Reviews

I had read something about the Allied effort to support the Mensheviks, (Whites), when I was about 12 or so, and knew the U.S. had sent troops. I now know something more. "Voices of a Never Ending Dawn" tells the true story of the 339th Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army, which was sent to northern Russia in 1918 instead of France. These men were given Russian rifles, and put under British command. Their ordeal in the brutal northern winter, at the hands of a merciless foe, comes to light in their own words and through well-executed reenactments. Their struggle against the "Bolos", (Bolsheviks), an uncaring command, the elements, as well as their own fatigue, and the efforts of their families back home to get them out, are definitely worth your attention.

This film tells the true story of the 1st SS Panzer Division "Leibstandarte SS Adolf Hitler," which had started out as Hitler's personal bodyguard unit. We start at the conclusion of the Polish campaign in 1939, with Hitler reviewing the outfit. We follow them through the campaign in Holland, including the linkup with German paratroops in Rotterdam, and the invasion of France in 1940. We then follow them down the Danube River to Bulgaria, from which they take part in the invasion of Yugoslavia in April, 1941, including the linkup with the Italians in Albania. Next comes the invasion of Greece, and the crossing of the Corinth Canal. We finish up with a parade in Athens, and the narrator telling us how the Leibstandarte is moving on to the "fight against Bolshevism," meaning that Russia was probably being invaded when the film was first shown. This is a great piece of history for anyone wanting to know about the early campaigns of this SS unit.

This is acclaimed as one of the best subsims ever. I think rightly so. Silent Hunter 4, aka Silent Hunter: Wolves of the Pacific, takes the player to sea as the commander of an American submarine during World War II. One can go from Pearl Harbor, Manila, or Australia, depending on what year one picks to start, and gets one into action. Realistic battle sounds and animation bring one into the action. One can use the deck gun, or anti-aircraft guns to engage enemy planes, if one is brave enough to risk the damage from airplanes. In an expansion set, or the Gold edition, one can play as a German U-boat commander in the Indian Ocean, allowing one to explore this forgotten chapter of the conflict. Silent Hunter 4 has the action. Go for it!

I had heard of this film over the years, and finally got to see it today. This is a clever use of film for training American flyers to clam up if they are captured. Our flyboys end up in the clutches of the clever Germans, who use all kinds non-violent means to soften up the unsuspecting GI's to give up info on an upcoming raid.Others have commented on the Germans using torture to get information, but it is known now that Herman Goering, who made sure the Luftwaffe kept shot down flyers, would not allow that. Lloyd Nolan's opening and closing lines are terrific. He gives the lesson it's exclamation point very well. I give it an 8 out of 10. Look for it to come on again and record it if you have to, just to get a glimpse of WWII film-making.

If you enjoy a lot of blood, then watch "300". But, if you want something closer to what history really tells us happened at Thermopylae, then "The 300 Spartans" is what you want. I enjoyed the fact that they showed what both sides had in that time as far as weapons and tactics were concerned. They also kept the focus on the bravery of the Spartans, and that all of Greece not only wished them well, but could help, as with the Athenian fleet, not some CGI generated storm.

This was also marked by good acting all around, from Richard Egan as Leonidas, and all the supporting cast. This movie is for those who crave real history, even if much of what occurred may be lost to the ages.

One of my favorite moments from this film is early on when an Osage chief, who's talking to a man he just gave a trophy to, asks him why they changed patches to the Thunderbird, and the man shows the old patch, which was a swastika. The man tells the chief, "Hitler took it." The chief says, "Hitler? Oh, crazy man. You take it back son." I understand if you can find an original 45th Division Swastika patch, it's very valuable. I also wish we knew who the chief was. And, the Osages did use their language in real life to confound the Germans. Just so our friend who spoke of the Navajos knows. This is a great flick, and if it's ever on video, get it.

This film is one that could have become a propaganda piece for one side or the other. But, the writers did well to tread the line.

Seeing the wife, played by Sally Struthers, take the upper hand against the creeps who attack her, is very satisfying. She made mistakes by shooting in a panic rather than trying to get her cool back. But then, many people would make mistakes in that situation.

Also, the overzealous DA is, unfortunately, a too-common problem in the real world. Fortunately, in this case, he didn't get a chance to berate the victim, as happens in real life.

The last scene is good, and shows how good the writers are at not forcing an agenda. You just have to see it, and depending on your politics, can draw your own ending.

Other commentators have said Sally should have gotten an Emmy, and she probably would have gotten one, but again politics can be blamed. The left-wingers of Hollywood wouldn't have given her an award, because "we wouldn't want people to get ideas." That's how I see it.

Did you notice that the guards, or some of them, were paratroopers? They had the sky blue shoulder boards and berets. That's not right. People in the Gulag, or whatever it's called now, would be guarded by the Ministry of the Interior troops. They are called Vnutrennie Voiska, or Interior Army. Their shoulder boards are a dark red. They also don't wear berets. Paratroopers, in that time, would probably all have been in Afghanistan. For me, otherwise, this was enjoyable, in that I was a teenager during the 1980s Cold War, and as with any teenager, I wanted to kick butt. Plus, I've always liked Malcolm McDowell, and I liked him in this.

I watched reruns of this when I was a kid, and also, I grew up in Scottsdale, AZ, where Bob Crane was murdered. I know the show is escapist fun, and I feel for anyone who doesn't see that. Also, some of you spotted many goofs, and as I got into the hobby of WWII study, I saw them too. Such as Hochstetter being called Major when his badge of rank is for a Colonel, and Crittenden being called Colonel instead of Group Captain. One of you called Field Marshall Rommel a Nazi, but he never was a member of the party, though he took the personal loyalty oath to Hitler that all members of the German Armed Forces took. Also, it wasn't always 1943, zardoz12, Hogan had a part in helping the D-Day landings, if you look for it, and I remember him telling Schultz once how they had to make the camp look nice for when Patton came. By the way, there is such a town as Hammelburg. Patton sent a task force to try to liberate the POW camp there, where his son-in-law was held, but the unit was wiped out.

All in all, this flick is OK. I was ten when it came on TV, and at that age, you know I loved flying. William Devane has always been a favorite of mine, and here he was terrific, intense. Barry Bostwick's weapons officer, Heinz, loved giving lip to people, and in one scene, Devane had a part on his plane break that cost 79 cents. Devane vented his feeling with the line, "You tell that bastard Heinz to watch his mouth, or his face will be worth 79 cents!" Most actors couldn't pull of that line the way he did. See this flick for him, even if you're not a fan. And the Navy doesn't have all the good films. Just so our friend from Texas knows.

I've been reading the comments and I've only seen one of you talk about Nancy Kovack. I remember when I saw this at the age of 10, and I thought, and still do think, that Nancy was just very sexy. True, she wasn't a real blonde, the brown eyes gave it away, but the husky voice, the come hither act, and those gorgeous legs, made this one flick I love to put on late at night. I heard that the DVD has a smaller picture so when we last see our Nancy baby, that we don't get to see her butt. That's a shame, 'cause it was a nice one. Anyway, I liked her so much in this flick. And, it was what made my mind up that a girl in a man's shirt is very sexy.