FORGOTTEN GEM? “The Bunker” (1981)

            There are several movies about the last days of Hitler.  “The Bunker” was a made for TV movie that premiered in 1981.  It was based on the nonfiction book by James O’Donnell.  O’Donnell was a Newsweek correspondent who was in occupied Berlin at the end of the war.  He bribed his way into the Bunker and snooped around, even taking some top secret documents.  He made it a goal to tell the definitive story of Hitler’s death.  His substantial research included numerous interviews with people associated with the Fuhrer in the last days.  The most obvious comparison of this movie is to “Downfall” so some of this review will delve into similarities and differences.

  The movie opens with O’Donnell (James Naughton) entering the Bunker and vowing to tell the tale.  The film then flashes back to Hitler’s arrival at the site.  This bunker is a lot more bright and pristine than the one in “Downfall”.  Instead of centering the movie on the secretary Traudl, it uses multiple viewpoints.  The most notable is that of Albert Speer (Richard Jordan).  Speer is something of a hero (which would conform to his memoirs) and not only argues with Hitler on his plans to destroy the German infrastructure, but he plots to assassinate his boss.  The main villain is Martin Boorman (Michel Lonsdale).  Anthony Hopkin’s Hitler is a lot less sympathetic than Bruno Ganz’s.  He is not portrayed as evil either.  He’s tired and dazed.  The crucial scenes like the wedding, the killing of the Goebbel’s kids, and the Adolf and Eva suicides are similar in both movies.

“The Bunker” is not bad for a made for TV movie.  It is accurate enough to have given the television audience the basics on Hitler’s death.  Some of the dialogue was improvised, but that is acceptable.  There are some controversial (if you are a historian) interpretations of incidents.  For instance, when Speer tells Hitler that he has not carried out his scorched earth plan, Hitler reacts as though he is not surprised.  The acting is fine, with Hopkins dominating of course.  He is not on the same level of Ganz, but he did win an Emmy and his interpretation of Hitler may actually be more realistic.  One major complaint is the sets are too phony looking.  You don’t quite get the desperation that the visuals should imply.  On the other hand, the Bunker is much emptier and quieter in the last few days.  That is probably closer to reality than “Downfall”.

                In conclusion, “The Bunker” is a sincere effort to cover an important and fascinating event in history.  It served a purpose until 2004 when “Downfall” replaced it as the definitive account of the event.  It’s still worth watching as a companion to “Downfall”.  Concentrate on how the same historical event can be variously interpreted.

GRADE  = B-

CRACKER? Into the White (2012)

                “Into the White” is a Norwegian movie loosely based on a World War II tale.  It was released under the title “Cross of Honour” in the United Kingdom.  Why the name was changed to something unassociated with the movie is beyond me.  It was directed by Petter Naess.  Yes, that Peter Naess.  We are about to find out what the phrase “inspired by a true story” means when applied to a war movie.

 

                In April, 1940 the Germans and British were fighting over Norway and its natural resources.  The film claims they both wanted to conquer Norway.  The British might find the word “conquer” a bit harsh.  A British fighter shoots down a German bomber, but goes down itself in the encounter.  Both crews end up at the same hunter’s hut.  The Germans arrive first, but allow the British in despite the fact that the Germans are armed and the Brits aren’t (and just shot them down).  Instead of being grateful for that not killing us thing, the British insist on being treated equally and even bitch when the Germans take their lighter to start a fire.  They plan to provoke their hosts and stress them out.  This task is taken up by future soccer hooligan Smith (Rupert Gint – Weasley of Harry Potter fame!).  He manages to get a pistol and now they have the upper hand.

                Since they are stuck in a cabin in wintertime, we get some exposition (but no explosion because this is not a Hollywood film).  The foes debate which is worse – Nazi Germany or the British Empire?  When German Captain Schopis (Florien Lukas) argues that England wants Norway for its raw materials, British Captain Davenport (Lachlan Nieboer) agrees!  I think Norwegian cinema has a grudge against WWII England.  Along with the exposition, we also get the requisite bonding.  The schnapps helps.  You know they are accepting each other because they share cigarettes.  Part of the bonding experience involves Smith and Strunk (Stig Hoff) going off hunting.  Only one comes back when they meet a Norwegian patrol searching for the Germans.  War over for the Germans.  Movie over for us.

                I am always skeptical when a movie claims to be “inspired by a true story”.  I spend the movie wondering what moments of bull shit might actually be true.  Sometimes I am stunned when my research proves the most ridiculous scenes are verifiable.  Most of the time my cynicism is warranted.  This movie is somewhere in the middle.  There really was a German bomber that got shot down and its hunter also crashed.  The movie changes the names of the British, but not the Germans.  Davenport was actually Capt. R.T. Partridge and Smith was Lt. R.S. Bostock.  The British arrived at the cabin first and when the Germans came armed, a truce was agreed to.  The British lied and convinced the Germans that they were the crew of a bomber.  The Brits moved on to a nearby abandoned hotel and were joined there the next day by the Germans.  Davenport (not Smith) and Strunk went out scouting and ran into a Norwegian ski patrol.  Because they feared Strunk was going to kill Davenport, they shot him.  They then moved on to the hotel where Schopis and Auchtor were taken captive.  The movie post script is accurate.  It is obvious that all of the filling in between the lines (like the amputation of Auchtor’s arm) were made up.

                If the “true story” had not existed, someone would have invented it anyway.  Two planes crash near each other and the crews have to live and let live.  Cinema 101.  “Into the White” fumbles the chance to enhance the basic story with entertaining elements.  The characters are all stereotypes.  One of the Germans is “bad” (Auchtor), but strangely not the officer.  We know he’s bad because he carries a copy of “Mein Kampf”.  Smith is a caricature.  The two leaders are too noble.  The dialogue is bland and the plot is predictable.  You can see the bonding coming from a mile away.  There is no real suspense.  You never get the feeling that the two groups will open fire on each other.

                If your favorite color is white, this is the movie for you.  Otherwise, it’s not anything special. It certainly is not going to make my 100 Best War Movies list.

GRADE  =  C 

ANTIQUE or CLASSIC?: The Purple Plain (1954)

                “The Purple Plain” was a British film that was released in 1954 and did pretty well at the box office.  Gregory Peck and the fact it was in color probably were responsible for some of the success.  It was directed by Robert Parish from a novel by H.E. Bates.  The movie was shot in Sri Lanka and used some of the sites later used in “Bridge on the River Kwai”.  The Royal Air Force cooperated with the use of authentic Mosquitoes.

                We are in Burma in 1945.  Squadron Leader Forrester (Peck) is suffering from mental instability due to the death of his wife in the “Blitz”.  He has a death wish and everyone thinks he is a “raving lunatic”.  Everyone except the base doctor who refuses the base commander’s wish to have him relieved.  There’s a nice twist!  Instead the doc takes him to a Burmese village where Forrester meets a beautiful girl named Anna (Win Min Than).  Love will conquer his mental problems.  The relationship develops very briskly with Anna pressuring him to commit.  Another twist.  Forrester promises to always come back to her, thus eliminating any suspense over whether Gregory Peck’s character will die with his romance unrequited.  (Like there was a good chance of that otherwise.)  Forrester is a changed man and his brain is fixed.  Unfortunately, his engine is not and he crashes on the very next mission.  Imagine the odds!

                The crash is well done which is at odds with the rest of the movies shoddy effects.  Forrester, Flight Officer Blore (Maurice Denham), and wounded navigator Carrington (Lyndon Brook) are far from safety.  Forrester wants to press on, but Blore insists on staying with the wreckage.  Peck points out to Denham which one of them is the big star so they move on.  Excellent decision plot-wise.  Plus we get some nice scenery and the emoting you get when three desperate men have to make a trek.  Will Forrester be true to his promise to return to Anna?  Check out the year the movie was released for a clue.

                This is an interesting movie.  I had never heard of it and I am a Gregory Peck fan.  It is not one of his more famous roles.  It came between “Roman Holiday” and “Moby Dick”.  He dominates, but Denham was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Actor.  I think this was Win Min Than’s only movie.  It is obvious she was an amateur, but she holds her own and does the opposite of scene-chewing.  The plot is a bit predictable, but the movie is comfortable for a 1950s audience.  Not surprisingly, the PTSD issue is handled in too simplistic a way.  Anna is one great therapist!  Good thing due to the doctor’s bizarre lack of concern that an insane, suicidal officer is leading men into combat.  The cinematography stands out with a lot of close-ups.  Too close actually and too many.  Other than the crash, the effects are those of models being pummeled by fake flak.

                Antique or Classic?  Neither.  Just a mildly entertaining trifle.

GRADE = C+  

THE 100 GREATEST WAR MOVIES (STATISTICALLY)

This is my attempt at a statistical analysis of the greatest war movies.  Here is the methodology.  I found four 100 Greatest War Movies lists that I feel are knowledgeable on the subject.  Two of those lists (Military History magazine and Channel 4) rank the movies.  The others are Film Site and the book 101 War Movies You Must See Before You Die.   I also used three books that rate war movies:  Video Hound’s War Movies, Brassey’s Guide to War Films, and The Belle and Blade Guide to Classic War Videos.  The reason why the list is limited to only movies from the 20^th Century is because the sources do not include 21^st Century movies. 

 I won’t bore with the details, but basically the first number is a combination of the average rating from the ratings books and a rating based on the ranking from the two ranked lists (on a scale of 1-5).   I grouped the movies based on how many lists they made so only movies that were in both Military History magazine and Channel 4 made the top 43. 

 I must emphasize that this list does not reflect my opinions.  In fact, I find some of the positions ridiculous.  I have seen and reviewed all of the movies on the list.  Some are not war movies, in my opinion.  Others are very overrated.  It is also apparent that foreign movies got short-changed.

Sorry about the columns.  I was not drunk when I made them. 

Either MH (Military History magazine) or C4 (Channel 4) plus one more list

100.  The Manchurian Candidate  (1962)                3.85        85MH 

99.    Bridge at Toko-Ri                                        3.85        73MH

98.    Mrs. Miniver                                               3.93        79C4   

97.    To Hell and Back                                          3.94        77MH

96.    Run Silent, Run Deep                                   3.95        79MH

95.    The Alamo  (1960)                                       4.02        61MH

94.    Sands of Iwo Jima                                        4.03        76C4

93.    Land and Freedom                                        4.05        80MH

92.    Ulzana’s Raid                                              4.05        54MH

91.    The Sea Hawk                                              4.05        48MH

90.    The Man Who Would Be King                      4.08        74MH

89.    Hail the Conquering Hero!                            4.08        70MH

88.    The Cruel Sea                                             4.08        41C4

87.    They Died with Their Boots On                    4.09        68MH

86.    Foreign Correspondent                                  4.1          86MH

85.    Ride with the Devil                                       4.1          73C4

84.    Casualties of War                                        4.12        55C4

83.    The Train                                                    4.16        62MH

82.    Empire of the Sun                                        4.16        43C4

81.    Life is Beautiful                                          4.19        56C4

80.    Twelve O’Clock High                                    4.2          72MH

79.    The Story of G.I. Joe                                    4.26        45MH

78.    She Wore a Yellow Ribbon                            4.28        55MH

77.    Catch-22                                                     4.28        42C4

76.    Oh!  What a Lovely War                              4.28        40C4

75.    The Tin Drum                                              4.3          60MH

74.    Scipio Africanus                                           4.3          56MH

73.    Ministry of Fear                                           4.3          53MH

72.    Colonel Redl                                                4.3          50MH

71.    The Third Man                                            4.33        80MH

70.    Battleground                                               4.34        36MH

69.    Beau Geste                                                 4.35        52MH

68.    Three Kings                                                 4.4          50C4

67.    Hell’s Angels                                               4.4          43MH

66.    Hope and Glory                                           4.43        52MH

65.    Pork Chop Hill                                            4.43        39MH

64.    Good Morning, Vietnam                               4.44        31C4

63.    Gettysburg                                                  4.46        46MH

62.    Battleship Potemkin                                     4.47        47MH

61.    Tora! Tora! Tora!                                        4.51        39C4

60.    Kagemashu                                                 4.53        34MH

59.    The African Queen                                      4.53        32MH

58.    Duck Soup                                                  4.53        27MH

57.    Notorious                                                   4.55        57MH

56.    The Searchers                                             4.55        49MH

55.    The Dawn Patrol  (1938)                             4.58        38MH

54.    Best Years of Our Lives                              4.61        40MH

53.    The Dam Busters                                        4.69        11C4

52.    The Killing Fields                                       4.75        15C4

Either MH or C4 plus two more lists                       

51.    Birth of a Nation                                          3.8          92C4

50.    Ballad of a Soldier                                        3.9          81MH

49.    The Big Parade                                            4.1          58MH

48.    In Which We Serve                                     4.12        57C4

47.    Gallipoli                                                     4.19        48C4

46.    Stalag 17                                                    4.19        18MH

45.    Sergeant York                                              4.4          19MH

44.    Wings                                                        4.7          11MH

Both MH and C4  (the highlighted movies appear on all four lists)

43.    The Last of the Mohicans  (1992)             3.75        65  (avg. of MH and C4)

42.    Battle of Britain                                         3.75        59.5

41.    Guns of Navarone                                      3.94        53.5

40.    The Deer Hunter                                        3.95        20.5

39.    A Bridge Too Far                                     4.02        50.5

38.    El Cid                                                      4.05        74.5

37.    Breaker Morant                                         4.07        84.5

36.    The Thin Red Line  (1998)                       4.12        58

35.    Cross of Iron                                            4.12        50.5

34.    Braveheart                                                 4.13        40

33.    Charge of the Light Brigade  (1936)          4.15        51.5

32.    The Dirty Dozen                                       4.19        24

31.    Rome, Open City                                      4.2          56

30.    From Here to Eternity                              4.29        56.5

29.    The Longest Day                                      4.3          17.5

28.    Spartacus                                                  4.35        33

27.    Alexander Nevsky                                     4.38        39.5

26.    The Big Red One                                       4.4          84.5

25.    The General                                             4.45        53.5

24.    Stalingrad  (1992)                                      4.45        40.5

23.    Platoon                                                    4.65        7.5

22.    Battle of Algiers                                        4.5          44

21.    MASH                                                     4.52        26.5

20.    The Great Escape                                    4.52        23.5

19.    The Life and Death of Col. Blimp               4.55        79.5

18.    Ran                                                          4.55        70

17.    Napoleon                                                 4.55        52

16.    Full Metal Jacket                                    4.55        10.5

15.    All Quiet on the Western Front  (1930)    4.65        17   *  #1 in MH

14.    Apocalypse Now                                      4.67        8

13.    Glory                                                      4.69        39

12.    Dr. Strangelove                                         4.7          51

11.    Casablanca                                               4.7          47.5

10.    Paths of Glory                                         4.74        12.5

9.      Bridge on the River Kwai                        4.75        11

8.      Das Boot                                                 4.84        10

7.       Saving Private Ryan                               4.84        4.5      *  #1 in C4

6.       Henry V  (1944)                                       4.85        55.5

5.       Grand Illusion                                        4.85        34

4.       Patton                                                    4.85        30.5

3.       Lawrence of Arabia                                4.85        23

2.       Schindler’s List                                       5.0          17.5

1.       Zulu                                                        5.0          15  *  #22 MH  /  #8  C4

A few thoughts:

1.  The two ranked lists (MH and C4) differ greatly in placement of the movies.  Only 43 movies made both lists.  The movie that was highest on both lists was “Saving Private Ryan”. 

2.  Because I could find only three appropriate rating sources, this meant that if one reviewer disliked a movie, it could skew the average rating.  For instance, “The Longest Day” got a 2.0 in Belle and Blade, which is ludicrous.  However, I had to stick with the system.

3.  “Patton” and “Dr. Strangelove” were the only movies to get a perfect rating in all three sources.  Several movies had 5s on two sources, but were not reviewed by the third source.  These were “Lawrence of Arabia”, “Zulu”, “Schindler’s List”, “Casablanca”, “Henry V”, “Ran”, and “Grand Illusion”.

4.  Only three movies made the top ten in both MH and C4:  “Das Boot” (3 & 10), “Saving Private Ryan” (8 & 1), and “Platoon” (9 & 6).  “Platoon” ended up at #23 because of lukewarm ratings.

5.  Movies that met the criteria, but did not make the top 100 included:  “Guadalcanal Diary”, “Castle Keep”, “The Desert Fox”, “A Walk in the Sun”, “Sahara”, “The Desert Rats”, “Dunkirk”, “Midway”,  “Ben Hur”, “Come and See”, “Regeneration”, and “Europa, Europa” .