Category: War

Dark of the Sun: Rod Taylor and Jim Brown lead a band of mercenaries into war-torn Congo in this dark, raw and ultra-violent Men-on-a-Mission Actioner

Dark of the Sun(1968), directed by the legendary cinematographer, Jack Cardiff, and starring Rod Taylor and Jim Brown in lead roles, is a gritty, brutal and the most violent 'Men on a Mission' war action-adventure ever made. I was surprised to see the great British cinematographer, Jack Cardiff, credited as the director of the 1968 … Continue reading Dark of the Sun: Rod Taylor and Jim Brown lead a band of mercenaries into war-torn Congo in this dark, raw and ultra-violent Men-on-a-Mission Actioner →

The Train: Burt Lancaster and John Frankenheimer created the most dynamic, sophisticated and thought-provoking World War II Action picture

The Train(1964), directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Burt Lancaster and Paul Schofield in lead roles, is a brilliant WWII action thriller that details the attempts of the French underground resistance to stop the Germans from stealing valuable pieces of French paintings in the days leading up to the liberation of Paris. I love films … Continue reading The Train: Burt Lancaster and John Frankenheimer created the most dynamic, sophisticated and thought-provoking World War II Action picture →

Ice Station Zebra: Patrick McGoohan steals the show in John Sturges’ taut cold war thriller adapted from the Alistair MacLean bestseller

Ice Station Zebra(1968), directed by the great action director, John Sturges, is an adaptation of Alistair McLean's eponymous adventure novel set during the cold war, and features Rock Hudson, Jim Brown and Earnest Borgnine in key roles alongside the great British actor, Patrick McGoohan, in a scène-stealing performance. The first time i saw Patrick McGoohan … Continue reading Ice Station Zebra: Patrick McGoohan steals the show in John Sturges’ taut cold war thriller adapted from the Alistair MacLean bestseller →

The Dirty Dozen: Lee Marvin leads a dozen cutthroats into battle against Nazis in this hard-hitting WWII Actioner

The Dirty Dozen(1967), directed by Robert Aldrich and starring Lee Marvin, Charles Bronson, Earnest Borgnine and Robert Ryan, is a violent action film set in the backdrop of WWII, and the first of the countercultural war movies which critiques the military top brass. "One: down to the road block, we've just begun. Two: the guards … Continue reading The Dirty Dozen: Lee Marvin leads a dozen cutthroats into battle against Nazis in this hard-hitting WWII Actioner →

Kelly’s Heroes: Clint Eastwood reteams with his ‘Where Eagles Dare’ director to put an irreverent, satirical spin to the ‘Men on a mission’ WWII adventure

Kelly's Heroes(1971), directed by Brian G. Hutton, and starring Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland, Don Rickles and Telly Savalas is a satirical take on wartime heroism, with Eastwood leading a band of soldiers on a private mission behind enemy lines to steal Nazi gold. In 1968, Clint Eastwood teamed up with director Brian G. Hutton to … Continue reading Kelly’s Heroes: Clint Eastwood reteams with his ‘Where Eagles Dare’ director to put an irreverent, satirical spin to the ‘Men on a mission’ WWII adventure →

A Bridge too Far: Richard Attenborough’s spectacular, authoritative, all-star cast WWII epic is exhausting but audacious in its depiction of the Allies’ biggest military fiasco

A Bridge too far(1977), directed by Richard Attenborough from Cornelius Ryan's book, is an all-star cast, historically accurate, and spectacularly mounted war epic that truthfully tries to delve into the reasons behind one of the biggest Allied military failures in World War II. Major General Urquhart: I took 10,000 of our finest troops to Arnhem; … Continue reading A Bridge too Far: Richard Attenborough’s spectacular, authoritative, all-star cast WWII epic is exhausting but audacious in its depiction of the Allies’ biggest military fiasco →

Major Dundee: Charlton Heston gives a towering performance in Sam Peckinpah’s epic civil-war Western

 Major Dundee(1965), starring Charlton Heston and Richard Harris, was Sam Peckinpah's first big studio film. But the studio took it away from him in post-production, and was ultimately released in a version which he never approved. But whatever is left in this version still makes for a near-great film with some great themes, moments and … Continue reading Major Dundee: Charlton Heston gives a towering performance in Sam Peckinpah’s epic civil-war Western →

Where Eagles Dare: Clint Eastwood and Richard Burton join forces to battle the Nazis in this classic tale of wartime adventure

Where Eagles Dare(1968), the highly entertaining World War II adventure film that brought together the talents of British thespian Richard Burton and American superstar Clint Eastwood, is great fun even after 50 years. "The world is grown so bad / That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch,” The above quote from Shakespeare's Richard … Continue reading Where Eagles Dare: Clint Eastwood and Richard Burton join forces to battle the Nazis in this classic tale of wartime adventure →

Apocalypse Now: Francis Ford Coppola’s psychedelic Odyssey into Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is as hypnotic as ever

It was in 1979 that Director, Francis Ford Coppola premiered his long delayed, troubled production, Apocalypse Now, in Cannes. The film was not yet finished and it was shown as a work in progress. But still it won the Palme D'or. Looks like the film is still a work in progress for Coppola. He has … Continue reading Apocalypse Now: Francis Ford Coppola’s psychedelic Odyssey into Conrad’s Heart of Darkness is as hypnotic as ever →

The Guns of Navarone: Gregory Peck leads an all-star cast in the first of the WWII ‘Men on a Mission’ epics

The Guns of Navarone(1961), adapted from Alistair Mclean's eponymous novel, Directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Gregory Peck, David Niven and Anthony Quinn in lead roles, is an Oscar Nominated epic, adventure film, which was the first of the 'Men on a Mission' movies set in the backdrop of World War II. "You have … Continue reading The Guns of Navarone: Gregory Peck leads an all-star cast in the first of the WWII ‘Men on a Mission’ epics →