This movie was doen just a few short years after the real events that this movie accurately portrays. This movie takes place during the Battle of the Bulge, and the characters are all 101st Airborne (Screaming Eagles). All of the movies extra players were in the 101st. The movie stars such greats as: Van Johnson, John Hodiak, Ricardo Montalban as Pvt Rodriguez, James Whitmore Sr as Sergeant Kenny, Richard Jaeckel as Pvt. Bettis, Don Taylor as Pvt Standiford, George Murphy as Pop Stazak, and several others. I found it is one of the more enjoyable movies on the Battle of the Bulge. It's also enjoyable to watch every time it's shown. What is your opinion on it?
Battleground is one of my favorite movies period! The character development is fantastic in the opening scenes. After the first 10 minutes, we already know what each of the central characters' pesonalities are. IMHO, a very excellent film. Battleground was nominated for 6 Academy awards and won two. (Best Picture; Best Supporting Actor-James Whitmore; Best Director; Story and Screenplay; Cinematography B/W; and Film Editing.) This was also Ricardo Montalban's first appearance in motion pictures.
I fully agree with you--it's one of my all-time favorite movies too. Did you knoiw that James Whitmore had been a Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in ww2? He sure makes a great Sergeant tho.
I've been watching it tonight. Does anyone know the tank they showed? It reminds me of the M-10, because of the open top, but the shape of the turret and hull are wrong. Is it a British vehicle?
Found a thread on this film at USMF. There are a number of screen caps from the film. There is one cap of an M18 of the 705th TD Bn: View attachment 24838
My dad told me that it did a good job of showing what life was like for the American Army during the winter of 44/55
I wass impressed that is was a low budget film that used good acting, character development, no gigantic explosions and NO outlandish heroes. Just GI's getting through a tough fight. It certainly does not glorify war, rather tells of common soldiers doing there duty ot not. It's approach reminded me of Tender Mercies, The great actor Robert Duvall in a terrifically understated role, Both are and will be better tha Fast and Furious 37., or some super hero. Always on my list of the bestv war movies. Gaines
God film. This sort of understated film making is just not possible in a big budget Hollywood film anymore. Indie films or foreign films are where we might find better stories. Being just a few short years after the war, I'm sure it didn't hurt having access to all that equipment as well as the ability to speak with people who were actually fighting the battle you are making a film about.
Thank you for bringing up the film (again). It's one I have not seen yet and now am very much interested to do so.
Lief, that would be my guess. It had low production cost and few if any expansive scenes. I imagine the snow scenes merged into a while background screen. To me it is a dated but interesting film. Good observation. Gaines
