WWII Movies
December 4, 2004 3:24 AM Subscribe
WWIIMovieFilter: I was talking to my grandfather, who was a paratrooper who particpated in the Normandy invasion, about war movies. He mentioned how unrealistic he found movies like Saving Private Ryan and that he had only ever seen one movie that he found truly illustrated the realities of his experience. [MI]
I don't recall all he said about this movie, but he mentioned one scene in which a soldier was going around picking up every sheet of german propaganda he could find, and than wandering off into the bushes.
He says he laughed for a good 30 seconds before anyone else got what was going on.
Can anyone identify this movie? It would make a great gift for him or for the family Pollyanna (which demands a good story for each gift)
I don't recall all he said about this movie, but he mentioned one scene in which a soldier was going around picking up every sheet of german propaganda he could find, and than wandering off into the bushes.
He says he laughed for a good 30 seconds before anyone else got what was going on.
Can anyone identify this movie? It would make a great gift for him or for the family Pollyanna (which demands a good story for each gift)
"...he had only ever seen one movie that he found truly illustrated the realities of his experience..."
I immediately thought Catch-22, but that's not the movie you were looking for.
posted by booth at 7:49 AM on December 4, 2004
I immediately thought Catch-22, but that's not the movie you were looking for.
posted by booth at 7:49 AM on December 4, 2004
What did he think of Band of Brothers?
I've been watching in it reruns. I'm kind of a 40s buff, and the depictions of warfare seem pretty realistic, but the dialogue...ugh. Way off the mark IMHO.
posted by Miko at 7:57 AM on December 4, 2004
I've been watching in it reruns. I'm kind of a 40s buff, and the depictions of warfare seem pretty realistic, but the dialogue...ugh. Way off the mark IMHO.
posted by Miko at 7:57 AM on December 4, 2004
Sorry about double posting. I'm having a hard time adjusting from an unlimited-editing interface.
Should also add: It's interesting when vets criticize war movies. Although each person's account is accurate as far as their own experience, individuals do have vastly different experiences in wars based on their assignments and locations. In comparing my father's combat infantry experience in Viet Nam with two of my uncles' experiences (truch driving behind the lines and army photography), I've been interested to note that they sound as though they were in completely different wars. They were.
posted by Miko at 8:37 AM on December 4, 2004
Should also add: It's interesting when vets criticize war movies. Although each person's account is accurate as far as their own experience, individuals do have vastly different experiences in wars based on their assignments and locations. In comparing my father's combat infantry experience in Viet Nam with two of my uncles' experiences (truch driving behind the lines and army photography), I've been interested to note that they sound as though they were in completely different wars. They were.
posted by Miko at 8:37 AM on December 4, 2004
As someone who really digs WW2 history, I would really like to find out what movie he was referring to...
posted by neckro23 at 8:59 AM on December 4, 2004
posted by neckro23 at 8:59 AM on December 4, 2004
furiousxgeorge, I've been collecting some of my uncle's WWII anecdotes, and I'm really curious as to which parts of Saving your grandfather found unrealistic. I have had my own suspicions about certain parts of that flick.
posted by Shane at 11:36 AM on December 4, 2004
posted by Shane at 11:36 AM on December 4, 2004
Semi-related: My WW II dad said he always snorts with disbelief when he sees the beautiful, pristine palm trees in war scenes. He was on Okinawa, and says he never saw a palm tree that didn't have its top and possibly other parts shattered.
posted by GaelFC at 12:39 PM on December 4, 2004
posted by GaelFC at 12:39 PM on December 4, 2004
I asked a friend of mine who's knowledgeable about such things and he came up with a film he thought was entitled Battleground or that had the word "battleground" in the title. So basically I'm seconding the nomination made by Cryptical Envelopment.
posted by Clay201 at 11:12 PM on December 4, 2004
posted by Clay201 at 11:12 PM on December 4, 2004
Roots - The Next Generations featured a scene reminiscent of this. The black soldiers get leaflets dropped on them saying the white Americans are their real enemies, and one of the soldiers comments on how the leaflets aren't a total waste since they're printed nice soft paper.
posted by NortonDC at 12:02 PM on December 5, 2004
posted by NortonDC at 12:02 PM on December 5, 2004
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Cryptical Envelopment at 6:33 AM on December 4, 2004