Old Dude, Old Movies - "Battleground"

It's Memorial Day weekend, so TCM is showing war movies through Monday. I've seen parts of this 1949 release, but gave it full attention this time. It is one of the neatest World War II movies I've seen. Also, it was that rare one that showed a wider range of experience and emotion than most. Instead of the linear "good guy Americans form up, head out and defeat the enemy", we get something truer.

The men of a company from the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division go through realistic success, defeat, heartbreak and frustration. This movie places us in December 1944, during the "Battle of the Bulge", and the troops are caught up in the Siege of Bastogne. Weather and the German Army are a formidable one-two punch against which the Americans struggle. Snow, cold, artillery dropping in through a low cloud deck and bullets coming from just beyond the edge of the fog all conspire to make it tough for the Americans.

We see the U.S. G.I.s win short skirmishes and lose other small battles. We see some soldiers come into their own as brave fighters, while others face their own weaknesses of character. We see weariness, heightened tension, and dark humor. In other words, it depicts well the experience of the military member in the midst of armed conflict.

The cast is full of recognizable names and faces. We get Van Johnson (one of my favorite actors from that era), James Whitmore, John Hodiak, Ricardo Montalban, Richard Jaeckel, George Murphy, James Arness and Leon Ames (among others). Such professionalism throughout the cast, helping make the script crisp and enjoyable.

One face I didn't recognize was one of the few females in the cast, the French actress Denise Darcel. She is an indigenous resident of a nearby town, trying to survive the war while she interacts with some of the G.I.s. She has the sweetest smile & cutest dimples, simply adorable.

I don't want to spoil the ending, but I will say it's one of the coolest, neatest endings I've seen in a World War II movie. If you haven't seen it before, check it out and see if you too think it was pretty cool.

This is one of my favorite movies now, just because of the realism. These aren't idealized heroes, just guys trying to do a job and survive long enough to go home. They don't want the ribbons nor parades. They just want to keep the faith with the soldiers next to them. This movie expressed that sentiment so very well. Check it out, if you haven't already.