World War II Movie Night

Latest Episodes:

47. "Fat Man and Little Boy" (1989) Aug 20, 2021

Show notes

Felix and Oscar got nothing on Groves and Oppenheimer, the original atomic odd-couple. This 1989 film portrays Los Alamos, the Manhattan Project, and the eventual Trinity Test. Military and Scientists butt heads about how to use the awesome power they're about to unleash. Watch a fictional-yet-factual take on actions that will be debated the rest of our lives. Enjoy Paul Newman's gruff take on General Groves, and the test is pretty cool... Asides include how, as teenagers, my generation had subpar history movies.

46. "Kelly's Heroes" (1970) Jul 30, 2021

Show notes

Cool, fun, and a sea-change in World War II movies as they entered a new decade, 1970's "Kelly's Heroes" reflects the era's anti-establishment zeitgeist. Clint Eastwood leads an ensemble cast as he and his men race to pull off the biggest gold heist in history, contending with not only Germans behind enemy lines, but their own side's clueless/corrupt higher-ups, and even another unit who wants in on it. Analyze KH on a deep level, or just relax and enjoy Oddball's one-liners; either way works... Asides include monkey movies, Richard Nixon, pop songs in movies, and James Bond in Harlem.

45. "Hacksaw Ridge" (2016) Jul 09, 2021

Show notes

How did a conscientious objector win a Medal of Honor? "Hacksaw Ridge" tells the story of Desmond Doss, a religious soldier who refused to carry a weapon, yet distinguished himself as a medic in the Battle of Okinawa. HR also represents a comeback for Mel Gibson, many years down-and-out when he redeemed himself with this acclaimed, successful World War II epic... Asides include more on Gibson's tomfoolery and downfall, and a new word I learned ("offal").

44. "Slaughterhouse-Five" (1972) Jun 17, 2021

Show notes

Tonight's the mostly forgotten movie adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's famous World War II novel. The book may be a quirky sci-fi hybrid, but it delves seriously into Vonnegut's real-life experiences as a POW during the Dresden firebombing. How successfully these experiences transfer to the screen is, well, arguable. Tonight's episode toggles between a serious approach to the subject matter and the realization that this movie ain't no lost classic... asides include the peaks and valleys of Vonnegut's catalogue, how what's considered "hot/sexy" changes from era to era, and mistaking freeway offramps for onramps.

43. "The Bridge at Remagen" (1969) May 28, 2021

Show notes

Bomb it? Blow it? Take it? Keep it? The options are dizzying as Germans and Americans decide what to do with the titular "The Bridge at Remagen." Reflecting a real event (supposedly pretty accurately), tonight's listener request gives both sides ample screentime, from the American Lt. put in charge of fighters as weary and cynical as himself, to the German Major (and his General friend) who hope that Hitler and the SS won't notice they're working some wiggle room into their orders... Asides include destroying one's childhood toys and the enduring legacy of the "Cape Fear" score.

42. "The Sound of Music" (1965) May 07, 2021

Show notes

World War II Movie Night tackles the sixth most popular movie ever made (which makes it by default the most popular World War II movie ever made), 1965's "The Sound of Music." Although it takes a while to get there, by its third act TSoM is primarily about the Anschluss - the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, and how major WWII developments affected private lives... in this case hiding out in crypts and near-car chases (and damn that must've been some hike!). Also, RIP Christopher Plummer.

41. "Downfall" (2004) Apr 16, 2021

Show notes

Come upstairs for the party! World War II Movie Night delves into the defining movie re: Hitler's (and the Reich's) last days. Alongside this excellent German production we examine a recent Hitler biography, a 2002 documentary ("Blind Spot") and, yes, a classic "Simpsons". We also count the suicides and recoil from Goebbels' creepiness. So get on the dance floor and try to ignore the Russian shelling!

40. "The Devil's Brigade" (1968) Mar 26, 2021

Show notes

Tonight is a listener request from the Swiss Alps. The 1968 American movie "The Devil's Brigade" is regarded by its makers as suffering from bad timing, given that it came out shortly after "The Dirty Dozen." However, while TDB and TDD share some common tropes (e.g., grizzled older man assembles rag-tag group of misfits, has to convince skeptical highers-up of their skills, etc.), TDB has the added dynamic of a foil to the misfits: the highly competent Canadian troops. Witness bullying, rivalries, an epic bar-fight, and finally a more serious, daredevil mission. "The Devil's Brigade" movie is also BASED (big qualifier) on the real-life Devil's Brigade/First Special Service Force... asides include seeing movies at formative times in life, and shitty pressers (i.e., movie screenings for press).

39. "Jojo Rabbit" (2019) Mar 05, 2021

Show notes

We've had some odd movies on World War II Movie Night, but tonight's "Jojo Rabbit" is odd for its unexpectedness. The modern genre of comedy that mixes humor and pathos produced a World War II movie, and there's more to it than one might think. Hitler-Youth devotee Jojo, 10, navigates life in late-war Germany after a terrible accident. Challenges include his Resistance-happy mother, his relationship with the big man himself, and a surprise houseguest who causes him to question his core beliefs. Come for the quirkiness, stay for the interesting perspectives on the War... Asides include a long-winded rant on comedy movies of the last 40 years, that 'The Beatles' is a pun, and how exactly do we describe someone who's overweight in today's climate, like, what words?

38. "Beach Red" (1967) Feb 12, 2021

Show notes

If "Cross of Iron" could be said to be a WWII Vietnam movie, 1967's "Beach Red" is even moreso. BR is remembered for its gore and cutting-edge editing. Although its influence is debatable, it at least features many things that would be seen in WWII movies decades later, such as a gory beach landing with a severed arm ("Saving Private Ryan"), showing the Japanese as real people with lives back home ("Letters from Iwo Jima"), and hearing characters' thoughts ("The Thin Red Line")... So put on some era-incorrect clothes, grab a can of beans and watch "Beach Red."

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