Battleground

Starring:Leon Ames, Herbert Anderson, James Arness, Scotty Beckett, Thomas E. Breen, Jerome Courtland, Bruce Cowling, Denise Darcel, Douglas Fowley, John Hodiak, Richard Jaeckel, Van Johnson, Brett King, William Lester, Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, Don Taylor, Marshall Thompson, James Whitmore
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Director William Wellman (The Big Heat) offered up this 1949 treatment of the Battle of the Bulge, which won Oscars for best screenplay and best cinematography. The film concentrates on the camaraderie and the divisions between the troops as they ready for the big offensive. Told in a taut narrative, the men of the 101st, led by Van Johnson, wait out the winter in the Ardennes forest to confront the German army in what would be the last major offensive of World War II. The men are demoralized and trapped, with no hope of support from the Allies as they are forced to band together and defend their position. A classically assembled war drama that nevertheless manages to be both engrossing and entertaining, Battleground is a mainstay of the genre. --Robert Lane

Description

Van Johnson, Ricardo Montalban and George Murphy star in this remarkable war film, nominated for six Oscars(R) (including Best Picture) about courageous American G.I.s caught up in the battle at Bastogne. Year: 1949

Customer Reviews:

Triumph under fire.......2007-03-26

Being entitled Battleground you might think this film to be non-stop combat, but it isn't. It is so much more than an ordinary "war" film. One won't spy a tank in this film, for instance, until more than 90 minutes into this story; the story of the boys of the 101st who held out in Bastogne until the skies permitted aerial support to come to the rescue in this Battle of the Bulge. Skirmishes there are, however, up until this point, as a prelude---seemingly---to that which will ultimately test them; in which these soldiers show their individual mettle as well as insecurities. It's the story of a historically significant moment, but told from the vantage point of foxholes, in other words, and the GIs that dug them, holed up in them, and sprung from them to engage hostile German combatants. Van Johnson and company are convincing & the direction in this film is commendable. A number of scenes and/or specific camera shots are simply well framed & thus add to the dramatic effect of the lines being delivered by members of this fine cast. There are not that many World War Two-era films as well presented as this one. Do give it a chance (but keep in mind that it's a measured film---almost 2 hours in length, & more dramatic than action-packed). My only complaint herein or rather wish would be that they would've filmed more of Battleground beyond MGM's sound stage doors---dialogue in one particular street scene, for instance (wherein troop trucks roll into a town) bares the traces of an indoor echo. In addition, the artificial snow utilized is no better than passably realistic at times. (Do also catch another fine 'Bulge' story entitled Saints and Soldiers). (04Dec) Cheers!

Still the classic World War II movies about American G.I.s.......2004-02-02

The first twenty minutes of "Saving Private Ryan" raised the bar on the realism of war film in terms of the portrayal of the violent hell of combat. But in terms of showing us in a movie what it was like to be combat troops in World War II, the standard still remains the 1949 film "Battleground," directed by William Wellman (and I say this having loved "Band of Brothers"). The film won Oscars in 1950 for Robert Pirosh's script and Paul Vogel's black & white cinematography, and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (James Whitmore), and Best Editing (John D. Dunning).

The setting for "Battleground" is the besieged city of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge and focuses on I Company of the 101st Airborne. Pirosh had based the story on his own experiences during the battle, which including the details like Private Kippton (Douglas Fowley) always losing his false teeth and Private Rodriguez (Ricardo Montalban), who came from L.A. and had never seen snow before he got to Belgium. The situation was pretty simple: the Germans have Bastogne surrounded and the 101st is short on food and ammunition. Sgt. Kinnie (Whitmore) and the men of I Company have there sector to control, so they sit in the freezing cold, waiting for the Germans to attack and praying for the cloud cover to lift so they can get air support and supplies.

I am sure I am not the other kid from my generation who learned to do the cadence call of "Sound off," not knowing that it came from older kids who had seen this movie. This is a movie full of memorable scenes: Private Holley (Van Johnson) trying to make eggs, a checkpoint exchange that shows the importance of knowing baseball terminology like "Texas Leaguer," and a befuddled German officer trying to understand if General McAulliffe's infamous reply of "Nuts" to the demand for the 101st's surrender is a negative or an affirmative response.

For me the key moment in the film comes when I Company finally receives supplies dropped from C-47s. These guys have been freezing and pretty much starving for a week, and when they open up crates of SPAM and K-Rations, they are clearly disappointed. It is not until they find ammunition that they finally get excited. The montage of defeating the Germans is superfluous at that point, because the look in the eyes of these guys captures the moment even better.

In terms of realism I do have one slight knock on this film, in that I Company is atypical because they had winter coats (compare with the Bastogne episode of "Bad of Brothers"), but that is rather secondary to the point of this film, which is to celebrate the citizen soldier. As Holley explains to a major, "PFC" means "praying for civilian." Even when the Chaplain (Leon Ames) answers the big question, as to why these guys had to leave their families and jobs to fight in Europe, in has less to do with fascist ideology and more with the idea that the Germans were bullies throwing their weight around and killing a lot of people.

Still, "Battleground" comes down to the guys in I Company, Jarvess (John Hodiak), "Pop" (George Murphy), Layton (Marshall Thompson), Spudler (Jerome Courtland), Standiferd (Don Taylor), Hansan (Herbert Anderson), Bettis (Richard Jaeckel), Doc (Thomas E. Breen), and Sgt. Walowizc (Bruce Cowling). There is a tendency to make fun of the idea of the melting pot nature of these units, but we are talking diversity in terms of ethnicity more than racial lines and is certainly in keeping with everything I have read about the 101st. The humor in the trenches is a lot grimmer than you hear in most of these movies, an advantage of being made several years after the war ended (compare it with Wellman's 1945 film "Story of G.I. Joe").

This film is more about the psychology of war, putting up with the weather, the lack of supplies, the Germans trying to get them to surrender and showing up dressed in American uniforms, and keeping up morale than it is about actual fighting. That makes it rather unique in terms of movies about World War II in general or the Battle of the Bulge in particular. "Battleground" remains one of the classic films about grunts in the army.

Great, now where's the DVD?.......2004-01-30

It's amazing that this one hasn't seen a DVD release yet because it's a really fine classic war film. Don't be put off by the fact it came out in 1950: yes, there's no blood and gore, so you can easily argue it's unrealistic from that angle. There are hardly even any combat scenes. But like all the best war films, this one concentrates not on combat but on the psychology and morality of the men caught up in war.

Battleground follows a squad through the nightmare of Bastogne, showing the everyday misery they had to put up with and the grim humor and camaraderie that helped them get through it. For a film of its day, this is one is surpisingly even-handed, even a bit dark and cynical. You won't find a bunch of John Wayne heroics here, but rather a bunch of sick, tired, demoralized men doing their best to stay alive. This is a great companion piece to the Bastogne episode of the superb Band of Brothers miniseries. Also consider checking out Wellman's other classic WWII film, The Story of G.I. Joe.

Now, where's the DVD release??

Still the classic World War II movies about American G.I.'s.......2004-01-30

So-So WWII Film.......2003-09-03

I was really looking forward to watching this movie when I received a VHS copy as a Birthday present.
Unfortunately, there are only a couple of combat scenes in BATTLEGROUND.
Where are the 7 crack German Divisions that surrounded Bastogne during late December of 1944? Where are the German Tanks, vehicles, and equipment?
All we get to see are a handful of Germans, and most of them are disguised as American Soldiers!
The entire movie is centered around a platoon of 101st GIs who wisecrack bad jokes all day.
Van Johnson is a Terrible lead actor.
To me, the only good war films are ones that portray the Enemy as well as the Friendlies.
BATTLEGROUND is simply another post-WWII Hollywood film that celebrates American ego and arrogance.

World War II Collection - Battlefront Europe (The Big Red One Two-Disc Special Edition / The Dirty Dozen / Battle of the Bulge / Battleground / Where Eagles Dare)

Average customer rating:

WWII Collection Battle Front Europe
War Movies
GREAT ADVENTURE
Thrilling War Films

World War II Collection - Battlefront Europe (The Big Red One Two-Disc Special Edition / The Dirty Dozen / Battle of the Bulge / Battleground / Where Eagles Dare)
Starring: Wwii Collection
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

Two-Disc Special Editions | Fully Loaded DVDs | Features | DVD | Video

Action & Adventure | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

World War II Collection (The Thin Red Line/Patton/Tora! Tora! Tora!/The Longest Day)
WWII 60th Anniversary Collection (The Guns of Navarone/From Here to Eternity/The Bridge on the River Kwai) (Includes Collectible Scrapbook)
WW II 60th Anniversary Collection (Das Boot/Anzio/Caine Mutiny/Dead Men's Secrets) (Includes Collectible Scrapbook)
The Bridge at Remagen
Midway (Collector's Edition)

ASIN: B0007TKNLK
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Description

The Battle of the Bulge: Nazi Panzer forces stage a last-ditch Belgian front offensive that could turn the tide of WWII. Henry Fonda, Robert Shaw and Robert Ryan in the spectacular recreation of a crucial campaign.

Battleground: Van Johnson, Ricardo Montalban and George Murphy star in this remarkable war film, nominated for six Oscars(R) (including Best Picture) about courageous American G.I.s caught up in the battle at Bastogne.

The Big Red One Special Edition: "The real glory of war," Samuel Fuller said, "is surviving." A decorated combatant with the famed U.S. First Infantry in WWII, Fuller survived. His 1980 film version of his war experiences did not...until now. Working with 70,000 feet of vault materials and Fuller's shooting script, critic/filmmaker Richard Schickel heads a reconstruction that adds over 40 minutes and transforms a truncated but admired war film into an epic masterwork. Lee Marvin, in a richly layered performance now revealed as one of his finest, stars as the sergeant of peach-fuzzed riflemen fighting from North Africa to Normandy and across Europe. The film is the squad's combat diary, war as it's fought and sweated and bled, and, maybe, survived.

The Dirty Dozen: Twelve jailbirds will earn their freedom...if they survive a suicide mission against the Nazi brass. Tough-as-nails Lee Marvin leads a nothing-to-lose convict squad of Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, John Cassavetes, Trini Lopez, Telly Savalas, Donald Sutherland, Clint Walker and more in the all-time action trendsetter. Where Eagles

Dare: The mission is clear. Get in. Get the general. Get out. Commandos charged with freeing a U.S. general from an Alpine fortress should also be told to trust nothing - including the search-and-rescue orders just issued. Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood go Where Eagles Dare in this twisty World War II thriller written by action master Alistair MacLean (The Guns of Navarone, Ice Station Zebra) and directed by Brian G. Hutton (Kelly's Heroes). Known for fiery dramatic roles, Burton ventures into the realm of movie pyrotechnics with dynamic efficiency. And Eastwood's cool-fire presence heightens one searing action sequence after another. The film became Eastwood's then-largest hit and its studio's #1 moneymaker of the year.

Customer Reviews:

WWII Collection Battle Front Europe.......2007-05-18

5 of my favorite WWII movies in one package. Super!

War Movies.......2006-11-11

Three of this collection are movies I have wanted for many years, and to get them in one collection is my reason for acquiring the set. Battleground is the story of a small group of doughboys stuck in the Argonne, basically surrounded by Germans, and their fight for survival. Where Eagles Dare is about a group of highly trained soldiers trying to destroy a fortress in the Alps controlled by the Germans; however, a mole and high ranking officer overseeing the operation want the group to fail. The Dirty Dozen is a war classic about criminals given a respite to carry out a basically suicide mission against a host of high ranking German officers

GREAT ADVENTURE .......2006-08-04

I have watched a lot of WWII DVDs and found that these movies while hollywoodized to an extent are pretty accurate. These movies will entertain you completely!!! This is a great group of war films and I enjoyed each and every one of them thouroughly!!! Cant beat the price either!!

Thrilling War Films.......2006-07-26

I recently purchased this DVD European War collection and I'm enjoying these wonderful war films at a price that's so affordable it must be seen to believe. This World War II DVD Collection-European Warfare includes 5 outstanding War epics that were received by the movie-going public as fascinating with a great story line and many action-packed scenes that most critics moved to give these films a thumbs up. It's difficult to point out which film ranks the best. You can choose any 5 exciting war epics, my favorites "The Dirty Dozen" and "Where Eagles Dare" were given 3-1/2 - 4 Stars. The picture transfer on all 5 are crisp and clear and the sound is remarkably full-bodied stereo. Five stars for a great collection of War films that can be watched over and over again.

War Double Feature: Battle Cry/Battleground

Average customer rating:

War Double Feature: Battle Cry/Battleground...
Battleground
Great addition
Battle Cry/Battleground
CAPT. MORGUS

War Double Feature: Battle Cry/Battleground
Starring: War Double Feature
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Bataan/Back to Bataan
Battle of the Bulge [HD DVD]
Guadalcanal Diary
Men in War
The Frogmen

ASIN: B0002V8OAK
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Description

Americans answer the nation's call to war in Battle Cry. Raoul Walsh (Objective, Burma!) guides a Who's Who of 1950s stars in this salute to young Marines who went to war and the women they left behind. Highlights include boot-camp training and the invasion of Saipan. Surrounded G.I.s say "Nuts!" to surrender and dig in against the enemy and winter's wrath in Battleground, Oscar winner for Best Story and Screenplay and for B&W Cinematography (1949). William A. Wellman (The Story of G.I. Joe) directs Van Johnson, James Whitmore and more in a stirring tale of "the battered bastards of Bastogne."

Customer Reviews:

War Double Feature: Battle Cry/Battleground..........2007-05-25

War Double Feature: Battle Cry/Battleground is a good value for the
money. For those involved, gritty performances, good scenes of humor,
angst, and pain. I stumbled onto Battle Cry on Cable late over several
nights, and just couldn't get through the whole movie (what can I say?
I have to work so I can buy these DVD's!!). So, I purchased it for
$10/US. The fact that "BattleGround" was an extra was a bonus in my book!

Finally, as my Dad was an World War II and Korea Army Infantry Man, I
know that he would have gotten "a kick" out of the close-order drilling
displayed in the movie. The guys in the scenes in both movies were on their job!!

My rating: Five stars!

Battleground.......2007-02-23

Even though much of Battleground was shot inside a sound-stage, there is the feel of what it's like to be an infantry rifleman, a mud-pounder, and in the worst of conditions: winter. Digging foxholes one after the other. Sleeping in them, eating in them, finding ways to eliminate one's human waste, the endless waiting, then engaging the enemy. The kill or be killed mind-set. The unnaturalness of the everyday life of a man in a foreign land having to kill people he doesn't know produces a surreal trance that every rifleman enters and finds hard to come out of (thousands never came out of that trance, and suffered their whole lives for not being able to "adjust" to non-war realities). The writer keeps just the right amount of humor going around. People in war use humor to keep from "going round the bend" - as they say in England. John Hodiak was always a solid actor (see Hitchcock's Lifeboat), and keeps centering the movie with his intelligence. And few actors could play a serious role with a lot of comedic moments better than Van Johnson (Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo). Battleground has the feel of soldering in WWII. Modern liberal societies need to be defended. Many do not like what it takes to defend a liberal society. See Battleground and you'll quickly get the feel of what it takes and learn how difficult it really is.

Great addition.......2007-01-18

This CD was a great addition to my WWII library. The movies are classics!

Battle Cry/Battleground.......2007-01-16

Movies were excellent. Shipped in 3 days of order. Very happy with service.

CAPT. MORGUS.......2007-01-16

BATTLEGROUND IS ONE OF THE THE BEST 1940'S WAR MOVIE EVER. IT IS UP THERE WITH GI JOE. IT IS EQUAL TO BAND OF BROTHERS

BATTLE CRY IS GOOD TOO. THE FORMULA WAR MOVIE, BUT WORTH A LOOK FOR SURE.

BattleGround - 21 Days on the Empire's Edge

Average customer rating:

THE REAL THING
Day to day in Iraq
Good Film!
Finding Context in Chaos
Great Documentary

BattleGround - 21 Days on the Empire's Edge
Starring: Sgt. Robert Hollis , Farhan al Bayati , Raed Jarrar , Lt. Col. Nate Sassaman , and May Ying Welsh
Director: Stephen Marshall (III)
Manufacturer: Homevision
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

Iraq War | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Occupation: Dreamland
Inside Iraq: The Untold Stories DVD
The Dreams of Sparrows
Combat Diary - The Marines of Lima Company
Gunner Palace

ASIN: B000BVNS6G
Release Date: 2006-01-10

Product Description

In late 2003, two filmmakers from the Sundance award-winning Guerrilla News Network spent three weeks on the frontlines of the simmering guerrilla war in Iraq, gathering intelligence, dodging bullets, and capturing the untold stories of what has become the world's most covered, and misunderstood, conflict. BattleGround is an irreverent journey that will challenge the orthodoxies of Left and Right, and highlight the humanity of all sides of the conflict. BattleGround will be a critical film for anyone who wants to understand the powerful forces that are sucking America deeper and deeper into a Middle Eastern quagmire. Is Iraq our generation's "Bright Shining Lie," or is it the frontline in a global battle for national survival? Or is to some combination of both?

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Exclusive Interview with Director Stephen Marshall and Producer Anthony Lappe

Lost Scenes

Breakfast at The Al Safeer

Trailer

Liner notes by Chris Chang of Film Comment

System Requirements:

Running Time 82 Mins.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

THE REAL THING.......2006-03-07

Battleground is not only great filmmaking, it gets you closer than anything i've seen yet on that so-called war. If you really what to know what's going on in Iraq from the words of the people, get under the skin of the place and begin to FEEL something about it, this is a must-see doc.

Day to day in Iraq.......2006-03-04

If you are new to the 'real' Iraq situation this DVD will be very informative. For those who are 'up to date' on issues like the Bush Administration cutting deals with Iraqi paramilitaries to help stabalise the export of oil - this DVD is old news.

Good Film!.......2006-02-23

This film gives good insight on the feelings of the Iraqi nationals about the war there and the American soldiers that are there.

Finding Context in Chaos.......2006-02-16

The 2003 invasion of Iraq was hailed as the most openly accessible war in history. While embedded journalists traveled with U.S. and British troops on the back of Humvees into battle zones, news audiences received on the ground info in real time. The images and information captured by war journos was remarkable in their proximity to conflict but the context of the information was directly framed by what the Pentagon allowed journalists to cover. You either played by the rules and got access or you were left out in the cold.
Battleground, in contrast, is an exercise in capturing the context of the invasion from a truly independent, sober perspective. Opinions of American soldiers and commanders were presented alongside actual Iraqi voices. Montages of Iraqi street scenes link powerful narratives of homegrown debates on the merits of the invasion, the emotional homecoming of a former anti-Saddam rebel forced into exile, a citizen journalist informing people on the dangers of Depleted Uranium, and the inner-workings of American Military strategies for restructuring Iraqi society. This film captures what really happened on the ground in the aftermath of a massive military campaign- without government influence. The absence of framing and ideology is a breath of fresh air in the documentary genre.
The stories captured in this film are unique and immensely informative- all stemming from the micro level. There are no voice-overs staging the flow of information. The plot is recounted by real people who find themselves in Iraq at the beginning of a new history. "Battleground" never attempts to re-write Iraq's past nor does it predict its future. Instead, the filmmakers offer the audience a lucid depiction of context- a crucial processes that was entirely absent from news coverage of the invasion.
Battleground is a must-see for anyone craving a balanced on-the-ground depiction of what really happened in Iraq in 2003. Rich in visual energy and powerful music, Battleground is not over-stylized. It is however, immensely informative, beautifully spontaneous, and an extraordinary example of bearing witness to world events and placing them in context.

Great Documentary.......2006-01-17

If you're interested in learning more about Iraq but don't know where to turn to (between Fox and CNN) than this is the documentary for you.

This is the type of documentary you'll probably watch two or three times and recommend a hundred times. I look forward to more docs from director Stephen Marshall.

Average customer rating:

Cheap
every cent worth these dvd's
The right price
Questionable History
A very well done complete history of the U.S. in Vietnam

Battleground Vietnam: War in the Jungle
Starring: Battleground Vietnam-War in the Jungle
Manufacturer: Madacy Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $9.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Documentary | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Heart of Darkness: The Vietnam War Chronicles 1945-1975
In the Year of the Pig
National Geographic - Vietnam's Unseen War - Pictures from the Other Side
Vietnam: The Chopper War
Combat Vietnam: To Hell and Beyond

ASIN: B000CCZR90
Release Date: 2006-01-03

Customer Reviews:

Cheap.......2007-06-12

The narrator sounds like he's reading the script for the first time, and the footage is dark, grainy, and seems unrelated to the storyline.
Even with it's "liberal bias", Vietnam: A Television History, the PBS set, is FAR superior.

every cent worth these dvd's.......2007-03-31

Trust me on this. If you want to know about the vietnam war in general and furthermore want to take a closer look at numerous
authentic scenes, origionally shot from the vietnamwar, well this is the dvd collection you want to buy. Really nice footages.. Buy it

The right price.......2006-12-06

Yes, the techinical goof of drowning out the interviewee's with sound effects is unforgivable. But it only affects those with soft voices. The interview with Adm. Stockdale & his wife is reason alone to spend $17 on this DVD set. True heroes. They are what we should all aspire to be. The historian who periodically shows up does a fantastic job at explaining why what was done where, etc.

Questionable History.......2006-07-12

Viet Nam as a country, as a history, as a people, and as a war is not easy to explain, even by someone like me who spent several years there during the war. However, if a film production company is going to try, they really should do their homework.

This collection of DVDs could have been a five-star review, given the many previously unseen video clips, from both sides of the war. However, the first red flag was that the collection was made in Canada! Although quite a few Canadians came to fight in the US forces, it is no secret that most Canadians, including the government, were against the Viet Nam war and generally anti-American, treating draft dodgers as heroes (which they are still doing). In retrospect it is easy to be a Monday morning quarterback and Canada has been very good at that!

The next problem is technical. Although most of the video is fairly good (given age, climate, etc.), much of the voice over, the on-scene spoken word and interviews are DROWNED out by the noise of the combat footage, the extremely irritating and completely useless and loud music played from time to time, or, as in one case, some supposed former "Green Beret," identified as "John," who prefers to remain in dark shadow (and is, therefore, suspect as a wannabe, or complete phony) who whispers through his on-camera scenes, which is also overridden by the very loud and irritating music. This is just very bad and unprofessional editing.

Also, historically many important FACTS leading up to US involvement in the war are glossed over or completely ignored, not the least of which was the fanatical desire of the Vietnamese to be independent - of ANYONE! This goes back hundreds of years to Trieu Au, a woman who led Vietnamese forces and fought against the Chinese for Vietnamese independance in the third century AD.

American involvement did not begin in 1959 as the set claims, but during World War II, when OSS officers (the precursor to the CIA) were dropped into Indochina and worked with the local freedom fighter forces, including Ho Chi Minh, against the Japanese - after the French had been defeated by, or had surrendered to, the Japanese. Therefore, in Vietnamese eyes, the French no longer had any claim to Indochina.

The very basis of the American involvement in the Viet Nam war is neatly glossed over at the end of WW II, showing that the French just marched back in and took over. It wasn't that simple.

As a country that prided itself on independence, self reliance and anti-colonialism, the United States, under Truman's watch, was contacted by Ho Chi Minh no less than three times asking for US aid in ridding Viet Nam of its French colonial past. Truman ignored the requests, supported the French colonists, and we ended up in a non-winable war and over 58,000 dead Americans.

Ho Chi Minh was a communist of the day out of necessity, because no other entity was anti-colonial, with the possible exception of the United States. However, above all else, Ho Chi Minh was a NATIONALIST and it is impossible to be a nationalist AND a communist. When the United States turned its back on Viet Nam, he had nowhere else to turn, but to the Soviets and the Chi-comms. Given that, when, in 1945, Ho Chi Minh addressed the people of Viet Nam, he presented them with a constitution based on that of the United States, not as a communist puppet regime.

All this is left out, but is extremely important in really understanding the US involvement in Viet Nam and the subsequent war.

If you just want to see combat footage, maybe this is for you. If you want to actually learn something, look elsewhere.

A very well done complete history of the U.S. in Vietnam.......2006-05-17

This is a 5 DVD set that starts from World War II to the evacuation in 1975. It covers details few videos have that I've ever seen. The rare footage enhances the narative that is about as complete as it gets. If you want to know how, why, and what happened with the Vietnam war, this is the DVD history to get. DVD 5 has the bonus material which has: A Day in Nam; Navy in Vietnam; Pipeline to Victory; and Progress to Peace. As I said this DVD is a complete history in all aspects of the Vietnam War. It should be shown in school history classes accross the country.

Average customer rating:

Great Episode of a Great TV Series
Great TV Western Series

Cimarron Strip - Battleground

Manufacturer: CustomFlix
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Westerns | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

Cheyenne - The Complete First Season
Rawhide - The Complete First Season
Have Gun Will Travel - The First Three Seasons
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp - From Ellsworth to Tombstone
Daniel Boone - Season Two

ASIN: B000EE1NTY
Release Date: 2006-07-13

Product Description

A Classic Action Adventure of the Old West on Cimarron Strip. US Marshal Jim Crown (Stuart Whitman) gets the drop on his old buddy, Bear (Telly Savalas), and a gang of cowboys when they try to terrorize the town. He jails them in a wine cellar and brings them back to their boss, cattleman Hardy Miller (Robert Wilke), the next day. When Crown discloses that Congress has canceled Government leases on land held by the cattlemen, Miller fires all but 10 of his hired hands, knowing the discharged cowboys will take vengeance against the farmers. Finally, word comes that farmer William Payne (R.G. Armstrong) is determined to lead a band of fellow-farmers across the Cimrron River, with an army of cowboys headed by the enraged Bear massing on the other side to stop them. Crown rides out in a desperate effort to avert a massacre.

Customer Reviews:

Great Episode of a Great TV Series.......2006-11-07

Battleground is an episode from the Cimarron Strip TV series that ran on CBS from 1967-68. In the show, Stuart Whitman played US Marshal Jim Crown, who tried to keep the peace in the strip of land between Kansas and Indian territory. Crown ran his jail from the Wayfarer's Inn, a bar/hotel run by Dulcey, a young Englishwoman who came to Cimarron from New England. Crown's other friends included MacGregor, a Scotsman always searching for the perfect whiskey, and Francis Wilde, a photographer and would-be journalist who tried to make Crown a Western folk hero.

In this episode of the series, which shows what happened when Crown first came to Cimarron, features the marshal caught in the middle of a range war between cattlemen who have hired toughs and farmers looking to settle on unclaimed land. The leader of the toughs, Bear, played by Telly Savalas, is an old friend of Crown's, but he finds out quickly that Crown is determined to keep the peace, friendship aside. Actions keep developing that put Crown on a collision course with Bear and his men.

Cimarron Strip was a victim of bad timing because the Western was quickly fading into the sunset as a popular genre. Other than Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Virginian, The High Chaparral, and The Big Valley, there weren't many other Westerns that drew enough of an audience to stay on the air. This was a great show with great acting, great writing, and a great cast. The premise was a bit dodgy at times, seemingly a poor inversion of Gunsmoke, but Whitman made a great hero, and the show was produced by the same people who produced Gunsmoke. All of the episodes are pretty good, but this one is a standout because of the presence of Savalas and other Western perennials such as Warren Oates and RG Armstrong.

Battleground is a wonderful introduction to Cimarron Strip, and shows what might have been if the series had been allowed to stay on a few more years.

Great TV Western Series.......2006-08-09

This series ran one season 1967, just as the television western was at the end of it popularity. This 90 minute western starring Stuart Whitman was gritty and realistic. The series had it come to television 5 years earlier would have been rated as one of TV's all time best westerns.Much, much better than The Big Valley and Bonanza!!! From the opening theme song you will find this episode with guest star Telly Savalas riveting. Highly recommend this and the rest of the series which just came out on DVD.

Average customer rating:

Arguably, the Best WWII Movie Ever Made
The unsaid little details of the War!
who knew world war 2 could be such fun?
Classic
"the battling bastards of bastogne"

Battleground
Starring: Leon Ames , Herbert Anderson , James Arness , Scotty Beckett , and Thomas E. Breen
Manufacturer: Warner Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Classics | Action & Adventure | Genres | DVD | Video

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

Action & Combat | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

War Epics | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

To Hell and Back
Battle of the Bulge [HD DVD]
Battle Cry
Guadalcanal Diary
Hell Is For Heroes

ASIN: B0001FVE40
Release Date: 2004-05-04

Description

Customer Reviews:

Arguably, the Best WWII Movie Ever Made.......2006-09-04

Wellman and Pirosh deliver believable action and dialogue in this historical saga directly based on the events of the seige at Bastogne during the Ardennes Offensive of WWII. Casting is highly commendable with rich performances by Van Johnson, James Whitmore, John Hodiak, Ricardo Montalban, and many other up-and-coming stars like James Arness. Black and white lends itself to the stark contrasts of the bitter winter scenes. The gritty action is enhanced by the rich character-driven performances. This movie, no doubt, set the pace for the war pictures that followed.

The unsaid little details of the War!.......2006-08-18

William Wellman was by far, one the most emblematic and talented filmmakers of the American Cinema. And this film constitutes by itself another evidence that avails this statement.

The powerful and well detailed study of the character and psychological profile of this men who were part of the American troops in the famous Battle of Bulge. With an evident sources economy, Wellman made it. A memorable artistic achievement around the lives and times of a handful of soldiers, his dreams, illusions and hopes surrounded by an oppressive winter in the middle of nowhere

Of course you may argue the close resemblances of a previous and refulgent work such as "A walk in the sun", but personally this is a much more complete and ambitious in its purposes.

Recommendable in sum grade.

who knew world war 2 could be such fun?.......2006-07-04

this william wellman directed film was the best of the grunts at war movies that followed up ww2, offering a gritty and respectful view of the lives of ordinary soldiers, living thru the battle of the bulge. every member of the cast gets his chance to shine (van johnson, john hodiak, james whitmore, et al), but appropriately in an ensemble piece, nobody stars. now for the aside: my mom & dad saw this movie on their honeymoon. sigh ...

Classic.......2006-05-21

One of the great WWII movies. Being in black and white and before great special effects only makes it seem more authentic to my mind. It is realistic, the M-1's run out of ammo and eject the clips after 8 rounds and the machine guns don't fire forever. The movie focuses on a platoon, which allows you to get to know the main characters. They don't know the big picture and just try and muddle through. This was mostly the case in the Battle of the Bulge, or any battle for that matter. I liked the clautrophobic feel of the fog and snow in the Ardennes. It fits with the haunted look for the real forest and the real battle. James Witmore getting them lined up to go back to the front and then ordering About Face!!! was the perfect end to a fine film. I have been told this movie was filmed partially at Ft. Campbell, KY. This is interesting because that's the home, when the movie was made and today, of the 101st Airborne/Airmoble Division, the unit in the movie.

"the battling bastards of bastogne".......2006-01-27

this film i first saw at the age of 8 on t.v. and i loved it. now as an adult i can really see what a great film this is. the cast is full of second string mgm actors of the day. van johnson, and many others and this helps some as they don't look like movie stars and that gives this film some tenson as it goes along. this is the story of the 101st airborne and the battle of the bulge. i'll not tell you more sa you need to see this one. as a set piece to go with band of brothers, this holds up very well nad you won't want to miss this movie.

Nadia, The Secret of Blue Water - Battleground (Vol. 4)

Average customer rating:

Gainax' finest work.
Reviews For Volumes 4 & 6
Get the real stuff!!!

Nadia, The Secret of Blue Water - Battleground (Vol. 4)
Starring: Yoshino Takamori , Noriko Hidaka , Yûko Mizutani , Toshiharu Sakurai , and Akio Ôtsuka
Director: Hideaki Anno , and Shinji Higuchi
Manufacturer: Adv Films
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Anime & Manga | Genres | DVD | Video

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DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

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Similar Items:

Nadia, The Secret of Blue Water - Nemo's Fortress (Vol. 5)
Nadia, Secret of Blue Water - The Dark Kingdom (Vol. 2)
Nadia, Secret of Blue Water - Aboard the Nautilus (Vol. 3)
Nadia, Secret of Blue Water - The Adventure Begins (Vol. 1)
Nadia, The Secret of Blue Water - Nadia's Island (Vol. 7)

ASIN: B00005QAOX
Release Date: 2001-11-06

Description

In this volume, Captain Nemo orders the crew of his amazing submarine, The Nautilus, to gather food and water on a nearby island. Marie and King, a lion cub, take the opportunity to have a little fun in the sun, but they soon find themselves being chased by minions of the evil Gargoyle! A narrow escape from one dangerous situation leads the valiant crew of The Nautilus into a deadly battle with a gigantic Garfish, an enormous sea creature. To make matters worse, the American Fleet, who still believe that Nemo's submarine is a mysterious sea monster responsible for the sinking of numerous trans-oceanic vessels, continuously pursues The Nautilus. Join Jean, Nadia, and the crew of the Nautilus as they continue their underwater journeys in this exciting new chapter of this beloved classic produced by Gainax, the creators of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Customer Reviews:

Gainax' finest work........2002-05-31

Gainax Studios is something of a legend in anime circles, and deservedly so. Started when a couple of fanboys decided to go beyond being mere fans, it first created a couple videos for the large convention "Daicon", and then shifted into high gear, producing four works that are generally considered classics of the anime world: Wings of Honneamise, a startlingly realistic depiction of an alternative space program on an Earth that COULD have happened; Gunbuster:Aim For The Top!, a mecha-space opera which reaches scales of conflict beyond anything before or since; Otaku no Video, a self-parody and incisive look at the fanboy world; and Nadia: Secret of Blue Water (actual title would translate more as "Nadia of the Mysterious Sea").

Based on the world of Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and using an outline created by Hayao Miyazaki (known for his magnificent works like Totoro, Laputa, Princess Mononoke, and Kiki's Delivery Service), it takes place in 1899, at the World's Expo in Paris. Young Jean, a genius inventor obsessed with flight, is present to compete in the heavier-than-air flight challenge. He is, however, smitten when a mysterious, dark-skinned girl goes by, and he chases after her. The girl, Nadia, knows nothing of her own past, not even sure of where she comes from originally; the only remainder of her past life is a huge jewel called the Blue Water. Unfortunately, the Blue Water is being sought out by a number of forces, and pursue Jean and Nadia from Paris to the open sea to hidden fortresses. Their adventures feature gadgetry ranging from simple gliders to a multi-formed Victorian steam-tech transforming gadget called the Gratan, and weapons from normal bullets to the mighty Tower of Babel, a super-weapon capable of wiping cities from the earth. Captain Nemo and his Nautilus play a large part, though their origin is different from that of Verne's original.

The music is first-rate, and most of the episodes are wonderful as well, with some being pure character interaction and others slam-bang action second to none. The only flaw in the series is the infamous "island sequence" which not only doesn't advance the plot but features second-rate animation and truly stupid plot (if it can be called that); this was apparently due to Gainax realizing they were running short of money and needed to save some for a while in order to be able to make the finale of the series live up to the beginning.

Nonetheless, this is a top-notch anime series, good for any age range, and worth viewing whether you're 9 or 90.

Reviews For Volumes 4 & 6.......2002-02-16

This page oddly is identical, review-wise, to that of Volume 6, so I'll review both volumes here instead. I will say, though, that the technical, aural, and voice acting aspects on both language tracks improve with each volume. The content for these two DVDs, however, are what distinguish them from one another:

VOL. 4: BATTLEGROUND: ***** out of *****

This is the third best of the NADIA DVDs; we are treated to more touching character development (Nadia disrespecting other people who have opinions different from hers about killing and eating meat, Jean's insatiable curiosity and love for technology and Nadia), terrific action sequences (a wonderfully paced and executed chase sequence in Episode 13 where Marie and Sanson outrun a mechanical walker), heartfelt moments (Jean painfully getting a glimpse of the dangers of technology when it claims the life of a new friend of his, as well as he and Nadia bonding throughout the volume, especially the last episode), and some truly imaginative artwork (the lost kingdom of Atlantis on the last episode). Definitely a nice pickup after Vol. 3, although not as strong as Vol. 2 or emotionally satisfying as Vol. 10.

VOL. 6: THE DEEP BLUE SEA: ***1/2 out of *****

The first two episodes are some of the best ever made in NADIA. They conclude the Nautilus episodes, and feature technically spectacular animation (an amazing feat for a late 1980's show), terrific music, and an emotionally charged climax which will leave one stunned. Unfortunately, the volume goes downhill in the second half, for we come to the studio-imposed filler episodes, ranging from mediocre to just plain awful. These first two episodes -- which begin a useless arc called "Lincoln Island" -- are filled with disjointed plotting, uneven animation, occasionally bland artwork, and some uncharacteristic antics from our characters. Although it might initially seem like a nice idea to extend the episode count from 26 to 39, the results here make one wish that the creators did exactly the opposite, for they threaten to sink (pun intended) the show. Not only do these filler episodes not suit the story, but screw up character development, waste time, and feature one too many pointless sequences for even any funny ones to hold their own ground. Be careful with this one.

OVERALL: **** out of *****

Volume 6 is obviously weaker than Volume 4, but don't let me stop you from collecting both DVDs, especially if you've been following the show thus far.

Get the real stuff!!!.......2001-11-27

This Anime-series is great!!!!! The story is a mix from 18th century lifestyle, upcoming 19th century technique, the story: 20.000 Leagues under the Sea from Jules Verne and a good portion Si-Fi.....
You get it all! The love, the submarine, the action, the fun and the tension of a fast-paced, hard-hitting storyline!
Thats FUN!! Get into the world of Jean and Nadia!!

Description

Welcome to the world of Mixed Martial Arts. These athletes are among the toughest fighters in the world and lay life and limb on the line to practice their skills. Also see the breaking women of MMA do battle in the Octagon.

Charlie Rose with David Murphy & Sergei Kondrashev; Steven Tyler & Joe Perry; Judy Wieder (September 12, 1997)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with David Murphy & Sergei Kondrashev; Steven Tyler & Joe Perry; Judy Wieder (September 12, 1997)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000IU34ZA
Release Date: 2006-09-18

Description

Former chief of the CIA's Berlin base David Murphy & former chief of the KGB's German department Sergei Kondrashev talk about serving as enemies in the U. S. -Soviet intelligence war between 1945 and 1961. The two men also discuss their collaboration on a book entitled, Battleground Berlin. Also, band mates Steven Tyler and Joe Perry from the rock group Aerosmith tell Charlie about their struggles in the music business and their new album, Nine Lives. Finally, Charlie talks to Editor-In-Chief of The Advocate Judy Wieder about gays and lesbians under 30, otherwise known as Generation Q.

DVD:

DVD

City of Women (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Quiet Days in Hollywood

Silas - Collector's Box