My favorite WWII flick, without a doubt.

So many war films are extremely jingoistic, bad or laughably bad like Pearl Harbor.

when Lt. Bishop's plane landed, all shot up, and as the crew got out, Lt. Zimmerman (I think) asked Maj. Stovall, "What do I do with an arm, sir?" That told you right there this wasn't gonna be standard WWII fare.

I'll watch anything about air combat in WWI or WWII, and I'll take "Tora! Tora! Tora!" over the rest I've seen for its historical accuracy on both sides. I just wish it'd given more attention to the run-up to the attack.

"I wouldn't believe it if I saw it, you can see his brain".

I don't think that was Zimmerman. The actor in that scene had somewhat curly and darker hair. Zimmy had straighter hair, his voice was different.

Paul Mantz, renowned test and stunt pilot took off and landed the B17 by himself. It had been proven that one man could land one, it was uncertain at the time that he could take off alone. Mantz bought 475 surplus bombers and fighters at wars end for $55,000 (today's value about $900,000). A P51 Mustang in flying condition brings about $3,000,000 today.

but it was the same pilot who asked later in a briefing, "What about our transfers, sir?" Savage just ignored him, knowing Stovall was "taking care" of them.

I'd forgotten about the "brain" line. That was equally shocking -- and realistic.

who asked about the "arm". I don't think his name was ever mentioned. He could be uncredited, IMDB has several officers without photos.

The "arm" guy was the guy who asked about the transfers. He had a rather distinctive voice (but not like Gregory Peck's). I couldn't find a familiar name or photo on IMDb, though.

...is in the early part of the movie, where Dean Jagger (Supporting Actor Oscar) turns up shit-faced drunk at his first meeting with the new Commander (Gregory Peck), after attending the funeral of the young navigator who killed himself (on account of botching a mission and being ashamed of having parents who were active in American Nazi activities). So much going on---and it is absolutely flawless, like the rest of the movie...

The historical accuracy is outstanding, well researched. The actors all had real person portrayals, basically all they did was change their names. All the actors were very believable and genuine. All live or documentary footage, no CGI or elaborate tricks. A very powerful and well written story. No subplots.

A side note: MacIIIhenny (played by Robert Arthur) was the clerk and stowaway gunner. He was based in real life on Sgt. Donald Bevan who was shot down and spent time in a POW camp. Bevan and Edmund Trzcinski, who also was a POW in a different camp, co-wrote the film Stalag 17.

The US planes have a roundel insignia with a blue circle, white star and a red circle. Shortly after the war started in 41-42 the red circle was removed to eliminate any confusion of the Japanese marking. It would have been very easy for the filmmakers to not pay attention to this detail.

He was always saying it was necessary viewing for learning to be a good manager.

...has been used quite a bit as a management tool, over the years. With good reason.

... which is not only based on Erich Maria Remarque's other novel (well, one of them), but includes him in the cast.

An epic, flopped at the box office because it had no big stars.

-- Mal

but never saw it or know the premise. I looked it up, the best known actors were John Gavin (the boyfriend of Janet Leigh from Psycho) and Liselotte Pulver. Her name I do know, she was in One Two Three, directed by Billy Wilder. She is still living, 96.

Its only flaw is the romantic subplot of Ensign Keith.

for war films...

From "The Longest Day" to
"The Train",
"Run Silent Run Deep" and
"Is Paris Burning?"

Lately I liked 'The Six Triple Eight"

Gregory is magnificent in "12 O'clock High"

I watch films online or have to rely on the kindness of strangers, I don't have a TV.

Sorry I can't invite you to our house.... There are subscription packages online
as you know, still nothing beats being able to choose a movie and watching it
at your leisure...

and you are the only ones there? My former wife (we don't like the term Ex) went to see A Complete Unknown on New Years Day about 11am completely by ourselves. Like being at home but without the pause option. I will stop at her home, she has Netflix, Hulu, Kanopy etc. Sunday evenings dinner and a movie.

has always been one of my favorites. Haven't watched that video to see if it's mentioned yet. I wouldn't want a remake of it but sure wish in 1949 they had had today's film making technology. Parts of it that were shot on a soundstage and it shows. Gotten spoiled with big budget realistic WW2 movies since Saving Private Ryan.

time to see it again. It was up for 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Director and Supporting Actor.

A remake of PT 109 might be worth it. The original was a fairly sanitized version, something in a darker grittier vein would work.

More so because it seems that every single actor/actress of note in Hollywood was in it!

were Henry Fonda, Kirk Douglas and Burgess Meredith. Fonda was on a destroyer, the USS Satterlee. Later he was a LTjg with naval intelligence in the central Pacific. Douglas an officer on a minesweeper rising to LTjg by the end of his tour. He was medically discharged when a depth charge damaged his hearing. Meredith did training and educational films with the OWI.

Chickenhawk John Wayne sat out the war!

IMO, one of the worst war pictures ever made, and that is a very hard record to beat.

-- Mal

position killed% wounded%

pilot 7.3 7.4
co-pilot 5.5 6.8
upper tail gunner 9.1 8.3
navigator 11.8. 12.2
bombardier 16.3. 17.7
radio operator 7.3 8.6
ball turret gunner 6.4 5.9
waist gunners 2x 19 21.2
tail gunner 7.3 12

The navigator, bombardier and radio operator would also function as gunners as needed. These figures are on a per mission basis. For example a waist gunner had about a 20% chance of dying on any given day and 100% chance of dying if they were on 5 missions.

While it was up in the air, we were encouraged to move around and experience all the locations. Ball and Tail turrets were not open. For such a large plane, the lack of space inside was surprising.

I got to sit in the bombardier spot in the front nosecone for the landing, which was awesome.

I don't believe probabilities work like that.

I've had that opportunity twice, but I think it cost $250 -- too much for my bank account.

Dlidn't coat anything just to go inside one, though. I wlas amazed at how little room there is inside a B-17.

My first one was "Picadilly Lilly" at Planes of Fame in Chino, Calif. -- the one from the "Twelve O' Clock High" tee vee series. It was almost 100 degrees outside and maybe 120 inside the Lilly, but I was mesmerized.

It cost $450, but I won it in a raffle

I'm not familiar with that group.

They are different.

A companion piece from Clint Eastwood 's Flags of Our Fathers. Flags was a noteworthy film, but Letters was better.

I loved it. Good story. I tried to watch it again as an adult and it was way too scary.

German POV

with a soldier frozen in the snow?