thedrifter
05-27-07, 07:45 AM
Video six pack
May 27, 2007
By Robert Bong Staff writer
Memorial Day originally was designated to honor the thousands of Americans who died in the Civil War. It now honors all Americans who died defending their country, from the Revolutionary War through the current war in Iraq.
Americans have fought in 10 major wars, including the unheralded Mexican-American War of 1846-48.
More citizens were under arms during World War II than any other, and those veterans -- now in their 70s, 80s and 90s -- are dying at the rate of about 1,500 per day.
Steven Spielberg honored the soldiers who helped liberate Europe with "Saving Private Ryan." Clint Eastwood paid tribute to the Marines in the Pacific with "Flags of our Fathers."
Prisoners of war were the stars of "Stalag 17," doomed Marines were featured in "Bataan" and the attack on Dec. 7, 1941, was the setting for "Pearl Harbor."
Some films have focused on American heroes -- "Patton," "MacArthur," "Ike" -- while others have focused on specific battles, such as "Midway," "Wake Island," "Guadalcanal Diary" and "Battleground" about the Battle of the Bulge.
Here are six films available on video and DVD that pay tribute to the men and women who fought and died during World War II: Lest we forget.
"Twelve O'Clock High" (1949) -- Gregory Peck stars as a no-nonsense Army Air Corps pilot championing daylight precision bombing as a way to shorten the war. Also stars Hugh Marlowe, Gary Merrill and Dean Jagger.
"The Enemy Below" (1957) -- Robert Mitchum is a destroyer captain playing a cat-and-mouse game with a German U-boat in the South Atlantic. Also stars Curt Jurgens, David Hedison and Theodore Bikel.
"Onionhead" 1958 -- Andy Griffith turns in a dramatic performance as a cook aboard a Coast Guard cutter. Also stars Walter Matthau, Felicia Farr, James Gregory and Joey Bishop.
"Action in the North Atlantic" (1943) -- Humphrey Bogart takes command of a Liberty Ship after it gets separated from a convoy headed to Murmansk in this film about the American Merchant Marine. Also stars Raymond Massey, Alan Hale, Ruth Gordon and Dane Clark.
"Kelly's Heroes" (1970) -- Clint Eastwood talks his Army unit into staging a daring raid behind German lines to steal a stash of Nazi gold in this black comedy. Also stars Telly Savalas, Ron Rickles, Carroll O'Connor, Donald Sutherland and Gavin MacLeod.
"Sands of Iwo Jima" (1949) -- John Wayne stars as a Marine sergeant who leads his platoon through the South Pacific before it lands on Iwo Jima. Also stars John Agar, Forrest Tucker, Richard Webb and Richard Jaeckle. (Look for cameos toward the end from Ira Hayes, John Bradley and Rene Gagnon, three of the Marines who hoisted the flag on Suribachi in Japan.)
Robert Bong may be reached at bbong@dailysouthtown.com or (70 633-5930.
Ellie
May 27, 2007
By Robert Bong Staff writer
Memorial Day originally was designated to honor the thousands of Americans who died in the Civil War. It now honors all Americans who died defending their country, from the Revolutionary War through the current war in Iraq.
Americans have fought in 10 major wars, including the unheralded Mexican-American War of 1846-48.
More citizens were under arms during World War II than any other, and those veterans -- now in their 70s, 80s and 90s -- are dying at the rate of about 1,500 per day.
Steven Spielberg honored the soldiers who helped liberate Europe with "Saving Private Ryan." Clint Eastwood paid tribute to the Marines in the Pacific with "Flags of our Fathers."
Prisoners of war were the stars of "Stalag 17," doomed Marines were featured in "Bataan" and the attack on Dec. 7, 1941, was the setting for "Pearl Harbor."
Some films have focused on American heroes -- "Patton," "MacArthur," "Ike" -- while others have focused on specific battles, such as "Midway," "Wake Island," "Guadalcanal Diary" and "Battleground" about the Battle of the Bulge.
Here are six films available on video and DVD that pay tribute to the men and women who fought and died during World War II: Lest we forget.
"Twelve O'Clock High" (1949) -- Gregory Peck stars as a no-nonsense Army Air Corps pilot championing daylight precision bombing as a way to shorten the war. Also stars Hugh Marlowe, Gary Merrill and Dean Jagger.
"The Enemy Below" (1957) -- Robert Mitchum is a destroyer captain playing a cat-and-mouse game with a German U-boat in the South Atlantic. Also stars Curt Jurgens, David Hedison and Theodore Bikel.
"Onionhead" 1958 -- Andy Griffith turns in a dramatic performance as a cook aboard a Coast Guard cutter. Also stars Walter Matthau, Felicia Farr, James Gregory and Joey Bishop.
"Action in the North Atlantic" (1943) -- Humphrey Bogart takes command of a Liberty Ship after it gets separated from a convoy headed to Murmansk in this film about the American Merchant Marine. Also stars Raymond Massey, Alan Hale, Ruth Gordon and Dane Clark.
"Kelly's Heroes" (1970) -- Clint Eastwood talks his Army unit into staging a daring raid behind German lines to steal a stash of Nazi gold in this black comedy. Also stars Telly Savalas, Ron Rickles, Carroll O'Connor, Donald Sutherland and Gavin MacLeod.
"Sands of Iwo Jima" (1949) -- John Wayne stars as a Marine sergeant who leads his platoon through the South Pacific before it lands on Iwo Jima. Also stars John Agar, Forrest Tucker, Richard Webb and Richard Jaeckle. (Look for cameos toward the end from Ira Hayes, John Bradley and Rene Gagnon, three of the Marines who hoisted the flag on Suribachi in Japan.)
Robert Bong may be reached at bbong@dailysouthtown.com or (70 633-5930.
Ellie