Battle of the Bulge
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Lump of coal in your stocking...
  • Bad yet Compelling
  • Don't buy this!!
  • LAUGHABLY INACCURATE EQUIPMENT
  • One of the Worst War Movies Ever
Battle of the Bulge
Starring: Henry Fonda , Robert Shaw , Robert Ryan , Dana Andrews , and George Montgomery
Director: Ken Annakin
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0007TKNGA
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Amazon.com

The German offensive in December 1944 became the basis for this all-star Hollywood take on the Battle of the Bulge. Henry Fonda is an officer who predicts the assault, Robert Ryan and Dana Andrews are Army brass skeptical of his intuitions, and Robert Shaw (his hair dyed yellow and his eyes glinting with malice) is a German officer leading the tank attack. Shaw is certainly the most compelling thing about the film, especially in his philosophical debates with ambivalent underling Hans Christian Blech. Elsewhere, the movie jumps around to sidebar stories (cowardly James MacArthur becomes a leader, wheeler-dealer Telly Savalas falls in love) while messing around with the historical facts of the battle. There are interesting episodes, such as the Malmedy massacre of American POWs and the Germans' use of English-speaking spies, but overall Battle of the Bulge has the feeling of having been patched together from different scripts. On the physical level the movie comes up short, with the Spanish locations rarely suggesting the wintry misery of the battle, and the use of models and studio sets highly inadequate. A number of war films from this era are compelling on their own terms, but in the wake of Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers, this one looks antique. --Robert Horton

Description

Nazi Panzer forces stage a last-ditch Belgian front offensive that could turn the tide of WWII. Henry Fonda, Robert Shaw and Robert Ryan in the spectacular recreation of a crucial campaign. Year: 1965

Customer Reviews:

2 out of 5 stars Lump of coal in your stocking..........2007-09-03

Big names + poor history + cartoon characters + pathetic dialogue = world war 2 garbage time. Avoid it.

3 out of 5 stars Bad yet Compelling.......2007-08-11

Abysmal German accents, wooden acting, obvious special effects, absurd plot elements, and grotesque historical inaccuracies do not auger well for this movie. Yet in today's world of CGI fakery, there is something compelling about watching real tanks moving in formation across real terrain in real weather, even if the tanks are not from WWII, the terrain looks nothing like the Ardennes, and the weather looks nothing like northern European winter. And Warner is to be congratulated on yet another STELLAR high definition transfer. So real machines of war, even if absurdly inauthentic, plus reference-level picture quality translate into an HD-DVD that is worth buying even if you find the movie to be as bad as I do. For those of you who already own the DVD or VHS, this HD-DVD is a worthy upgrade.

1 out of 5 stars Don't buy this!!.......2007-07-27

I have three DVD players, one less than three months old and this piece of junk won't play on any of them. There are instructions enclosed explaining how to download some updates for my equipment but that should not be necessary. I expect my purchases to be ready to play. I have hundreds of DVD's and have never had this problem before.

1 out of 5 stars LAUGHABLY INACCURATE EQUIPMENT.......2007-07-25

This movie is a joke. It's just terrible. It's history, it needs to be accurate. Oh, the humanity!

2 out of 5 stars One of the Worst War Movies Ever.......2007-07-15

The other customers are WAY too kind in their reviews of this turkey. The multitude of inaccuracies and exaggerations in this movie might be forgiven if they weren't further compounded by more drawbacks: wooden, cliched characters (Henry Fonda's); worn-out storylines (James MacAruthur's); corny dialogue . . . For the incredible all-star cast, the acting is, well, OVERacting.

I liked this thing as a kid but it's almost unwatchable for me now. It looks even worse compared to more modern productions, especially Saving Priate Ryan.

For a far more realistic, gripping, and intelligent film on the Battle of the Bulge, watch the 1949 classic, Battleground. One of the most underrated war films ever.
Battle of the Bulge [Blu-ray]
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Battle of the Bulge [Blu-ray]
    Starring: Axel Anderson , Dana Andrews , Anna Maria Pier Angeli , Richard Baxter , and Hans-Christian Blech
    Director: Ken Annakin
    Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: Blu-ray

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    ASIN: B000OCZD5Q
    Release Date: 2007-05-15

    Description

    Nazi Panzer forces stage a last-ditch Belgian front offensive that could turn the tide of WWII. Henry Fonda, Robert Shaw and Robert Ryan in the spectacular recreation of a crucial campaign. Year: 1965
    World War II Collection - Battlefront Europe (The Big Red One Two-Disc Special Edition / The Dirty Dozen / Battle of the Bulge / Battleground / Where Eagles Dare)
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • Memory Lane
    • WWII Collection Battle Front Europe
    • War Movies
    • GREAT ADVENTURE
    • Thrilling War Films
    World War II Collection - Battlefront Europe (The Big Red One Two-Disc Special Edition / The Dirty Dozen / Battle of the Bulge / Battleground / Where Eagles Dare)
    Starring: Wwii Collection
    Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
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    5. The Bridge at Remagen The Bridge at Remagen

    ASIN: B0007TKNLK
    Release Date: 2005-05-03

    Description

    The Battle of the Bulge: Nazi Panzer forces stage a last-ditch Belgian front offensive that could turn the tide of WWII. Henry Fonda, Robert Shaw and Robert Ryan in the spectacular recreation of a crucial campaign.

    Battleground: Van Johnson, Ricardo Montalban and George Murphy star in this remarkable war film, nominated for six Oscars(R) (including Best Picture) about courageous American G.I.s caught up in the battle at Bastogne.

    The Big Red One Special Edition: "The real glory of war," Samuel Fuller said, "is surviving." A decorated combatant with the famed U.S. First Infantry in WWII, Fuller survived. His 1980 film version of his war experiences did not...until now. Working with 70,000 feet of vault materials and Fuller's shooting script, critic/filmmaker Richard Schickel heads a reconstruction that adds over 40 minutes and transforms a truncated but admired war film into an epic masterwork. Lee Marvin, in a richly layered performance now revealed as one of his finest, stars as the sergeant of peach-fuzzed riflemen fighting from North Africa to Normandy and across Europe. The film is the squad's combat diary, war as it's fought and sweated and bled, and, maybe, survived.

    The Dirty Dozen: Twelve jailbirds will earn their freedom...if they survive a suicide mission against the Nazi brass. Tough-as-nails Lee Marvin leads a nothing-to-lose convict squad of Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, John Cassavetes, Trini Lopez, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland, Clint Walker and more in the all-time action trendsetter. Where Eagles

    Dare: The mission is clear. Get in. Get the general. Get out. Commandos charged with freeing a U.S. general from an Alpine fortress should also be told to trust nothing - including the search-and-rescue orders just issued. Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood go Where Eagles Dare in this twisty World War II thriller written by action master Alistair MacLean (The Guns of Navarone, Ice Station Zebra) and directed by Brian G. Hutton (Kelly's Heroes). Known for fiery dramatic roles, Burton ventures into the realm of movie pyrotechnics with dynamic efficiency. And Eastwood's cool-fire presence heightens one searing action sequence after another. The film became Eastwood's then-largest hit and its studio's #1 moneymaker of the year.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Memory Lane.......2007-07-27

    This box is worth the money just for Where Eagles Dare and The Dirty Dozen. Being a WWII Tank fanatic spoilt the other movies for me, trying to pass off an Israeli tank as a Tiger, no no no. Other wise a good buy.

    5 out of 5 stars WWII Collection Battle Front Europe.......2007-05-18

    5 of my favorite WWII movies in one package. Super!

    4 out of 5 stars War Movies.......2006-11-11

    Three of this collection are movies I have wanted for many years, and to get them in one collection is my reason for acquiring the set. Battleground is the story of a small group of doughboys stuck in the Argonne, basically surrounded by Germans, and their fight for survival. Where Eagles Dare is about a group of highly trained soldiers trying to destroy a fortress in the Alps controlled by the Germans; however, a mole and high ranking officer overseeing the operation want the group to fail. The Dirty Dozen is a war classic about criminals given a respite to carry out a basically suicide mission against a host of high ranking German officers

    5 out of 5 stars GREAT ADVENTURE .......2006-08-04

    I have watched a lot of WWII DVDs and found that these movies while hollywoodized to an extent are pretty accurate. These movies will entertain you completely!!! This is a great group of war films and I enjoyed each and every one of them thouroughly!!! Cant beat the price either!!

    5 out of 5 stars Thrilling War Films.......2006-07-26

    I recently purchased this DVD European War collection and I'm enjoying these wonderful war films at a price that's so affordable it must be seen to believe. This World War II DVD Collection-European Warfare includes 5 outstanding War epics that were received by the movie-going public as fascinating with a great story line and many action-packed scenes that most critics moved to give these films a thumbs up. It's difficult to point out which film ranks the best. You can choose any 5 exciting war epics, my favorites "The Dirty Dozen" and "Where Eagles Dare" were given 3-1/2 - 4 Stars. The picture transfer on all 5 are crisp and clear and the sound is remarkably full-bodied stereo. Five stars for a great collection of War films that can be watched over and over again.



    American Experience: The Battle of the Bulge
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • A story of courage, suffering and triumph
    American Experience: The Battle of the Bulge
    Starring: David McCullough
    Manufacturer: WGBH Boston
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: DVD

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    5. A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge A Time for Trumpets: The Untold Story of the Battle of the Bulge

    ASIN: B0001WTUKS
    Release Date: 2004-04-13

    Description

    In mid-1944, it looked as if the war in Europe was coming to an end. Hitler was on the run, and the Allies had triumphantly regained Paris, as well as Casablanca and Tripoli, Naples, and Rome. After five hard years of war, Allied soldiers were breathing easier—even stopping to enjoy dances and parties.

    Hitler, however, had one final card to play. In December 1944, he struck back with a brutal counterattack. The Battle of the Bulge was the single biggest and bloodiest battle U.S. soldiers have ever fought. Almost 80,000 Americans were killed, injured, or captured in an infernal test of courage and endurance that ultimately ended with a hard-won victory for the Allies.

    Battle of the Bulge looks at the battle through the eyes of the U.S. soldiers and combat officers in the field—the young men charged with holding the line and closing the bulge. They describe the events leading up to the attack and how the Allied forces were caught unprepared—and talk with disarming honesty about the grueling physical and psychological conditions under which they fought and of the memories that still haunt them. Packed with rare archival newsreel and Army footage, this documentary offers a compelling chronicle of war that captures both the action on the front lines and the strategy behind the scenes.

    Special DVD features include: link to the American Experience Web site; closed captions; and described video for the visually impaired.

    On one DVD5 disc. Region coding: All regions. Audio: Dolby stereo. Screen format: 4x3 full screen.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars A story of courage, suffering and triumph.......2004-06-20

    During World War II, there were two times when the armed forces of the United States were caught completely unawares. The first, the Japanese attacks at Pearl Harbor, began United States involvement. The second, the German attacks in the Ardennes forest in late 1944, actually served to shorten the war in Europe.
    There is no doubt that Adolph Hitler was a master at strategic thinking. Before the outbreak of hostilities in 1939, he was able to take control of vast amounts of European territory without firing a shot. Had he stopped there, Germany would have been a superpower, most likely the most powerful nation on Earth. Fortunately for those who opposed him, he was a tactical dunderhead, and he made no mistake bigger than when he launched the counterattack that is now known as the Battle of the Bulge. As the forces allied against him pushed to the edges of German territory, he decided to launch a counterattack against the thinly held American lines. The goal was to seize the port at Antwerp and foment divisions between the British and Americans.
    This was of course the thought of a delusional mind. After fighting together for three years, the alliance between Great Britain and the United States would not crack so easily. Also, the overwhelming air power of the United States would allow them to chew up the extended German forces once the weather permitted it. The best tactics would have been to place all forces on the defensive, concentrate them as much as possible in the East, which would force the allies, especially the Soviets, to fight for every foot of German territory.
    While the Battle of the Bulge caused more American combat casualties than any other battle in history, it eliminated all German reserves and quite likely shortened the war in Europe by months. Had it not taken place, it is very possible that the first use of atomic weapons in war would have been against Germany rather than Japan.
    This video provides the entire historical context, but the emphasis is on the actions and experiences of the American soldiers in the rifle companies. After the initial German impetus was blunted, the allied commanders made the decision to push the Germans back on all fronts rather than engage in a dramatic pincer movement. This meant that men on foot did nearly all the fighting with rifles in the worst winter weather that Europe had seen in decades. The soldiers were always cold, and frostbite was a constant problem. With their years of experience in the colder weather of the Soviet Union, the troops of the Wehrmacht were better able to deal with it.
    So many American soldiers were killed or wounded that a shortage developed. Men were patched together physically and mentally and sent back up to the front. Companies were nearly wiped out, yet green, untrained men were sent as replacements rather than pull the company out of the line. Essentially, the decision was made to simply grind the Germans down at whatever the cost. Several of the survivors are interviewed and they tell a tale of their survival while many of their comrades did not. The most telling moment in the tape is when the French civilian said it was two years after the end of the war before all of the hastily and partly buried bodies were finally dealt with.
    It will always be a point of debate as to whether the final fate of Germany had been decided by late 1944, which would mean that the Battle of the Bulge was irrelevant to the final outcome. Whatever it meant to the end result, it was the deadliest battle in American military history and this tape is an excellent description of the history, courage and suffering that made it an American victory.
    Battle of the Bulge [HD DVD]
    Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
    • Lump of coal in your stocking...
    • Bad yet Compelling
    • Don't buy this!!
    • LAUGHABLY INACCURATE EQUIPMENT
    • One of the Worst War Movies Ever
    Battle of the Bulge [HD DVD]
    Starring: Henry Fonda , Robert Shaw , Robert Ryan , Dana Andrews , and George Montgomery
    Director: Ken Annakin
    Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
    ProductGroup: DVD
    Binding: HD DVD

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    ASIN: B000OIOS56
    Release Date: 2007-05-15

    Amazon.com

    The German offensive in December 1944 became the basis for this all-star Hollywood take on the Battle of the Bulge. Henry Fonda is an officer who predicts the assault, Robert Ryan and Dana Andrews are Army brass skeptical of his intuitions, and Robert Shaw (his hair dyed yellow and his eyes glinting with malice) is a German officer leading the tank attack. Shaw is certainly the most compelling thing about the film, especially in his philosophical debates with ambivalent underling Hans Christian Blech. Elsewhere, the movie jumps around to sidebar stories (cowardly James MacArthur becomes a leader, wheeler-dealer Telly Savalas falls in love) while messing around with the historical facts of the battle. There are interesting episodes, such as the Malmedy massacre of American POWs and the Germans' use of English-speaking spies, but overall Battle of the Bulge has the feeling of having been patched together from different scripts. On the physical level the movie comes up short, with the Spanish locations rarely suggesting the wintry misery of the battle, and the use of models and studio sets highly inadequate. A number of war films from this era are compelling on their own terms, but in the wake of Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers, this one looks antique. --Robert Horton

    Description

    Nazi Panzer forces stage a last-ditch Belgian front offensive that could turn the tide of WWII. Henry Fonda, Robert Shaw and Robert Ryan in the spectacular recreation of a crucial campaign. Year: 1965

    Customer Reviews:

    2 out of 5 stars Lump of coal in your stocking..........2007-09-03

    Big names + poor history + cartoon characters + pathetic dialogue = world war 2 garbage time. Avoid it.

    3 out of 5 stars Bad yet Compelling.......2007-08-11

    Abysmal German accents, wooden acting, obvious special effects, absurd plot elements, and grotesque historical inaccuracies do not auger well for this movie. Yet in today's world of CGI fakery, there is something compelling about watching real tanks moving in formation across real terrain in real weather, even if the tanks are not from WWII, the terrain looks nothing like the Ardennes, and the weather looks nothing like northern European winter. And Warner is to be congratulated on yet another STELLAR high definition transfer. So real machines of war, even if absurdly inauthentic, plus reference-level picture quality translate into an HD-DVD that is worth buying even if you find the movie to be as bad as I do. For those of you who already own the DVD or VHS, this HD-DVD is a worthy upgrade.

    1 out of 5 stars Don't buy this!!.......2007-07-27

    I have three DVD players, one less than three months old and this piece of junk won't play on any of them. There are instructions enclosed explaining how to download some updates for my equipment but that should not be necessary. I expect my purchases to be ready to play. I have hundreds of DVD's and have never had this problem before.

    1 out of 5 stars LAUGHABLY INACCURATE EQUIPMENT.......2007-07-25

    This movie is a joke. It's just terrible. It's history, it needs to be accurate. Oh, the humanity!

    2 out of 5 stars One of the Worst War Movies Ever.......2007-07-15

    The other customers are WAY too kind in their reviews of this turkey. The multitude of inaccuracies and exaggerations in this movie might be forgiven if they weren't further compounded by more drawbacks: wooden, cliched characters (Henry Fonda's); worn-out storylines (James MacAruthur's); corny dialogue . . . For the incredible all-star cast, the acting is, well, OVERacting.

    I liked this thing as a kid but it's almost unwatchable for me now. It looks even worse compared to more modern productions, especially Saving Priate Ryan.

    For a far more realistic, gripping, and intelligent film on the Battle of the Bulge, watch the 1949 classic, Battleground. One of the most underrated war films ever.
    A Paratrooper's Story - 101st Airborne WWII Diary
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      A Paratrooper's Story - 101st Airborne WWII Diary

      Manufacturer: Guy Anhorn Video Documentaries
      ProductGroup: DVD
      Binding: DVD

      World War IIWorld War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video
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      Product Features:
      • 90 minute Five-part WWII Documentary
      • Interviews with 101st Airborne Paratroopers who were there.
      • Fort Benning - England - D-Day - Operation Market Garden - Battle of the Bulge - Bastogne
      • Reviewed by the New York Times
      • An all NEW independent historical film project

      ASIN: B000NW8S8G

      Product Description

      A NEW World War II Documentary recently reviewed in the New York Times. This 5-Part independent project, filmed in a style similar to Ken Burns, follows the real-life story of a Philadelphia teenager who left his large Irish family to join the famous 101st Airborne Division during WWII. The film uses only real voices of WWII airborne veterans rather than voice-over narration. These aging troopers describe their personal war, one place and one incident at a time in the largest conflict in human history. Humble heroes recount jump training at Fort Benning; brief romances in England and a night jump into Normandy. The lone survivor of C-47 Plane #5, tells how his "lucky $20 bill" was signed by everyone before taking off to an unknown fate. A second combat jump into Holland precedes 72 days along Hell's Highway. These troopers came home with not only Purple Hearts, but also traumatic memories that still resonate as if they happened yesterday. Sisters and brothers describe a trooper's teenage years before their world was turned upside down after December 7th 1941. This story ends in the small town of Bastogne, soon to become a household word after the Christmas of 1944. Lives of a young Belgian boy and a paratrooper not much older, are miraculously saved and reconnected with a Prayer Card ...returned after 62 years. A year in the making, this independent documentary project uses interviews, vintage wartime Philadelphia home movies, personal photo collections, captured German film and material from the National Archives never seen before. The band of brothers weren't the only ones with a story. These veterans of the 501st & 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiments share some their most vivid memories for the first and probably the last time. Directed and edited by independent filmmaker and Vietnam Veteran Guy Anhorn, the project features original music, A Paratroopers Theme by Zak Rosa and My Brothers & Me by Chris Winward. See Part 2 on YOUTUBE
      Henry Fonda - The Signature Collection (Advise and Consent / Battle of the Bulge / Mister Roberts / The Wrong Man)
      Average customer rating: 3 out of 5 stars
      • More of a discount bundle than a signature collection
      • Great bunch of movies!
      • misguided fans
      • Limited selection
      • Waste of Time
      Henry Fonda - The Signature Collection (Advise and Consent / Battle of the Bulge / Mister Roberts / The Wrong Man)
      Starring: Henry Fonda
      Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
      ProductGroup: DVD
      Binding: DVD

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      2. Gary Cooper - The Signature Collection (Sergeant York / The Fountainhead / Dallas / Springfield Rifle / The Wreck of the Mary Deare) Gary Cooper - The Signature Collection (Sergeant York / The Fountainhead / Dallas / Springfield Rifle / The Wreck of the Mary Deare)
      3. Humphrey Bogart - The Signature Collection, Vol. 2 (The Maltese Falcon Three-Disc Special Edition / Across the Pacific / Action in the North Atlantic / All Through the Night / Passage to Marseille) Humphrey Bogart - The Signature Collection, Vol. 2 (The Maltese Falcon Three-Disc Special Edition / Across the Pacific / Action in the North Atlantic / All Through the Night / Passage to Marseille)
      4. Clark Gable - The Signature Collection (Dancing Lady / China Seas / San Francisco / Wife vs. Secretary / Boom Town / Mogambo) Clark Gable - The Signature Collection (Dancing Lady / China Seas / San Francisco / Wife vs. Secretary / Boom Town / Mogambo)
      5. Motion Picture Masterpieces Collection (David Copperfield 1935 / Marie Antoinette 1938 / Pride and Prejudice 1940 / A Tale of Two Cities 1935 / Treasure Island 1934) Motion Picture Masterpieces Collection (David Copperfield 1935 / Marie Antoinette 1938 / Pride and Prejudice 1940 / A Tale of Two Cities 1935 / Treasure Island 1934)

      ASIN: B000FZETSY
      Release Date: 2006-09-19

      Amazon.com

      Otto Preminger expanded his vision in the 1960s with a whole series of ambitious, expansive dramas with huge casts and big themes. Advise and Consent, an examination of deal making, party politics, and congressional diplomacy in Washington's legislative halls (based on the novel by Allen Drury), is one of his best. Preminger broke the blacklist with his previous film, Exodus, and it rings through in this drama about a controversial nominee for secretary of state (a confident, stately Henry Fonda) accused of being a Communist. The nomination process becomes the center ring of the political circus, with fidgety accuser Burgess Meredith in the spotlight; devious, silver-tongued Charles Laughton cracking the whip as a southern senator with a grudge against Fonda; and party whip Walter Pidgeon lining up votes behind the scenes. Arm twisting and diplomatic hardball turns to perjury and blackmail, and a melodramatic twist gives this lesson in party politics a salacious soap opera dimension.

      The German offensive in December 1944 became the basis for the all-star Hollywood Battle of the Bulge. Henry Fonda is an officer who predicts the assault, Robert Ryan and Dana Andrews are Army brass skeptical of his intuitions, and Robert Shaw is a German officer leading the tank attack. Shaw is certainly the most compelling thing about the film, especially in his philosophical debates with ambivalent underling Hans Christian Blech. Elsewhere, the movie jumps around to sidebar stories (cowardly James MacArthur becomes a leader, wheeler-dealer Telly Savalas falls in love) while messing around with the historical facts of the battle. There are interesting episodes, such as the Malmedy massacre of American POWs and the Germans' use of English-speaking spies, but overall Battle of the Bulge has the feeling of having been patched together from different scripts. On the physical level the movie comes up short, with the Spanish locations rarely suggesting the wintry misery of the battle, and the use of models and studio sets highly inadequate. A number of war films from this era are compelling on their own terms, but in the wake of Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers, this one looks antique.

      Henry Fonda re-created his Broadway hit Mister Roberts for the 1955 film that was mostly directed by Fonda's frequent collaborator, John Ford (Young Mr. Lincoln, My Darling Clementine)--an ailing Ford was replaced at some point by Mervyn LeRoy--and the results are exceptionally fine. A perfect cast, including James Cagney's irascible captain, William Powell's thoughtful physician, and Jack Lemmon's Oscar-winning Ensign Pulver, give Fonda the right boost to portray his ennui-burdened officer with dignity, self-effacing humor, and not a trace of self-pity. A wonderful film.

      Alfred Hitchcock was fond of telling the story about how his father discouraged his son from even the slightest criminal impulse by having young Alfred locked in a police holding cell for a brief period--a terrifying experience Hitchcock never forgot. Much of the fear from that childhood incident resonates through The Wrong Man, which is unique among Hitchcock's films in that it is based entirely on a factual case that occurred in New York City in January 1953. As Hitchcock states in a shadowy prologue, authenticity was his primary goal--including the use of actual names and locations from the case--and the film gains considerable power from Hitchcock's semi-documentary approach (a film noir style that was still in vogue when Hitchcock shot this film in 1957). Henry Fonda is perfectly cast as the financially struggling nightclub musician who is mistakenly identified as a robber when he attempts to cash in his wife's life-insurance policy to pay for her much-needed dental work. Vera Miles is equally superb as the suffering wife, who ultimately cracks under the pressure of her husband's wrongful accusation and the drawn-out process of proving his innocence. Through all of this, Hitchcock pays close attention to the mundane details of police procedure, intensifying Fonda's desperation and the narrative tension that was Hitchcock's directorial trademark. As it happens, the strict adherence to factual detail--no matter how absurd or incredible--also renders The Wrong Man somewhat weaker than Hitchcock's classic plots, since in this case truth is decidedly stranger than fiction. Nevertheless, this is still a riveting film that fits quite nicely alongside Hitchcock's better-known films of the 1950s.

      Customer Reviews:

      2 out of 5 stars More of a discount bundle than a signature collection.......2007-06-03

      This entire collection was probably a bad idea for several reasons, but not because these aren't good movies.

      1. All of these movies are available individually on DVD and were for some time before this collection was released. Thus, this set really only works as a discount collection because you are buying all four DVDs together versus the individual price.

      2. Three of the four movies are in other Warner Home Video DVD collections. "Advise and Consent" is in the "Controversial Classics" collection. It is an excellent set, and if you are a collector of classic movies you are probably going to eventually want that one. Also, if you are a fan of Alfred Hitchcock, "The Wrong Man" is also included in the "Alfred Hitchcock Signature Collection", which is also a very good set. "Battle of the Bulge" is in the "World War II Collection - Battlefront Europe", also an excellent set. This leaves you with "Mr. Roberts" as the only DVD that isn't already in some other Warner Home Video collection. It is notable not only for Fonda's excellent performance but for the fact that it was the beloved William Powell's last appearance in a motion picture and one of Jack Lemmon's first.

      3. Finally, let's face it, Fonda's best work was probably done in films under the control of 20th Century Fox, not in the films controlled by Warner Home Video. However, I have to wonder, with all of the duplication going on in this set, why didn't Warners include two excellent films starring Fonda that were made for Warner Brothers - 1963's "Spencer's Mountain", which was the basis for the TV series "The Waltons", and 1966's "Big Hand for the Little Lady", which is not even on DVD yet.

      Nobody else has mentioned the extras on the individual DVD's, so I do that next:

      Advise and Consent - There is a commentary track by Drew Casper who seems to really love everything Otto Preminger ever did. There is also a theatrical trailer that runs four minutes that has "making-of" footage. Unfortunately that footage acts as a spoiler for the plot.

      Battle of the Bulge - There are two featurettes included. "The Filming of Battle of the Bulge" runs nine minutes and is narrated by Henry Fonda. "History Re-Created" is an eight minute program with short interviews with producer Milton Sperling and star Robert Shaw. There is also a theatrical trailer.

      Mr. Roberts - Includes an excerpt of an Ed Sullivan Toast of the Town tribute episode with comments from producer Leland Hayward and scenes acted by James Cagney, Henry Fonda, and Jack Lemmon. You also get a clip from a documentary (Fonda on Fonda) which covers Henry Fonda's involvement with both the play and the movie, as well as a moment from a tribute at the Kennedy Center Honors. Jack Lemmon provides partial commentary on the movie.

      The Wrong Man - Includes a 20-minute documentary featurette from Laurent Bouzereau that is pretty interesting. Also included is the theatrical trailer.

      I would say that if you want all four of these films and know for a fact you will never want any of the three DVD Collections that contain three of the four included films, this set acts as a good discount bundle. Otherwise, just get "Mr. Roberts".

      5 out of 5 stars Great bunch of movies!.......2007-03-05

      I bought this set because it had two of my favorite Henry Fonda movies included - Mister Roberts and Battle of the Bulge. I already owned Advise and Consent from another movie collection, but The Wrong Man was a new one for me. An excellent way to spend a weekend!

      5 out of 5 stars misguided fans.......2006-12-31

      I don't understand all of these negitive reviews. Are not the films in this box set all good? The answer is yes and 5 stars if you are a Henry Fonda fan. I'm so sick of people giving poor ratings to a box. It's the movies that you should rate in the box. Stop being mad at a company that releases a few films in a bundle. If you already have the movies then don't buy the damn box set, but at least give these good movies from a fine actor the reviews that they deserve.

      And liezl (the connoisseur) You should pay attention to what you are reviewing!

      E. Where is his work with John Ford? Answer- MISTER ROBERTS is a John Ford movie.

      3 out of 5 stars Limited selection.......2006-09-15

      I do agree with other reviews - there's not much here and it's all already available. But I do have to comment on something I see over and over in these reviews - Warner Brothers doesn't own the rights to every movie ever made. The reason they can't include his great Western "Once Upon a Time in the West" is because the rights are owned by Paramount Pictures, and "Grapes of Wrath" is owned by 20th Century Fox, just to name two.

      1 out of 5 stars Waste of Time.......2006-09-12

      Henry Fonda is one of Hollywood's icons and one of my favorite actors. Mr. Fonda has such a prolific film career that one can easily put together a sizable box set e.g. John Wayne's.
      The films selected in this collection makes no sense and didn't do Mr. Fonda justice. Very few people will be interested in ordering it. 1 star is for Mr. Fonda.
      Christmas Memories  - 1944 --- The Battle of The Bulge
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Christmas Memories - 1944 --- The Battle of The Bulge

        Manufacturer: CustomFlix
        ProductGroup: DVD
        Binding: DVD

        DVDs Under $14.99DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video
        ( C )( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
        World War IIWorld War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video
        World War IIWorld War II | Military & War | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video
        Similar Items:
        1. American Experience: The Battle of the Bulge American Experience: The Battle of the Bulge
        2. Battle of the Bulge: A Battle not Forgotten Battle of the Bulge: A Battle not Forgotten
        3. Battle of the Bulge Battle of the Bulge

        ASIN: B00077RGRQ
        Release Date: 2006-07-13

        Product Description

        Winston Churchill called it "The Greatest Battle of World War II" and he was probably right. Now it is 60 years past and few of the "Veterans of The Battle of The Bulge" remain to tell the story. Some cannot tell the story because the pain is too great. Others manage the pain, urging themselves to tell this heroic story for posterity. It was the last great effort by Hitler's war machine to stop the Allied advance into the Fatherland and push them back to the sea. Just a few days before Christmas, 1944, in the American Sector of the Ardennes Forest, the Nazi Army launched its attack. It was one of the coldest winters on record. Snow was two feet deep with drifts five feet deep. The ensuing weeks were among the deadliest of the entire war for both sides. The National Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge organized in 1981 and now has more than 50 chapters in the United States and Europe. Mr. Buch, a former president of the Picatinny Chapter in New Jersey, encouraged fellow veterans to sit for interviews of their most vivid memories of Christmas, that year. The resulting one-hour video is now available on DVD. Bonus footage of 'home movie' reels shot mostly by Mr. Buch in training and at war in Europe is included on the DVD. One reel depicts a newly libertated concentration camp. There is a stark contrast between the old veterans telling their memories and the young soldiers captured on film in the 1940's. This is an informative and educational film experience.
        Tanks: Battle of the Bulge Part 2
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Tanks: Battle of the Bulge Part 2

          Manufacturer: Eagle Rock Entertainment
          ProductGroup: DVD
          Binding: DVD

          World War IIWorld War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video
          ASIN: B000SKJ2GU
          Release Date: 2007-06-25
          Battle of the Bulge: A Battle not Forgotten
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            Battle of the Bulge: A Battle not Forgotten

            Manufacturer: CustomFlix
            ProductGroup: DVD
            Binding: DVD

            ( B )( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
            World War IIWorld War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video
            Similar Items:
            1. Christmas Memories  - 1944 --- The Battle of The Bulge Christmas Memories - 1944 --- The Battle of The Bulge
            2. American Experience: The Battle of the Bulge American Experience: The Battle of the Bulge
            3. Saving Private Ryan (Special Limited Edition) Saving Private Ryan (Special Limited Edition)

            ASIN: B000FJP3HG
            Release Date: 2006-07-13

            Product Description

            A documentary of the experiences of five WW2 veterans in the Battle of the Bulge. The Battle of the Bulge was the largest battle of WW2 and America's first winter battle since George Washington fought at Valley Forge. The veterans share their war experiences when Hitler launched a surprise attach with 250,000 Germans attacking 80,000 Americans. The film closes with the veterans giving their perspective on their experiences 60 years later. The film includes actual battle footage and WW2 reenactment footage.

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