Before I begin, this week’s film theme, I wanted to let you know that I finally remember to let you know who won the Oscar for best song- Fight For You…meh. Song that was Nominated- Husavek and the song that received no love was Glasgow which is a shame because that’s my favourite.
I decided to write about a favourite theme of war films..the POW camps which usually involves an escape or 2..or more. I have spoken about “The Great Escape” more than once and, it’s one of my all time favourite films, but I decided to go with 3 films I recently watched.
1. LA GRANDE ILLUSION-1937
We can ThNk a German officer, stationed in Paris, who saved an original copy of this great film, when the French and the Germans wanted it destroyed. He brought it back…to Berlin which, when the war was done, was taken by the Communists, back to Moscow. There, it stagnated for a few decades before it was finally found and has been lovingly restored. It’s based during WW1 when 2 French men are taken prisoner and must stay in an old fortress headed by German air ace, played to perfection by the great Erich Von Stroheim. This is not just a war film, that doesn’t show the war, but it’s about class distinction and how war is futile. The one Frenchman, from a blue collar background is portrayed by the French acting legend, Jean Gabin who, along with another, escapes the prison. I love this film from the actors who speak different languages to how rigid the German character is yet, very compassionate. This is a must see film.
2. THE COLDITZ STORY-1955
This was a pleasant surprise to watch and one I could watch again. It's a British film showing how the Brits, French, Polish, etc were all placed inside this old castle as a POW prison which the Nazis felt was inescapable. Of course, the men tried but were all captured because everyone were acting on their own. They decide to join forces and act as a cohesive team to disrupt the guards and make an escape. It's a cat and mouse game with thrills, Sadness and some hilarity thrown in. A very solid cast makes this film one to see.
3. VON RYAN’S EXPRESS-1965
I really enjoyed this film that stars Frank Sinatra as an American pilot who was sent to a POW camp in Italy. He is able to create a mass deportation of the British POWs along with an Italian who never wanted to be part of running this POW camp. From there, you follow them on the run, taking over a train attempting to get Switzerland. The character Sinatra plays, is not well liked by the fellow prisoners because they feel he is a turncoat and give him the name Von Ryan. It's tense filled plus action oriented. A very good film with Sinatra in the lead.
What POW films can you think of?
Hi Birgit - those looks so interesting ... I think the only one I haven't seen is the 1937 La Grande Illusion ... looks to be so interesting and informative - thank you ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThat’s the best of the 3 and I hope you see it.
DeleteAlthough, I've seen my share of war movies, I'm not huge fan of those type of films. I really have to be in the right frame of mind to watch one. That hasn't been in a long time. I'm sure these are all excellent movies, though. Usually the vintage ones are!
ReplyDeleteI am one for war films strangely, I think, because both my parents were in it and listened to their stories. Some are very sad indeed but others are not as bad. If any, I would suggest The Best Years of Our Lives which takes place after the war but war is a big part of the film.
DeleteVon Ryan's Express! Yes! Saw it before I even saw The Great Escape. In fact, before I started reading, I immediately thought of this movie. It was awesome.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is excellent!
DeleteIt's amazing how some films were almost lost forever if not for one person. I don't really do war or POW movies, so I have nothing to mention.
ReplyDeleteYes, it’s amazing how one person can change everything in more than one way.
DeleteStalag 17. Popped into my head immediately. Then I thought of the TV show Hogan's Heroes. I laugh just thinking about it. I was a college student when it ran.
ReplyDeleteStalag 17 is excellent and you know Hogan’s Heroes must have been inspired by this film. I love watching that TV show and interesting that all the German leads, like Klink, Schultz and others, were Jewish and lived under the Nazi regime. Actually, Robert Clary was in Buchenwald’s Concentration Camp.
DeleteI haven't seen any of your picks! They all sound interesting though.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to see some of these.
DeleteBIRGIT ~
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any of your three choices above. I am so anti-war that 'War' is one of my least favorite film genres, and so I haven't seen a great many of war-related movies, and I like only a very small handful of them.
My first thought was of 'STALAG 17', which I like, and which was one of my Pa's favorite movies. Another one I own and like is 'LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL', which was my friend FAE's (Nitro's) all-time favorite film. That one is kind of all over the place and difficult to endure at times, but definitely unique and notable.
~ D-FensDogG
I love both your picks and hope you saw “The Best Years of our Lives” which is one of my all time favourites
DeleteI have indeed seen 'The Best Years Of Our Lives', a couple of times. That movie was a Top 25 favorite for my Pa, my Ma, and my Grandma. It's practically "a family tradition". ;^D
Delete~ D'DogG
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ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any of these, as I'm not a huge fan of war movies. I did enjoy Life is Beautiful (thanks for the reminder, Stephen!) and one which has a lot of humour in it, called Victory (1981). It stars Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to see Victory…I don’t recall it but, maybe once I look it up, I will know it better. Have you ever seen Hope and Glory from the early 80s? It’s so good.
DeleteI've seen the "Express" one, but not the others. Many have been mentioned so far. Not much I can add. I'm frazzled with my wife getting ready for visitors.
ReplyDeleteLee
Hope you enjoyed your time with your friends and family.
DeleteHi Birgit!
ReplyDeleteSorry I missed last week and am late here…. busy times!!
La Grande Illusion is a beautiful film with masterful performances by both leads. It takes a little bit to capture the rhythm of the film, but your patience is rewarded mightily.
It has been several years since I saw The Colditz Story, but I do remember being impressed by it. Fascinating piece of history.
Sinatra could be quite the actor when he was inspired (when he wasn’t he remained charismatic but visibly disengaged) and he is strong in Von Ryan’s Express. The film has a terrific international cast and a near baby James Brolin as well!
Your theme is quite timely for me since I just watched a film that perfectly fits a few days ago!
That film was “The Captive Heart” (1946) and it tells the story of a group of men in a POW camp over a span of five years. The main character is a Czech soldier, Capt. Hasek (Michael Redgrave) who needs to hide his identity so takes that of another soldier who was killed during capture. When, for appearances sake, the Germans insist the men write to their families Hasek begins a correspondence with the dead man’s wife Celia (played by Redgrave’s real life wife Rachel Kempson). A lovely undiscovered gem.
King Rat (1965)- Adapted from James Clavell's novel about a group of English, American and Australian prisoners in a Singapore POW camp during World War II. Corporal King (George Segal) bribes the Japanese camp commanders to provide him with better living conditions leading to tension arising between him and his fellow prisoners who include James Fox, John Mills, Denholm Elliott and Tom Courtenay. Segal’s King is difficult to warm to but that’s the point.
My last is a bit of a cheat since it was made for television but it’s still brutal. Known as both “Silent Cries" and "Guests of the Emperor” (1993) the film is set in 1942, during the Japanese occupation of Singapore, and tells the story of women who are taken prisoner and must band together to survive the harsh conditions of internment. It has a stacked cast lead by Gena Rowlands (brilliant as always), Chloe Webb, Judy Parfitt, Cherie Lunghi, Annabeth Gish and Phyllis Logan.
These are great choices Joel! I don’t mind you being late at all. I have not seen your first pick but it sounds really quite good. King Rat is very sad and a bit a sign of the times when it was made. It’s quite. Good film as is your last one which I saw long time ago. Many forget how many women were interred in Japanese war camps and this one is excellent as well as one with Glenn Close where they begin a singing group as a way to just keep alive. Based on a true story, it’s just amazing how people survived such gruelling conditions.
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