Battle of the Bulge (1965)

One of my all time favorites.

Awesome Movie

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Alright, I concede that there are a few problems with this flick, but after reading the reviews I had to speak up. Taken just for pure entertainment value this 50 year old movie rocks!! Yes, there are lots of historically inaccurate scenes, details and yes wardrobe. My Father who was in the Battle of the Bulge was okay with this film. I think after we saved Private Ryan we are grading everything by that standard. Yes this lacks the gritty feel of war that many of today's war films capture. It's 1965, one star, two stars? You've got to be kidding. I mean "Monster a Go-Go" hit the screens the same year, that has 2.3 stars on IMDb. You have to measure it with a mid 1960's yardstick. Quint, I mean, Robert Shaw is worth 4 stars just by himself and Telly is interesting too.The music score, though dated is quality. Believe me I would like to see someone do the battle justice with a more accurate film, however even if that happens I'll still enjoy this film and I think most people who don't get bogged down in the details will too.

It's December 1944. The Allies troops are confident to finish the war quickly. The Germans plan a major offensive to retake Antwerp. Former cop Lt. Col. Kiley (Henry Fonda) tries to warn his superiors about an imminent attack against the thin worn American lines but Gen. Grey and Col. Pritchard dismiss his concerns. Sgt. Guffy (Telly Savalas) is a tank commander who is more concerned with wheeling and dealing. Maj. Wolenski (Charles Bronson) commands a frontline position.The start is mostly Henry Fonda investigating the planned attack with a good side story of German Col. Hessler being put in command of the Tiger tanks. The tanks are obviously wrong but I understand the difficulties. There are a lot of rewriting of history in this movie. Henry Fonda being at every important place gets way too coincidental. Essentially, a massive battle in the war is boiled down to an one-man crusade. The fuel depot fight looks silly compared to the other parts of the movie. Nevertheless this is a compelling old-fashion big-action war movie. The tank battles looks pretty good.

the sins and virtues of genre, the mixture of drama and humor, large line of patriotic feeling are present in this movie. tools - a great cast. story - sketch of heroic episode. so, it is not easy to define this powerful drama who reminds a period sensitivity. basic element to discover it more than an old movie - meeting with extraordinary cast , Henry Fonda,Terry Savalas, Charles Bronson, Robert Shaw are few names - and the war as spectacular show of images and emotions. a nice film . bitter, inspired reference for discover a manner to resurrect war spirit, interesting performances and extraordinary atmosphere. to criticize it - far to be difficult. details, errors, naiveté drops are not isolated isles. but each is only insignificant detail. maybe because for seductive flavor of adventure.

ALL:Great actors, but a very narrow film that focuses primarily on the SS Commander Joseph Piper as depicted by Robert Shaw. the incident depicted in the movie was but a mere footnote in the battle, thus the movie misses most of the major battle themes such as St. Vith and Bastogne. As with most US movie war films of the 1960s (Patton) this movie was made in Spain and it was difficult for the movie crews to replicate vast winter battle scenes in a temperate climate (NOTE: Dr. Doctor Zhivago was filmed in Spain but the winter scenes were small and the larger outside winter scenes were filmed in Finland). My father also served in the WWII and he was in the Battle of the Bulge and he confirmed the movie limitations to me.