3 January 2009
22:4112045Don't get me started..........!!!!!
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
4 January 2009
09:0112051Thanks for that Phil I know you have an interest in the period. So those 'Great Escape' executions did take place but perhaps it was the only incident of this nature. Films tend to show it happening as a matter of course almost, which I would have thought was untrue/unfactual, but it has become something of a 'cheap terror shot' to add drama where it would not exist otherwise.
It is a pity in a way because in the fullness of time these films become something of record books for the masses.
There are two new films of note about to hit our screens. Valkyrie with Tom Cruise and Kenneth Brannagh about the attempted assassination of Hitler. Could be an interesting one but will accuracy be a byword. Should be interesting to find out as it is fairly rare nowadays to see a new film from WWII. Another film due out is the Frost/Nixon one made by Ron Howard. It's about the infamous Nixon interviews carried out by David Frost. However there are whole chunks of dramatic substance in the interview in the movie that Nixon never said, nor Frost never heard.
"its not a documentary" said Director Howard. Fair enough, but sadly in due couse there wont be person in the land that wont swear that Nixon said A or B when in actual fact it will just be fiction. Pity.
4 January 2009
09:5512054I couldn't agree more - films are so influential, and it is actually quire irresponsible to tinker with history in that way. As you say, it may be the one point of reference for many people.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
4 January 2009
10:2012058PaulB -
There was an incident in the retreat to Dunkirk of a British Army unit providing a rearguard being murdered after capture. From memory they were placed in a barn which was burnt down.
There were many incidents of Russian POWs being murdered as well. In the case of Russain troops perhaps Hitler thought they could get away with it because Stalin set a low value on the lives of his own men.
Oradour was also not the only example of German troops murdering civilians, far from it.
Guest 666- Registered: 25 Mar 2008
- Posts: 323
4 January 2009
18:4312067I enjoy all the above films you mentioned there Paul, mostly on a superficial level as as you point out the authenticity is questionable on the majority of them especially the Hollywood slant that they have such as Pearl Harbour or Flyboys.
My favourite is Dawn Patrol with Erroll Flynn for which I waited a whole year to borrow it from the library (next year's Christmas pressie anyone!).
I just revel in the spectacle and try not to nitpick on vehicles/uniforms/et-al!
Oh Boy!, That'll be the day.........
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
5 January 2009
10:5512118There was a case of Ronald Reagan telling a French diplomat about his war time experiences in the liberation of the French gentlemans home town. It later transpired that the only time Ronald had come close to that area was in a film he had made about it.
I think it is fairly safe to bet that the new Tom Cruise film will not show that the real Von Staffenburg celebrated German victories in France and only joined the plot because they were losing the war.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
5 January 2009
11:5312125You are right there Chris.
Another 'good' German is supposed to be Rommel. He certainly was not as 'good' as many make out and although 'credited' as being a plotter along with Von Staffenburg and had to commit suicide as a result, it is now thought he had nothing to do with the plot.
Guest 675- Registered: 30 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,610
5 January 2009
13:2112131Rommel is another good example. Between the wars he was often in trouble with the Italian authorities for spending his holidays showing his family and friends around the places he had fought in during WW1, loudly pointing out the where he had beaten the Italians. His alleged involvement in the bomb plot probably grew out of his criticism of the conduct of the war based on his objections to them losing ground. Like so many 'good Germans' at the time he had no objections to the regime while they were winning.
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.
Richard Armour
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
5 January 2009
20:2912170interesting post about herr rommel, he has always been depicted, in my view, as an upper crust german with principles.
was he one of those that ended up on a meat hook?
Guest 644- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,214
5 January 2009
20:4512174Howard, Rommel was given the option of either being tried in the dreaded People's Court with his family arrested or the option of commiting suicide. He chose the latter, killing himself by poison, he was then given a full state funeral with military honours and his family received a pension.
I have read that should the July Plot have succeeded, the plotters wished to place Rommel in charge of the Army to negotiate surrender. The Army was to be used to root out the SS in Berlin and elsewhere. I'm not sure how true this is - need to do some research sometime.
There has already been a good film about Count Stauffenberg, a 2004 TV film starring Sebastian Koch. It's very hard to obtain with English subtitles but I managed to obtain a copy from China. If anyone desperately wishes to see it, please drop me a line. Doubtless it'll be better and more accurate than the new version with that Scientologist idiot Cruise.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
5 January 2009
23:1112188remember now phil, the honourable death stuff.
i did see that film about stauffenberg, luckily i understand enough german to have got the drift.
