38Driver Posted December 24, 2015 Share #51 Posted December 24, 2015 By far the best war movie. They told the story without all the gore, special effects etc. yet they caught the fear, misery and cost of war amazingly well. Think about how cold it feels watching that film. Think about how it showed the way replacements felt coming into a veteran unit while not condemning the surviving guys for thier unwillingness to get close to guys they knew would probably die. Think about the shot at the supply system with Kinny in boots wrapped in rags and the big guy dying in socks cause he had no overshoes and his boots needed to dry. Think about the same guy sliding back into that hole calling for his mom. Think about how the battle fatigue guy wasn't shunned when he just couldn't do it anymore and how he paid the ultimate price anyway. I know we praise the more recent movies and how they show us more graphically how war looks, but if you pay attention to the story, Battleground does that as well or better. According to Mark Bando's site, a number of 101st vets were extras and some of the uniforms and gear were thiers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOLO Posted December 25, 2015 Share #52 Posted December 25, 2015 I prefer the oldies much better than the current war movies, the new movies have too much CGI , almost like watching a video game some of my favourite old B & W movies are: All Quiet on The Western Front, Objective Burma, Destination Tokyo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted December 25, 2015 Share #53 Posted December 25, 2015 Most people don't pay much attention to movie credits. If you watch the credits on Battleground you will see that the Technical Advisor was Lt. Col. Harry Kinnard of the 101AB. I'd say that moviegoers got their money's worth as the technical aspects of the film (for 1949) are excellent and, frankly, today compare very favorably to other films that had bigger budgets. Regards, Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted December 26, 2015 Share #54 Posted December 26, 2015 Also advice and instruction from these guys... From a 1949 Screaming Eagle Magazine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted December 26, 2015 Share #55 Posted December 26, 2015 John Hodiak learns about the M1 Rifle... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted December 26, 2015 Share #56 Posted December 26, 2015 And how to make a bedding roll... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted December 26, 2015 Share #57 Posted December 26, 2015 Script Reading on set... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted December 26, 2015 Share #58 Posted December 26, 2015 Gen McAuliffe at the movie premiere in DC... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted December 26, 2015 Share #59 Posted December 26, 2015 In France, it came out as 'BASTOGNE' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johan Willaert Posted December 26, 2015 Share #60 Posted December 26, 2015 MGM Postercard... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted December 26, 2015 Share #61 Posted December 26, 2015 I'd read somewhere that the ending scene (where the tanks come in and they march off) was filmed at Fort Lewis, but have never actually seen any hard data on that point. Does anyone have anything on exactly where that was? It very rarely ever snows around there, so I have been doubtful of that for a while now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted December 27, 2015 Share #62 Posted December 27, 2015 Good stuff, Johan. Thanks for posting those Battleground items. Lee: The film is widely reported to have been filmed on the MGM lot, as well as at sites in California, Oregon and Washington. Wikipedia (and I'm not vouching for it as a reliable source on this) does state that there was filming done at Fort Lewis. Regards, Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted December 27, 2015 Share #63 Posted December 27, 2015 Some great images there Johan, thanks for posting them. That Snow, probably was crushed/pulverized asbestos, asbestos was used a lot for fake snow in Hollywood in them days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted December 27, 2015 Share #64 Posted December 27, 2015 Pulverized asbestos? That sounds like instant cancer. How long was that a routine practice? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted December 27, 2015 Share #65 Posted December 27, 2015 Pulverized asbestos? That sounds like instant cancer. How long was that a routine practice? It was an industry standard, check out for instance this scene from The Wizard of Oz . http://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/blog/artificial-christmas-snow-old-decorations-may-contain-asbestos/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted December 27, 2015 Share #66 Posted December 27, 2015 Yama Hama, I wonder what we're using today that people will be horrified by 70 years from now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted December 27, 2015 Share #67 Posted December 27, 2015 Yama Hama, I wonder what we're using today that people will be horrified by 70 years from now. Nah, believe it safe stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willysmb44 Posted December 28, 2015 Share #68 Posted December 28, 2015 The snow was real in several scenes, you can see it melting on stuff as it falls in throughout the movie. My Dad remembers reading something about the filming of the movie, how they used machines to create indoor snow for those scenes. That's not to say that there couldn't have been fake non-cold stuff standing in for some snow on the set, but you can see real frozen stuff coming down on the actors in plenty of scenes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Flick Posted December 28, 2015 Share #69 Posted December 28, 2015 Gen McAuliffe at the movie premiere in DC... Good pic. That is George Murphy (Pop Stazak) on the left, John Hodiak (Don Jarvess), Mr. X, Denise Darcel (Denise) and the General. It is not widely remembered today but George Murphy, after a long and successful Hollywood career, went into politics and was elected as US Senator for the state of California in 1965. He served one term. Regards, Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellumbill Posted December 29, 2015 Share #70 Posted December 29, 2015 Hello all - Love this discussion, I posted on it a few years back. In the beginning marching scene you can see typical US Army style barracks way off in the background. I always figured it was Ft. Lewis or perhaps Ft. Ord? Note there is no snow on the ground in that scene. Also note that most of the actors are dressed nothing heavier than the M43 jackets and pants - I am sure it was warm - also, can't see their breath when they talk - "Carrant dooze swasont deece". I met Van Johnson and talked to him in 1994 at Ft. Story D-Day event - He said the producers bought up every freezer in LA to stick in the soundstage for the winter scenes. Also, many of the helmets used in the movie later show up in episodes of Combat! You can see the faint outlines of the clubs in many scenes. Very best, Bill K. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STG44 Posted January 12, 2016 Share #71 Posted January 12, 2016 A classic must see. I've probably seen it 30 times and never get tired of it. Hey Kip what ever happened to Jodie? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mruiz Posted January 12, 2016 Share #72 Posted January 12, 2016 I got that Jody call cadence, written down. Gave it to our NCO'S but there are not allowed to call then anymore. This is a different Army than when I was in. New NCO'S love them. SARG ! You ain't got nothing to worrie about ! Soldiers say ! Jody will keep them happy, until I get out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tke507 Posted July 20, 2016 Share #73 Posted July 20, 2016 Really cool movie I just recently discovered Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmd62 Posted July 20, 2016 Share #74 Posted July 20, 2016 Great movie, it's definitely in my top five WWII movies list! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundance Posted July 21, 2016 Share #75 Posted July 21, 2016 Battleground is one great movie. You could watch the last 15 minutes over and over again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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