The Lost Battalion

Amazon.com

The true World War I story of an American unit that was surrounded by German troops and pounded mercilessly for days (at times even by its own artillery) is vividly portrayed in this made-for-television film starring Rick Schroder. Playing a patrician New York City lawyer commissioned a major and sent into combat, Schroder commands a battalion composed of New York wiseacres as well as so-called "apple knockers" from the West. The plot is straightforward (and will be familiar to those who know World War I history), but the film rises above what could have been a clichéd telling of the story of Major Whittlesey and his heroic men. The action sequences, shot tightly with hand-held cameras, owe a debt to Saving Private Ryan, and the surreal horror of World War I, in which armies killed with machine guns yet communicated by carrier pigeon, is conveyed very well. --Robert J. McNamara

Customer Reviews:

Nomination for best war film ever?.......2007-09-11

Mud, dirt, smoke, blood, dust, confusion, bad communications, privation and the scream of the wounded. As any grunt can attest, these are the realities of the foot soldier (okay, throw in the bad chow and wet socks). These are the things Hollywood oftens misses, because they are not glamorous. Many reviewers have compared this to "Saving Private Ryan," which was a Hollywood War story. This film is in a whole other class, this is a soldiers' story set in wartime. I think a better comparison might be "Hamburger Hill" No matter, forget comparisons - this film stands on its own as one of the best War films ever made. That it is a true story about a little known portion of the War that shaped the map we know today, makes it an imperative history lesson. That it depicts, realistically, what the citizen-soldiers of our country overcome with resiliency and determination, in every war, in the name of freedom, makes it a "must see" movie.

If the Bullets Don't Get em the Gas Will.......2007-08-28

Excellent gritty WWI movie. Ricky Schroder does a stand out performance and the rest the cast is good as well. For a TV movie the production is first rate. Any fan of war movies should catch this one. Even fans of drama will probably enjoy it. It does a great job of showing what trench warfare was like and the type of commanders they had. You will feel like you are with them up to your calves in mud and shells exploding about you. It shows the heroism and futilelity of their efforts. You get an inkling also of the statistics of soldiers that died from disease and other maladies during that time. Overall a brilliant movie and I highly recommend it.

Best War movie you never heard of.......2007-07-18

Was totally suprised by the quality of this film. One of the few movies to capture World War I in the trenches, and done so without the typical extra's presented by hollywood. A must see for anyone with even a casual interest in military history.

An unexpected find........2007-07-15

I came across the movie on cable and was immediately drawn in. It was exactly like seeing Gettysburg. Here was this epic battle recreation that I had no clue was even being made. Both are great, and really try to give you the feel of the times and battle.

I haven't bought Gettysburg, yet, I may, but The Lost Battalion I got right away. Its a great story, and at first I didn't know how factual it was, and it was nice to learn that it is factual. There's a wealth of minor things that I would have liked done a little different, but they're easily overlooked.

Suprising...........2007-05-04

I saw this movie coming on A&E or some other channel and thought it couldn't be good. It had RICK SHROEDER in it for crime's sake! And it was a made for tv movie. Well boy was I WRONG! This movie sucks you in with its realism and its insistence on detail. Small minute details are attended to as this story of the 1918 conflict unfolds in a most horrific (and true to life) manner.

This particular version is very crisp and clear. I actually like it better than the Made For TV version that I originally saw...

Buy it!

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