36 HOURS

36 HOURS - 1965

RATED - PG for mild language, non-graphic violence and tense moments. No nudity or sex.

RATINGS - 17 Amazon (4/5), 13,076 Netflix (3.6/5), 1,311 IMDB (7.3/10).

STARRING - James Garner (Rockford Files, etc), Eva Marie Saint (Oscar winner in On The Waterfront), Rod Taylor.

STORY - The story is set during WWII right before D-Day.  Garner plays an Army intelligence agent who is assigned to make one more routine mission before the big invasion to keep the Germans thinking everything is still status quo. He has been in on the highest levels of planning and knows the Allied plans. In a surprise move, he is captured by the Germans who are aware of the knowledge he has and have come up with a most creative plan for getting it out of this well trained intelligence officer who can resist all the normal interrogation techniques. This is a psychological thriller with some very clever little twists.  It's a plausible story and will keep you involved. Garner is terrific.  While not in the category of a 'classic' it's worth watching if you like WWII and spy stories.  Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11-13-2010.

LINKS - NETFLIX,   IMDB 

MEMPHIS BELLE

MEMPHIS BELLE - 1990

RATED - PG-13, most likely for language and war violence and some fairly brief closeup scenes of wounded soldiers. A pretty mild PG-13 compared to many.

RATINGS - 97 Amazon (4/5), 314,220 Netflix (3.8/5), 8,472 IMDB (6.7/10), Roger Ebert (4/5).

STARRING - Harry Connick, Jr., Matthew Modine, Eric Stoltz, etc.

AWARDS - Nominated for one BAFTA in 1991.

STORY - This WWII film is based on the true story of the Memphis Belle, a B-17 bomber and crew based in England and flying daylight (the most dangerous) bombing raids over Western Europe. They have flown 24 successful missions and one more and they'll be done and able to go home. They would be the first crew in the Eighth Air Force to finish all 25. The fatality rate of these daylight missions is so high as to almost be considered suicidal. Over 200,000 men were killed in air battles over Western Europe during WWII. Because of their size and flying relatively low over targets, they were especially vulnerable to being shot down. The bombs were dropped by visually sighting the target and dropping the bombs. Needless to say, there was a great deal of 'imprecision' in hitting their targets. If the lead plane was off target, the rest of planes following their lead would be wrong, also. In the film, we see how seriously this particular pilot took the commitment to hit military targets and avoid civilians, although that wasn't always the case (they're all Nazis as one crew member screamed in defiance). They Army and Look magazine have already lined up a 'victory tour' around the U.S. to promote the war once they finish their 25th mission. But have they jumped the gun? They draw the Bremen, Germany assignment, one of the most dangerous. Once the plane takes off on their final mission, you are drawn into this drama and it won't let you go. The film is also punctuated with some archival footage of aerial combat. Take the time to watch the heroics of these crews who put their lives on the line every mission and changed the course of WWII and, ultimately, world history. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/19/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT

INTO THE STORM

INTO THE STORM - 2009 (TV)

RATED - TV-PG There is some fairly minor language including a couple 'F' words by Churchill. Some archival war footage with war violence but not overly graphic. Churchill is shown taking a bath and talking to FDR. His chest and feet are showing and when he gets out, his aid wraps a towel in the appropriate place which promptly falls off, leaving FDR pretty much speechless. We don't see anything other than the rear upper torso of Churchill. This is pretty family friendly and should be of interest to teens and older.

RATINGS - 4 Amazon (3/5), 1,937 Netflix (3.5/5), 461 IMDB (7.1/10).

STARRING - Brendan Gleeson (Churchill), Janet McTeer (Clementine Churchill).

STORY - An excellent HBO production on the life of Churchill during the war years following up on their terrific film, THE GATHERING STORM, leading up to the war years. I didn't think Gleeson was quite as outstanding as Albert Finney in GATHERING STORM or McTeer as Redgrave but they both gave excellent performances. There is no question that Churchill, warts and all, is one of the most fascinating men in modern history. In the GATHERING STORM we learn of Churchill's sense of destiny for his life. In this film we see why he may have indeed been destined for 'such a time as this'. The circumstances are overwhelming for Britain. The future of the country and the empire are literally on the line. The film begins with the very early stages of the war in 1940 and quickly flashes forward to 1945 with Churchill and family vacationing in France by the ocean, waiting for the results of the election for prime minister. These flashbacks and flash forwards are both the strength and weakness of the film. They show us the 'before' and 'after' Churchill but often make it a little confusing at first until you understand what's going on. It also helps to have some knowledge about Churchill and WWII as the scenes are usually fairly short and don't give a lot of context. What you do you get is some very interesting insights into the mind of Churchill in the various war situations. For example, when deciding whether to bomb Dresden, his military advisers are concerned about civilian casualties but Churchill shows no concern for civilians and we learn shortly after the decision that 58,000 civilians are killed and 200,000 lose their occupations due to the destruction of war factories. We learn that he has loved military strategy from a young child and people question whether this might just another 'game' for him. His relationship with 'Clemmy' is also a fascinating one. She is a strong person in her own right and without her, it is doubtful Churchill would have fulfilled his 'destiny' in the way he did. A highly entertaining and informative HBO film. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/05/09.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB.

I'LL BE SEEING YOU

I'LL BE SEEING YOU - 1944

RATED - NR but probably G. VERY family friendly but not very interesting for young children. Older teenage girls may be interested in what a young woman (Shirley Temple) was like in the 1940's.

RATINGS - 19 Amazon (4.5/5), 14,657 Netflix (3.6/5), 381 IMDB (7.1/10).

STARRING - Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotten & Shirley Temple.

THEMES - Relationships, forgiveness.

STORY - A soldier and a young, attractive woman in a hurry to catch the train 'home' for the Christmas holidays, both stop at the newspaper stand simultaneously. The soldier (Cotten) is obviously nervous and distracted and the woman (Rogers) is confused why gum is not available. They end up sitting across from one another on the train. The conversation is awkward but the soldier decides quickly to create a story about going to the same destination in the hopes of seeing her again. As the story develops we learn the secrets each is carrying and the obvious risk there is in sharing that secret with someone they might care about. They each must deal with their secrets apart, also, as they wrestle the demons from the past. The story of the soldier could easily apply to any one of our troops today coming home from Iraq or Afghanistan. This is a well done story and performance by everyone involved. Shirley Temple is a little over the top as Roger's niece but turns in a solid performance as well. While not as well known as THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES or IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, it is a worthwhile addition to your Christmas collection. It's readily available from Netflix but is OOP and very expensive to purchase on Amazon. I bought a new copy very reasonably on Ebay from a foreign source and it played perfectly with a great quality picture. Enjoy the Christmas season and remember those you meet may be dealing with unseen demons in their lives. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 12/05/09.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

OVERLORD

OVERLORD - 1975 (Not released in U.S. until 2006)

RATED - NT but PG/PG-13. Some language, very brief glimpse of bare breast when a young woman starts to undress in a dream-like scene. No sex or other nudity. Some fairly tame war violence by today's standards.

RATINGS - 11 Amazon (3.5/5), 6,706 Netflix (3.0/5), 583 IMDB (7.5/10), Roger Ebert (4/4).

AWARDS - Won two and nominated for one the 1975 Berlin International Film Festival.

STORY - The film, shot deliberately in black & white, opens with a young man in England leaving home for boot camp. He appears to be the definition of average, neither overly bright nor stupid. Naive might be a label that applies, if anything. Young men all over England are being called up as casualties mount on the European front and the Allies prepare for D-Day. The strength of the film is in its use of terrific archival footage from the Imperial War Museum within the movie. Our young soldier survives boot camp and thanks to a fellow soldier becomes a little more worldly than before he entered the service. The use of the archival film to show the massive buildup of troops and equipment contrasted with the loneliness and fear of the solitary soldier is effective in understanding D-Day. Some of the footage from the archives is amazing and worth watching the film for that alone. You have the most massive military invasion in history and yet at its core is the individual soldier. He meets and falls in love with a very nice young girl but will there be a future together-will there be a future at all? Neither of them can be sure. His unit learns that they will be among the first to land on D-Day. Cannon fodder-that's what they begin to see themselves. How would you react knowing your chances of surviving the invasion are slim and none? While some see this an anti-war film, I think it is more a reality of war film. While war may be a necessary evil in the face of greater evils, that doesn't change the fact that is evil and young lives and families are forever changed. A film that will make you pause and consider the consequences of even the most just war. The extras are very worthwhile. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/7/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT

GREEN FOR DANGER

GREEN FOR DANGER - 1946

RATED - NR but G/PG. Nothing offensive but mostly adult content.

RATINGS - 32 Amazon (4.5/5), 11,769 Netflix (3.5/5), 1,453 IMDB (7.8/10), New York Times (4/5).

STORY - The setting is England during 1944 and the Nazis are sending V-1 unmanned bombs over. When the noise overhead stops, you know the bomb is about to explode and you better take cover. A postman who just completed a delivery on his bicycle to the rural hospital (temporarily converted estate) nearby that operates on bomb victims becomes the next victim. While his wounds require surgery, they are not life threatening until the surgery begins. He mysteriously and suddenly dies on the table. The new hospital administrator states there will be a full inquiry. A whimsical Scotland Yard inspector is brought in who quickly sequesters the surgery team and boasts he knows who did it and will reveal the killer shortly. One of the better whodunits I've watched, it is tightly scripted and the acting is superb. Every word and gesture counts. The eccentric inspector antagonizes just about everyone with his arrogance. Did I mention the tangled web of relationships that will keep you guessing? This Hitchcock-like British murder mystery will hold you to the end. The Criterion version has been restored exceptionally well. Lu for Lu's Reviews. 10/31/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

THE GATHERING STORM

THE GATHERING STORM - 2002

RATED - NR (Adult language, adult content, brief non-sexual nudity).

RATINGS - 55 Amazon (4.5/5), 62,399 Netflix (3.8/5), 1,852 IMDB (7.5/10)

STARRING - Albert Finney, Vanessa Redgrave.

AWARDS - 2002 EMMY for BEST MADE FOR TELEVISION MOVIE plus 12 other wins and 21 nominations.

STORY - The HBO film opens with the camera under the bed of Churchill as he gets up stark naked from the rear and goes into the bathroom to relieve himself. With this very undignified beginning, we enter into the world of Winston Churchill in the days leading up to WWII. This is more than just about the political climate in England, it is the personal side of Churchill as well. It is about his life-long love relationship with his wife, Clementine as well as his life on his estate where he is struggling financially when the film opens and Clementine must step in to take over the finances to stay solvent. Much of the filming takes place on the actual estate which is amazing in itself. Of course, the focus of the film is the political world and Churchill's attempt to warn Great Britain and the world about the looming threat from Hitler and the Nazis. His is a lonely voice, at first. He had a true sense of destiny for his life and role in saving England. He had help, too, from inside the foreign affairs office, that would provide him confidential information about Hitler and his activities. It would be hard to imagine anyone playing Churchill better and more convincing than Finney. Redgrave is outstanding as well and is no minor character in his life or in the film. This is a film that deserves a much broader distribution than it has had. Really, a very brilliant picture of Churchill and the events leading up to WWII. You have to ask yourself, what would the world look like today without a Churchill? Warts (there are many) and all, this was an amazing human being. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 06/20/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

EMPIRE OF THE SUN

EMPIRE OF THE SUN - 1987

RATED - PG for violence and intense scenes of terror. Not overly graphic but take it seriously for younger children. Recommended for 13 and over.

RATINGS - 255 Amazon (4.5/5), 590,285 Netflix (3.9/5), 29,383 IMDB (7.7/10), Roger Ebert (2.5/4).

STARRING - Christian Bale (film debut), John Malkovich, Nigel Havers (Chariots of Fire), Ben Stiller.

THEMES - Relationships, the human spirit.

AWARDS - 6 Academy Award nominations and BEST PICTURE nominee Golden Globes.

STORY - Christian Bale makes his stunning movie debut in this Spielberg directed film as Jamie, a 12 year old British boy, who grows up in luxury and opulence as the son of a wealthy textile factory owner in China during WWII. Having attended the best private schools, having every conceivable luxury available to a young boy growing up in that era, not least of which is being able to give the servants orders in direct contradiction to the instructions given by his mother, his life is abruptly changed when the Japanese take over that part of China. His family moves into a hotel temporarily to see what happens and when the Japanese bomb that part of the city, thought to be safe, there is a panic as thousands of British and Chinese try to escape. Jamie and his parents are separated and do not reunite until the end of the war, approximately four years later. The film is the story of Jamie's survival during that time. An extremely bright and resourceful boy (played brilliantly by Bale), he uses his natural leadership and aggression to stay alive and become indispensable to the American who becomes the unofficial leader (godfather) of the prison camp. The camera work, acting and screenplay are exceptional, not to mention the music. The film loses a little something (I think) when Spielberg gets a little too artistic and surreal but this is still one of Spielberg's best. Overall, a very interesting and worthwhile movie about another slice of WWII and how the human spirit adapts when it is put into survival mode. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 05/25/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER, ROGER EBERT

THE INCIDENT

THE INCIDENT - 1990

RATED - NR but probably PG for some language (family friendly).

RATINGS - 5 Amazon (4.5/5), 5,499 Netflix (3.7/5), 228 IMDB (7.2/10).

STARRING - Walter Matthau, Harry Morgan, Susan Blakely.

AWARDS - EMMY for Outstanding Drama/Comedy Special & nominated for several other awards including two Emmy's.

THEMES - Justice, prejudice.

STORY - This made for TV special takes place in 1944 in the fictional town of Bremen, Colorado (it was filmed in Colorado Springs) which is home to a POW camp for German soldiers just outside town. The long-time, popular town physician (also the camp doctor) is murdered at the camp late one night. A makeshift Federal Court is set up in town to conduct the trial. No one doubts for a minute that one of the prisoners, Wilhelm Geiger, did it. To give him a 'fair' trial, he must have legal representation so the judge 'drafts' local down and out attorney, Harmon Cobb (Matthau) to do the job. Cobb, a decorated WWI hero, with a son serving in the military in France, is reluctant to take the job. The judge 'convinces' him to do it. Immediately, he and his family become targets for the local townspeople as 'German lovers'. As he gets into the case, he realizes that it's not all that it appears to be. The acting is great and the story is intriguing, especially since this is a part of WWII that has not had much publicity. A very informative and entertaining 100 minutes, especially for those who like courtroom dramas. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 05/24/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, POW LINK

P.S. I have to admit I was not aware that there were approximately 500 of these POW Camps in the U.S. during WWII. There were between 400,000-500,000 German and Italian soldiers held prisoner. Because of the war, there was a shortage of farm labor and many of them ended working on farms. It is a subject not given much publicity as far as I know. If you google 'german pow camps in america' you will find some interesting websites.

CONSPIRACY

CONSPIRACY - 2001

RATED - R for language. Not the worst I've heard but take it seriously.

RATINGS - 113 Amazon (4.5/5), 62,678 (3.6/5), 4,997 (7.8/10)

AWARDS - Many awards & nominations including Emmy, Golden Globe and Peabody. AWARDS

THEMES - Evil, pure and simple.

STORY - This film is another relatively unknown HBO made for TV gem. It is based on the minutes of an actual meeting in 1942 of Nazi Department Heads. All the notes were to have been destroyed but one copy survived. This was a meeting convened by Adolf Eichmann in a suburban mansion outside Berlin. The agenda: what to do about the Jewish storage problem. With the Nazi war machine devouring the German treasury, they had to make a decision about all the Jews in work camps that were becoming very expensive to maintain. Until this point, there had been no overall German plan for dealing with the 'Jewish problem'. This meeting determined the fate of millions of Jewish citizens. The film does not try to sensationalize or over dramatize this event. In many ways, it comes across as a corporate board of directors meeting or cabinet level meeting for government. Evil can be so cold and calculating and seemingly rational. This is a reminder that evil does not always or often come in frenzied, worked up packages but often through the distorted worldview of 'normal' people like all of us. A well done, tightly scripted movie with excellent performances by the cast that will give you chills when you consider the ramifications of one hour of time with these 15 men. The setting (basically one room) and intensity remind me of 12 ANGRY MEN. Watch a piece of history that changed our world forever. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 03/14/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

THE ISLAND ON BIRD STREET

THE ISLAND ON BIRD STREET - 1997

RATED - PG-13 for violence. Not graphic. Family approved by the Dove Foundation.

RATINGS - 5 Amazon (4.5/5), 8,169 Netflix (3.7/5), 518 IMDB (7.1/10).

AWARDS - Numerous wins and nominations including 3 Emmy Awards.

THEMES - Relationships, justice, discrimination.

STORY - Based on a true story during WWII in Warsaw, Poland, it is the survival of an eleven year old Jewish boy separated from his father and uncle who are taken to work camps, from which no one returns. He has three things to sustain him: his pet white mouse, Snow; the book Robinson Crusoe; the promise of his father that he will return. The Nazis regularly patrol the bombed out buildings in the ghetto looking for stray Jews who may have escaped their clutches. It's survival in its most basic form. This overlooked film tells the amazing story of the imagination and wits of this 11 year old as lives day to day trying to survive against all odds. Ala Robinson Crusoe, he establishes a loft for himself in a bombed out building and uses every instinct he has to stay alive and not get captured. A fascinating story and well done film. Great camera work and editing. The many twists and turns in the story will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. Strong performance by Jordan Kiziuk as the 11 year old Alex.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, THE BOOK

THE WINDS OF WAR

THE WINDS OF WAR - 1983

RATED - NR but probably PG for adult themes and some war violence.

RATINGS - 104 Amazon (4.5/5), 44,794 Netflix (4.0/5), 947 IMDB (8.5/10).

AWARDS - Nominated in 1984 for 4 Golden Globes including Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture made for TV. Winner of several Emmys and nominated for others.

STARRING - Robert Mitchum, Polly Bergen, Ali McGraw, Jan-Michael Vincent, John Houseman, Peter Graves, Ralph Bellamy, etc.

STORY - Based on Herman Wouk's epic novel of the same title, this is the mini-series (15 hours) of the years leading up to Pearl Harbor and America's 'official' entrance into WWII as seen through the eyes of Captain 'Pug' Henry(Mitchum) and his family. Mitchum is assigned to the War Plans department of the U.S. Navy and sent to Germany to work through the embassy there, assessing and keeping on top of the situation in Berlin and Germany. His keen insight and analysis earn him a direct relationship with President Roosevelt (Bellamy) and entrance into the corridors of power throughout Europe and Russia , including meetings with Hitler, Churchill and Stalin. Through his eyes we see and understand the events leading up to our country's direct involvement in WWII. In addition to others, we see the Jewish persecution by Germany develop through the lives of Pug's son (Vincent), a submarine officer, and his fiance and eventual wife, Natalie Jastrow (McGraw), who is Jewish and spends a good deal of time in Europe trying to get her uncle, Aaron Jastrow (Houseman), a famous author to leave his beloved home in Italy. The acting is terrific and the story entertaining and gripping and a great way to learn more about that time in the history of our country and the world. It is part history, part drama and part war story. As close to perfection in a mini-series as you could hope for. Well worth the time and effort to watch. Enjoy. Lu G. for Lus' Reviews. 01/11/2009.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

AFTER THE TRUTH

AFTER THE TRUTH - 1999

RATED - NR but probably PG for some language and a shadowy image of an elderly man getting out of the shower.

RATINGS - Amazon - none, 2 Netflix (4/5), 476 IMDB (7.6/10).

STARRING - Gotz George (Dr. Josef Mengele), Kai Wiesinger (Attorney Peter Rohm)

AWARDS - Many nominations including EUROPEAN FILM AWARD for Best Actor (George).

THEMES - Justice, truth, eugenics, social Darwinism.

STORY - The Holocaust continues to haunt the world with the unbelievable evil and atrocities that occurred. This is the 'what if' story of Dr. Josef Mengele, the Auschwitz 'Angel of Death'. What if Mengele had turned himself in and was tried for his crimes. Who would defend him? Attorney Peter Rohm (Wiesinger), who grew up in Mengele's home town and is fascinated (obsessed?) with his story must decide whether to accept that challenge. He has wanted to write a book about Mengele but has been holding off because he can't understand why someone who was a former neighbor could be responsible for the deaths of some 400,000 individuals. He wanted to title the book 'One of Us'. In addition to believing everyone is entitled to legal representation, he wants to find out the truth so he accepts. What follows is a sobering and fascinating look at the mind of Mengele as he stands trial. First, we learn he was not alone. In 1920 the book The Permission to Destroy Life Not Worth Living was published and set the course for German medicine for the next 25 years. This is part thriller, part courtroom drama, part moral question. Was Mengele a psychopathic monster or just your neighbor gone wrong? In his closing argument Rohm says, 'The road to Auschwitz isn't so long, as long as you take it one step at a time.' As the end of the film is fading out, Mengele looks directly at the camera and asks, 'Do you see at least a bit of yourself in me?' Don't answer too quickly. A powerful film about evil that still haunts us today. Very highly recommend. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/15/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, WIKIPEDIA, CHILDREN OF THE FLAMES, IGNATIUS PRESS

THE LONGEST DAY

THE LONGEST DAY - 1962

RATED - G

RATINGS - 199 Amazon (4.5/5), 193,480 Netflix (4/5), 13,712 IMDB (7.8/10).

STARRING - The list is too long. From Eddie Albert to John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, etc, there were over 40 international stars.

AWARDS - Two Academy Awards and five nominations including Best Picture. AFI Top 100 nominee for Best Thrills and Top Movies. 1963 Golden Globe nominee for Best Picture.

STORY - This is the definitive story of D-Day. It's almost beyond comprehension today to think of the scope of this mission which involved 11,000 planes, 4,000 ships and 3,000,000 men. The logistics of coordinating the attacks, keeping everyone supplied with fuel, ammunition, medical supplies, etc. is mind boggling. This film follows the day from start to finish from a number of different Allied assignments including the U.S., the English, the French and even the Irish contingent led by the ever present bagpipes. It also shows the day from the German side. You get the big picture that is not usually present in most war films. This was an incredible day in history. As big as it was, it was made up of individuals, all trying to fulfill their assignments. As we see, sometimes with humor, not all of them went well. Many ended tragically because of human error or weather conditions. There were also many, many heroes that day and we meet some of them. It was also a day that reminded us that 'war is hell'. There is no other way to describe war, even for the most noble causes-for those on the front lines, it is pure hell. We can all be grateful for the thousands of men from all countries who sacrificed their lives. One of the credits of the movie is that it is G rated and although there is plenty of war violence, it is not graphic. While some may say it is sanitized, and, therefore, not realistic, I think it allows for this film to be shown to a wide variety of audiences who will be able to better understand and appreciate the magnitude of this mission. There are plenty of graphic war films for those interested. This is a classic epic worthy of watching more than once. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 10/04/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

FOYLE'S WAR

FOYLE'S WAR - 2002

RATED - TV-PG

RATINGS - 76 Amazon (5/5), 159,370 Netflix (3/5), 831 IMDB (9.0/10).

STARRING - Michael Kitchen, Honeysuckle Weeks, Anthony Howell.

AWARDS - Nominated for several British TV awards.

THEMES - Justice, relationships, ethics.

STORY - This is a BBC made for TV series about Chief Detective Christopher Foyle (Kitchen) set in 1940 England in a small coastal community. Foyle would rather be defending his country somewhere but he must stay home solve the crimes (often related to war activities) that still occur on the home front. The chemistry between Foyle and his driver, Samantha Stewart (Weeks), and his assistant, Sgt. Paul Milner (Howell) is outstanding, as they go about solving crimes in this WWII environment which affects everyone in England. If you like WWII, detective mysteries, and character driven shows this is almost perfection. I can't recommend this highly enough. Aside from some violence around the crime scene, there is almost nothing to deter family viewing. This is about real people living out real life in a war-plagued country and they do it in a most entertaining and satisfying way. Try one and I think you'll be hooked. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 08/23/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB.

49TH PARALLEL

49TH PARALLEL - 1942

RATED - NR but probably PG

RATINGS - 19 Amazon (4.5/5), 5,920 Netflix (3.5/5), 1,399 IMDB (7.5/10).

STARRING - Laurence Olivier, Raymond Massey, Anton Walbrook & Leslie Howard.

AWARDS - Academy Award for BEST WRITING, ORIGINAL STORY and nominated for BEST PICTURE and BEST WRITING, SCREEN PLAY.

THEMES - War, propaganda, relationships.

STORY - First of all, this Criterion-restored version is a great quality picture, clean and crisp. Second, it is a movie with an ulterior motive, that of getting the then-neutral USA into the war. While I don't think it detracts from the entertainment merits, some people do. The story begins with a German U-Boat somewhere in the northern part of Canada. It destroys a Canadian cargo ship and then refuses to help save the survivors. The commander decides to head for Hudson Bay to lay low for awhile until they can escape. They send a small crew ashore to steal supplies they will need. While the U-Boat is surfaced, it is spotted by the Canadian Air Force and destroyed. The stranded crew on shore must try to navigate their way to the 49TH PARALLEL (the line dividing the US and Canada) and the neutral U.S. where they can find freedom. The propaganda enters in when they encounter Canadian citizens in their journey and enter into debates about the merits of democracy versus the white supremacy worldview of 'The Fuhrer'. There are some surprising turns and twists and a satisfying ending. A very interesting aspect of WWII and how it affected Canadians. There were some 500,000 Germans living in Canada at the time and apparently some 850 were interned for being Nazi spies as well as subversives and saboteurs. There are several interesting extras along with the Criterion edition. Enjoy. Lu for Lu's Reviews. 08/16/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TCM

HIROSHIMA

HIROSHIMA - 2005

RATED - NR

RATINGS - 10 Amazon (5/5), 2,447 Netflix (3.7/5), 179 IMDB (8.6/10)

THEMES - ATOMIC WAR

AWARDS - International Emmy Award for BEST DOCUMENTARY UK.

STORY - This BBC docudrama uses a combination of archival footage, recreation of scenes, eyewitness testimony and state of the art visuals to replay the three weeks leading up to the dropping of the bomb on Hiroshima. It adds greatly to the feel and understanding of the emotions in play as you hear testimonies from the crew of the Enola Gay as well as survivors of the blast interspersed with the actual films and created visuals. The BBC has a history of great documentaries and this is no exception. Probably the defining moment of the 20th century, the world has not been the same since the creation of atomic and nuclear weapons. This unique retelling of that story reminds us of the grave consequences of a nuclear attack, a memory we should always keep in the forefront of our country's foreign policy and international relations. While the merits of the decision to drop the bomb will likely be debated forever, this excellent documentary provides the context, politically, militarily and morally to add to an intelligent discussion. Whether this is your first film about Hiroshima or your 10th, I think you will be glad you took the time to watch. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 7/19/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, NETFLIX

THE REICH UNDERGROUND

THE REICH UNDERGROUND - 2004

RATED - NR - Two scenes of animals being gassed in a test lab.

RATINGS - 2 Amazon (4.5/5), 1,022 Netflix (2.8/5)

STORY - This is a documentary about Germany's attempt to place many of their weapons manufacturing plants underground later in the war as the Allies relentlessly bombed their cities and armament operations. It was a last ditch attempt to pull out victory from what was becoming certain defeat. It is also the story of the degree which Hitler would go to grasp for victory. Humans were nothing more than disposable tools (like worn out saw blades or broken down vehicles) in the building of these amazing underground facilities. Thousands of lives (many of them were POW's) were lost in this effort. After being closed to the public for many decades, they have been reopened to show the world. There always is the question of 'what if' they had succeeded in building plants that were safe from the Allies' bombs. We will never know. A more pertinent question today might be 'where' could this be going on in the world with rogue nations building secret weapons or other potentially lethal or illegal operations. Even our country has deep underground facilities connected with the military and critical defense operations. A fascinating world to think about and explore. This film is a beginning and very interesting although it could have been pared down to a shorter version (the main reason for the lower ratings on Netflix I believe) but nevertheless a worthwhile venture. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 07/19/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON

MORITURI

MORITURI - 1965

RATED - NR but probably PG for some violence, minor language.

RATINGS - 21 Amazon (4/5), 4,017 Netflix (3.2/5), 599 IMDB (6.9/10).

STARRING - Marlon Brando, Yul Brynner.

AWARDS - Two 1966 Academy Award nominations for Best Cinematography Black & White and Best Costume Design Black & White.

STORY - It's 1942 in Japan and Captain Mueller (Brynner) has been assigned to take a German freighter loaded with rubber to France which will keep the German war machine going for at least another 3 months. A rag tag crew has been assigned to sail with him. The ship is a blockade runner meaning that they will try to make it through any enemy defenses and if it looks it will not make it, the Captain is required to blow up the ship. In India, a German citizen (Brando) who escaped Germany when the war began is being blackmailed by Allied forces to pose as a German SS officer assigned to duty on that ship. His mission is to defuse all the bombs set to destroy the ship so that when the Americans capture the ship, it will not blow up the precious cargo. Brynner smells a rat and keeps a short leash on Brando and a tense game of cat and mouse develops as Brando tries to find and defuse all 12 bombs. The mission becomes more complicated when a German Admiral brings a group of American prisoners on board who have been captured by a sub in the area. The Admiral wonders why a SS officer is aboard a cargo ship and decides to investigate. A lesser known film of both Brando and Brynner but a good WWII film. Not an action film but a battle of wits between two megastars. The black & white picture is what gives it an extra measure of mystery and intrigue and adds rather than detracts from the film Enjoy. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 07/12/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB

THE TRAIN

THE TRAIN - 1964

RATED - NR but probably PG for violence including some scenes of military style executions.

RATINGS - 78 Amazon (4.5/5), 36,113 Netflix (3.7/5), 3,250 IMDB (7.8/10).

STARRING - Burt Lancaster, John Frankenheimer (Director)

AWARDS - Nominated for 1966 Academy Award Best Writing Original Screenplay as well as AFI Top 100 Thrills and 1965 BAFTA Best Film.

STORY - It's 1944 and WWII is in its last days. The Nazis are trying to take anything they can out of the rich art treasures in France. There is a warehouse in Paris full of Van Goghs, Picassos, etc. A German Colonel loads them on to a train for Germany. The French Resistance learns of this and goes into action to sabotage the train and save the treasures. Paul Labiche (Lancaster), a French train engineer is not interested at first (he is counting on the Allies to show up at any moment and save Paris) but when he sees the patriotism and heroics of the Resistance fighters, he becomes a part of the resistance and uses his courage and skills to try and thwart the German Colonel. In the end it becomes a one on one match of wits and ingenuity between the two men-a microcosm of the good versus evil that was symbolic of the greater war. A lot of action but real action, not the computer generated stuff of today's films. Burt Lancaster does all his own stunts which are not insignificant. A terrific view of another slice of life during WWII. Did I mention that Burt Lancaster and I co-starred in AIRPORT. Actually........if you're really quick with your pause button you might be able to spot me walking across the airport lobby. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 06-14-2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TCM.