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Reviews
Cerný prapor (1958)
I've Looked For This Movie All My Life
KHJ-Channel 9 In Los Angeles used to feature foreign films back in the 1960s. Some of the best Russian, French and Japanese movies ever filmed made their appearance in those days. Many were so unforgettable that I've spent a lifetime looking for them. This was one of them.
This one tells the story of young Czech Václav Maly (Jaroslav Mares) who survives the German concentration camps of WWII and his quest for revenge. Having survived the concentration camp that saw the deaths of his father and sister, the young man searches for the lead SS guard Wolf (Hannjo Hasse) who escaped from the Allies. He finds the guard had joined the French Foreign Legion and is fighting the war in French Indo-China. So the young man joins the Foreign Legion and volunteers for Indo-China and somehow gets assigned to the same unit as the guard. Wolf is now a lieutenant and platoon leader of a Foreign Legion unit fighting a desperate battle against the Viet Minh in the last days of the war.
Aside from fighting a deadly foe, the Legionnaires are also suffering at the hands of the brutal leadership of LT Wolf, who had not changed his ways, and his Platoon Sergeant Storch (Kurt Oligmüller). Near the end of the movie, some of the men attempt to desert, but their plans are found out and they are arrested. However, one of them manages to murder Sergeant Storch and he is condemned to death by firing squad.
The rest of the platoon are sent on a road clearing operation through a pass in the mountains notorious for ambushes. Though the pass is deceptively quiet, LT Storch suspects a Viet Minh ambush and asks for a volunteer to accompany him on a leader's reconnaissance. Legionnaire Maly volunteers.
In one of the most memorable and dramatic scenes I have ever seen play out in a war movie, LT Storch realizes that Maly intends to kill him but cannot refuse his offer in front of his men. He fatalistically accepts and together the two walk side-by-side down the road to their fate. As they walk they don't look at each other but both release the safeties on their MAT-49 submachine guns.
They walk around a bend of the road and all you hear is automatic weapons firing. Maly's closest comrade looks in their direction, and then looks upward to the sky with a despairing look on his face as the move ends. You never know who came back alive. I read that in an alternate ending that neither returned.
In his book, Street Without Joy, the historian Bernard Fall tells a similar story of a Romanian Jew who survived the concentration camps and swears revenge against the guard that killed his family. After the war, when he hears the guard had joined the Foreign Legion and is in Indo-China, the man deserts the Israeli Army, joins the Foreign Legion, joins the guard's unit and kills him in the same scenario as the movie. He is honorably discharged after his enlistment is up, returns to Israel where he is court martialed for desertion and after the circumstances of his desertion is revealed, he is sentenced to one year in prison that is suspended.
This is one of the best movies about the French Indo-China War I've ever seen and depicts the deadly, gritty hopelessness of fighting a war that is already lost. But as professional soldiers, they fight on until told it is over. That is what professional soldiers do.
Brooklyn Bridge (1991)
Any Boomer Can Relate to This Series
I'm not Jewish and I've never lived in Brooklyn, but any boomer can relate to the sentiments and experiences that you would have felt growing up in a family of immigrants in the 1950s and 1960s. I remember watching the first episode in the Fall of 1991 and wanting to see more. Unfortunately, I was off to war and never saw another episode again until they started airing the series on the Decades Channel this year. My hats off to the late Gary David Goldberg for producing this series. His childhood will live on as long as this series remains on TV.
One Step Beyond: Signal Received (1961)
A Tribute to HMS Hood
I saw this episode when it first aired and it was such a vivid episode that I still remember the details 57 years later. Three sailors from the battle-cruiser HMS Hood are on leave during WWII when they hear a radio report that their ship has been sunk. Checking with the watch officer, they find their ship is still in port at Scapa Flow undergoing refit. They later see a newspaper headline stating HMS Hood has been sunk.
Certain now they are seeing their future, the three sailors are suddenly recalled back to their ship for an urgent mission. However, one sailor receives orders immediately sending him to officer training and he bids a sad farewell to his shipmates.
At the end of the episode, Robert Newland introduces the sailor who missed the voyage to the audience, Robin Hughes. Then a reserve naval commander in the Royal Navy, he confirms the story as true. At the end of the episode, film footage of the mighty HMS Hood in her glory days is shown as a tribute to her heroic loss.
As every schoolboy of that time (1961) knew, HMS Hood was the pride and joy of England and served as the flagship of the Royal Navy. Her last voyage was in pursuit of the infamous German battleship Bismarck. HMS Hood was sunk by Bismarck when a shell hit her magazine, causing her to explode. There were only three survivors. As the HMS Hood's "fourth survivor", Robin Hughes was also a noted actor at the time who died in Los Angeles in 1989.
Episodes for the last season (1960-1961) of this series were filmed in England. Robert Newland convinced the producers to move filming there and to feature supernatural incidents that took place in England in the hope of improving ratings there. This was one of those episodes and one of the best and most memorable of this series.
One Step Beyond: The Dark Room (1959)
One of The Scariest Scenes I've Ever Seen on TV
This episode features a very gorgeous looking Cloris Leachman and one of the scariest visions of evil I have ever seen portrayed on TV. Ms. Leachman plays an American photographer looking to photograph local residents in rural France for a magazine. After asking her landlady to refer potential subjects, a man (Marcel Dalio) suddenly appears in her studio whom she presumes was sent by her landlady.
As she proceeds to photograph the man, she asks that he remember something sad or something he did that he now "regrets" so that she could capture his expression on film. Right before your very eyes, this benign, harmless looking man turns into the most frightful expression of evil I have ever seen. He flies into a rage and attempts to kill Ms. Leachman.
She manages to escape by locking herself in her darkroom, but when the police arrive, no one believes her story because no one recognizes the man she describes. When she develops the photos, the chair the man sat on is empty.
However, an understanding detective shows her a photograph of a man who died in 1926 whom she recognizes as the man who tried to kill her. The detective goes on to tell Ms. Leachman that the man was executed in 1926 for murdering his wife in the very same room that serves as her studio.
Many reviewers of this episode have raved about Ms. Leachman's acting and beauty. She was Miss Chicago 1946 and almost 13 years later, she is in her early 30s and still looking gorgeous in the fashions she wore for this episode. However, in my opinion Marcel Dalio steals the show by simply changing the expression on his face. The French character actor appeared in many notable movies such as Casablanca, Sabrina, To Have and Have Not and Donovan's Reef (as the lovable priest). A superb actor, without saying a word he displays true acting ability in this episode that few possess.
The series was always one of my favorites that featured compelling stories on par with and sometimes better than the Twilight Zone. I loved both shows and watch them every chance I get.
Police Story: Little Boy Lost (1975)
Based on a True Incident
This episode is by far one of the best in the series and was what kept me coming back for more. This story is based on a true case involving the disappearance of a 4 year old boy from his front yard in Sylmar in February 1966. In one of the largest missing persons search in Los Angeles history, hundreds of people spend 10 days searching for the little boy who vanished while riding his tricycle in front of his house. And just like in this episode, the little boy was found drowned in the swimming pool in his own back yard. After the search was suspended, the father was looking out his back window drinking coffee one rainy Saturday morning when he spotted the body of his son floating in the swimming pool.
The pool had not been cleaned nor drained since the previous fall, and it was murky, dirty and covered with leaves. Two teams of deputies had searched the pool on the second and third day of the search without results. Though the county coroner determined the little boy drowned, the father never accepted the verdict and believed his son had been abducted and killed and later placed in the pool. He claimed the gates leading from the front yard to the pool area were locked and could not be opened by a 4 year old boy.
It is a curious coincidence that the child serial killer Mack Ray Edwards lived only blocks from the young boy's house. His forte was kidnapping, sexually molesting and killing young boys 4 years and older.
Tour of Duty: Under Siege (1988)
The Battle for Firebase Ladybird
In my opinion, "Under Siege" ranks as one of the top five episodes of this series if not the best. It is as good a depiction of close combat in Vietnam as any other movie can show. The platoon is assigned to Firebase Ladybird at the beginning of the 1968 Tet Offensive. As they come under attack by NVA regulars, the company is assigned a new commander, CPT Larry Heath (Kristoffer Tabori), to replace CPT "Rusty" Wallace (Kevin Conroy). Coming from a staff job at headquarters, the new commander is a mixed blessing. He initially shows his competence and connections with higher command. But he soon shows that he is driven by ambition to be the "best company commander" in Vietnam when it comes to body counts and combat effectiveness. Those ambitions soon develop into conflict with LT Goldman (Stephen Caffrey) and SFC "Zeke" Anderson (Terence Knox) whose only ambitions at this point of the war is to survive and to bring as many of their men home alive.
Some key points that I like about the episode includes a disagreement between CPT Heath and LT Goldman over the enemy's intentions. While CPT Heath believes the enemy will bypass the firebase as they drive on Da Nang, LT Goldman disagrees stating the enemy will not leave an active firebase in their rear. One of the most difficult things for combat leaders in wartime is to discern the enemy's intentions. I cannot tell you how many times we had this argument during my combat tour. Everyone has an opinion of what the enemy may do, and intel sometimes helps to discern this. But the enemy does not always do what you expect. In this case, to me the opinions of both characters in this scene could have been correct which makes this episode that more realistic.
The other good point about this episode is that it showed the unrelenting determination of the NVA soldier. The relentless attack by the NVA on the firebase is realistic and shows that nothing seems to be able to stop their determination to take the firebase at all costs. This episode more than any other shows what a relentless and determined foe we faced during that war. Even our heroes barricading themselves in the command bunker does not stop the NVA. The NVA start digging into the bunker pulling out sandbags to get at them. It is only when "Zeke" pulls a surprise on them that they finally withdraw.
The soldier behavior and interaction is what always got me to watch this series. When I see the characters in this series, I see the soldiers that served under me with all the camaraderie, the rivalries, the unlikely friendships, the schemes and scams to get out of duty or to get their way, the fear and worries.
Some great scenes include when African-American Taylor (Miguel A. Nunez Jr.) gives Nisei American "Doc" Matsuda (Steve Akahoshi) his mama's religious good luck charms because if he wanted anyone to get out this alive, it would be the doc. Doc, who aspires to be a real doctor, gives a good scene when he explains why his father valued education after they lost everything when they were interned during WWII. He tells Taylor, "One thing they can't take away from you is your education." The naive FNG Caldwell (Ched Parrott) with the GI issue glasses from a previous episode, is seriously wounded in this episode. The NVA taunting the soldiers with loudspeakers and the ARVN interpreter insulting the enemy in back is great.
The end of the episode is unforgettable. With the firebase devastated with heavy loses (to include Doc), the relief force commander, LTC Dalby (played with chilling realism by Bruce Gray), congratulates the survivors for their "terrific victory". "The kill ratio must be 11 to 1," he exclaims and hopes there are more days like this. In the closing scene, as helicopters evacuate the dead and wounded, a torn, tattered and burnt American flag continues to wave in the wind.
The Walking Dead: JSS (2015)
Savage and Intense Close Combat
This was by far one of the best episodes if not the best of the series. The savagery of the attack on Alexandria and the intensity of the Alexandrians defending themselves made me feel like I hadn't felt since I was in combat 25 years ago. Though I like watching the Talking Dead afterwards, I had to turn off the TV and calm down a bit. Then I turned it back on to watch the encore to see it again!
The "Wolves" thought taking down Alexandria would be like slaughtering sheep. But as Rick stated so eloquently in Season 5, the surviving Wolves probably felt pretty stupid when they found they messed with the wrong people. They should have figured that out when Spencer (Austin Nichols) stopped them at the beginning from breaching the walls by riddling the cab of the semi with automatic weapons fire.
Carol (Melissa McBride) shines in this episode as never before. Just like in the days after the prison and at Terminus, she has shown herself to be a stalwart, resourceful and dependable woman who will stop at nothing to survive and defend those she loves. One of the show's pleasures is to see how she has evolved from a insecure, battered woman to a Ms. Rambo.
It was also a nice touch how Carol disguised herself in the "burqa of death" to fool and gun down the Wolves. Equally compelling roles were by Morgan (Lenny James), Aaron (Ross Marquand) and Eugene (Josh McDermitt).
The episode demonstrated what people will do when confronted with death or worse. A perfect example was homemaker Jessie (Alexandra Breckenridge) who fought back desperately to protect her children by ruthlessly killing her attacker with a pair of sewing scissors.
This is a rare episode that did not feature the core characters such as Rick, Daryl or Glen. This gave the secondary characters a chance to shine. I believe this episode will go down in TV history as one of the most action packed ever produced.
Flight Nurse (1953)
She Was Truly an Angel
The story is based on the service of CPT Lillian Kinkella Keil, USAF, who flew casualty evacuation flights during WWII and Korea. Back in those days servicewomen were not allowed to remain on active duty if they became pregnant and had a child, even if married. So she was discharged from the USAF. She went on to work for Pam Am Airlines although I'm not sure if it was before or after the Korean War.
She became a fixture at the local VFW and American Legion events many times sharing beers with the same men she cared for as a nurse. When she died in 2005, her son called my dad to arrange for a military ceremony at her funeral. The USAF had told the family they do not provide this service anymore to servicemen unless they are retired or on active duty. So it is up to former servicemen like my dad to arrange for and provide the honor guards and firing squads at such funerals.
So my dad called the state director of the VFW for California and advised him of the significance of CPT Keil's service and the USAF's refusal to participate. He was told to standby for a phone call. Several hours later, the USAF called my dad and told him to stand down, that they would handle everything from here on. CPT Keil had a full honor guard, firing squad and bugler to sound taps for her ceremony.
She was truly an angel.
One Minute to Zero (1952)
The Korean War at its Worse
There are really good movies made about the Korean War that I would highly recommend such as, "Porkchop Hill", "Fixed Bayonets", "Retreat, Hell", "The Hunters", "Men In War" and the more recently Korean produced movie, "Brotherhood of War". If you can push past the distracting romance scenes in this movie it would be highly recommended if for the skillful way that actual battle scenes are integrated into the story line. Though some reviewers have dismissed this movie for its clichéd scenes, this movie was somewhat more realistic and graphic for its time. Leave it to Howard Hughes to leave no stone unturned while striving for authenticity in his movies.
Our movie starts out from the view of two veteran senior KMAAG officers, Army Colonel Janowski (Robert Mitchem) and Air Force Colonel Parker (William Talman) in their attempts to train the South Korean military. These two probably thought that the worse they ever experienced in WWII was behind them until one Sunday morning in June 1950 when they are awakened to the dropping of bombs by the North Korean Air Force. Colonel Parker quips, "isn't this where we came in? Its even Sunday!" At first we see how the war progresses through their eyes, but then the movie transitions to the view point of American infantrymen desperately trying to stop the North Korean Army.
This movie does a good job showing what the early days of the war was like depicting the haplessness of the poorly trained and unmotivated Americans hindered by the loss of their leaders and lack of air support. One soldier suggests "bugging out", but bristles when accused of cowardice. There are no heroics here, just a bunch of scared soldiers. Colonel Janowski arrives to provide leadership and organization after their commander is killed by mortar fire.
Establishing contact with the Air Force, a series of air strikes is directed on the approaching enemy. Tanks are bombed and strafed by USAF F-80s in a scene that combined special effects with real film footage. Later, Royal Australian Air Force F-51s napalm North Korean soldiers on a hillside leaving them to die in a sea of fire. The North Koreans were skillful infiltrators and there is a realistic scene where they sneak in behind the frontlines to attack the valuable airstrip and command post until they are outgunned in a counter-attack led by a ring mounted .50 cal machine gun on a 2 1/2 truck.
Soldiers die horrible deaths in this movie. North Korean soldiers die screaming in a sea of napalm while American soldiers are shot, strangled or bayonetted by North Korean infiltrators. In a graphic scene, a Hispanic soldier (Lalo Rios) foolishly attempts to take out a North Korean tank with only a hand grenade, and is killed by a flame thrower. The sergeant (Charles McGraw) calls him a fool, but Colonel Janowski corrects him by calling him a "magnificant fool". This is not Hollywood heroics. Things like this really happen in war. After a touching scene of leaving his family without saying goodbye, Colonel Parker is shot down while personally leading an aerial resupply mission and falls to his death when his parachute is set afire by AA fire. The scene reminds me of when I was a kid and used to wake up at 5:00 in the morning to see my dad in uniform preparing to leave for duty at the base.
In another scene, an Air Force forward controller is seen taking photos of the devastation and is later killed by mortar fire with his camera shown lying next to his body. My dad who is a veteran of the early days of the Korean War warned me that that I have no business acting like a tourist if I ever went to war, that it would get me killed.
In a memorable and controversial scene, the North Koreans attempt to use refugees to infiltrate the UN lines. A tactic of the enemy in any war is to generate waves of refugees that will require the use of critical resources to feed, house and care for them. That is what the communist forces in Korea did and there are breathtaking aerial scenes of miles of refugees clogging the roads. Colonel Janowski orders American artillerymen to fire on the refugee columns to turn them back. The US Army objected to this scene and threatened to withdraw support for this movie. But the military underestimated the political influence of Howard Hughes and the scene was left in the movie. As we know, these incidents actually happened, but unlike what some writers in the 1990s have asserted, these actions were not covered up. The first volume of the US Army's history of the Korean War published in 1962 devotes five pages discussing the problems of refugees and the various methods US commanders used to control them in the early days of the war to include shooting at them. Its amazing that someone actually received a Pulitzer Prize for doing a story on old news.
Though filmed in the U.S. at Fort Carson, CO and at RKO's backlot studios using Korean War vets, the movie looks and feels like Korea of 1950, especially with the actual combat footage weaved into the various scenes. The equipment and uniforms for the North Koreans look authentic and their tactics in the movie are realistically portrayed.
In an emotional scene, the movie ends with Anne Blythe's character praying for her soldier's safe return as the UN forces head north in pursuit of the defeated North Korean Army. My mother always liked the end because before she met and married my dad, she lived with the mother of a soldier who was MIA in Korea in 1950. She used to accompany her to church everyday where she prayed for the safe return of not only her son, but others who were serving in Korea. Anne Blythe's prayer reminds her of those dark days early in the war.
The World at War (1973)
Remember
No other TV program has affected me more than this series. Before watching this program the only thing I knew about World War II was from the adventurous and funny war stories that my uncles or my dad's army buddies would tell over beers. To this kid the war was all adventure and excitement that anyone would love to live through. Watching this program as a young man shaped my views about life and war. War was something I had no illusions about and when I finally did go to war, it was every bit as bad as I expected it would be.
It has been the most ambitious attempt ever made to document the war in its entirety and accomplished what no program has ever been able to do since. This show aired in the United States between September 1973 and May 1974. I always knew when the show was ready to start when I heard the memorable Thames Television theme. The show's introduction depicted photos of people being consumed by the bonfire of war to a sad and haunted score composed by Carl Davis. The series was narrated by Laurence Olivier, with a voice you will never forget.
The main draw to watching this show is that the producers were able to interview some of the most important participants of the war, such as American diplomat W. Averell Harriman, Lord Mountbatten of Burma, Lieutenant General Brian Horrocks, Wynford Vaughan Thomas, General Hasso von Manteuffel, Major General Francis de Guingand, Albert Speer, General Mark Clark, General Curits Lemay, Admiral Karl Donitz, Marshal Sir Arthur Harris and Major General J. Lawton Collins among others. This is what makes this show unique because it was really the last chance to interview these personalities as no show will ever have a chance to do this again.
The show also interviewed every day soldiers, sailors and airmen from about every country from both sides about their experiences. The most memorable include actor James Stewart describing how he led bombing missions over Europe. The most ironic is the Japanese officer fondly reminiscing about how the "comfort" girls "sacrificed" themselves to give young Japanese soldiers their first and sometimes last sexual experiences before they were killed in battle. Others included my favorite author Richard Tregaskis and cartoonist Bill Mauldin.
My favorite episodes include, "Barbarossa", "Banzai", "On Our Way", "The Desert", "Stalingrad", "A Lovely Day Tomorrow", "Morning", "Pacific" and "Remember". The score and sound effects really enhance the story line of each episode like no other series I have ever seen except maybe Ken Burn's, "The Civil War".
The only flaw to this series is that it was released the same year that the story of Ultra was finally revealed. Ultra's impact on the war was such that its revelation rendered every history written or documentary produced before 1974 obsolete. Unfortunately, this show never got a chance to incorporate the Ultra story into its episodes.
A couple of points to consider: My generation was unique and maybe blessed to have grown up or be raised by the generation that fought this war. I hesitate to call them "The Greatest Generation" because many of them don't buy into that title. Every adult male I ever knew while growing up - relatives, my teachers, my coaches, my neighbors and later on, my Army leaders - were all veterans of this war (or the Korean War). Their outlook and philosophy was based on their experiences and this series explains why.
Another point to consider. A woman once asked me why we were so destructive during the Vietnam War, why did we devastate the country? I pointed out that many of the military leaders of the Vietnam War began their careers as young officers in WWII. These men were responsible for leveling the great cities of Europe and Japan - Berlin, Vienna, Dresden, Nuremberg, Nagoya, Hiroshima, Tokyo. They destroyed many of Western Europe's cultural and historical sites in order to free Europe from tyranny. So what did a no name, two bit Asian village mean to them? We dropped more bombs in SEA than WWI, WWII and the Korean War combined. But that is for another review.
I highly recommend this documentary to any historian, war gamer, military professional and everyday person who wants to learn more about this war. This show is as relevant today as when it first appeared over 40 years ago. There will never be another show like it about WWII. Even to this day, whenever I am channel surfing and run across an episode, I stop what I'm doing to watch....and remember.
The War (2007)
An Example of American Centric History
I am not going to join the gush of positive comments about this documentary for two reasons:
First, I come from a family with a strong military tradition. Members of my family have participated in every one of America's wars from WWI to the current War on Terror. We have a strong belief that it is honorable and right to serve in the defense of his great country of ours. Having said that you would probably be surprised that these words are written by a Mexican-American veteran. But American born Mexicans can be patriotic, too.
And that is my problem with this documentary. All of my uncles served in WWII with the US Army, Navy and Marines. One of them, CPL Joseph Jose Soto US Army, was killed in action on 20 August 1943 during the Battle for Munda Field in the South Pacific. He was not even a citizen but immigrated to this country from Mexico, like many other Mexican Nationals did, to specifically join the US military in its time of need. My dad did not serve because he was too young, but he served in the Korean War. They and the family are proud to have served their country.
So, the fact that Ken Burns did not feel it important to include the sacrifice of Hispanic veterans is a personal insult to all those who have served honorably during that war. Their sacrifice is equal to, if not more than the white and black veterans he chose to profile in this series. What is reprehensible was that he promised to add additional features as a "supplement" rather than re-edit his documentary, features that no one has seen or heard of. And PBS, who prides itself as being "inclusive", decided not to force the issue on the basis of "artistic freedom", or whatever that means. I guess "inclusive" is a elective state of being for PBS. By the way, most native born Mexican-Americans could care less about the fact that the premiere date was Mexican Independence Day. WE DO NOT CELEBRATE THAT DAY! WE CELEBRATE THE FOURTH OF JULY!
And equally inexcusable is that he fails to mention the contributions of Native Americans to the war effort. Native Americans were recruited from their reservations, some of whom had never lived outside of, to provide invaluable service as code talkers. Their service was legendary and probably saved thousands of lives.
My second problem with the series is that it is a prime example of how American-centric this country has become about its history. We did not fight WWII by ourselves. It was fought by an alliance of free nations that started two years before we even got involved. Yet, the American public, and Ken Burns seems to not know this. The only thing the public knows about WWII is Pearl Harbor, D-Day and the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan. Maybe Iwo Jima. The public is not aware that the Russians killed more Germans than all of the Allies combined and lost more soldiers fighting in Poland in 1944 than the US lost in all of WWII.
We as a nation have become so self centered that we have forgotten that it takes a coalition of nations to defeat threats to world peace just like it did in WWII.
Compared to his excellent series about the the Civil War, this is a series I could not recommend based not only on his omissions, but the content and lack of context. I understand that he did not set out to produce a comprehensive history of WWII, but to produce a documentary of the war from the view of small town America. However, he failed to meet the low standards he set for himself by excluding a major contribution of some of its citizens. I guess in his eyes, Hispanics and Native Americans don't count.
Maria's Story (1990)
Shameless Leftist Propaganda
This documentary was a shameless and dishonest attempt to demonize American support for the Government of El Salvador in their fight against a communist insurgency through the eyes of a woman guerrilla fighter. Believe me when I say that despite what another reviewer states as well as what the media at that time portrayed, this was a communist led attempt to topple the government and enslave the people.
The clueless female American producers of this documentary attempt to portray Maria and her comrades as hardened peasant insurgents fighting social injustice, but their actions give them away as amateur play actors.
A perfect example comes when the group is filmed gathered around a camp fire on a hilltop at night. In the audio, you can hear in the distance the sounds of Salvadorian Army 4.2 inch mortar rounds leaving the tubes. When one of the American producers ask Maria what the sounds are, she smugly dismisses them as, "just the government". Moments later a large flash and explosion is heard and the camera goes dark. The next thing you see is the group running for their lives in the dark with the female producers sobbing in fear. Evidently, Maria and comrades were observed by the "government" who called in the mortar shoot. Brilliant! The only thing missing from the scene was that they weren't roasting marshmallows for the camera!
One other interesting scene involved film footage of Salvadorian Air Force Huey helicopters operating in a valley. It was interesting to see the government forces in operation from the enemy's perspective.
For a woman supposedly a survivor of the massacre of her village and traumatized by the event, she did not come off sincere when she describes a river full of dead bodies. Her attitude, emotions and expressions do not add up. And other than the two scenes involving Government forces, you really don't see her group do much of any fighting or contact with the government but just wondering around the countryside.
I can tell you from personal experience that the only female guerrilla fighters in that war were camp followers - women and younger kids who followed the guerrilla columns to feed, support and provide first aid to the mostly male oriented movement. That is evident by the weapons they carried which were mostly American made M16s. Maria claims they took them from dead government soldiers. The reality is that the weapons were provided by their Vietnamese socialist friends from stocks we left behind when we evacuated South Vietnam in 1975. These hand-me-down weapons were issued to the supporting, non-combatant insurgents. The real insurgents were armed with the latest Soviet and East Bloc weapons supplied through the Sandinistas or Cuba.
By the end of the war the guerrilla columns were mostly made up of 14-15-16 year olds forced from their villages to face an increasingly effective, US trained Salvadorian Army. That was because the older, more experienced men were killed off or were smart enough to avoid the fighting. The war degenerated to the killing of child soldiers who were fighting on both sides.
You will find me making no excuses for the government. Their brutality and injustice is what caused this war to begin with. However, there were plenty of atrocities and war crimes committed by BOTH sides. But you do not force your communistic will on poor people at the point of an AK which is what the FMLN attempted to do, and what this documentary tries to justify.
We stopped them cold, and made them agree to a negotiated settlement of the war. Today, the FMLN's political party rules El Salvador having won elections fair and square. But they maintain a close and strong relationship with the United States and remain reliable allies.
Men in War (1957)
Men At War - I'll Remember Men I Knew
This movie was standard fare on L.A. area TV when I was growing up and I once saw it with my dad who was a professional soldier and Korean War veteran. The unit depicted in this movie is the 24th Infantry Division, the same unit that my dad was a member of in the early days of the war. During the battle for Taejon the 24th Infantry Division lost over 4500 soldiers killed or missing in 3 days of fighting and my dad was lucky to get out alive. My dad was very quiet when we saw this movie and I have never had the nerve since to ask him what he thought about it.
In my personal opinion as a professional soldier and combat veteran, as far as movies about the Korean War go, this one is as good as it gets. There are others such as "Porkchop Hill", "Fixed Bayonets" or "One Minute to Zero" that I would recommend, but none accurately depicts the desperation of the early days of the war when American soldiers were outnumbered and overwhelmed. This gritty war drama follows an infantry platoon with a vague mission to seize a hill, led by a platoon leader who is determined to follow those orders.
In this movie, soldiers die horrible deaths, on both sides. A black soldier (James Edwards) left behind to cover the rear of the column is strangled by North Korean infiltrators. Three North Koreans disguised as Americans are mercilessly gunned down. When two of his soldiers are killed in a mortar barrage, the platoon sergeant (Nehemiah Persoff) loses it and cries, "they got them!" and runs toward them to be killed himself. A North Korean POW is gunned down by his comrades when he appeals to them to surrender. Death takes lives at every turn when you least expect it and the tension takes its toll.
The incidents depicted in this movie really happen in war. Does anyone ever wonder why soldiers in combat are edgy and always in a bad mood? The soldiers are exhausted by lack of sleep, weary of danger, out of contact with higher headquarters and understrength for the mission they are assigned. This tension brings out conflicts between the men. Between MSG "Montana" (Aldo Ray) and the lieutenant (Robert Ryan), between the soldiers themselves and they ruthlessly take it out on the enemy.
In a memorable performance, actor Robert Keith plays "the Colonel", a regimental commander who has a mental breakdown after the loss of so many of his soldiers. His portrayal is based on real incidents that happened early in the war when seasoned commanders, some who were WWII veterans, broke down when faced with the overwhelming loss of soldiers during the fighting. Darwinism plays a role in war by winnowing out the weak and incompetent. Throughout the whole movie the shell shocked Colonel has no dialogue until the very end. In the middle of the battle the "Colonel" regains his senses and competently joins his beloved soldiers in their last fight to the death. As he is dying he utters a single word to his faithful sergeant (Aldo Ray), calling him "son".
These are not Hollywood dramatics. My wartime commander once told me that he saw me as his "son" until he got me home safe to my real dad. War creates a "brotherhood" between men that cannot be described to those who have never been there and this movie brings those relationships out.
There are also leadership lessons to be learned in this movie. When the platoon leader expresses doubt to his radio operator (Philip Pine) that anyone else is alive in Korea, his radioman says he knows it, but to hear it from a commander he trusts shakes his faith. As a combat leader, you do not say anything that creates or confirms doubts in your soldiers. You lead the way despite your doubts or misgivings and inspire them to follow.
There are too many other scenes to mention that are memorable. Vic Morrow plays a soldier who can barely hold it together emotionally, especially after Edward's character is brutally killed. Philip Pine plays a conscientious NCO whose faith in his platoon leader is unshakable.
If anyone thinks this is war movie melodrama, then you've never seen real combat. America has forgotten what it is like to suffer mass numbers of casualties like we suffered during Korea or Vietnam. And just like before the Korean War when we thought "push button" warfare had replaced close infantry combat, we are in for a rude shock if we ever go to war against a determined and well equipped enemy like the North Koreans. This movie is a reminder of that.
As in the lyrics of the closing theme, my dad remembers men he knew - LTC Otho Winstead, Chaplain Herman G. Felhoelter, MSG Robert Morrison, PFC Jaime Corona, MSG Leonard Talley and many others who did not come home - and to this day, I know that my dad still grieves for those friends he lost in that war fought so long ago.
The Great Adventure: Rodger Young (1964)
A Great Episode About a Forgotten Hero
This episode aired 20 years after his death in the Pacific during WWII and I believe is the only TV show to tell his tale. It was also the only episode of the series that was set in the 20th Century and the only episode involving WWII. James MacArthur plays Rodger Young in an episode that is as vivid in my memory today as when I saw it as a 10 year old.
Rodger Young is a keen athlete who tries out for the high school football team but is rejected as being too short. He tries out for the basketball team, but suffers a head injury when he was fouled during a game. The injury gradually affects both his eyesight and hearing. Nevertheless, he later successfully enlists in the Ohio National Guard as an infantryman.
Small in stature and wearing glasses, he is not seriously considered as infantry material during basic training. When the drill sergeant (played by George Kennedy) orders the trainees to conduct a unsupervised 12 mile road march, the platoon convinces a convoy of supply trucks to give them a ride to the base. Young is the only soldier who refuses to participate. The trainees are caught by the drill sergeant who makes them start the road march all over. As they leave, Young arrives having completed the march. Despite the fact that he had followed orders, the drill sergeant orders Young to start over as well because he should have stuck with his platoon. However, Young's integrity and leadership abilities is noticed and he is soon promoted to corporal.
I was watching this episode with my dad who was a career soldier at the time and I asked why Young was punished with the rest of the platoon. My dad told me something that I never forgot - that the Army values teamwork above all else and that Young should have stayed with his platoon no matter.
Young's unit is soon activated for WWII and shipped to the South Pacific. By now he is promoted to sergeant and is leading a squad of 12 men. However, his hearing deteriorates and in one skirmish, several of his soldiers are wounded because he could not hear. He requests a demotion to private which his commander reluctantly approves. It is an open secret about Young's disabilities, but he is allowed to stay with the unit.
Day's later his squad is pinned down by a Japanese machine gun and several of his buddies are killed and wounded. Young crawls forward to within grenade range of the machine gun, but is shot as he rises to throw the grenade. He is killed, but not before the grenade destroys the machine gun. Young's actions enabled his platoon to withdraw from the ambush without further casualties. The episode ends with his buddies gathered around the fallen Rodger Young, recognizing that they owed their lives to his bravery.
Private Rodger Young was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery and sacrifice. A song was later written about Young that was recorded by Burl Ives and was very popular during and after the war. The lyrics start with the following words:
No, they've got no time for glory in the Infantry. No, they've got no use for praises loudly sung. But in every soldier's heart in all the Infantry, Shines the name, shines the name of Rodger Young.
The high production values and superb acting in this episode was such that I only saw it once over 50 years ago, but it is still vivid and memorable to this day. My only wish is to see this episode one more time before I die.
The Great Adventure (1963)
A Great Adventure - A Show Never Forgotten
Though its been well over 50 years since this wonderful series aired, I still have vivid memories of the many episodes shown. This series had an impact on this 10 year old and fired up my life long fascination with history. I never knew that one day I would play my own part in our country's history. I believe this series, "Profiles in Courage" and the long forgotten "Our American Heritage" are the only historical anthology series ever attempted by the major networks. All three of them only lasted a single season. But for this series, what a season it was.
The series opened each week with scenes from America's history from its founding to the present day space program. These scenes were played out to a stirring and memorable composition by Richard Rogers. The theme of the series was that the United States from its creation has been, "a great adventure", and that we were continuing with that adventure with the exploration of space. At the conclusion of each episode, the show urged Americans to explore their history by visiting their local library.
The very first episode was a memorable one about the CSS Henley. The high production values and excellent acting set the tone for the rest of the series. President Andrew Jackson was a very popular figure with the American public back in the 1950s and 1960s and figures in three episodes of this series to include one that tells the tale of his experience as a boy soldier in the American Revolution. In one of the very last episodes he exacts his revenge on the British for his treatment as a prisoner of war by decisively defeating the British attempt to capture New Orleans in the War of 1812. Michael Rennie, among other actors, plays a memorable role of Jefferson Davis on the run in, "The Treasure Train of Jefferson Davis".
Another memorable episode is the one about WWII hero Rodger Young, played by James MacArthur. Aired only 20 years after his death, this episode is the only one of the entire series that takes place in the 20th Century, and the only one that takes place during WWII. This hero was still very fresh on the minds of many Americans who lived during WWII when this episode aired. Its sad that even today's US Army has forgotten this hero.
This series has not aired on TV since the re-runs in the summer of 1964. But I have never forgotten the stories, the lessons and inspiration we can gain from them. Its too bad the series is not currently available in DVD for the current generation to enjoy.
Better Call Saul (2015)
This Show Does Not Disappoint!
I can't say much more to what has already been said about this excellent series other than the first episodes were everything I expected from this prequel. Some of the more popular characters from the original series have made their appearance and some new ones introduced.
I knew the boys, played by twins Daniel and Steven Levine, were in trouble when "abuelita", played by Miriam Colon, starts calling for her "mio" to help her. Her "mio" is Tuco, played by the excellent and menacing Raymond Cruz, reprising his role from the original series. His appearance nearly steals the following episode! But the performance by the "boys" in both episodes were equally outstanding.
Seeing Mike Ermantraut, played by the equaling menacing Jonathan Banks, working a menial job as parking lot attendant sets the stage for the story of how he gets mixed up with the likes of Walter White and Gustavo "Gus" Fring. He should be an example of why people should not judge other people by their appearance or the job they hold.
We get a hint about why No Doze, played by Cesar Garcia, met his demise at the hands of Tuco in the original series. It appears he was always an annoyance to Tuco because he could never keep his mouth shut and paid the price for it during the original series.
Saul's brother, Chuck, played by Michael McKean give us insight into what it is like to live with a person with symptoms or an affliction for which there is no convincing scientific basis. I know first hand what this is like and can tell you that this episode portrayed the frustrations and difficulties of living with someone with a similar phobia. Good research on the part of the writers!
Michael Mando as Nacho, shows us that not all Mexican gang bangers are stereo typed as mindless, drug addled thugs. Nacho's intelligence and common sense gives us a hint that maybe he is college educated and has been out in the world a bit before becoming Tuco's trusted adviser. I can't wait to see this character developed some more.
This and the following episodes were outstanding introductions to this series and set the bar really high to meet our expectations. These first episodes did not disappoint us!
The Ugly American (1963)
A gem of a movie just gets better with age
This movie tells the story of the cost of failed foreign policy decisions in countries that were contested during the Cold War. Filmed in 1963, it predicts what eventually happened not only in Southeast Asia, but in Central America and the Middle East. This movie used to be shown to classes at the US Army's JFK Center for Unconventional Warfare as late as the mid-1990s as an example of the country team operating in a country under siege.
In 2003, a re-mastered and restored version of this movie opened the movie festival at Port Townsend, WA with both the director and screenwriter in attendance. The director stated that both he and Marlon Brando had considered making a movie about American diplomacy since the mid-1950s but never got any concepts off the ground until the novel was published in 1958. Even then, there were still issues to contend with to include the lack of support from the State Department and the Government of Thailand. It took JFK's personal intervention to get the movie made. JFK allegedly sent a copy of the book to every member of the Senate.
This movie portrays the continuing mistake we made, and continue to make, when dealing with insurgencies. During the Cold War we considered any movement against an allied or friendly country as a communist inspired movement rather than a nationalistic one or one motivated by a need for justice. We ended up protecting and supporting unjust and oppressive regimes simply because they were combating a communist movement. The US Ambassador, played by Marlon Brando makes this same mistake. The movie also illustrates accurately how the Communists operated to stir up trouble and strife by creating and celebrating martyrs and casting American good intentions as evil and self-serving. The movie demonstrates how they hijacked and dominated these movements by first offering support, then insidious infiltration of and displacing the genuine nationalist leaders with communist or socialistic ones.
Several scenes in this movie are so vivid they are unforgettable. The airport demonstration that turns into a riot is unusually realistic for a movie of this period. I should know; I've seen more than my fair share of riots in Asia and Central America. The attack on the opening ceremony of the Freedom Road is also realistically played out. The eerie silence right after the attack is suddenly interrupted by wailing from the wounded. As the Ambassador's wife tries to tend to one of the casualties, a relief worker walks by and casually tells her, "Don't bother, she's dead." The chaos at the besieged embassy near the end of the movie opens with the face of a bewildered and frightened child as US nationals scramble in the background to leave a country descending into hell.
I believe Marlon Brando's performance as the American Ambassador is one his best portrayals. The scene when he realizes that he misjudged the whole situation with his friend Deong is gut wrenching. In the presence of his embassy subordinate and the Sarkhan Prime Minster, not only does he realize that he was wrong, but his diplomatic failure has committed his country to a needless, avoidable war. But Mr. Brando is almost up staged by his Asian co-stars. The articulate Thai actor, Kukrit Pramoj, who plays the Prime Minister of Sarkhan and who later became the real Prime Minister of Thailand after the military junta was tossed out in 1975. The scene where he out maneuvers the American Ambassador and directs his attention to, "the gentleman with the lump on his head" is priceless. And Japanese actor Eiji Okada, who plays the Ambassador's comrade in arms from their OSS days who now leads the revolution against the government the United States is supporting.
The movie ends in a scene that captures the typical mood of the American people when it comes to all things dealing with foreign policy. In the decades since the end of World War II, thousands of American diplomats, servicemen and women, aid workers and missionaries have died anonymous deaths trying to bring democracy and a higher standard of living to jerkwater countries around the world. Yet the American people seemed to be indifferent to these sacrifices. Instead, all we seem to care about is the next episode of "American Idol" or the newest hi-tech gadgets or the latest news about the rich and famous. The ending scene of this movie made over 50 years ago is still relevant and true to this day.
The Interns: The Challenger (1971)
An Unforgettable Episode
It's funny that I do not remember ever watching the series, yet this particular episode has stuck with me ever since seeing it's original telecast in 1971. I always thought that this was an episode from some other series like, Marcus Welby, M.D.
A well written and well acted episode, it is a reminder that an innocent act of kindness can result in a life changing accident. In this episode, the character played by Frank Gorshin, a internationally renown billiards player, attempts to help some people trapped in a malfunctioning elevator and ends up injuring his hand so badly that it has to be amputated. Distraught that he can no longer work his livelihood and the social stigma of being disabled, the pool player anguishes in what he will do next and the affect on his relationship with his wife.
The doctors at New North Hospital propose fitting Gorshin with an experimental artificial hand that is electrically activated. Not trusting in the technology, Gorshin is challenged to a game of pool to test his hand and emerges triumphant with a renewed sense of confidence that he can overcome his new disability.
In those days (1971) artificial limbs were little different than the wooden peg legs of 100 years before only they were made of plastic and metal. A limb or a hand that was electrically operated was new and innovative ideas in that day. We had none of the terrific technology, the therapy and social support that is available today to help the accidentally disabled. I always felt that this episode offered hope to those who have lost a limb, especially war veterans, that there is life after such a tragedy. A truly unforgettable episode.
CBS Playhouse: The Final War of Olly Winter (1967)
Compelling Early TV Drama About the Vietnam War
I barely remember seeing this television movie but it has stuck to my mind ever since. Set in the Vietnamese jungle in 1963, Black master sergeant Olly Winter is a career soldier sent to Vietnam as an adviser to fight one last war against the communists. Flashbacks reveal Winter's harsh childhood to include racial discrimination and the suicide of his mother. This helps him sympathize with the poor villagers he is trying to protect.
The sole survivor of an ambush of his Vietnamese Army unit, MSG Winter attempts to escape and evade back to friendly lines. During his travels, he is accompanied by a Vietnamese young girl, a dog, and an orphaned baby found near the bodies of its slain parents. Soon, MSG Winter is pursued by the Viet Cong.
MSG Winter seeks refuge and protection from Vietnamese villagers who help him escape. However, facing retribution from the Viet Cong, the villagers confess to which direction MSG Winter has gone and the VC finally catch up with and kill both Winter and the young girl.
Up until this show appeared in 1967, I cannot remember any other TV program that focused on the war in Vietnam. Only a 1963 episode of the Twilight Zone, "In Praise of Pip", comes to mind. Though it had a "playhouse" feel to the sets, from what I remember of this show it was well acted and was a powerful presentation of both the war and social injustice at home. Too bad it is not available on DVD nor has it been shown on any of the nostalgia TV stations.
Under Fire (1957)
Film Noir on the Battlefield!
I have not seen this movie in almost 40 years, but it used to be standard fare for Saturday afternoons on Los Angeles TV back in the 1960s and 1970s. And because it ends on a sad and poignant note, it has haunted me ever since. This movie is classic film noir. But instead of the story taking place in some back alley of New York or on a street in Hollywood, the plot plays out on the battlefields of 1945 Europe. Because this underrated movie has never appeared in video, it has been largely forgotten.
The story begins soon after VE Day 1945. Four American soldiers, decorated veterans of the campaign to liberate Europe, are called together at the Division JAG Office to be informed that they are being investigated for the of murder of a young soldier, PVT Steiner (George Chikiris) who went missing during a patrol they were part of in Germany's Black Forest in early 1945. One of soldiers, SSG Joseph Dusak (Harry Morgan) was the patrol leader. The other soldiers, Corporal John Crocker (Jon Locke), Corporal Quinn (Gregory LaFayette) and Private Pope (Robert Levin), are the only members of the patrol to survive the war.
The soldiers are informed that the remains of the missing private were recently found and evidence pointed to the cause of death as murder, the bullet being fired from a US made .45 cal pistol. Investigators found irregularities with SSG Dusak's patrol report who wrote that they got lost. Suspicious, investigators uncovered the report of another patrol from an adjacent unit that stated they encountered SSG Dusak's patrol and suspected them of goofing off. The patrol leader, Sergeant William Hutchins (Karl Lukas), testifies that the patrol did not appear to be lost as was reported, but appeared to be having a good time. In addition, SSG Dusak was the only member of the patrol who carried a .45 cal pistol.
1LT Steve Rogerson (Rex Reason), a combat veteran, is appointed to defend the soldiers and as the evidence mounts, LT Rogerson suspects that the patrol members are not telling all that they know. Under pressure, one of the soldiers comes clean and confesses they hid in a cave to rest and get warm. While looking for materials to start a fire, one the patrol members uncovers a cache of thousands of US dollars hidden in the cave. SSG Dusak is all for turning the cash in but the other soldiers convincingly argue that they have fought for three years and deserve more than just a pat on the back. So all agree to keep and divide up the money. Since they cannot carry the loot back to their unit, they all agree to leave the cave one at a time so that each can find a secret location to bury their share and then reassemble at the cave.
However, every soldier returns to the cave except PVT Steiner. A quick search fails to find any trace of the soldier and PVT Steiner is reported as MIA. With this new information, LT Rogerson reports the confessions and arms the prosecution, CPT Linn (Steve Brodie), with a motive. During testimony, SGT Hutchins states that one of the patrol members he saw was armed with a .45 cal pistol and had a frostbit hand. He further states that he does not recognize any of the suspects as the soldiers he encountered that day on patrol.
LT Rogerson has his suspicions and requests that all camps holding German POWs report any with frostbite injuries. Within days, a LT Karl Stagg (William Allyn) of the Wehrmacht is escorted to the courtroom. Under intense questioning, LT Stagg admits to being a member of a patrol in the Black Forest that same day. Dressed in US Army uniforms, they were scouting for the American battle positions when they encountered and captured PVT Steiner burying his loot. Afraid that he will reveal their location, LT Stagg executes the soldier. It was his patrol that SGT Hutchins encountered and reported that day.
With the charges dropped, the four soldiers are celebrating when LT Rogerson drops in to announce that not only is the US Army dropping charges against them concerning the money, but that SSG Dusak will be awarded a Distinguished Service Cross for courageous acts he performed earlier in the war. He also drops a bombshell - that the money they risked their lives and freedom for was all counterfeit.
As LT Rogerson grabs his coat and turns to leave, you hear SSG Dusak's voice-over state, "and that was the last time I saw LT Rogerson". The scene fades to refocus again to show former SSG Dusak at Arlington Cemetery. The whole story was being told in flashback and he is standing over the grave of Major Steve Rogerson. His headstone reads that he was killed in action in Korea in November, 1950. As SSG Dusak lays his DSC on Major Rogerson's headstone, he says, "you deserved this medal more than I did".
As I recall, this movie was well written with twists and turns in the plot that were both suspenseful, yet believable. The movie showed a different view of American soldiers that were both flawed and war wary. Fatigued from relentless combat, they gave in to temptation to keep the money. I really would love to see this movie on DVD. Harry Morgan's performance as a combat hardened soldier is an early preview of his acting style and abilities as seen on Dragnet or M*A*S*H. But a truly good performance is acted by all in this gem of a movie.
Caltiki il mostro immortale (1959)
As Scary As They Came!!!
I recall seeing this movie at the theater in 1960 and believing it was the scariest movie I had ever seen until "The Exorcist". The plot and the terror of a monster like Caltiki was believable to this 6 year old. However, running out of the theater was not an option. I would never have been able to live that down with my brother, sister and cousins. But I could not sleep for days afterward. The scenes of Caltiki devouring its victims was so graphic for its time and makes today's special effects pale in comparison. I have not seen the movie since but I remember it so vividly to this day. I plan to find the DVD if its still available. Sci-Fi directors take note: You don't need a lot of expensive, hi-tech special effects to scare people. Check this movie out to find out why.
Kraft Suspense Theatre: Streetcar, Do You Read Me? (1965)
This Program Was Great PR For SAC
I, too, caught the last half of this program on Seattle's RTV. Since I had never seen this program before I thought, at first, I was watching, "A Gathering of Eagles". Than I recognized Martin Milner. I agree the production values were high and it was filmed in color. I also recognized the field where they land at the end of the program as the former SAC Base at March AFB in Riverside, CA. This show must have been great PR for SAC and the Air Force. But more importantly, its now a good historical piece. The acting was good and there were plenty of now vintage aircraft on the parking ramp - B-47s, C-47s, C-97s - all aircraft that have long since been retired. A bit of nostalgia since I spent a lot of time there in the early 1970s with the Civil Air Patrol.