Cast a Giant Shadow

Starring:Kirk Douglas, Senta Berger, Angie Dickinson, James Donald, Stathis Giallelis, Luther Adler, Topol, Ruth White (II), Gordon Jackson, Michael Hordern, Allan Cuthbertson, Jeremy Kemp, Sean Barrett, Michael Shillo, Rina Ganor, Roland Bartrop, Robert Gardett, Michael Balston, Claude Aliotti, Samra Dedes
Director: Melville Shavelson
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Cast a Giant Shadow is based on Ted Berkman's biography of Colonel Mickey Marcus, the American soldier who served as an adviser in the fight to establish the state of Israel in 1948. Marcus (played by Kirk Douglas) must decide whether to settle into peacetime America or follow his more natural, combative instincts abroad--a dilemma symbolized by a love triangle involving wife Angie Dickinson and Senta Berger as a soldier whom he falls for in Palestine. Although lavish and spectacular, especially in the war scenes--filmed in the actual Middle Eastern locations in which they occurred--Cast a Giant Shadow is not entirely authentic. Moreover, in the light of later troubles in the region, not everyone will find heartwarming this depiction of plucky little Israel coping against Arab foes who are barely depicted as human throughout the film. Still, it's an impressive enough relic of epic 1960s cinema, with cameos by Yul Brynner, John Wayne, and Frank Sinatra. --David Stubbs

Description

Part fact, part fiction, Cast a Giant Shadow powerfully dramatizes Israel's heroic 1947-48 struggle for independence. Both realistic war story and passionate romance, it features an all-star cast, including Kirk Douglas, Senta Berger and Angie Dickinson, as well as Yul Brynner, John Wayne and Frank Sinatra in notable supporting roles. After a brilliant career with the U.S. army, WWII hero and Jewish American Mickey Marcus (Douglas) is called to the new state of Israel to build an army capable of withstanding its Arab foes. Against the wishes of his wife (Dickinson), Mickey makes the journey and begins transforming a rag-tag underground army into a first-class fighting machine. But as the threat of war looms, Mickey must also confront his growing attraction to beautiful activist Magda Simon (Berger).

Customer Reviews:

The making of Israel.......2007-06-14

A good movie, especially considering the cast. Kirk Douglas is great, as always, as is Yul Brynner (although it's hard sometimes to tell if Yul is acting or just being Yul).

The movie looks at the beginnings of Israel and the role of Marcus, a former U.S. Army officer, in winning the battle against the Arabs who tried to invade from the surrounding countries when independence was declared.

Only a few flaws keep this from being an outstanding movie, notably the over-use of flashbacks. Either Marcus' experiences in Europe and Washington should have been summed up early in the movie or else some other plot device used to explain how he came to feel like he had to do something for Israel.

Still, a good movie that avoids any of the PC hand-wringing one sees so often in these sorts of things.

A sentimental film.......2006-12-13

First off let me say I have been living in Jerusalem now for two years and I saw Exodus before I cmae here but this film in many ways is more senitmental and brings tears to the eyes, despite its Hollywood idiocy, cardboard acting and stereotypes. The cinematography cannot be beaten, the film is shot in the dirty kibbutzim, Jerusalem hills and Negev desert. Although the battles are stylized and the Egyptian tanks are not accurate, the film maintains many accurate aspects. It truthfully shows the non-support given by the U.S to nascent Israel. It also gives many accurate details regarding the Egyptian advance, the battles for Jerusalem, the Burma road and the ALA. It fairly depicts the arab irregulars, and in this many are wrong, the depiction of Israeli organization and Arab disorganization is fairly portrayed. The Israelis are shown to be full of bravado, lacking many military skills, but with much efficiency and zeal while the Arabs are truthfully shown to be made up of a variety of competing interests, including irregulars, sheikhs and regular troops.

Many small details are accurate and fair. The cast is brilliant, including Kirk Douglas, Frank Sinatra(in a bit part) and John Wayne. The Hebrew is simple and helpful for the begginer. THe Romance is not as stupid as previously portrayed, and the Israelis/Jews are depicted in their diversity(with the exception of the religious).

Seth J. Frantzman

Casting a Bigger Legacy.......2006-08-21

This is the inspirational story of a US officer who went to Palestine in order to help set up the defense forces of the Jewish people on the eve of their declaring independence. Its based partly on fact and much on fiction but what is not made up is that a standard of victory was set that persists (usually) till this very day.

The officer, a Col. Markus, had to get a lot of discrete and mutually distrustful groups to work together against a much larger and much better armed opposition. He had political battles with politicians in Judea and the US which were every bit as tough as those against the Arab legions. In the end, he won out by being creative and by never losing sight of the goal: Victory.

For me, it was an inspiring story. It features Kirk Douglas as the star and has cameo appearances by John Wayne, Frank Sinatra and Yul Brynner. All do a great job.

a great action/war movie but as history less than true.......2006-01-04

i first saw this movie on late late saturday night movie and loved it. i was 12 and it made me go looking at the bookstore for more info on isreali and it's birth. i then learned that they took many libertys with the truth but i still like this movie. it is big epic story ofamerican officer micky marcus and his role in the building of the isreali army in 1948. as history it's questionable, but for sheer epic storytelling you won't go wrong,and maybe it will lead you to read more about this amazing time in history.

A good but flawed story.......2005-10-06

I really think that this film is some good propaganda for the Isreali's especially when they really needed to shore up their over seas supporters. The only real problems that I have with it is the idea that an American Officer was needed to get things squared away. (I sure that the Isreali Officers Corp would find this offensive to them.) That and the Arab enemy is showned to be some type of sub human that is the way of the righteous Israli Manifest Destiny. But is none the less a good war story but its not the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Average customer rating:

The making of Israel
A sentimental film
Casting a Bigger Legacy
a great action/war movie but as history less than true
A good but flawed story

Cast a Giant Shadow [Region 2]
Starring: Kirk Douglas , Senta Berger , Angie Dickinson , James Donald , and Stathis Giallelis
Director: Melville Shavelson
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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