World War II Movie Night
122 episodes - English - Latest episode: 30 days ago - ★★★★ - 38 ratingsOn World War II Movie Night, host J. Byron delves into the countless movies made about the greatest conflict in human history. How much can we learn about World War II from how it's portrayed in film? Can movies render this infinite subject more manageable? Fun and stimulation mix in this engaging, thought-provoking podcast.
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Episodes
88. "Hell in the Pacific" (1968)
March 29, 2024 01:48 - 38 minutes - 53 MBWorld War II Movie Night does a listener request with the 1968 American movie, "Hell in the Pacific," about two men trapped on an island together, and one of them we never even hear what he's saying! Despite this sparse premise, director John Boorman turns in a surprisingly eventful character study... asides include a time I could've scored some WWII LIFE magazines, at least two times this premise has been done before and after, an acclaimed filmmaker who helmed a movie so bad it made people...
87. "The Way Back" (2010)
March 08, 2024 02:27 - 51 minutes - 70.4 MBTonight we're having a communist party (!) as we look at a part of the War not often explored, the Russian camps. Storied director Peter Weir ("Gallipoli") brought this true (?) story to the screen in 2010, starring Ed Harris and Colin Farrell. The result? An overlooked gem and a muscular statement against Stalinism... Asides include, there are too many movies, Boris Yeltsin's lost in the supermarket, Bill Cosby endorsed an '80s dessert item to great effect, and why was Ed Harris so pissed a...
86. "Bataan" (1943)
February 16, 2024 02:21 - 42 minutes - 58.5 MBAt first blush, 1943's "Bataan" might seem like a run-of-the-mill, black-and-white, ensemble-cast World War II movie: easily absorbed and easily dismissed. Upon closer inspection, though, it reveals itself as a fascinating bit of mid-war propoganda, i.e., a passion play and literal call-to-arms. We'll also examine its surprising horror elements, as the faceless Japanese pick off our men in a near slasher-scenario... asides include some thoughts on the racial tolerance (or lack thereof) of de...
85. "Son of Saul" (2015)
January 20, 2024 01:28 - 35 minutes - 48.5 MBWorld War II Movie Night keeps the faith (and the format) as we delve into the 2015 Hungarian movie "Son of Saul," which many believe gives the truest representation of life in Auschwitz outside an actual documentary. Saul is a "Sonderkommando," prisoners given unpleasant duties in the camp in exchange for a slightly better status - until they're no longer useful, that is... Asides include a certain TV show, and the unexpected WWII-related thing Donald Trump, Justin Bieber, and Arnold Schwar...
84. "Valkyrie" (2008)
December 29, 2023 01:37 - 50 minutes - 68.8 MBJoin World War II Movie Night as we reassess the oft-maligned "Valkyrie," from 2008. No casting in one of our movies was as criticized from jump as Tom Cruise playing Claus von Stauffenberg, the German colonel who made the most famous attempt on Hitler's life. "Valkyrie" had almost everything going for it: acting, writing, directing, and a bigger budget than the filmmakers even asked for - so why was it deemed mediocre, and was that unfair?... asides include Scientology, German guilt, the in...
83. "The English Patient" (1996)
December 01, 2023 02:07 - 45 minutes - 63.1 MBIt'd be hard to find a more successful movie - at least upon release - than Miramax's "The English Patient." This late-1996 pic made tons of money, swept the Oscars, and was one of the most critically acclaimed movies of the decade. Case settled, right? Not so fast. On World War II Movie Night we like to look past the luster. Does TEP hold up? Is it an actual WWII movie? Join us as we ponder the deeper questions... Asides include the shenanigans of Harvey Weinstein, "Seinfeld" as a cultural ...
82. "Victory" (1981)
November 10, 2023 02:25 - 46 minutes - 64.4 MBTonight we do the 1981 American sports movie "Victory" (also called "Escape to Victory" in European markets). A powerhouse cast of Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Max von Sydow and Pele take us through the story of Allied POWs who agree to stage a soccer game against Germans. The idea quickly spirals out of control, though, resulting in bigger stakes than they could've imagined... asides include sports movies, Pele's recent death, and the time I faked my way through coaching a season of y...
81. "Overlord" (2018)
October 20, 2023 01:29 - 43 minutes - 59.8 MBKind-of a Halloween episode tonight, as World War II Movie Night does 2018's "Overlord." Mega-producter J.J. Abrams brings us this zombie gorefest that's also an homage to "Nazi'ploitation," a mostly-'70s genre that saw horror, thrillers, and even pornos centered around history's most reliable villains. So turn off your brain and enjoy the fast-paced action as a D-Day unit behind enemy lines in France has a timely mission before the boats hit the beaches; complications arise when they stumbl...
80. "Patton" (1970)
September 22, 2023 01:35 - 50 minutes - 69.2 MBTonight World War II Movie Night does 1970's "Patton," a curious biopic that straddles the line between the Big Epics of the 50s/60s, and what filmmaking would become in the '70s. George C. Scott plays George S. Patton in a role so iconic it was parodied for years afterward. Join us as we address almost every element of the European theater, from the invasion of Sicily to D-Day to the Battle of the Bulge... asides include the so-called Goodfellas Effect, Spuds MacKenzie, and translator humor...
79. "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison" (1957)
September 01, 2023 01:42 - 36 minutes - 50.2 MBWorld War II Movie Night does its 4th (!) movie starring Robert Mitchum with 1957's "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison." During the War in the Pacific, a U.S. Marine washes ashore a small island improbably inhabited by a Nun (Deborah Kerr). The Japanese periodically poke their heads around, but for the most part it's just the Marine and the Nun, figuring out their new, shared living situation. Made by the same director who did "The African Queen," HKMA may be an attempt to do for WWII what that movi...
78. "Battleground" (1949)
August 11, 2023 00:35 - 42 minutes - 58 MBNo, 1949's "Battleground" isn't the most original World War II movie, but many consider it one of the best examples of what it is: the ensemble, combat-heavy, real-events-lightly-fictionalized genre. See how our group does in the Battle of the Bulge, as Germans try to infiltrate the lines. Because why? Because Nuts!... asides include people who have never seen snow, and a discussion of SPAM. Drop us a line at [email protected] Check out our Twitter at http://twitter.com/WW...
OPPENHEIMER spoiler-free review
July 23, 2023 22:01 - 14 minutes - 19.8 MBThe whole country's got Oppenheimer fever (and heatstroke)! Yes as Christopher Nolan's biopic enters theaters with surprising fanfare, World War II Movie Night offers a short review - without spoilers! You can absolutely listen to this episode before going to see "Oppenheimer" and not have the experienced diminished. Drop us a line at [email protected] Check out our Twitter at http://twitter.com/WWIIMovieNight
77. "Schindler's List" (1993)
June 30, 2023 00:41 - 59 minutes - 82.1 MBWorld War II Movie Night returns with what's considered one of the greatest, best, and most revered movies ever made, Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List." The master director was already having a good 1993 with summer blockbuster "Jurassic Park," but before the year was out he snuck this 3+hour, black-and-white Holocaust drama into theaters, making history. Given the movie's reputation, we take a slightly different tack tonight as we examine the backlash that emerged, as well as look for h...
76. "The Colditz Story" (1955)
May 26, 2023 01:45 - 41 minutes - 56.8 MBWorld War II Movie Night returns to old-school, black-and-white British WWII movies with 1955's "The Colditz Story." Officer prisoners from different European countries compete (?) to escape from Colditz, the infamous Nazi fortress prison. Can the British break their unlucky streak and get some 'home runs'? Tonight we find out with this very accurate movie. Drop us a line at [email protected] Check out our Twitter at http://twitter.com/WWIIMovieNight "Operation Storm Kin...
75. "Grave of the Fireflies" (1988)
May 05, 2023 01:05 - 48 minutes - 66.6 MBTonight we have not only a Japanese production but also our first animated movie. Since "Grave of the Fireflies" appeared in the late '80s, it has steadily garnered a following in the West, notably led by its biggest advocate, Roger Ebert. Seita, 14, must care for his 4-year-old sister Setsuko, after their home is destroyed and their mother killed in the firebombings of 1945. Regarded as one of the saddest movies ever made, this one really tests World War II Movie Night's mission to be a fun...
74. "Halls of Montezuma" (1951)
April 07, 2023 00:59 - 41 minutes - 56.4 MBTonight World War II Movie Night covers the 1951 Marines-tribute, "Halls of Montezuma." The men have to take an unnamed Pacific island from the Japanese. Progress is going well until they're hit with rockets from an unknown location. With only hours to discover the source of the rockets, our guys must overcome their personal issues to complete a life-or-death quest. Although not as famous as many WWII combat-themed movies of the time, HoM sports some stylistic touches that likely influenced ...
73. "Black Book" (2006)
March 17, 2023 01:18 - 56 minutes - 77.3 MBWhat happens when the guy who made "Robocop," "Basic Instinct" and "Showgirls" makes a World War II movie in his native Netherlands? Tonight we find out with the 2006 Dutch film, "Black Book." There's quite a bit of sex and violence (again, the guy) as Rachel/Ellis joins the Resistance Underground against their Nazi occupiers. All is not as it seems, though, and preconceptions about good guys and bad guys get jostled... Asides include the rather stunning fallout from "Showgirls," an ultra-ob...
72. "Twelve O'Clock High" (1949)
February 17, 2023 02:14 - 43 minutes - 60.4 MBWorld War II Movie Night goes up and away yet again with 1949's "Twelve O'Clock High." Regarded as a darker take on the war, compared to more optimistic fare such as "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," "Twelve O'Clock High" follows the 918, an American bomber group flying missions out of England. Things are bad, though, so Gregory Peck is brought in to make the boys' lives miserable, compared to his softer-touch predacessor. Can Peck's Savage get the job done? Who will die, and who will merely lose...
71. "Biloxi Blues" (1988)
January 27, 2023 02:12 - 46 minutes - 63.7 MBWorld War II Movie Night goes back to the comedy well with Neil Simon's "Biloxi Blues" a 1988 movie based on his play of the same name. Matthew Broderick is Jerome, a young Jewish man from Brooklyn who couldn't be more out of his element at boot camp in Mississippi. Will he fulfill his wish to lose his virginity? Will he ever shake the scrutiny of the sadistic drill sergeant (Christopher Walken)? We won't learn much about the war tonight, but we will try to have some fun, so sit back and enj...
70. "Tora Tora Tora" (1970)
January 06, 2023 02:09 - 48 minutes - 66.7 MBTonight we conclude our Pearl Harbor series with 1970's "Tora Tora Tora," a perennial favorite of World War II-movie sticklers. The producer of "The Longest Day" wanted to do for Pearl Harbor what that movie did for D-Day. The result was Tora(3), a movie that incorporates twin productions about the event, one from the American perspective and one from the Japanese (with the actual planners of the real attack hired as consultants for accuracy!). A true World War II-movie cult classic... Aside...
69. "Pearl Harbor" (2001)
December 07, 2022 02:11 - 55 minutes - 76.1 MBHappy (?) Dec. 7! To mark the anniversary World War II Movie Night finally gets to the only movie to bear the event's name, 2001's "Pearl Harbor." A red-hot Michael Bay used his clout to make this Disney summer blockbuster (in a darkly ironic twist, released just a few months before Sept. 11). The results? Well... it's complicated. Tonight we explore not only the movie but the culture that surrounded it, and exactly why Michael Bay was so popular... Asides include-too many to name. Drop u...
68. "In Harm's Way" (1965)
November 18, 2022 02:17 - 47 minutes - 65.3 MBTonight we revisit The Duke! with 1965's "In Harm's Way." He and Kirk Douglas head up this Otto Preminger film that begins with Pearl Harbor. Wayne's Rock Torrey is a Navy man who has to contend with new roles in the war while navigating a nurse love interest and the discovery of his son... Asides include a story about the Oscars, exploding trees, and TV shows "The Sopranos" and "Laverne & Shirley." Drop us a line at [email protected] Check out our Twitter at http://twitte...
67. "Midway" (2019)
October 28, 2022 01:41 - 39 minutes - 54.5 MBStrap in for tonight's episode, which yields some interesting facts. A German immigrant made a string of absurdly successful American movies ("Independence Day," e.g.), all the while pining for his passion project: a movie about the Battle of Midway and World War II in the Pacific. No studios would bite, but after securing $100 million from investors (lots of it Chinese money), Roland Emmerich made and released "Midway" in 2019. It bombed. Neither critics nor audiences were kind. However, de...
66. "From Here to Eternity" (1953)
October 07, 2022 01:21 - 46 minutes - 63.8 MBTonight's selection, 1953's "From Here to Eternity," is many things: one of the most popular movies of its decade, one of the best novel-to-screen adaptations ever, one of the best casts in history... and probably the drunkest movie we've ever done on World War II Movie Night. Officers and enlistees at the Schofield Barracks are surrounded by paradise, but all is not well. The local nightlife proves a welcome distraction from their problems, as they wonder if the expanding war will make it...
65. "The Final Countdown" (1980)
September 16, 2022 00:55 - 33 minutes - 46.5 MBWell let's give it another try. The last time we mixed World War II with a sci-fi thriller we got 1984's "The Philadelphia Experiment," kind of a misbegotten episode. It's safe to say we did better with tonight's "The Final Countdown," a 1980 popcorn pic that sees a modern aircraft carrier traveling back in time to Pearl Harbor. Lots of familiar faces in this one, and a plentitude of military equipment (so much so this movie actually served as a recruitment tool, a la "Top Gun"). Aside...
64. "Come and See" (1985)
August 25, 2022 01:43 - 49 minutes - 67.7 MBCome and see "Come and See"! Tonight we tackle what's considered one of the most disturbing movies ever made. This 1985 Soviet production portrays what happened in Belarusian villages when the Nazis came to Russia. Its two creators were so bent on making a realistic movie, they didn't care if no one would actually watch it. Yet in the intervening decades the cinematography, editing and thematic shifts of "Come and See" have rendered it an especially acclaimed film. And in going through ...
63. "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" (1944)
August 05, 2022 01:26 - 41 minutes - 56.8 MBA young Robert Mitchum and many others prepare for their secret mission: to bomb major Japanese cities in retalliation for Pearl Harbor! "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" dramatizes - rather accurately - the famed 'Doolittle Raid' of 1942. A high-adventure movie made and released during the War, look for the subtle propagandistic tells within... asides include "Seinfeld," the new "Top Gun," and my 30-year high-school reunion (which I'm sure is just fascinating to everybody). Drop us a line at w...
62. "Miracle at St. Anna" (2008)
July 15, 2022 00:50 - 40 minutes - 56.1 MBBuckle up for this episode! After feuding with Clint Eastwood, filmmaker Spike Lee (and writer James McBride) attempted to make the definitive Black World War II movie with 2008's "Miracle at St. Anna." The film was panned by critics, a box-office bomb, and resulted in protests and lawsuits... is it that bad? Can any movie be that bad? Tonight we find out... Asides include thoughts on Black World War II cinema, bad New-Yorker dialogue, and a surprise appearance from the World War II Movie Ni...
61. "Decision Before Dawn" (1951)
June 24, 2022 00:54 - 40 minutes - 55.2 MBTonight's a listener request with 1951's "Decision Before Dawn." Although an American production, DFD could be mistaken for a co-German production, given that it's filmed among the post-bombing ruins of Nuremburg, Munich, etc (esentially making it a 'rubble film'). In the last days of the European war, an American outfit recruits German prisoners to spy on their own country. What will happen when cynical Tiger and idealistic Happy return to their old stomping grounds?... Asides incldue the p...
60. "Operation Mincemeat" (2022)
June 03, 2022 01:32 - 42 minutes - 58.7 MBIt's a big red-letter day at World War II Movie Night! Our third new movie and the first REMAKE of a movie we've already done. Yes, "Operation Mincemeat" arrives 66 years after the subject of our second episode, 1956's "The Man Who Never Was." What's different? What's better? Find out as we follow Colin Firth and have a bit of fun at the corpse's expense... Asides include "Weekend at Bernie's," the shows "Chernobyl" and "The Americans," and I do a Congressionally mandated joke about the Osca...
59. "The Reader" (2008)
May 13, 2022 01:24 - 47 minutes - 65.7 MBIt's "Judgment at Nuremburg" meets "Bluffing It" as we dive into "The Reader." Released during a WWII-heavy Oscar season in 2008, "The Reader" stars Kate Winslet as a woman with (I counted three) dark secrets. We see her deterioration through the eyes of a (very) young man. Along the way the movie confronts big issues about '60s Germany's guilt over the Holocaust-or lack thereof... Asides include a book I just read, some movie references ("Heavenly Creaturs," "Blame it on Rio"), and a bizar...
58. "King Rat" (1965)
April 22, 2022 00:46 - 45 minutes - 62.6 MBTonight is a listener request from Matt in Florida. In 1965's "King Rat," the POWs of a Changi prison camp live under their own hierarchy separate from class or military rank. Brash American Corporal King holds outsized sway in the camp, while two Brits - Marlowe and Grey - take different approches to him. Could anything happen to change the pecking order?... Asides include "The Sopranos," and "The Hot Zone." Drop us a line at [email protected] Check out our Twitter at htt...
57. "Voyage of the Damned" (1976)
April 01, 2022 01:05 - 43 minutes - 59.7 MBAhoy! Tonight we set sail for Cuba. But with a title like "Voyage of the Damned," it's gonna be a choppy ride. A popular 1974 book became this 1976 movie, which tells the true story of the St. Louis. More than 900 Jews were allowed to leave Germany in 1939 aboard this ocean liner. For some (including those in concentration camps), it was a Godsend, but things are revealed to be not what they seem. A star-studded cast gave this movie high hopes, even though it was judged to have fallen short...
56. "To Hell and Back" (1955)
March 04, 2022 01:40 - 41 minutes - 57.2 MBTonight we look at 1955's "To Hell and Back," in which Audie Murphy plays himself, doing stuff he actually did in the War. Audie didn't like the movie, but Audie-nces did, making THaB mega-successful, and seemingly influential on WWII movies for decades to come... asides include, hmm, I guess the hand gestures some of us make when we forget our Covid masks. Drop us a line at [email protected] Check out our Twitter at http://twitter.com/WWIIMovieNight Consider donating at...
55. "Munich - The Edge of War" (2022)
February 11, 2022 01:50 - 48 minutes - 66.8 MBWorld War II Movie Night does its second (only?!) NEW movie with "Munich - The Edge of War." Jeremy Irons grows out the 'stache to play former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, a man whose actions vis-a-vis Hitler and the War are hotly debated to this day. The larger story of Chamberlain's and Hitler's Munich negotiations is the backdrop for a fictional one about two former college buds who could play an unexpected - and dangerous - role in the conference... Asides include my perso...
54. "The Guns of Navarone" (1961)
January 21, 2022 01:41 - 46 minutes - 64.4 MB"I'm the Guns of the Navarone!" World War II Movie Night tackles this 1961 listener pick that some consider alongside such big-budget epics as "The Great Escape" and "Bridge on the River Kwai." A successful novel became a successful movie considered a classic of high-adventure cinema... asides include the moral responsibility of parents to teach their kids to swim, and I finally saw "Dune" (and there's a weird parallel to tonight's movie). Drop us a line at [email protected]...
53. "1941" (1979)
January 01, 2022 01:22 - 42 minutes - 58 MBYou might need a drink - or some other outlet - to get through tonight's episode, as World War II Movie Night tackles Steven Spielberg's forgotten WWII comedy, 1979's "1941". Spielberg was reportedly fraught with uncertainty in his first try at comedy, so he threw every kind of joke into "1941," including many he'd rather you forget. Citizens of the West Coast are worried that after Pearl Harbor they're next, which results in ever manner of paranoid, war-crazy behavior. Of course, a Japanese...
52. "The Pawnbroker" (1964)
December 03, 2021 02:09 - 44 minutes - 61.6 MBWorld War II Movie Night delves into 1964's "The Pawnbroker." Many Jewish and Black groups objected to this movie upon its release, supposedly for negative stereotypes. Rod Steiger gives a career-jumpstarting performance as Sol Nazerman, an embittered Holocaust-survivor who runs an East Harlem pawnshop. Sol regards his customers as scum, and doesn't think much better of the multiple people he sets up. But a local crime boss and vague anniversary threaten to re-awaken dormant traumas in this ...
51. "Where Eagles Dare" (1968)
November 12, 2021 01:56 - 42 minutes - 58 MBYou won't know who to trust as World War II Movie Night goes "Where Eagles Dare." Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood lead an operation to rescue an American general from an impregnable German castle. Pretty clear-cut, right? Actually no. Unexpected events make clear something more is going on. High action mixes with intrigue in this 1968 British classic... Asides include Iron Maiden, yes, that Iron Maiden. Drop us a line at [email protected] Check out our Twitter at https:/...
50. "Saving Private Ryan" (1998)
October 22, 2021 00:47 - 1 hour - 87.2 MBIt's time for World War II Movie Night's 50th episode! We begin with a State of the Podcast address, which includes reflections, status-updates, thank-yous, and a couple announcements... Then we get into it: Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan." We look at how this pivotal movie from 1998 changed World War II cinema forever, and reinvigorated interest in the War in general... Asides? Well we explore how SPR affected the careers of its many actors, the ups and the downs. Check us o...
49. "Escape from Sobibor" (1987)
October 01, 2021 01:31 - 42 minutes - 58.2 MBA little different tonight as World War II Movie Night explores the 1987 British TV movie, "Escape from Sobibor." Alan Arkin and Rutger Hauer star in this death-camp tale that hews closely to real events, and real people. Life in Sobibor is horrible, survival is always in doubt, and escape seems impossible. But as the smokestacks at the far end of the camp remind them, our protagonists must find a way. Will they?... Asides in this tangent-heavy episode include choice Rutger Hauer movies from...
48. "Paths of Glory" (1957)
September 10, 2021 01:18 - 46 minutes - 64.5 MBGrab your pith helmet! Because tonight we cheat for the second time with a World War I movie, Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" from 1957. This tight, compact movie offers a unique anti-war theme. After an offensive goes badly, a vindictive general demands three soldiers be tried for cowardice and shot. Kirk Douglas, as the men's commander, defends them against the capricious charges. Will he succeed? Or will he come up against an ingrained corruption too big to fight? Dig how this movie is...
47. "Fat Man and Little Boy" (1989)
August 20, 2021 01:29 - 43 minutes - 59.4 MBFelix 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 ...
46. "Kelly's Heroes" (1970)
July 30, 2021 00:58 - 42 minutes - 58 MBCool, 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 work...
45. "Hacksaw Ridge" (2016)
July 09, 2021 00:58 - 48 minutes - 66.8 MBHow 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)
June 17, 2021 01:31 - 40 minutes - 55.9 MBTonight'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 Vonne...
43. "The Bridge at Remagen" (1969)
May 28, 2021 01:16 - 45 minutes - 62.5 MBBomb 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 ...
42. "The Sound of Music" (1965)
May 07, 2021 00:51 - 38 minutes - 53.2 MBWorld 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 Plu...
41. "Downfall" (2004)
April 16, 2021 01:30 - 46 minutes - 63.9 MBCome 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)
March 26, 2021 01:24 - 42 minutes - 58.3 MBTonight 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, riva...