War Films : War Films: What have you seen? Jan. Feb. Mar. April

War Films: What have you seen? Jan. Feb. Mar. April

Greetings Warmongers and Warriors of the celluloid loving form.

War films are a genre of film, an important one in fact. It has many splinters, from historical swords and sandals battles - to the World Wars and up to the present day horrors still being fought in far off lands that are alien to most of us. It's a genre of film that can excite and horrify in equal measure.

So what films have you seen of late?

ALFA TAU! 1942 Italian submarine at War

CONTAINS SPOILERS

ALFA TAU! 1942

This one is an Italian war film made during the Italian involvement in World War Two. The Italians, like all the other combatants knocked out flag-wavers for the home front. This one is about the crew of the Italian submarine, "Enrico Toti".

The film starts out in port and deals mainly with the everyday life of the various officers and crew of the submarine. We see the crew go through training and having a glass or two after hours. We get to see the lives of their women folk and their families as well. There is also the odd British air-raid to break up the routine. This goes on for a good two thirds of the film.

When the "Enrico Toti" finally goes to sea, the pace really bumps up a couple of notches. There is a run in with several British torpedo aircraft. (actually Italian SM- 79 Sparrow bombers) The sub is hit by one of the torpedoes but the torpedo luckily is a dud. The crew manage to down one of the British aircraft with their anti-aircraft fire.

There is now a hook up with a German U-Boat for the transfer of a wounded man to the Germans. The submarine is then sent to help the crew of a damaged Italian Air Force tri-motor floatplane. They help repair the aircraft and see it off.

Now comes the defining moment for the "Enrico Toti" The submarine becomes involved with a British Royal Navy submarine. Both ships are on the surface and are quickly barking at each other with their deck guns. The range rapidly closes as the two ships try to nail the other with a torpedo. The Italian anti-aircraft weaponry chases the British submarine's gun crew below decks. The main deck gun then manages to put several rounds into the Royal Navy submarine, sinking her. The "Enrico Toti" now returns to home port for repairs and to drop their wounded.

The battle depicted in the film actually happened. The "Enrico Toti" and HMS "Triad" ran into each other at dawn on 15th October, 1940, in the Gulf of Taranto. HMS "Triad" was the only Royal Navy submarine lost to an Italian submarine. There were no survivors from the "Triad".

The "Enrico Toti" spent most of the war as a training boat with the odd run to carry supplies to North Africa.

The first part of the film is heavy going, but once the action starts, it turns into a well mounted wartime flag-waver. The cast is made up of mostly Italian Navy submariners.

The film was directed by Francesco De Robertis. This is the second war film from the director that I have seen. The other title was 1952's, CARICA EROICA.

SKY COMMANDO 1953 Dan Duryea, Mike Connors

CONTAINS SPOILERS

SKY COMMANDO 1953

This quickie was put out by the Sam Katzman's B-Unit at Columbia Pictures.

This one starts at an American airfield during the Korean War. An American pilot, William Bryant, blames his Commanding Officer, Dan Duryea for the death of his brother on a ground support mission. Duryea's executive officer, Michael Fox, takes Bryant aside and tells him a story about Duryea from the WW2. The film now goes into flashback with Fox narrating.

Duryea is charge of a squadron taking reconnaissance photos for missions to be flown by the US 8th Air Force. Duryea is known in the unit as a tough and hard commander, disliked by his men. His personal aircrew hold him responsible for the death of his popular co-pilot during a mission. Joining the crew is a new co-pilot, Mike Connors.

It is now time to introduce the female of the piece, Frances Gifford. Gifford is a war correspondent assigned to do a story on the recon group. Needless to say she falls for the dashing co-pilot, Connors, and the pair are soon an item.

The heavy bombers have just returned from a raid over the heavily defended German city, Bremen. They need someone to do a flight over the city to see if another raid is needed. Duryea and his crew draw the assignment. They are sent off into less than stellar weather conditions to get the pictures.

When they arrive over Bremen, the cloud cover forces their B-25 down low to get their photos. The ship takes a load of anti-aircraft fire and several of the crew are killed. The plane just barely makes it over the channel back to England for a crash landing. The remaining crew including a wounded, Connors, blame Duryea for being reckless and getting their comrades killed.

While Connors is in hospital to recover from his wounds, the unit is shipped off to North Africa. And so is war correspondent, Gifford. Connors follows once the medical repairs heal.

The unit is now switched over to flying B-24 Liberators and assigned to fly on the raid against the Polesti oil fields in Romania. They face heavy Axis resistance and Duryea's aircraft is shot down. The B-24 manages to crash land in Yugoslavia, where the crew is soon grabbed up by the local partisans. Duryea and the boys have valuable photos of the raid high-lighting several oil installations missed in the raid. The surviving crew makes it to the coast, to be whisked away by a partisan fishing boat to safety.

This is not a good film. It has that filmed in a week look to it for a reason. Principal filming only took 8 days. The rest of the production time was spent sewing together the myriad of combat footage used to pad out the run time. The story, if one can call it that, is sub-par at best, even for a Sam Katzman production.

The director, Fred Sears, pumped out close to 50 films during his (1949-1958) career. Quite a lot of it was low rent drivel like this one, but he did turn out a few watchable films such as, WORLD WITHOUT END, UTAH BLAINE, RUMBLE ON THE DOCKS, THE 49th MAN, CELL 2455 DEATH ROW and CHICAGO SYNDICATE.

This was the third film for Mike "Touch" Connors, who after a career in b-fodder, would strike gold with the long running (1967-1975) Private Detective series, MANNIX. It was also the last film for former star, Frances Gifford. One can only guess that Dan Duryea had no idea what he was signing up for when he joined this production.

The stock footage used is all jumbled up and has B-25, B-24, A-20, Stuka, various marks of Me 109, P-40, F-86 and P-80 aircraft being shown. There is even a segment used during the Polesti raid with C-47's transports on screen. The model work is also less than stellar.

Having said all this, it does only have a run time of 69 minutes.

1944 (2015) Eastern Front

CONTAINS SPOLIERS

1944 (2015)

This Estonian made war film takes place during July to November 1944. It starts with the battle of the Tannenberg Line where German and their Allied forces try to hold back the advancing Soviet Red Army.

The film follows a small detachment of Estonian troops who are fighting for the Germans. The battle is hard fought and results in massive losses to the Red Army. The Red Forces are however far too great and the Germans and Estonians are forced to retreat towards the coast. The first 45 minutes or so follows this group during the battle and retreat.

The film then shifts gear and follows another group of Estonians, this time the men are part of the Red Army. There is a brief fight between the two groups that ends once they realize they are all Estonian. The group fighting with the Germans withdraws leaving the field to the Red Army side. Now the film follows the Estonians who are fighting with the Reds as they advance.

The politics in play here are the same for both sides. In 1940 the U.S.S.R. annexed Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia all at the same time. (The Soviets received a bloody nose when they tried the same move on Finland) The Soviet occupation had been brutal with many killed or shipped off to camps. When the Germans swept through during their 1941 attack on the USSR, they were looked upon as liberators by many.

When the Germans put out a call for men to join an all Estonian unit to fight several thousand men signed up. (Several thousand more were drafted) Most join to get some payback on the USSR. The men fighting for the Reds were men drafted into the Red Army in 1941, or offered freedom from the camps if they fought for the Red Army. Both sides just wanted the war to end.

The film is quite well made with excellent attention to weapons, uniforms etc. The battle scenes are all well handled with plenty of pyrotechnics on display.

The film is a look at a rather unknown (in the west) story of World War Two and is worth the time imo.

"Schwartzes Schap" 2016 Brutal SS vs Partisans film.

CONTAINS SPOILERS

BLACK SHEEP aka "Schwartzes Schap" 2016

This impressive short is a real nasty jewel of a war film. The 57 minute quickie was written, produced, edited, scored and directed by newcomer, Mitchell James Huberty. It looks like Huberty put his whole family to work on this production. Other than one or two professional actors, the production was made by amateurs. And they all do a hell of a job!

The film is set in the summer of 1943 in the deep forests of eastern Poland. A small detachment of SS troops are on an anti-partisan sweep through the country side. Their enemy are Polish partisans and a few Soviet Red Army soldiers that were left behind during the retreat of 1941.

The film focuses on one particular SS private and one particular partisan. Both their background stories are similar and both would rather be elsewhere. The daily grind for the SS troopers is checking the homes and farms of the locals. Whenever evidence of anyone aiding the partisans is found, it is up against the wall for a firing squad. For the partisans, it is raiding German supply trucks and ambushing the opposing forces.

The locals are caught between the old rock and a hard place. The Germans shoot them if they help the partisans, while the partisans do likewise if they collaborate with the Germans. For the most part, the SS types are the winners in the battles in the woods. This anti-partisan war was a particularly nasty conflict with no quarter given by either side.

What really stands out here is the attention to weapon and uniform details. All are accurate to the period. There is also no English spoken in the film. It is all German, Polish or Russian which adds to the film's dramatic impact. The look of the film is top flight with the battle scenes in particular standing out.

Other than actor, Jeremiah Turner, there is not a soul I recognize in the film. Director Huberty also plays one of the major roles in the film. If this was a film school project, then it is a barn-burner of a success. Huberty is destined for big things if this is an example of his skill.

Well done by everyone involved.

War Tv: THE SILENT SERVICE "Incident Down South" 1958

CONTAINS SPOILERS

THE SILENT SERVICE "Incident Down South" 1958

This is the 49th episode of the U.S. war series, "The Silent Service". The series was about the exploits of the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet. Each episode is a stand-alone tale of the actions of a particular submarine. Most of the stories are about actions against the Japanese Navy and merchant fleet in the Pacific. There is also the odd tale from the Korean conflict. The series ran for 78 episodes during 1957 and 1958. The stories were all based on actual events. Some pretty good attention to detail here with the U.S Navy allowing filming on several WW 2 era Gato class subs.

Each episode started and ended with retired Real Admiral Thomas M. Dykers giving a breakdown of the action. Dykers became a writer, producer and technical adviser after leaving the service. He worked on films such as, TORPEDO ALLEY, FLAT TOP, THE FROGMEN, HELL AND HIGH WATER and SUBMARINE COMMAND.

This episode is about the U.S.S. "Tarpon". It is January 1942 and the "Tarpon" is sent out from Australia to look for Japanese ships heading toward the Dutch East Indies. The "Tarpon" had been based in the Philippines at the start of the war before escaping to Australia. The boat is sorely in need of repairs and a refit, but the situation is desperate and all ships are needed.

The "Tarpon" sights a large Japanese ship in the distance and gives chase. One of the submarine's diesel engines now gives up the ghost. The "Tarpon" cannot keep up with the target and is forced to give up the attack. She continues on to her patrol area.

More bad luck rears its head again as the submarine runs aground on a reef off Flores Island. The submarine now needs to wait for high tide to try and escape. A Dutch missionary and several natives canoe out to the submarine. The missionary tells the ship's Captain, Ed Kemmer that high tide is not for a good 10 hours.

Kemmer and his executive officer, Gardner McKay have the crew jettison all extra equipment. They toss everything not bolted down and fire off all the torpedoes. Even lightened, the "Tarpon" refuses to float off. They will need to wait till high tide. The motor room crew finally manage to jury rig a repair to the failed engine. With high tide and the extra power, the "Tarpon" pulls itself off the reef. And just in time as a flight of Japanese aircraft has appeared on the scene. The submarine dives to safety and head back to base in Australia.

The "Tarpon" would complete 11 wartime patrols sinking at least 6 enemy vessels. The submarine was used for training until 1956 and was then sold for scrap. The "Tarpon" floundered while under tow off Cape Hatteras in August 1957. (So many ships have been lost off Cape Hatteras that the area is known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic)

Of note here, is one of the ships that was sunk by "Tarpon". The German surface raider "Michel" was destroyed on Oct 16 1943 just off Japan. The disguised raider "Michel" was responsible for the destruction of 15 Allied vessels during two voyages.

Actor Gardner McKay would later headline the popular South Seas series, ADVENTURES IN PARADISE for 91 episodes between 1959 and 1962.

Age of Heroes (2011)

Age of Heroes (2011)


Operation Grendel

Age of Heroes is directed by Adrian Vitoria and Vitoria also co- writes the screenplay with Ed Scates. It stars Sean Bean, Danny Dyer, Aksel Hennie, Izabella Miko, James D'Arcy, William Houston, John Dagleish and Stephen Walters. Music is by Michael Richard Plowman and cinematography by Mark Hamilton.

Pic is based on the real life exploits of James Bond creator Ian Fleming. This telling sees a unit of Commandos sent on a mission to the mountains of Norway to knock out an important German communication tower whilst purloining information to aid the war effort.

In truth it doesn't add a great deal to an already over stocked "men on a mission" sub-genre of war films, but there's enough excitement, explosions, potent character dynamics and military shenanigans, to keep things at the better end of a viewing experience. Cast are fine, all portraying familiar types seen in countless films of this ilk, whilst the snowy Norwegian locations are a sight for sore eyes, and Vitoria does a nice job of giving his film an old fashioned feel - complete with the obligatory Nazi atrocity to add some venomous oomph to the plotting.

The inclusion of Izabella Miko on the mission sadly comes off as a token female shoehorn job, and I agree with what other reviewers have said as regards the finale, it does feel a bit rushed as this pic definitely could have done with another 15 minutes or so. Yet being an old fashioned guy myself, I liked it well enough and was glad to have viewed it. 7/10


The Spikeopath - Hospital Number 217

Re: Age of Heroes (2011)

New one for me, Spike. Thanks for the heads up here and of course a tick has been sent your way. Been a Bean fan since the SHARPE'S films.

Re: Age of Heroes (2011)

He hasn't got to stretch himself in this but he's his usual gruff scene dominating self.

The Spikeopath - Hospital Number 217

War Tv THE SILENT SERVICE "Mine for Keeps" 1958

CONTAINS SPOILERS

THE SILENT SERVICE "Mine for Keeps" 1958

This is the 50th episode of the U.S. war series, "The Silent Service". The series was about the exploits of the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet. Each episode is a stand-alone tale of the actions of a particular submarine. Most of the stories are about actions against the Japanese Navy and merchant fleet in the Pacific. There is also the odd tale from the Korean conflict. The series ran for 78 episodes during 1957 and 1958. The stories were all based on actual events. Some pretty good attention to detail here with the U.S Navy allowing filming on several WW 2 era Gato class subs.

Each episode started and ended with retired Real Admiral Thomas M. Dykers giving a breakdown of the action. Dykers became a writer, producer and technical adviser after leaving the service. He worked on films such as, TORPEDO ALLEY, FLAT TOP, THE FROGMEN, HELL AND HIGH WATER and SUBMARINE COMMAND.

This episode is about the U.S.S. "Trigger". It is December 1942 and the "Trigger" is sent out on her third patrol. The mission is a combined mine-laying and hunting patrol. The mining begins off the Japanese home island of Honshu. The Japanese merchant fleet has been hugging the coast of late. It is hoped that planting mines will chase them out into deep water where the US submarines can get them.

The "Trigger" has just finished laying her 24 mines when the field claims its first victim, a Japanese cargo vessel. The "Trigger" then scores with a torpedo attack on several other cargo ships. Later in the patrol, the submarine sinks the Japanese destroyer, "Okikaze". On January 22 1943 the "Trigger" sets sail for home after a most successful mission.

The USS "Trigger" was a very successful submarine sinking a total of 18 Japanese vessels during 12 patrols. She also damaged the Japanese aircraft carrier, Hiyo. The "Trigger" failed to return from her 12th patrol in late March 1945. She was taken off the Navy Register on July 11, 1945.

The cast is made up of, Robert Foulk, KL Smith, Carl Betz and Russell Johnson. Johnson played the Prof. on the popular 1960's staple, GILLIGAN'S ISLAND.

Fixed Bayonets! (1951)

Fixed Bayonets! (1951)


There's nothing dirtier than a rearguard action!

Fixed bayonets! is directed by Sam Fuller and Fuller writes the screenplay which is based around a novel by John Brophy. It stars Richard Basehart, Gene Evans, Michael O'Shea, Richard Hylton, Craig Hill and Skip Homeier. Music is by Roy Webb and cinematography by Lucien Ballard.

The Korean War, and a platoon of GIs are tasked with diverting the enemy to allow the command units time to regroup and prepare for a counter attack.

"Somebody's got to get left behind, get their bayonets wet. It's tough picking out an outfit, but it's got to be picked"

Samuel Fuller was a real life infantryman combat veteran of WWII, so any time he chose to direct a war film it was time to sit up and take notice, Fixed bayonets! finds him in prime form. All his great traits are here, how things are so understated yet so potent, how his characters are stripped to a very real human form, there's no fuss, filler or pointless flab here. Every line of dialogue and the various combat scenarios positively beg our utmost attention, so as to get some sort of feel as to just what it must have been like in war.

Plot revolves around 48 men holding a rearguard action so as to give 15,000 others a break. The odds aren't really in their favour, because not only do they have to face the oncoming enemy and all their numbers, but they have to battle the terrain, for they are up in the snowy mountains, the harsh coldness a fitting accompaniment to the psychological pangs at work in the platoon. The main narrative thread is based around Basehart's Cpl. Denno, who has trouble shooting an enemy soldier, which is not great since there's a very real chance he may soon have to take command. Ouch! The pressure of impending command...

Combat action scenes are thrilling, artillery warfare in the snow constructed with skillful thought. While this wouldn't be a Fuller film without some edge of seat drama, with the stand out here a breath holding sequence of events in a minefield. Tech guys come up trumps, the sound mix is bang on (a haunting cacophony of Asian bugles really rattles the head), Ballard's black and white photography is crisp and captures the pending peril vibe suitably, and Webb's musical compositions are unobtrusive and rightly keeping focus on the human drama.

A lesson in being simple yet so potently effective, Fuller on blob. 8/10


The Spikeopath - Hospital Number 217

Re: Fixed Bayonets! (1951)

Well said Spike! Tick is on the way.

Here is my take on the film


Contains Spoilers

FIXED BAYONETS – 1951

This is not an antiseptic flag waving propaganda war film. It is a brutal, hard hitting piece about fear, and courage, among men who know they could die at any moment. Director Sam Fuller pulls no punches in this Korean War film from 1951.

The US, UN and South Korean forces had pushed the North Korean Army back almost to the border with China. They were then caught off guard when Chinese Red Army forces attacked them. This soon forced a massive retreat along the whole front.

This film is about a small group of American soldiers left behind to man a rear guard post. They need to make the Chinese believe that they are facing a much larger unit. The US unit needs to delay the Chinese for 48 hours to allow their own troops a chance to fall back and regroup.

They chose a narrow pass through the mountains to base their defence on. They mine the approaches and set up a series of machine gun posts. Whenever the Chinese probe the defences, the American hit back hard and heavy, keeping the Chinese guessing as to the US unit strength.

This tactic can only work for so long, as there are only 50 or so soldiers. First the LT. in charge, Craig Hill, is killed, then, the two senior sergeants, Michael O'Shea and Gene Evans bite the bullet. Command of the survivors, falls to Richard Basehart. Basehart is a former officer candidate who has a fear of giving orders.

Forced to step up and take charge, Basehart fights his personal demons and does just that. He holds the post for as long as he can, then leads the survivors back to meet with the rest of the division.

Except for a couple of scenes, the whole production was filmed on a sound stage. This does not distract from the film at all, there are plenty of well-staged battle sequences etc throughout the film. The action is down and dirty, with all looking like they have been put through a wringer. This is a gritty, well-made war film.

The director, Sam Fuller also scored big a little earlier with another Korean War film, THE STEEL HELMET. Both these are well worth a look for war film buffs.

War TV: THE SILENT SERVICE "Fish out of Water" 1958

CONTAINS SPOILERS

THE SILENT SERVICE "Fish out of Water" 1958

This is the 51st episode of the U.S. war series, "The Silent Service". The series was about the exploits of the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet. Each episode is a stand-alone tale of the actions of a particular submarine. Most of the stories are about actions against the Japanese Navy and merchant fleet in the Pacific. There is also the odd tale from the Korean conflict. The series ran for 78 episodes during 1957 and 1958. The stories were all based on actual events. Some pretty good attention to detail here with the U.S Navy allowing filming on several WW 2 era Gato class subs.

Each episode started and ended with retired Real Admiral Thomas M. Dykers giving a breakdown of the action. Dykers became a writer, producer and technical adviser after leaving the service. He worked on films such as, TORPEDO ALLEY, FLAT TOP, THE FROGMEN, HELL AND HIGH WATER and SUBMARINE COMMAND.

This episode is about the U.S.S. "Baya". It is spring 1945 and the submarine is patrolling the South China Sea. The "Baya" is on the surface stalking a Japanese freighter. The submarine's crew spot an aircraft approaching, and dives losing contact with the Japanese vessel. It is later discovered that the aircraft was actually a US patrol aircraft trying to contact the submarine.

Back at headquarters, the Navy decides to send a liaison, Frank Gerstle to work out a way for the submarines and friendly aircraft to work together. Grestle and his fly-boy counterpart, Robert Gist, soon work out a system that allows the aircraft to locate the targets and then call in the submarines.

The "Baya" is one of the first to benefit from the new system. She is directed to a large convoy of tankers heading for Japan. "Baya" and several other submarines close in on the convoy, dispatching all six of the enemy vessels to Davy Jone's Locker.

The "Baya" would complete 5 wartime patrols sinking 4 Japanese ships and assisting another submarine in the destruction of another ship.

The "Baya" was kept in service after the war as a research vessel for various kinds of new equipment. The "Baya" was finally decommissioned in 1972 and sold for scrap the following year.
Top