jiml-40678 This was the only WWII movie my father ever said he liked. He didn't watch many or say much about the war but he went out of his way to say that this movie was accurate and on point regarding the interaction between the characters. He died prior to the release of "Saving Private Ryan". 45th Infantry Division.

jacobs-greenwood Directed by William Wellman, and written by Robert Pirosh, this essential war film details the plight of the US Army's 101st Airborne Division, trapped in the Ardennes Forest near Bastogne, Belgium during the "Battle of the Bulge", created by the Germans last ditch Panzer tank advance during World War II. Pirosh (who wrote from his own experiences) received a Best Writing Oscar for his Story & Screenplay; Paul Vogel's B&W Cinematography also won an Academy Award. The film, director Wellman, John Dunning's Editing, and Supporting Actor James Whitmore were also nominated.This "soldier's story" begins by establishing the relationships between the veteran Army personnel whose job is nearly done, such that they are about to venture to Paris for some rest and relaxation before going home, that have just been joined by some of their replacements. Under Sergeant Walowicz's (Bruce Cowling) and Sergeant Kinnie's (Whitmore) command are Pfc. Holley (Van Johnson), and Privates Jarvess (John Hodiak), Roderigues (Ricardo Montalban), Stazak (George Murphy), Spudler (Jerome Courtland), Standiferd (Don Taylor), Kippton (Douglas Fowley), Hansan (Herbert Anderson), Bettis (Richard Jaeckel), and Garby (James Arness). Privates Layton (Marshall Thompson) and Hooper (Scotty Beckett) represent the replacements, the latter joining another company in which he is killed shortly after the action begins. Thompson's character serves as the narrative voice, the story being told through his eyes. Layton is at first the innocent, optimistic rookie who's looking forward to the experience, which inevitably changes him into a cigarette smoking, cynical veteran.Though there is the requisite amount of action in this war movie, it's the human stories of the men themselves, and their relationships to one another, which gives this film its strength, and has an impact on the viewer. Each of the soldiers have their distinguishing characteristics: Whitmore's tobacco spitting Sergeant is hobbled by frozen feet; Johnson's Holley tries to enjoy the moment as much as possible and eventually finds himself promoted when Walowicz is injured; Jarvess is annoyed by those who don't take everything as seriously as he, including his foxhole mate; Roderigues is the ethnic character from Los Angeles who's never seen snow until it covers their encampment; Kippton has false teeth which he clicks, clacks, and even "loses" on occasion, conveniently; Hansan initiates their defense in a foggy battle during which he is injured and then taken to a supply-less medical facility in the city; the ever present war film actor Jaeckel has a minor role as the Company's cook; and Pop Stazak finds himself surrounded in the forest as he receives his paperwork to confirming his civilian status. Leon Ames plays a brief, but memorable role as the Chaplin who gives the men their Christmas prayer amidst the conflict, during a time when their plight seems hopeless.The Germans are shown rather briefly, and primarily as English speaking soldiers posing as Americans to infiltrate the Allied lines. After they've surrounded the 101st Airborne Division, some German Officers carrying a white flag are shown to be confused after receiving the U.S. Army Commander's message of "nuts!" to their request for his surrender.Knowing what happens in the end is to know your history.

classicsoncall Writer Robert Pirosh drew on his own real life experience as a soldier during the Battle of the Bulge, while director Robert Wellman brought in a couple dozen veterans of that campaign to lend further authenticity to the dialog and on screen drama for this film. The result is a compelling World War II movie that relies more on character driven vignettes than on epic battlefield action. More so than most war films, this one puts you right in the bunkers and foxholes, and you can almost feel the unbearable discomfort of freezing in the mud and snow as enemy fire punctures the stillness of the battlefield. The picture honors it's heroes, the 'Battered Bastards of Bastogne' as fighting forces intent on stopping the Nazi war machine. In a thoughtful scene, Army chaplain Leon Ames attempts to answer the question 'Is this trip necessary'? Generations of Americans to follow owe their freedom to men like the soldiers who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, screaming eagles who valued their patriotism and were willing to die to prove it.

writers_reign Several of the reviews posted here are written by people who were actually active in the Infantry and without exception they attest to its authenticity. I'm happy to take their word. One of director Wellman's main achievements is to create, on an MGM sound-stage, the feel of winter on the French-Belgian border in 1944. The cast work extremely well as an ensemble and although Van Johnson - basically the only big 'name' at the time gets both a top credit and the lion's share of screen time everyone, including Leon Ames who, as a chaplain in the last couple of reels, has probably less screen time than Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, James Whitmore et al, pulls his weight and honours are evenly divided. A fine addition to the canon of war movies.