“We don’t murder; we kill.”
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Synopsis:
Veteran sergeant Lee Marvin leads four soldiers (Robert Carradine, Mark Hamill, Bobbi Di Ciccio, and Kelly Ward) through the European theatre of WWII, while death and chaos surround them.
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Genres:
Response to Peary’s Review:
As noted by Peary and many other reviewers (see links below), the salient theme of Sam Fuller’s dream film — a “hard-hitting yet extremely poetic, impressionistic recollection of his WWII experiences” — seems to be that “surviving is the only glory in war”. The movie’s many “memorable, moving scenes” include Marvin caring for an orphaned boy who weaves flowers into his helmet, and a Belgian woman giving birth on the floor of a tank. More a series of nightmarish moments than a coherent story, the film truly emphasizes the surreality and randomness of war — as well as the fact that “normal” life goes on in the midst of it all.
Redeeming Qualities:
- An intimate look at infantry survival and camaraderie during wartime
Must See?
Yes. While not quite the masterpiece Fuller intended, this is still indispensable viewing for any film fanatic.
Categories
(Listed in 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die)
Links:
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Posted on March 30th, 2006 by admin
Filed under: Response Reviews
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