AM
'Operation Daybreak.'

Based on the book 'Seven men at Daybreak' it tells the true story about the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, who was widely tipped to be Hitler's nominated successor.  Heydrich was in charge of Czechoslovakia at the time of the assassination. The British trained Czechs in commando school to do the task and parachuted them in to carry out the job which they succeeded in doing.

After the assassination the German retribution was swift and terrible. A Panzer division wiped a Czech town off the map (Lidice) with the men inside it (the women and children were taken to concentration camps) and posted up a large reward for the capture of the assassins.

The assassins were finally betrayed and cornered by the Germans in a church in Prague where they were all killed.

The courage of the local czech men, women and children in the local resistance was amazing.

This film, for me, is the best film about the second world war that was ever made.

Ravs

more about the events here: http://www.elsham.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/prague.html

more about the film here: http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0075019/
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Dune on December 02, 2003, 07:48:16 AM
Lost Battalion

Odd Angry Shot

Southern Comfort    ;)
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: pugg666 on December 02, 2003, 08:52:33 AM
Quote
Whats the one, I think it had Lee Marvin in it (terrible memory), which finishes with the guy dragging a torpedo off the beach and dropping it from his crane on the back of the barge onto the disabled submerged U-boat ??


Sparks that's Murphies war with Peter O'toole

good movie.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: gofaster on December 02, 2003, 09:05:46 AM
Quote
Originally posted by wrag
Then there is that Boggie classic with the Tank in the desert keeping the Germans from the well.


"Sahara".  A great film.  One of Bogart's best.  And the "German" soldiers were actually members of the US Army's 4th Armoured Divisionassigned to work on the film. (http://www.evesmag.com/bogart.htm)

(http://www.evesmag.com/bogartxx.jpg)
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: GtoRA2 on December 02, 2003, 09:55:16 AM
Sahara above was one of my favs as a kid.

84 charlie mopic is awsome but really hard to find.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: greentail on December 02, 2003, 07:26:21 PM
The Bedford Incident

"I'll fire one if he fires one."

Oops.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Ozark on December 02, 2003, 09:01:46 PM
Quote
Originally posted by Raubvogel
"A Midnight Clear"

About a unit in the Ardennes during Christmas 1944.  They have a snowball fight with the Germans across the line. Pretty good flick.


I agree, it was different but a pretty good movie.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: rpm on December 03, 2003, 01:00:38 AM
Quote
Originally posted by wrag


Does anyone remember "They were Expendable"?  Think that was the name.  Was about PT boats?



"They Were Expendable" was an EXCELLENT film...and the title said it all. Story of a PT Squadron near Corregador that sacrificed everything. Robert Montgomery, John Wayne and Donna Reed. Yep, The Duke took second billing because Montgomery was an actual Naval Reserve Officer that saw combat.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Naso on December 03, 2003, 04:24:51 AM
If you want a "different" war movie, try

"Mediterraneo"

and

"El alamein"

Both Italian.

The first one is... particular, and oscar winner.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: gofaster on December 03, 2003, 08:33:09 AM
Quote
Originally posted by greentail
The Bedford Incident

"I'll fire one if he fires one."

Oops.


I caught this one on Turner Classic Movies one night.  I missed the beginning of it but saw the dramatic conclusion.  The scenario it presented was scaringly plausible.  I haven't seen it on since then, which is a shame because it was very well done.  Hopefully it will be shown again before falling back into obscurity.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: AKCasca on December 03, 2003, 09:20:37 AM
funny you should mention The Bedford Incident (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000AMRUP/qid%3D1070464655/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/002-9648897-8200867#product-details), picked it up last month and is a nice addition to the collection
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: GtoRA2 on December 03, 2003, 10:07:10 AM
RPM371
 They where expendable was really good. It was also based on the guy who got MacA out of the Philippines.

The guy went on to become an admiral. he commanded Gitmo in Cuba when Castro took over. Castro accused him of stealing water and not paying for it, so he called reporters and had them watch as he cut the water main open. It was bone dry! lol.


This guy was a character... Right out of Annapolis, before the war started, he saw the Japanese ambassador and a bunch of Japanese admirals leaving the Norfolk naval base. He figured they where spying, so he stole the diplomats briefcase and dove over the side of the ferry they were on. He then swam to shore and hitched back to his base and turned the papers into the office of Naval intelligence! He got shipped to China in semi disgrace. I will look the book up. Fantastic read.
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Nod on December 03, 2003, 10:12:35 AM
I liked Catch 22
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: LePaul on December 03, 2003, 10:30:47 AM
I know this is corny but the movie has a good plot, etc..

Red Dawn


Wolverines!
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: GtoRA2 on December 03, 2003, 10:33:43 AM
Lepaul.
 LOL I just watched that last weekend.

 Not a bad movie really.

 The Russian tanks look damn good. I can not tell what they really are. hehe
Title: Favorite Classic Obscure War Movie?
Post by: Blooz on December 03, 2003, 02:02:22 PM
Zulu