Review of The Big Lift

This black and white movie probably flew over, many people's head, when it came out. In my opinion, The Big Lift is a little secret gem that needs to be seen. Written and directed by George Seaton, The Big Lift tells the story of two U.S. Air Force sergeants living in Berlin, Germany, during the events of the Berlin Airlift of 1949. While, the movie is set, during the events of "Operation Vittles", AKA Berlin Airlift, it's not really about it, for say. It's more about Tech Sgt. Danny MacCullough (Montgomery Clift) & Master Sgt. Hank Kowalski (Paul Douglas)'s personal romantic lives. If you were looking forward to some war action. You'll be deeply disappointed. The movie was shot on location in the city of Berlin, Germany, in the after years of the events of World War 2. The images of the city in ruins is a graphic reminder of the destruction of war. It's a haunting backdrop, reminding the viewers that wounds, between Germany and the Allies are very deep and will take years for it to heal. You really see, the uneasily of the veterans of the war on the face of Hank Kowalski. Paul Douglas is great as the bitter Ugly American. He is dismissive, and a bully to anybody, German. While, his character can be a bit unlikeable and offensive. He has a good character arch that is believable and affecting. I like the dialogue exchange, between him and his lady friend, Greda (Bruni Löbel). I love the scene where he had to define "democracy" and how he got irate and frustrated, because he had no idea how to explain it. While, the movie might be preachy pro-democracy. It's not a propaganda film, at all. You really see, characters bring up, counter arguments on some of America's viewpoints, and show how certain Americans can be hypocritical. One character even mentions American internment camps and US persecutions of Jews. That's not pro-America, at all! While, a lot of critics are saying, that the movie is offensive to the German people. I really doubt, that, as well. Yes, we see some Germans acting like lying thefts, but not all of them, are that, way. Greda is a great example of that. Bruni really did a great job, in teaching close-minded Americans to understand, that 'not all foreigners are the devil'. I just wish, the message was more subtle and less obvious. It wouldn't have, look so cheesy. Without spoiling the melodrama twist, toward the end. Montgomery Clift's acting is believably as the young idealist airman. He portrays the nice if too-trusting guy, pretty well. His thin, handsome face is a strange cross between rugged and fragile. It's believably, that he would end up smitten during his love scenes, and heartbreaking when he realizes he's been used and betrayed. What an amazing performance! I love the scenes, where he became a man without a country, and in danger from all the political forces. I love, how the movie shows the confusing Cold War's borders of Berlin, in which each Allies countries controls. One minute, you're in the Russian Sector, and the next minute, you're in the British or American Sector. You really get to see, how frequently, each political nation tactfully clash, with each other and how paranoid, everybody is. You get to see the bleak situation that the Berliners had to endure as a result of the Cold War. It's indeed cold out there in Berlin. It's a real eye opening. Lots of tense moments in the film, but also a lot of comedy. I love, "The Chattanooga Choo-Choo" with a German quartet. I love the scene, where they're smuggling coffee. Those were a lot of laughs. Cornell Borchers as Clift's love interest, the duplicitous Frederica Burkhardt was powerful. While, Borchers isn't overwhelmingly pretty, her performance was deep and complex. She really pull it off. By the end of the film, you feel sad for her, but also a little bit angry. While, her story might seem a bit misogynistic, it's not. If it came off, that way. It's the product of its time. I'm just glad, she wasn't a one dimension, Femme fatale stereotype. She's just another person, trying to survive. One thing that I didn't like about the film is the pacing. It's a bit off. I love the newsreel footage part, but did we honestly, need it? Why did, we need the Indiana Jones type journey scenes of the crew, going to Berlin, as well? Most of all, did the viewers, really need all that discussing about how radar works!? 30 minutes have passed that we finally get to the meat of the plot. The Berlin production was also plagued by logistical and political problems, but after a lot of political wrangling with military authorities, George Seaton was given unprecedented access to Soviet sectors and access to American airbases and air-planes. With the exception of Montgomery Clift and Paul Douglas, all military personnel in the film were actual members of the US military on duty in Germany at the time. The movie was released one year after the Soviet blockade of Berlin was lifted and airlift operations ceased. The movie is easy to find. You can find the film on the internet or your local library. The failure of the original copyright holder to renew the film's copyright resulted in it falling into public domain, meaning that virtually anyone could duplicate and sell a VHS/DVD copy of the film. Therefore, many of the versions of this film available on the market are either badly made or in extremely poor quality, having been duped from second- or third-generation copies of the film. So, do warning. My copy wasn't so bad. Kinda grainy, but watchable. Overall: This movie had a nice dramatic documentary feel to it. I do highly recommended watching it. Do ahead and fly and go get it!