Battleground

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Director William Wellman (The Big Heat) offered up this 1949 treatment of the Battle of the Bulge, which won Oscars for best screenplay and best cinematography. The film concentrates on the camaraderie and the divisions between the troops as they ready for the big offensive. Told in a taut narrative, the men of the 101st, led by Van Johnson, wait out the winter in the Ardennes forest to confront the German army in what would be the last major offensive of World War II. The men are demoralized and trapped, with no hope of support from the Allies as they are forced to band together and defend their position. A classically assembled war drama that nevertheless manages to be both engrossing and entertaining, Battleground is a mainstay of the genre. --Robert Lane

Description

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. Year: 1949

Customer Reviews:

The Original Band of Brothers.......2007-08-09

Long before there was the miniseries "Band of Brothers", there was "Battleground." The story of the 101st Airborne's heroic stand against Germany's final massive assault in the Ardennes - commonly referred to as the "Battle of the Bulge" - and the effects of combat on regular GIs. This movie is as spectacular as it is underrated. Whereas movies such as "Patton" and "Battle of the Bulge" get much airplay and acclaim, "Battleground" sort of sneaks by under the radar, even though it was a fairly major film for its time. With stars such as James Whitmore, Richard Jaeckel, Van Johnson, Denise Darcel, and John Hodiak (did I forget a young Ricardo Montalban?), this film had a substantial talent pool. It also did what few films made today: it took a real event that was remarkable for its drama and importance, and did not overblow it. Rather, they "played it straight," and the result can be overwhelmingly powerful at times.

"Battleground" is a black and white picture, and it makes the images of snow "feel" colder to the eye. The lack of bright red blood is not missed - you know it is there. It is conspicuous by its absence, but again, your mind knows it is there. And you get to like these guys - you really do. And it hurts when they die. Rarely do you really get to care about soldiers in a war movie, and here you really do. Maybe it's because in real life, my uncle was one of those guys at Bastogne - or perhaps it is because it is just an excellent film.

In short, "Battleground" is easily my pick for the best film made about land combat in the European Theater (for air combat, I would say "12 O'Clock High," and for sea, it would most likely be "Das Boot.") It is simply that outstanding a movie, and if I could, I would replace the annual Patton-fest on Ted Turner's networks with it (not to short-change George C. Scott, even though he got the voice all wrong.)

If you want a great WW2 movie, get "Battleground." You will thank me.

one of the best depictions of what it was like during the Battle of the Bulge from the American point of view.......2007-08-08

What I really liked was the acting by the veteran actors (meaning experienced in the acting, not necessarily in the military sense). My favorite was James Whitmore as the tobacco chewing, gritty sergeant who kept going although his feet were frozen. Van Johnson, Ricardo Montalban, Jim Arness, Richard Jaekel and others were fantastic in their memorable roles. I will always remember Van Johnson's character with the raw eggs dripping off his steel pot. That scene where the GI is blowing smoke rings in the face of the German soldier while negotiations were going on with General McAuliffe (who answered the Germans with "Nuts!) showed the termity and stubborness of the 101st Airborne at Bastogne. I remembered those scenes when I saw it back in the 1950's as a kid. They always will be with me. They showed how human the GI was.

Technically, it is not at the same level as Saving Private Ryan, but at that time the expertise. This was before Stephen Ambrose got veterans involved in telling their stories and in the making of movies. Sure I would have liked to see more of the German soldiers and tanks, but the movie reflected the times.

OMG! My dad is portrayed in this movie. Is yours?.......2007-07-07

My father, Everest R. Kenne, died in the 1970's. I knew he'd served in the battle of the Bulge and had frozen feet in the process. He was made acting sergeant at the time and remained on the front lines despite his painful condition until he was made a cook. Can you imagine my surprise recently discovering he'd been portrayed by James Whitmore in this 1950 movie? Admittedly, he is depicted as a bit rougher character than the man I knew, and never chewed tobacco as depicted in the movie. His name is misspelled as well, in the credits as "Kinnie".

I watched the film last night and though it doesn't compare to Band of Brothers, which more fully depicts men enduring the harshness and desperation of the same battle, Battleground is a worthy offering and stands the test of time.

Triumph under fire.......2007-03-26

Being entitled Battleground you might think this film to be non-stop combat, but it isn't. It is so much more than an ordinary "war" film. One won't spy a tank in this film, for instance, until more than 90 minutes into this story; the story of the boys of the 101st who held out in Bastogne until the skies permitted aerial support to come to the rescue in this Battle of the Bulge. Skirmishes there are, however, up until this point, as a prelude---seemingly---to that which will ultimately test them; in which these soldiers show their individual mettle as well as insecurities. It's the story of a historically significant moment, but told from the vantage point of foxholes, in other words, and the GIs that dug them, holed up in them, and sprung from them to engage hostile German combatants. Van Johnson and company are convincing & the direction in this film is commendable. A number of scenes and/or specific camera shots are simply well framed & thus add to the dramatic effect of the lines being delivered by members of this fine cast. There are not that many World War Two-era films as well presented as this one. Do give it a chance (but keep in mind that it's a measured film---almost 2 hours in length, & more dramatic than action-packed). My only complaint herein or rather wish would be that they would've filmed more of Battleground beyond MGM's sound stage doors---dialogue in one particular street scene, for instance (wherein troop trucks roll into a town) bares the traces of an indoor echo. In addition, the artificial snow utilized is no better than passably realistic at times. (Do also catch another fine 'Bulge' story entitled Saints and Soldiers). (04Dec) Cheers!

Still the classic World War II movies about American G.I.s.......2004-02-02

The first twenty minutes of "Saving Private Ryan" raised the bar on the realism of war film in terms of the portrayal of the violent hell of combat. But in terms of showing us in a movie what it was like to be combat troops in World War II, the standard still remains the 1949 film "Battleground," directed by William Wellman (and I say this having loved "Band of Brothers"). The film won Oscars in 1950 for Robert Pirosh's script and Paul Vogel's black & white cinematography, and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (James Whitmore), and Best Editing (John D. Dunning).

The setting for "Battleground" is the besieged city of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge and focuses on I Company of the 101st Airborne. Pirosh had based the story on his own experiences during the battle, which including the details like Private Kippton (Douglas Fowley) always losing his false teeth and Private Rodriguez (Ricardo Montalban), who came from L.A. and had never seen snow before he got to Belgium. The situation was pretty simple: the Germans have Bastogne surrounded and the 101st is short on food and ammunition. Sgt. Kinnie (Whitmore) and the men of I Company have there sector to control, so they sit in the freezing cold, waiting for the Germans to attack and praying for the cloud cover to lift so they can get air support and supplies.

I am sure I am not the other kid from my generation who learned to do the cadence call of "Sound off," not knowing that it came from older kids who had seen this movie. This is a movie full of memorable scenes: Private Holley (Van Johnson) trying to make eggs, a checkpoint exchange that shows the importance of knowing baseball terminology like "Texas Leaguer," and a befuddled German officer trying to understand if General McAulliffe's infamous reply of "Nuts" to the demand for the 101st's surrender is a negative or an affirmative response.

For me the key moment in the film comes when I Company finally receives supplies dropped from C-47s. These guys have been freezing and pretty much starving for a week, and when they open up crates of SPAM and K-Rations, they are clearly disappointed. It is not until they find ammunition that they finally get excited. The montage of defeating the Germans is superfluous at that point, because the look in the eyes of these guys captures the moment even better.

In terms of realism I do have one slight knock on this film, in that I Company is atypical because they had winter coats (compare with the Bastogne episode of "Bad of Brothers"), but that is rather secondary to the point of this film, which is to celebrate the citizen soldier. As Holley explains to a major, "PFC" means "praying for civilian." Even when the Chaplain (Leon Ames) answers the big question, as to why these guys had to leave their families and jobs to fight in Europe, in has less to do with fascist ideology and more with the idea that the Germans were bullies throwing their weight around and killing a lot of people.

Still, "Battleground" comes down to the guys in I Company, Jarvess (John Hodiak), "Pop" (George Murphy), Layton (Marshall Thompson), Spudler (Jerome Courtland), Standiferd (Don Taylor), Hansan (Herbert Anderson), Bettis (Richard Jaeckel), Doc (Thomas E. Breen), and Sgt. Walowizc (Bruce Cowling). There is a tendency to make fun of the idea of the melting pot nature of these units, but we are talking diversity in terms of ethnicity more than racial lines and is certainly in keeping with everything I have read about the 101st. The humor in the trenches is a lot grimmer than you hear in most of these movies, an advantage of being made several years after the war ended (compare it with Wellman's 1945 film "Story of G.I. Joe").

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:

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.

WWII Collection Battle Front Europe.......2007-05-18

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

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

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!!

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.

War Double Feature: Battle Cry/Battleground

Average customer rating:

War Double Feature: Battle Cry/Battleground...
Battleground
Great addition
Battle Cry/Battleground
CAPT. MORGUS

War Double Feature: Battle Cry/Battleground
Starring: War Double Feature
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002V8OAK
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Description

Americans answer the nation's call to war in Battle Cry. Raoul Walsh (Objective, Burma!) guides a Who's Who of 1950s stars in this salute to young Marines who went to war and the women they left behind. Highlights include boot-camp training and the invasion of Saipan. Surrounded G.I.s say "Nuts!" to surrender and dig in against the enemy and winter's wrath in Battleground, Oscar winner for Best Story and Screenplay and for B&W Cinematography (1949). William A. Wellman (The Story of G.I. Joe) directs Van Johnson, James Whitmore and more in a stirring tale of "the battered bastards of Bastogne."

Customer Reviews:

War Double Feature: Battle Cry/Battleground..........2007-05-25

War Double Feature: Battle Cry/Battleground is a good value for the
money. For those involved, gritty performances, good scenes of humor,
angst, and pain. I stumbled onto Battle Cry on Cable late over several
nights, and just couldn't get through the whole movie (what can I say?
I have to work so I can buy these DVD's!!). So, I purchased it for
$10/US. The fact that "BattleGround" was an extra was a bonus in my book!

Finally, as my Dad was an World War II and Korea Army Infantry Man, I
know that he would have gotten "a kick" out of the close-order drilling
displayed in the movie. The guys in the scenes in both movies were on their job!!

My rating: Five stars!

Battleground.......2007-02-23

Even though much of Battleground was shot inside a sound-stage, there is the feel of what it's like to be an infantry rifleman, a mud-pounder, and in the worst of conditions: winter. Digging foxholes one after the other. Sleeping in them, eating in them, finding ways to eliminate one's human waste, the endless waiting, then engaging the enemy. The kill or be killed mind-set. The unnaturalness of the everyday life of a man in a foreign land having to kill people he doesn't know produces a surreal trance that every rifleman enters and finds hard to come out of (thousands never came out of that trance, and suffered their whole lives for not being able to "adjust" to non-war realities). The writer keeps just the right amount of humor going around. People in war use humor to keep from "going round the bend" - as they say in England. John Hodiak was always a solid actor (see Hitchcock's Lifeboat), and keeps centering the movie with his intelligence. And few actors could play a serious role with a lot of comedic moments better than Van Johnson (Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo). Battleground has the feel of soldering in WWII. Modern liberal societies need to be defended. Many do not like what it takes to defend a liberal society. See Battleground and you'll quickly get the feel of what it takes and learn how difficult it really is.

Great addition.......2007-01-18

This CD was a great addition to my WWII library. The movies are classics!

Battle Cry/Battleground.......2007-01-16

Movies were excellent. Shipped in 3 days of order. Very happy with service.

CAPT. MORGUS.......2007-01-16

BATTLEGROUND IS ONE OF THE THE BEST 1940'S WAR MOVIE EVER. IT IS UP THERE WITH GI JOE. IT IS EQUAL TO BAND OF BROTHERS

BATTLE CRY IS GOOD TOO. THE FORMULA WAR MOVIE, BUT WORTH A LOOK FOR SURE.

BattleGround - 21 Days on the Empire's Edge

Average customer rating:

great documentary on the Iraqi war
THE REAL THING
Day to day in Iraq
Good Film!
Finding Context in Chaos

BattleGround - 21 Days on the Empire's Edge
Starring: Sgt. Robert Hollis , Farhan al Bayati , Raed Jarrar , Lt. Col. Nate Sassaman , and May Ying Welsh
Director: Stephen Marshall (III)
Manufacturer: Homevision
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

Iraq War | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000BVNS6G
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Product Description

In late 2003, two filmmakers from the Sundance award-winning Guerrilla News Network spent three weeks on the frontlines of the simmering guerrilla war in Iraq, gathering intelligence, dodging bullets, and capturing the untold stories of what has become the world's most covered, and misunderstood, conflict. BattleGround is an irreverent journey that will challenge the orthodoxies of Left and Right, and highlight the humanity of all sides of the conflict. BattleGround will be a critical film for anyone who wants to understand the powerful forces that are sucking America deeper and deeper into a Middle Eastern quagmire. Is Iraq our generation's "Bright Shining Lie," or is it the frontline in a global battle for national survival? Or is to some combination of both?

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Exclusive Interview with Director Stephen Marshall and Producer Anthony Lappe

Lost Scenes

Breakfast at The Al Safeer

Trailer

Liner notes by Chris Chang of Film Comment

System Requirements:

Running Time 82 Mins.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

great documentary on the Iraqi war.......2007-07-31

*Battleground* is one of the few documentaries worth watching in regards to the Iraqi war. Not only is it informative but it's emotional as well.

2 filmmakers from the Guerrilla News Network (GNN) spend 3 weeks in Iraq to get a closer look in Iraq as well as its people. Rana al Aiouby is an opinionated woman who feels that Americans are shoving their culture down the throats of Iraqis. The Iraqi man that she is discussing this particular view doesn't necessarily agree with her. In fact, he feels that Iraq will benefit from America just as Germany and Japan did. In addition, al Aiouby interviews young Iraqi men on their perspectives on Americans. Predictably, Americans aren't among their favorites.

Farhan al Bayati is a well known blogger among Iraqis. Not only does he comes to Iraqi to test radiation levels among discarded military weaponry but he comes with an personal agenda. Years ago, he joined the cause to oppose Saddam Hussein. He was eventually caught, shot and nearly left to bled to death by Saddam. He was rescued by Americans. After more than 10 years, al Bayati returns to see if any of his relatives are still living. If they are, he wonders if they would recognize him. All I can say is that there were a couple of emotional scenes.

I urge you to check out this documentary. You will see various perspectives on the war by Iraqis and by American soldiers. It's interesting to see where they stand on the war. Some of them offer such provoking ponderings. But the bottom line is whether or not this war can be resolved. Can this be a reality or are we from the opposite end of the spectrum from the Iraqis to even meet halfway?

THE REAL THING.......2006-03-07

Battleground is not only great filmmaking, it gets you closer than anything i've seen yet on that so-called war. If you really what to know what's going on in Iraq from the words of the people, get under the skin of the place and begin to FEEL something about it, this is a must-see doc.

Day to day in Iraq.......2006-03-04

If you are new to the 'real' Iraq situation this DVD will be very informative. For those who are 'up to date' on issues like the Bush Administration cutting deals with Iraqi paramilitaries to help stabalise the export of oil - this DVD is old news.

Good Film!.......2006-02-23

This film gives good insight on the feelings of the Iraqi nationals about the war there and the American soldiers that are there.

Finding Context in Chaos.......2006-02-16

The 2003 invasion of Iraq was hailed as the most openly accessible war in history. While embedded journalists traveled with U.S. and British troops on the back of Humvees into battle zones, news audiences received on the ground info in real time. The images and information captured by war journos was remarkable in their proximity to conflict but the context of the information was directly framed by what the Pentagon allowed journalists to cover. You either played by the rules and got access or you were left out in the cold.
Battleground, in contrast, is an exercise in capturing the context of the invasion from a truly independent, sober perspective. Opinions of American soldiers and commanders were presented alongside actual Iraqi voices. Montages of Iraqi street scenes link powerful narratives of homegrown debates on the merits of the invasion, the emotional homecoming of a former anti-Saddam rebel forced into exile, a citizen journalist informing people on the dangers of Depleted Uranium, and the inner-workings of American Military strategies for restructuring Iraqi society. This film captures what really happened on the ground in the aftermath of a massive military campaign- without government influence. The absence of framing and ideology is a breath of fresh air in the documentary genre.
The stories captured in this film are unique and immensely informative- all stemming from the micro level. There are no voice-overs staging the flow of information. The plot is recounted by real people who find themselves in Iraq at the beginning of a new history. "Battleground" never attempts to re-write Iraq's past nor does it predict its future. Instead, the filmmakers offer the audience a lucid depiction of context- a crucial processes that was entirely absent from news coverage of the invasion.
Battleground is a must-see for anyone craving a balanced on-the-ground depiction of what really happened in Iraq in 2003. Rich in visual energy and powerful music, Battleground is not over-stylized. It is however, immensely informative, beautifully spontaneous, and an extraordinary example of bearing witness to world events and placing them in context.

Average customer rating:

Finally! Cimmarron Strip on DVD! A Fantastic Series
Great Episode of a Great TV Series
Great TV Western Series

Cimarron Strip - Battleground

Manufacturer: CustomFlix
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000EE1NTY
Release Date: 2006-07-13

Product Description

A Classic Action Adventure of the Old West on Cimarron Strip. US Marshal Jim Crown (Stuart Whitman) gets the drop on his old buddy, Bear (Telly Savalas), and a gang of cowboys when they try to terrorize the town. He jails them in a wine cellar and brings them back to their boss, cattleman Hardy Miller (Robert Wilke), the next day. When Crown discloses that Congress has canceled Government leases on land held by the cattlemen, Miller fires all but 10 of his hired hands, knowing the discharged cowboys will take vengeance against the farmers. Finally, word comes that farmer William Payne (R.G. Armstrong) is determined to lead a band of fellow-farmers across the Cimrron River, with an army of cowboys headed by the enraged Bear massing on the other side to stop them. Crown rides out in a desperate effort to avert a massacre.

Customer Reviews:

Finally! Cimmarron Strip on DVD! A Fantastic Series.......2007-09-07

I have to be honest. When this was on the air, at first I resented the series coming on CBS, because I've always been a stalwart Gunsmoke fan who admired James Arness playing US Marshal Matt Dillon, and I thought that this series was copying Gunsmoke. However, after realizing that to be fair I should watch the show, I became a fan of the series and Stuart Whitman in his version of US Marshal, Jim Crown. The series was well written, well acted, and put together very well. Of course, the reason for that was due to the fact that the same people that made Gunsmoke what it was, were doing the same thing with Cimmarron Strip. As I said, it had very good stories with wonderful guest stars. After I started liking the series, what does CBS do, they cancelled the series after one season. It was a shame because the network really didn't give it a chance, and I think that it would have continued to do well, despite the fact that the western was losing flavor with the American public because of the times and new generation. I thought that there was enough of a fan base for westerns even at that time in the late sixties that it could have survived, but then networks have never had a history of giving a series a chance at developing a following.

Thank goodness for the western channel for airing these episodes this season, and it was great to watch them again.

I have to admit that I already complained on line that I thought that selling these individual episodes at the prices they put on them was excessive, and discribed them as gouging the public. I felt that it would have been great if they sold them as a box set under one hundred dollars, but be that as it may, I'm so happy to see that they're offered at all. So I have to eat my words, and will probably end up buying them and going into further debt.

Anyway, one thing is for sure, any western fan won't be disappointed with the quality of the stories.

Enjoy!

Great Episode of a Great TV Series.......2006-11-07

Battleground is an episode from the Cimarron Strip TV series that ran on CBS from 1967-68. In the show, Stuart Whitman played US Marshal Jim Crown, who tried to keep the peace in the strip of land between Kansas and Indian territory. Crown ran his jail from the Wayfarer's Inn, a bar/hotel run by Dulcey, a young Englishwoman who came to Cimarron from New England. Crown's other friends included MacGregor, a Scotsman always searching for the perfect whiskey, and Francis Wilde, a photographer and would-be journalist who tried to make Crown a Western folk hero.

In this episode of the series, which shows what happened when Crown first came to Cimarron, features the marshal caught in the middle of a range war between cattlemen who have hired toughs and farmers looking to settle on unclaimed land. The leader of the toughs, Bear, played by Telly Savalas, is an old friend of Crown's, but he finds out quickly that Crown is determined to keep the peace, friendship aside. Actions keep developing that put Crown on a collision course with Bear and his men.

Cimarron Strip was a victim of bad timing because the Western was quickly fading into the sunset as a popular genre. Other than Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Virginian, The High Chaparral, and The Big Valley, there weren't many other Westerns that drew enough of an audience to stay on the air. This was a great show with great acting, great writing, and a great cast. The premise was a bit dodgy at times, seemingly a poor inversion of Gunsmoke, but Whitman made a great hero, and the show was produced by the same people who produced Gunsmoke. All of the episodes are pretty good, but this one is a standout because of the presence of Savalas and other Western perennials such as Warren Oates and RG Armstrong.

Battleground is a wonderful introduction to Cimarron Strip, and shows what might have been if the series had been allowed to stay on a few more years.

Great TV Western Series.......2006-08-09

This series ran one season 1967, just as the television western was at the end of it popularity. This 90 minute western starring Stuart Whitman was gritty and realistic. The series had it come to television 5 years earlier would have been rated as one of TV's all time best westerns.Much, much better than The Big Valley and Bonanza!!! From the opening theme song you will find this episode with guest star Telly Savalas riveting. Highly recommend this and the rest of the series which just came out on DVD.

Average customer rating:

It whet my appetite.
Not bad, but not great either

Trenches: Battleground WWI
Starring: Trenches-Battleground Wwi
Manufacturer: Madacy Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000CCZR8Q
Release Date: 2006-01-03

Customer Reviews:

It whet my appetite........2006-10-27

This was my first experience with the World War I on DVD, and it was a splendid introduction. It is divided into eight "Episodes," including a discussion in Episode 5 about the role of air power and pilots. Most effective for me were the segments dealing with Neuve Chapelle, the "bleed them white" offensive, Gallipli, and the sheer madness of Passchendaele, which was covered as one Episode, and Verdun, which rated several.

Almost a century later, I felt a sense of pride when Pershing and the Yanks arrived midway through the final episode.

The narrative stresses the Schlieffen plan and blames the generals for the mindless spilling of blood, two theories I've read have been rebutted by Strachan, but this set piqued my interest enough that I have ordered Strachan's The First World War - The Complete Series DVD set and his book, The First World War.

The accompanying video is often repetitive, and I found myself wondering if the locations were the ones being discussed at the time, or if they were merely stock footage. I'll be haunted by a particular scene with a soldier carrying a corpse down a trench on his shoulders. He looks up at the camera as he nears. It a touching scene, but it will be with me for a while probably because they repeated it about a dozen times.

Still, the background music is classical, though it sometimes obscures the narrator's words. And I found myself having to lean close when one of those who fought, interviewed much later, spoke.

I very much enjoyed this set, and I hope it served as a decent preface to Strachan's work, familiarizing me with battles, leaders, treaties, and generals. I recommend it for that purpose.

Not bad, but not great either.......2006-06-28

This was a fairly good overview of the first world war, but I was very dissapointed that it never even mentioned the Canadian victory at Vimy Ridge, one of the key battles of the war and very little mention of Paschendaele, one of the bloodiest battles of the war, but used nearly one entire disc on the American contribution.

Average customer rating:

Arguably, the Best WWII Movie Ever Made
The unsaid little details of the War!
who knew world war 2 could be such fun?
Classic
"the battling bastards of bastogne"

Battleground
Starring: Leon Ames , Herbert Anderson , James Arness , Scotty Beckett , and Thomas E. Breen
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0001FVE40
Release Date: 2004-05-04

Description

Customer Reviews:

Arguably, the Best WWII Movie Ever Made.......2006-09-04

Wellman and Pirosh deliver believable action and dialogue in this historical saga directly based on the events of the seige at Bastogne during the Ardennes Offensive of WWII. Casting is highly commendable with rich performances by Van Johnson, James Whitmore, John Hodiak, Ricardo Montalban, and many other up-and-coming stars like James Arness. Black and white lends itself to the stark contrasts of the bitter winter scenes. The gritty action is enhanced by the rich character-driven performances. This movie, no doubt, set the pace for the war pictures that followed.

The unsaid little details of the War!.......2006-08-18

William Wellman was by far, one the most emblematic and talented filmmakers of the American Cinema. And this film constitutes by itself another evidence that avails this statement.

The powerful and well detailed study of the character and psychological profile of this men who were part of the American troops in the famous Battle of Bulge. With an evident sources economy, Wellman made it. A memorable artistic achievement around the lives and times of a handful of soldiers, his dreams, illusions and hopes surrounded by an oppressive winter in the middle of nowhere

Of course you may argue the close resemblances of a previous and refulgent work such as "A walk in the sun", but personally this is a much more complete and ambitious in its purposes.

Recommendable in sum grade.

who knew world war 2 could be such fun?.......2006-07-04

this william wellman directed film was the best of the grunts at war movies that followed up ww2, offering a gritty and respectful view of the lives of ordinary soldiers, living thru the battle of the bulge. every member of the cast gets his chance to shine (van johnson, john hodiak, james whitmore, et al), but appropriately in an ensemble piece, nobody stars. now for the aside: my mom & dad saw this movie on their honeymoon. sigh ...

Classic.......2006-05-21

One of the great WWII movies. Being in black and white and before great special effects only makes it seem more authentic to my mind. It is realistic, the M-1's run out of ammo and eject the clips after 8 rounds and the machine guns don't fire forever. The movie focuses on a platoon, which allows you to get to know the main characters. They don't know the big picture and just try and muddle through. This was mostly the case in the Battle of the Bulge, or any battle for that matter. I liked the clautrophobic feel of the fog and snow in the Ardennes. It fits with the haunted look for the real forest and the real battle. James Witmore getting them lined up to go back to the front and then ordering About Face!!! was the perfect end to a fine film. I have been told this movie was filmed partially at Ft. Campbell, KY. This is interesting because that's the home, when the movie was made and today, of the 101st Airborne/Airmoble Division, the unit in the movie.

"the battling bastards of bastogne".......2006-01-27

this film i first saw at the age of 8 on t.v. and i loved it. now as an adult i can really see what a great film this is. the cast is full of second string mgm actors of the day. van johnson, and many others and this helps some as they don't look like movie stars and that gives this film some tenson as it goes along. this is the story of the 101st airborne and the battle of the bulge. i'll not tell you more sa you need to see this one. as a set piece to go with band of brothers, this holds up very well nad you won't want to miss this movie.

Average customer rating:

Cheap
every cent worth these dvd's
The right price
Questionable History
A very well done complete history of the U.S. in Vietnam

Battleground Vietnam: War in the Jungle
Starring: Battleground Vietnam-War in the Jungle
Manufacturer: Madacy Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000CCZR90
Release Date: 2006-01-03

Customer Reviews:

Cheap.......2007-06-12

The narrator sounds like he's reading the script for the first time, and the footage is dark, grainy, and seems unrelated to the storyline.
Even with it's "liberal bias", Vietnam: A Television History, the PBS set, is FAR superior.

every cent worth these dvd's.......2007-03-31

Trust me on this. If you want to know about the vietnam war in general and furthermore want to take a closer look at numerous
authentic scenes, origionally shot from the vietnamwar, well this is the dvd collection you want to buy. Really nice footages.. Buy it

The right price.......2006-12-06

Yes, the techinical goof of drowning out the interviewee's with sound effects is unforgivable. But it only affects those with soft voices. The interview with Adm. Stockdale & his wife is reason alone to spend $17 on this DVD set. True heroes. They are what we should all aspire to be. The historian who periodically shows up does a fantastic job at explaining why what was done where, etc.

Questionable History.......2006-07-12

Viet Nam as a country, as a history, as a people, and as a war is not easy to explain, even by someone like me who spent several years there during the war. However, if a film production company is going to try, they really should do their homework.

This collection of DVDs could have been a five-star review, given the many previously unseen video clips, from both sides of the war. However, the first red flag was that the collection was made in Canada! Although quite a few Canadians came to fight in the US forces, it is no secret that most Canadians, including the government, were against the Viet Nam war and generally anti-American, treating draft dodgers as heroes (which they are still doing). In retrospect it is easy to be a Monday morning quarterback and Canada has been very good at that!

The next problem is technical. Although most of the video is fairly good (given age, climate, etc.), much of the voice over, the on-scene spoken word and interviews are DROWNED out by the noise of the combat footage, the extremely irritating and completely useless and loud music played from time to time, or, as in one case, some supposed former "Green Beret," identified as "John," who prefers to remain in dark shadow (and is, therefore, suspect as a wannabe, or complete phony) who whispers through his on-camera scenes, which is also overridden by the very loud and irritating music. This is just very bad and unprofessional editing.

Also, historically many important FACTS leading up to US involvement in the war are glossed over or completely ignored, not the least of which was the fanatical desire of the Vietnamese to be independent - of ANYONE! This goes back hundreds of years to Trieu Au, a woman who led Vietnamese forces and fought against the Chinese for Vietnamese independance in the third century AD.

American involvement did not begin in 1959 as the set claims, but during World War II, when OSS officers (the precursor to the CIA) were dropped into Indochina and worked with the local freedom fighter forces, including Ho Chi Minh, against the Japanese - after the French had been defeated by, or had surrendered to, the Japanese. Therefore, in Vietnamese eyes, the French no longer had any claim to Indochina.

The very basis of the American involvement in the Viet Nam war is neatly glossed over at the end of WW II, showing that the French just marched back in and took over. It wasn't that simple.

As a country that prided itself on independence, self reliance and anti-colonialism, the United States, under Truman's watch, was contacted by Ho Chi Minh no less than three times asking for US aid in ridding Viet Nam of its French colonial past. Truman ignored the requests, supported the French colonists, and we ended up in a non-winable war and over 58,000 dead Americans.

Ho Chi Minh was a communist of the day out of necessity, because no other entity was anti-colonial, with the possible exception of the United States. However, above all else, Ho Chi Minh was a NATIONALIST and it is impossible to be a nationalist AND a communist. When the United States turned its back on Viet Nam, he had nowhere else to turn, but to the Soviets and the Chi-comms. Given that, when, in 1945, Ho Chi Minh addressed the people of Viet Nam, he presented them with a constitution based on that of the United States, not as a communist puppet regime.

All this is left out, but is extremely important in really understanding the US involvement in Viet Nam and the subsequent war.

If you just want to see combat footage, maybe this is for you. If you want to actually learn something, look elsewhere.

A very well done complete history of the U.S. in Vietnam.......2006-05-17

This is a 5 DVD set that starts from World War II to the evacuation in 1975. It covers details few videos have that I've ever seen. The rare footage enhances the narative that is about as complete as it gets. If you want to know how, why, and what happened with the Vietnam war, this is the DVD history to get. DVD 5 has the bonus material which has: A Day in Nam; Navy in Vietnam; Pipeline to Victory; and Progress to Peace. As I said this DVD is a complete history in all aspects of the Vietnam War. It should be shown in school history classes accross the country.

Nadia, The Secret of Blue Water - Battleground (Vol. 4)

Average customer rating:

Jean and Nadia Learn the Code of Nautilus The Hard Way (Episode 13-16)
Gainax' finest work.
Reviews For Volumes 4 & 6
Get the real stuff!!!

Nadia, The Secret of Blue Water - Battleground (Vol. 4)
Starring: Yoshino Takamori , Noriko Hidaka , Yûko Mizutani , Toshiharu Sakurai , and Akio Ôtsuka
Director: Hideaki Anno , and Shinji Higuchi
Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005QAOX
Release Date: 2001-11-06

Description

In this volume, Captain Nemo orders the crew of his amazing submarine, The Nautilus, to gather food and water on a nearby island. Marie and King, a lion cub, take the opportunity to have a little fun in the sun, but they soon find themselves being chased by minions of the evil Gargoyle! A narrow escape from one dangerous situation leads the valiant crew of The Nautilus into a deadly battle with a gigantic Garfish, an enormous sea creature. To make matters worse, the American Fleet, who still believe that Nemo's submarine is a mysterious sea monster responsible for the sinking of numerous trans-oceanic vessels, continuously pursues The Nautilus. Join Jean, Nadia, and the crew of the Nautilus as they continue their underwater journeys in this exciting new chapter of this beloved classic produced by Gainax, the creators of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Customer Reviews:

Jean and Nadia Learn the Code of Nautilus The Hard Way (Episode 13-16).......2007-08-18

The fourth volume of Hideaki Anno's first director work is about teen-pair Jean and Nadia who finds the hard code of Nautilus by a number of incidents including the death of the Nautilus crew. Series of revelation does not end there compelling Jean to realize the cruel fact about his father's fate. Nadia got hurt about what has happened and her hatred toward Captain Nemo grew.

Verdict: Very heart-wrenching part of the series requiring some handkerchieves. (Particularly epidode #15)
Rating: 89 out of 100
Recommended for: Fans of both Hideaki Anno and Hayao Miyazaki works.

Gainax' finest work........2002-05-31

Gainax Studios is something of a legend in anime circles, and deservedly so. Started when a couple of fanboys decided to go beyond being mere fans, it first created a couple videos for the large convention "Daicon", and then shifted into high gear, producing four works that are generally considered classics of the anime world: Wings of Honneamise, a startlingly realistic depiction of an alternative space program on an Earth that COULD have happened; Gunbuster:Aim For The Top!, a mecha-space opera which reaches scales of conflict beyond anything before or since; Otaku no Video, a self-parody and incisive look at the fanboy world; and Nadia: Secret of Blue Water (actual title would translate more as "Nadia of the Mysterious Sea").

Based on the world of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and using an outline created by Hayao Miyazaki (known for his magnificent works like Totoro, Laputa, Princess Mononoke, and Kiki's Delivery Service), it takes place in 1899, at the World's Expo in Paris. Young Jean, a genius inventor obsessed with flight, is present to compete in the heavier-than-air flight challenge. He is, however, smitten when a mysterious, dark-skinned girl goes by, and he chases after her. The girl, Nadia, knows nothing of her own past, not even sure of where she comes from originally; the only remainder of her past life is a huge jewel called the Blue Water. Unfortunately, the Blue Water is being sought out by a number of forces, and pursue Jean and Nadia from Paris to the open sea to hidden fortresses. Their adventures feature gadgetry ranging from simple gliders to a multi-formed Victorian steam-tech transforming gadget called the Gratan, and weapons from normal bullets to the mighty Tower of Babel, a super-weapon capable of wiping cities from the earth. Captain Nemo and his Nautilus play a large part, though their origin is different from that of Verne's original.

The music is first-rate, and most of the episodes are wonderful as well, with some being pure character interaction and others slam-bang action second to none. The only flaw in the series is the infamous "island sequence" which not only doesn't advance the plot but features second-rate animation and truly stupid plot (if it can be called that); this was apparently due to Gainax realizing they were running short of money and needed to save some for a while in order to be able to make the finale of the series live up to the beginning.

Nonetheless, this is a top-notch anime series, good for any age range, and worth viewing whether you're 9 or 90.

Reviews For Volumes 4 & 6.......2002-02-16

This page oddly is identical, review-wise, to that of Volume 6, so I'll review both volumes here instead. I will say, though, that the technical, aural, and voice acting aspects on both language tracks improve with each volume. The content for these two DVDs, however, are what distinguish them from one another:

VOL. 4: BATTLEGROUND: ***** out of *****

This is the third best of the NADIA DVDs; we are treated to more touching character development (Nadia disrespecting other people who have opinions different from hers about killing and eating meat, Jean's insatiable curiosity and love for technology and Nadia), terrific action sequences (a wonderfully paced and executed chase sequence in Episode 13 where Marie and Sanson outrun a mechanical walker), heartfelt moments (Jean painfully getting a glimpse of the dangers of technology when it claims the life of a new friend of his, as well as he and Nadia bonding throughout the volume, especially the last episode), and some truly imaginative artwork (the lost kingdom of Atlantis on the last episode). Definitely a nice pickup after Vol. 3, although not as strong as Vol. 2 or emotionally satisfying as Vol. 10.

VOL. 6: THE DEEP BLUE SEA: ***1/2 out of *****

The first two episodes are some of the best ever made in NADIA. They conclude the Nautilus episodes, and feature technically spectacular animation (an amazing feat for a late 1980's show), terrific music, and an emotionally charged climax which will leave one stunned. Unfortunately, the volume goes downhill in the second half, for we come to the studio-imposed filler episodes, ranging from mediocre to just plain awful. These first two episodes -- which begin a useless arc called "Lincoln Island" -- are filled with disjointed plotting, uneven animation, occasionally bland artwork, and some uncharacteristic antics from our characters. Although it might initially seem like a nice idea to extend the episode count from 26 to 39, the results here make one wish that the creators did exactly the opposite, for they threaten to sink (pun intended) the show. Not only do these filler episodes not suit the story, but screw up character development, waste time, and feature one too many pointless sequences for even any funny ones to hold their own ground. Be careful with this one.

OVERALL: **** out of *****

Volume 6 is obviously weaker than Volume 4, but don't let me stop you from collecting both DVDs, especially if you've been following the show thus far.

Get the real stuff!!!.......2001-11-27

This Anime-series is great!!!!! The story is a mix from 18th century lifestyle, upcoming 19th century technique, the story: 20.000 Leagues under the Sea from Jules Verne and a good portion Si-Fi.....
You get it all! The love, the submarine, the action, the fun and the tension of a fast-paced, hard-hitting storyline!
Thats FUN!! Get into the world of Jean and Nadia!!

Product Description

This is the first of 3 discs, and it stars William Hurt, Claire Forlani, Eion Bailey, William Macy, and Jacqueline McKenzie.

DVD:

DVD

DVD