Danger Close

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The Last of the Mohicans (1992) Jan 13, 2023

Show notes

One of Michael Mann’s most beloved films, this is the most recent and most enduring of ELEVEN screen adaptations of the historical fiction novel by James Fenimore Cooper, and it takes us to a war we seldom see depicted elsewhere in cinema: The French and Indian War in North America.

It follows the journey of the last members of the vanishing Mohican people as they venture through the breathtaking forests and mountains of Northeastern North America in 1757, while Britain and France fight for control of the continent.

Their progress is halted when they come to the aid of British troops and find themselves escorting a pair of sisters through some of the most notorious battles of the entire war, hounded by a Huron warrior who is bent on exacting revenge on their father, a British Colonel.

At once a great adventure, sweeping romance, and epic war film, the simple plot is carried by a sublime score, some incredible set design, and the legendary performances of a powerhouse cast, all set against a complex and layered historical backdrop.

Today we have a very special guest on the show: author, philosopher, and Native-American history professor Daniele Bolelli, host of the popular podcasts History on Fire and The Drunken Taoist. He’s here to help us separate the historical from the not-so-historical, and tell us why this is one of his favorite films.

*We recommend the theatrical cut of this film (112 mins), not very accessible but available for purchase on ebay or as a region B disk (Australia) on amazon. Make sure your disk player can read region B. Most other places (including streaming), you can find the Director's Definitive Cut (114 mins).

Next Episode: Mutiny on the Bounty (1935)

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Das Boot (1981) Dec 16, 2022

Show notes

For our first Wolfgang Peterson film, we decided to cover what is often touted as the best submarine film ever, and one that is on most people’s Top Ten War Film lists.

Starring a young Jürgen Prochnow as the Captain of U-96 and a cast of mostly unknown actors as his crew, this is the thrilling story of one German submarine crew in the Battle of the Atlantic, stalking Allied cargo and military ships in an effort to reduce their enemies’ combat effectiveness and disrupt their supply chains.

Based on the experiences of author Lothar G. Buchheim, the film uses a combination of models and very accurate moving sets to really make you feel the claustrophobia and descent into hell that these submariners experienced in a way that does not glorify war, but instead makes us ponder its cost.

*We watched the 1997 Director’s Cut (208 minutes), available streaming on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/.../B00BZBPB98/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

Next Episode: Last of the Mohicans (1992)

warmovies #warfilms #war #film #films #movies #history #cinema #WWII #worldwartwo #submarine

All Quiet on the Western Front (2022) Nov 11, 2022

Show notes

With a screenplay based on Erich Maria Remarque’s immensely popular book, first published in 1929, director Edward Berger has taken on the daunting task of leading the first German team to take this story to the big screen.

It is written, directed, and portrayed by Germans, and offers a unique perspective to the war film genre: that of a country who started, and lost, two world wars, at a great cost to their own people. World War I had a devastating effect on “the lost generation” all around the world, and Germans have felt the shame, regret, and repercussions of this event for over 100 years.

This is quite possibly the most famous anti-war story, and this newest adaptation is no exception. It carries all of the intent and messaging of the author, with the sharp cutting edge of modern filmmaking techniques and visceral, immersive sound and visuals.

The film takes the biggest divergences from the previous adaptations, showing us some of the political ramifications of the war, while still keeping us intimately close with Paul and his friends who join up to go fight in the trenches with all the youthful enthusiasm of kids who grew up around war heroes.

Join us as we explore this marvel of modern cinema in all of its terrifying beauty.

Available on Netflix

Spoiler Alert: we discuss the 1929 book, the 1930 film, and the 1979 tv movie of the same title in this conversation.

Next Episode: Das Boot (1981)

warmovies #warfilms #war #film #films #movies #history #cinema #WWI #worldwarone

BONUS EPISODE: Fright Pub: Last Night in Soho (2021) Oct 28, 2022

Show notes

To give our fans some additional content while we are operating on a reduced release schedule - and in honor of Halloween - we are dropping an episode of our sister Horror Movie podcast, Fright Pub, into the main feed.

Listen as Liam, Shaggy, and Lauren drink adult beverages and discuss a different horror movie each week. In this episode, recorded this past April, they discuss Edgar Wright's 2021 slick retro horror.

You can find all the other fun episodes of Fright Pub at:
https://frightpub.buzzsprout.com/
New episodes every Friday!

Join their Facebook group at:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/348900316170245

If you have any questions or comments, or if you would like to be a guest on an episode of Fright Pub, feel free to contact them at frightpub@gmail.com

If you like the show, please leave them a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

The Hunt for Red October (1990) Oct 15, 2022

Show notes

The year is 1990. The Cold War is in full swing, and the threat of thermonuclear world war is ever present. The Soviet Union is…wait…what? Oh the Berlin Wall came down last year? And the Soviet Union is rapidly dissolving? The Iron Curtain is being lifted? Ok then…

Checks production notes…

The year is 1984. The Cold war is in full swing, and the threat of thermonuclear world war is ever present. The Soviet Union is eagerly deploying a new submarine technology that could tip the delicate balance of power.
Under the command of Captain Marko Ramius, the new Typhoon-Class nuclear submarine Red October is headed straight for the East Coast of the United States. Is he a madman bent on triggering World War 3? Or is he trying to stop this Cold War from turning Hot?

It’s up to reluctant yet dashing hero, CIA analyst Jack Ryan in his first cinematic iteration, to throw himself into harms way and discover Ramius’ true intentions in the midst of a nuclear game of cat-and-mouse between the US and the USSR.

Strap in for a deep dive with us into this 90s techno-thriller from acclaimed director John McTiernan, and let’s see how it holds up!

30 Rock clip mentioned in the show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoXfQupV5n8

Next Episode: All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)

warmovies #warfilms #war #film #films #movies #history #cinema #coldwar #sovietunion #subwarfare

Mister Roberts (1955) Sep 30, 2022

Show notes

A classic example of the once popular "Service Comedy" genre, this hit film was adapted from a hit stage play, in turn adapted from a hit novel. Henry Fonda reprises his role from the stage play as the titular Lieutenant (j.g.) Roberts, alongside a young and hilarious Jack Lemmon playing Ensign Pulver, and our first time with James Cagney as the insufferable Captain guarding his beloved palm tree.

Almost none of the actors are age appropriate for their roles, and some of the humor lands firmly in the “cringe” zone, but there is still plenty of merit in this war film sex comedy about the crew of a cargo ship dying from boredom and cabin fever in the safe area of the pacific during the waning days of World War II.

Join us for this comedy classic!

Next Episode: The Hunt for Red October (1990)

warmovies #warfilms #war #film #films #movies #history #cinema #WWII # worldwar2 #navy

Apocalypse Now (1979) Sep 16, 2022

Show notes

One of the first big-budget Vietnam War films from the US, the production of Francis Ford Coppola’s epic was quite a war in its own right.

The shooting was fraught with issues, including filming in the Philippines where rebels interrupted the work regularly, Coppola putting $7 million of his own funds on the line, and the usual complications that come with the jungle territory, like typhoons.

Add to that a main actor who almost died during filming (Martin Sheen) and a bigger than life star who was…let’s say less than professional (Marlon Brando), and you have quite the interesting tale before you even get to the plot of the film.
Surreal and disturbing, Captain Willard’s journey into this adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” is a visual spectacle of men losing their grip on sanity that takes the audience into the unknown. The infamous Colonel Kurtz awaits at the end of the journey, and Willard has orders to eliminate him “with extreme prejudice”.

Join us as we venture upriver in our PBR and discuss this award-winning epic!

Next Episode: Mister Roberts (1955)

warmovies #warfilms #war #film #films #movies #history #cinema #Vietnam

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) Aug 26, 2022

Show notes

Finishing in second place for our third poll in a row earned this film its rightful spot in the Danger Close catalogue.

Set in a Japanese prison camp in Thailand in 1943, it pits the principled Lt Col Nicholson (Alec Guinness) against the ruthless camp commandant Col Saito (Sessue Hayakawa) in a battle of character and wit. This fictional story, loosely based on real events, won seven Academy Awards, including David Lean’s first Oscar for Best Director.

So whistle while you march to join us as we discuss this world-famous film and its epic story!

Next Episode: Apocalypse Now (1979)

warmovies #warfilms #war #film #films #movies #history #cinema #WWII

Beau Geste (1939) Aug 13, 2022

Show notes

Even in a year like 1939 - which gave us the likes of Stagecoach, The Wizard of Oz, and Gone with the Wind - it’s hard to believe that an Oscar-nominated action adventure from a legendary, Oscar winning director, featuring an all-star cast of future Oscar winners, would somehow get lost in the shuffle, but here we are.

It’s a film most of you have probably never heard of, but it’s a rollicking yarn that disproves the theory that the remake is never better than the original.

When three English brothers all fall under suspicion for the theft of a priceless jewel, they seek refuge in their romantic childhood fantasies by running off to join the French Foreign Legion, where they find themselves fighting for their lives in the desert under the merciless command of a tyrannical sergeant.

Join us as we listen to Liam gush over one of his all-time favorite films NOT made by Wes Anderson!

available on youtube

Next Episode: The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

warmovies #warfilms #war #film #films #movies #history #cinema #foreignlegion #northafrica

Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan (2019) Jul 29, 2022

Show notes

This film has been requested many times; usually by our Aussie and Kiwi listeners, and occasionally by people who think our podcast is entirely dedicated to this one film from 2019.

Well-known down under, but not as much in the rest of the world, this is the story of one of the most famous battles Anzac troops fought in the Vietnam War. They were outnumbered between 10 and 20-to-1, and had it not been for their tactical decision-making, the fight could have had a very different outcome.

We’ve done films “based on true events” (and people) many times before; how does this one compare to We Were Soldiers or The Outpost? Did they do justice to the real soldiers who fought in this battle?

Join us on Danger Close: A War Film Podcast, and find out!

Next Episode: Beau Geste (1939)

warmovies #warfilms #war #film #films #movies #history #cinema #ANZAC #Vietnam

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