Historic Fact with GREAT Characters~ Shaw is GREAT~

PLOT: great blend of historic fact and blend of very entertaining characters on both side of the Battle~ Robert Shaw Shines~

full of FANTASTIC ACTORS~ BASED on historic fact with entertaining characters on both sides of the battle~ we meet a German Tank Commander (Robert Shaw) who saw great victories in France and Russia recruited for an 'ultra secret mission'~ one of the last great sneak attacks on the Western Front~ give him new tanks and send him into the Ardennes forest where they "least" expect an attack and divide the Brits and American forces and stive for Victory OR least a 'separate peace agreement' on Hitler's Western Front. from the American side we see Henry Fonda as the man who feels he knows what the Germans are up too~ fun Telly Savalas as the tank Sergeant who knows how to make a buck every step of the way~ fun side kick of a lovely girl Pier Angeli who helps him keep his 'inventory' they are the comedy relief and fun to see~ Robert Ryan as the doubting brains for the Americans~ Charles Bronson is here too and add Ty Harden as the english speaking spy~ and a very young James McArthur (Dano Hawaii Five 0) as young man caught in the battle of Malmade~ where the SS shot many American soldiers in cold blood~ great details nice shots of the tanks and battles ..it flows along nicely~ even though we know how the battle ends it is fun to see HOW FAR the Nazis got and how 'well' planned it was~ Shaw as as the die hard Nazi who wants one last victory steals the show~ not one bad performance in the whole movie~ a classic adventure.
I GIVE THIS ONE A SOLID 9 OF 10 FOR WW2 adventure at it's best~ great movie~

IF YOU FOUND THIS REVIEW HELPFUL PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE~

A Fine WWII Movie

I own at least 80% of US and UK made WWII films I have more then a few 400 disk Changers to house some of them. I can say that I have seen most of them, but I can only judge them on who I am as well as anyone else. What I didnt like about the film is the use of American tanks in use for the German tanks, for anyone who has not served in the military or knows their WAR machines it would be still bothersome because OUR tanks were the same tanks AND they were modern tanks when this film was made! On top of that the US tanks were painted some strange colors that at times came off as pink in the mix of the camo. Another strange happen was how the US tanks were not able to knock out the German tanks because of the suggested "new toys" in the German arsenal , and not the true fact that Tiger tanks were just normal hard to knock out with Allied medium tanks. The director got overly creative in my view. I also didnt like the US guys using German anti tank weapons, as well displaying Army troops look like candy ass lazy fools no less under Bronson!
The good was the Acting and Story line, top notch actors made up for the miss match props in the movie. I also think the one SSGT that protected the LT is the same Marine in Star Gate Atlantis that got sucked to death, anyone know write me if you know.
The modeling used for scale was very good, the real stuff the blew up was very cool, and even tho they used modern tanks it was cool to watch them tare ass around, i'm sure the National Guard guys were having a ball making this film. I did get into the film, the Germans in US MP uniform pissed me off, the tank battles were fun, even seeing half tracks used as German was still fun to watch. I watched this as a kid with my father, and i'm now glad to own this film, tho I think I enjoyed it more as a kid.
If you looking for a "OK" war film to put in your collection this is a good one to get. It's not the best, not the worst.
I do understand the the director wanted to use real tanks and i'm sure for even 1965 when this film was made that real WWII tanks were hard to find and overall I side with the ideas the director wanted to get on film.
Pop the core and sit and enjoy!

Great entertainment LOUSY History

This above average war flick it a rousing flag waver and pot poiler that has only tinges of the cynicism that come to dominate war films in the late 60's, '70 and 80's. Fonda, Bronson and the rest of this ensemble cast give strong performances in depicting the allied side of the Battle of the Bulge. However Robert Shaw as Colonel Hessler steals the show. He is the true face of battle, a true "war lover". Not as a Nazi, but as a man obsessed with staying in uniform as long as possible. You come to feel for Fonda and beleagured Americans, but part of you might also start humming "Der Panser" song in your sleep.

As for historical accuracy, Pheh, what didn't they get wrong. The only thing they got correct was the location, the dates and the fact that there were Americans and Germans involved. Everything else was either fictious or downright wrong. The tanks used are all American mounts from the 50's and 60's even the german ones. The units involved were purly fictious and there are several scenes of bright sunshine over the battlefield. Anyone that knows anything of this battle knows that the second the skies cleared the 8th Air Force pounded the Germans to dust. God what drivel.

Still, in spite of the flaws, I loved this film enough to buy it for myself. Put your mind on hold and you'll enjoy it too.

Dave Macks

Panzerlied song revisited

This is classic World War Two fan-fare. Robert Shaw's performance is memorable. It's also good to see Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson and Telly Savalas running around on the big screen again.

Dislikes are only those who continually criticize this movie over its props: "...those aren't real German WWII tanks." True, but try to find one these days? Even in Private Ryan they had to use a fake Tiger I tank.

Bought this to update an old VHS copy. The DVD also allows me to freeze and access favorite parts of the movie.

Battle of the Bulge

About a battle that almost cost the Allies the war. Germany's desperate last gasp. I have read several histories of the battle and while the movie is not exact in it's depictions it comes close. The martial music is great, especially Panzer Lied. I have worn out the VHS cassette now I'm getting the DVD.