World War II Movie Night

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37. "Stalag 17" (1953) Jan 22, 2021

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World War II Movie Night delves into fan favorite "Stalag 17," a movie that mixes intrigue and comedy to great effect. American POWs while away their captivity ogling Russian women and trying to undermine their German overseers. But the Germans are always one step ahead, leading some prisoners to think there's a spy in their midst. Wheeler-dealer Sefton is the prime suspect, but is it that simple? Raucous and suspenseful, what "Stalag 17" lacks in prestige it makes up for in entertainment... Asides include bygone comedies such as "Some Like It Hot" and "Airplane!"

36. "The Thin Red Line" (1998) Jan 01, 2021

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World War II Movie Night gets philosophical with Terrence Malick's "The Thin Red Line." Released the same year as "Saving Private Ryan," 1998, TTRL couldn't quite escape that movie's shadow, although everyone thought it was good and some thought it was one of the best movies ever made. What up? Find out as we examine the movie that broke Malick's 20-year hiatus from filmmaking... Asides include laughing for reasons other than amusement and brilliant/reclusive artists, e.g., Thomas Pynchon and My Bloody Valentine.

35. "Attack!" (1956) Dec 11, 2020

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Jack Palance, Lee Marvin and Eddie Albert star in this black-and-white combat drama. As the Battle of the Bulge launches, the men of Fragile Fox company worry that their Captain, who only has his command through a political favor, will get even more fighters killed. What can be done?... Asides include '80s primetime soap operas, and Lee Marvin as the first inductee into the World War II Movie Night Trophy Case!

34. "The Best Years of Our Lives" (1946) Nov 20, 2020

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This highly regarded homefront drama is considered the gold standard for soldiers-returning-home movies. Acclaimed director William Wyler followed up 1942's "Mrs. Miniver" with 1946's "The Best Years of Our Lives" (now two World War II Movie Night selections), sweeping the Oscars with both. Witness the overlapping tribulations of WWII vets Fred, Al, and Homer, as they try to pick up where they left off... asides include pulling life's ejector seat.

33. "The Keep" (1983) Oct 30, 2020

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Get schlocky as we delve into the beautiful disaster that is 1983's "The Keep." Adapted by Michael Mann from the popular paperback, "The Keep" is gothic horror in a World War II setting. A deeply flawed movie (for interesting reasons, it turns out), it nonetheless has a cult following. Why? We'll find out as we set up camp in a castle that wasn't made to keep anything out, but to keep something IN.

32. "Air Strike" (2018) Oct 09, 2020

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This Bruce Willis-helmed movie, concerning the Japanese aerial attacks on China during the war, barely exists. "Air Strike" went unseen and, by the few who did, unliked. Yet the reasons for those facts are interesting in themselves... asides in this tangent-heavy episode include the tragic end of Iris Chang, the book and movie "Fast Food Nation," "Beavis and Butthead," and Scientology/"Battlefield Earth."

31. "Gallipoli" (1981) Sep 18, 2020

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World War II Movie Night goes Down Under to become World War I Movie Night with "Gallipoli." This 1981 Peter Weir film is considered a classic of Australian cinema, and features, among other things, a pre-fame Mel Gibson. Witness two young men join the military to fight the German-aligned Turks, and the end result… asides include the sport of running, STDs and cultural norms re: wedding nights.

30. "Judgment at Nuremburg" (1961) Aug 28, 2020

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World War II Movie Night gets legal with one of the most famous courtroom dramas of all time. The high-profile trials of Nuremburg are long over when retired American Judge Haywood (Spencer Tracy) comes to the town to preside over a trail of ex-judges, including the cagey Janning (Burt Lancaster). Haywood and others are surprised by the forceful, effective defense of Hans Rolfe (Maximillian Schell). With all these disparate factors set to collide, what will come out, both in the courtroom and outside of it? The three actors head an absurdly good ensemble cast in this Library of Congress selection... asides include good hair and, again, "The Man in the High Castle."

29. "Night of the Generals" (1967) Aug 07, 2020

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Producer Sam Spiegel ("Lawrence of Arabia") called in favors to Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif to star in 1967's "Night of the Generals," a multi-country production. In this World War II mystery, Omar Sharif investigates the murder of a Polish prostitute, and believes her killer is one of three German generals. Thwarted at every turn by strong-arming or simple indifference, Sharif is determined that justice will be served, regardless of where his investigation leads. Erwin Rommel and Claus von Stauffenberg make unlikely cameos in this winding movie... asides include Giallo cinema, Dario Argento, and the ironic Me-Too saga of Asia Argento.

28. "Greyhound" (2020) Jul 17, 2020

Show notes

World War II Movie Night returns with something brand new! The global pandemic bumped Tom Hanks' new WWII movie from theaters, losing its big summer opening. So we caught "Greyhound" upon its online premiere. A US captain shepherds a large convoy to England, desperately trying to reach air cover as they fend off U-boats in 'the Black Pit.' Hanks said this movie holds up a magnifying glass to the Battle of the Atlantic... Asides include thoughts on the Covid-19 situation ('cause of course everyone was waiting for my take).

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