The 50 victims of the Great Escape

[geoff501]

Originally Posted by Harry Ree

Similarly there was no character as played by Kirk Douglas in the film "The Heroes of Telmark" in the operational team that destroyed the heavy water production at the Norsk Hydro station and the remaining heavy water dispatched to Germany.

Ray Mears put the story right with his 2003 book The Real Heroes of Telemark. (may have also been on TV, but I missed it.)
I believe there was a (1950s ?) Norwegian film on this which featured some of the original Norwegian Resistance members as the actors. Don't think this came out in other languages.

[spidge]

Originally Posted by Gibbo

I notice that the men who were executed split 22 British, 15 other Commonwealth & 13 Continental Europeans. The 3 who successfully escaped were all Continental Europeans. In the film one each from Britain, Australia & Poland got away, although the last 2 were played by American actors, & all those executed were British, at least those with speaking parts. So it's not just the Americans who are over represented in the film.

Whilst no Americans got out of the camp, there were Americans in it. I saw a TV documentary in which survivors returned to Sagan. One of them was an American serving in the RAF. He was one of those who hadn't got out by the time the alarm was sounded.

The bias of U571 is, on the other hand, undefendable. It doesn't even have the defence of being a good film.

There would have been Americans however they were all moved before the escape.

Steve McQueens character was actually true and the guy was called "Sage"? and apparently did go to the cooler at times with his baseball mitt and ball.

[WotNoChad?]

Originally Posted by geoff501

Ray Mears put the story right with his 2003 book The Real Heroes of Telemark. (may have also been on TV, but I missed it.)

He did indeed make a programme of this, and very good it was too. Sadly it's not available on the BBC website but Julian Pettifer's radio prog from a few years back is;

BBC - Radio 4 - Telemark Heroes

cheers,

[Harry Ree]

The best account of this Norwegian operation is by Knut Haukelid in his publication "Skis Against the Atom".He has the right to say "I was there" as he was one of the leaders of the team.

[Trincomalee]

I never really trust my mother's memory - but - she told me the other evening that my father was glad to go and see "Bridge on the River Kwai" because at least they were being remembered and talked about , even if it was nonsense . I suppose that by the time the Japanese POW's got home the war was well and truly over for many people . And he said that when people asked about it he stopped telling them because they couldn't believe it .
I wonder whether many veterans felt that way about all those war films - at least it begins to tell our story ?

[spidge]

I think we should be thankful that these movies are being made. If they are close to the truth, well and good however they are commercial enterprises and have to make money.

I bitch about some things and more about others. With the exception of a few blatant errors where history has been inextricably altered by a myriad of unrepentant directors and writers, we have to accept it.

Where Eagles Dare is possibly my favourite movie however it is fiction.

I like The Battle of the Bulge even though I am aware of errors and know many here who hate it!

I love to read the goof's in these movies and say to myself, "I have seen this movie 20 times and never noticed that"............bloody hell.

If you wish to see real, you purchase the "World at War" series.

Another of my "favourites" is "The Enemy Below" with Curt Jurgens and Robert Mitchum because I enjoy the story line.

"The Cruel Sea", "In Which We Serve" with Noel Coward and "San Demetrio London" are classics. They allow me to remember and honour all those who went to sea in war in mostly horrendous conditions to supply our troops and keep the sealanes open.

I look forward to the new "Dambusters" movie and hope it is at least close in depicting the events of those heroic young men as the previous version.

For my part, I hope Australian youngsters, may read more about this daring and courageous raid (after seeing the movie)and take notice of the ages of some of these boys/men.

Who has ever heard of a young Australian, Flight Lieutenant David John Shannon RAAF (DSO)? He had not yet turned 21 when he was seconded to pilot the aircraft AJ-L ED929/G in the first wave with Gibson.

By 1944 he had received a DFC and bars to both and was Squadron Leader of 246sq.

[Slipdigit]

I understand what you are saying, Spidge and well, reluctantly agree with you where the the truly distasteful movies are concerned, at least to a point. When the movie goes to great lengths to make the story more "interesting"* to the masses (like Baffle of the Bulge), I can at least appreciate that it is trying to tell at least part of the story. I guess, by that same standard, Pearl Harbor would be a borderline acceptable movie.
I guess that is where U-571 comes into the discussion and it has been hashed over and over here. It made no pretext to tell The story, just a story. Please understand, I made no effort to see this cinematic extravaganza at the theater. The ones who saw the movie when it was released are similar to denizens in other countries who wouldn't know on whose side anyone even fought on during the war and most likely don't care.

I don't really know what my point was, you talk about and decide for me.

*at least what the movie producers think is more interesting

Oh yeah, my favorite WWII movies are both fiction. Mister Roberts and The Caine Mutiny. Go figure that one out.

[von Poop]

That's the point, all very well to tell a slightly jazzed up version of a story, or to sell a piece of fiction, or even quality hokum, but there are limits. U571 is so far beyond those limits it actually becomes an insult to the men who achieved the enigma capture and obscures their story rather than casting light on it.
It's initial publicity touted it as a tue story before switching to "9 ordinary men are about to change history" as one of it's taglines... too bloody right.

[spidge]

Originally Posted by Von Poop

That's the point, all very well to tell a slightly jazzed up version of a story, or to sell a piece of fiction, or even quality hokum, but there are limits. U571 is so far beyond those limits it actually becomes an insult to the men who achieved the enigma capture and obscures their story rather than casting light on it.
It's initial publicity touted it as a tue story before switching to "9 ordinary men are about to change history" as one of it's taglines... too bloody right.

I didn't mention U-571 on purpose as this is hopefully never going to be dethroned from the #1 position.

This link is quite a good read on the actual story.
U-571, Hitler's Enigma, The Story Behind the Movie,

Jonathon Mostow, directed, wrote the story and was part of the screenplay team on U-571. Apparently the film does not purport to be telling a true story; a notice at the end acknowledges the real-life ships whose crews captured Enigmas.

I see from Imdb that he has commenced pre production of Swiss Family Robinson. Wonder what he could do with that?
U-571 (2000)

The goofs are good if anyone has not read them.
U-571 (2000) - Goofs

[spidge]

Originally Posted by Slipdigit

Oh yeah, my favorite WWII movies are both fiction. Mister Roberts and The Caine Mutiny. Go figure that one out.

Could be a new thread coming up here!