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Warfilmman
Reviews
La battaglia d'Inghilterra (1969)
A spaghetti War Film thats better than most!!
Here's an oddity - an Italian made war film that is actually quite good. Okay the dubbing is bad, and the locations are a bit "mediterranean" particularly Dover and Dunkirk, but all in all a well made war film. Its the story of a group of German commandos who intermix with returning British troops from Dunkirk, and wearing British uniforms attempt to destroy the radar installations around the coast and therefore aid the imminant German invasion. A British Captain played by Frederick Stafford attempts to track down the Germans aided by Van Johnson as a British Air Marshal - an odd bit of casting, but I'm sure the aging Van welcomed the money.
This comes up for sale on video every now and then, and I recommend it to war film buffs.
Casablanca Express (1989)
What a dismal film
Its amazing how an actor of Sean Connery's charisma can have passed on zero percent of his ability to his son Jason. This spagetti WWII film is notable for Jason Connery's complete lack of acting ability. Much better is Francesco Quinn who though in a thankless role manages to give the film some much needed charisma. The plot is about as daft as you can get. German paras attack a train carrying Churchill and Connery sets about saving the day. Donald Pleasence and Glenn Ford have little to do, but show glimmers of past succeses. The rest of the cast are typically terrible and authenticity-wise the film has more holes than a colander.
Having said that its one of those "so bad its good" films, but don't take it seriously. For a better film about attacking a train stick to Von Ryan's Express.
The Guns of Navarone (1961)
The best adaptation of an Alaistair Maclean novel
A cracking adventure story with splendid action and dramatic scenes (though please watch the widescreen version to do the film justice). The cast is exemplary with perhaps David Niven just a little better than the others. The story is really just an excuse for lots of exciting action, from the boat journey scenes right through to the finale. The only thing that lets the film down is the use of American vehicles painted in German markings, though I actually owned one of the White Scout Cars used as German armoured cars up until 1998. A great movie and despite popular opinion the 1978 sequel Force Ten From Navarone isn't bad either.
Darby's Rangers (1958)
A little known but surprisingly good war film
I had not seen this film before this year, and I was surprised how good it was. Though obviously filmed in the USA its portrayal of British characters (though incidental to the plot), was refreshingly good. The action scenes were well filmed and it is nice to see James Garner not playing for laughs. Though a good light comedian, I think he is best in straight roles like in 36 Hours and the Great Escape. The cast is on the whole very good, and I have to say that I thoroughly recommend watching this film, if like me you are a war movie fan.