Theirs is the Glory is very special, being more of a documentary reconstruction than a drama film, using as it did, veterans of the battle, both Airborne and civilian, including Maj Freddie Gough of 1st Airborne Recce and filmed in the very locations, only a year or so after the battle happened.
We have the pleasure of Brian Desmond Hurst the Directors Nephew Allen Smith attend our museum on many occasions. Hurst made such classics as The Malta Story starring Alec Guiness as the lone Spitfire pilot.
Allen has the complete detail on how Hurst wanted to reconstruct the Battle for Arnhem using ONLY men that had fought there the year before and using all of the damage and destruction around the town to feature in the film, which was still evident.
The only visual reconstruction was the bridge which he tells us was a painting in the background...........amazing.
A real classic.
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
Just watched Danger Close about Long Tan it was a reasonable film about the battle although they played down the part the APC's played in saving the day and the crossing of the flooded river with only a couple of inches to spare free board before they were swamped (Read it in my book I have " Long Tan and Beyond Alpha Company & RAR in Vietnam 1966-67 By Lieutenant Colonel Charles S Mollison")
Not sure on the hostilities portrayed in the command center back at the base have not read that yet and doubt if it would be included in the book.
Also the part the NZ gun batteries played in keeping the enemy under the hammer not as good as Once we were Soldiers but our film industry does not have the engine room that Hollywood has still worth while watching though.
When Trumpets Fade
Valkyrie
A Bridge Too Far
On Wings of Eagles
Hamburger Hill
Platoon
Full Metal Jacket
Saving Private Ryan
We Were Soldiers
Thin Red Line
Have to agree with Saving Private Ryan being a powerful film. It's kind of an anti-war movie but I have always liked "Too Late the Hero", probably mostly because it depicts the war in the Pacific which most films don't. A Bridge Too Far is good, and Guns of Navarone, while fiction, is a good watch. Wings is an old classic, and the first All Quiet on the Western Front is powerful. There are a couple of post-war movies, like "Berlin Express" which are filmed in Berlin and clearly depict the total devastation there.
WE WERE SOLDIERS has to encapsulate everything a soldier goes through, from the sharp end to families and what they suffer when men and women are on operations.......brilliant piece of work.
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
I can recommend films from the Russian Mosfilm studios from the 50s to the present day. Especially film's like Come and see. The father of a soldier etc. They have been making quality patriotic films since the war. The vast majority of them don't have subtitles. But I can live with that as I find the production that good. Just bung it on YouTube and sit back.
and filmed in the very locations, only a year or so after the battle happened.
PM
Originally Posted by CINDERS
