Episodit
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Tonight we're having a communist party (!) as we look at a part of the War not often explored, the Russian camps. Storied director Peter Weir ("Gallipoli") brought this true (?) story to the screen in 2010, starring Ed Harris and Colin Farrell. The result? An overlooked gem and a muscular statement against Stalinism... Asides include, there are too many movies, Boris Yeltsin's lost in the supermarket, Bill Cosby endorsed an '80s dessert item to great effect, and why was Ed Harris so pissed at the '99 Oscars?
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At first blush, 1943's "Bataan" might seem like a run-of-the-mill, black-and-white, ensemble-cast World War II movie: easily absorbed and easily dismissed. Upon closer inspection, though, it reveals itself as a fascinating bit of mid-war propoganda, i.e., a passion play and literal call-to-arms. We'll also examine its surprising horror elements, as the faceless Japanese pick off our men in a near slasher-scenario... asides include some thoughts on the racial tolerance (or lack thereof) of decades past, and a deep dive on a Cheap Trick song.
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Puuttuva jakso?
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World War II Movie Night keeps the faith (and the format) as we delve into the 2015 Hungarian movie "Son of Saul," which many believe gives the truest representation of life in Auschwitz outside an actual documentary. Saul is a "Sonderkommando," prisoners given unpleasant duties in the camp in exchange for a slightly better status - until they're no longer useful, that is... Asides include a certain TV show, and the unexpected WWII-related thing Donald Trump, Justin Bieber, and Arnold Schwarzenegger have in common.
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Join World War II Movie Night as we reassess the oft-maligned "Valkyrie," from 2008. No casting in one of our movies was as criticized from jump as Tom Cruise playing Claus von Stauffenberg, the German colonel who made the most famous attempt on Hitler's life. "Valkyrie" had almost everything going for it: acting, writing, directing, and a bigger budget than the filmmakers even asked for - so why was it deemed mediocre, and was that unfair?... asides include Scientology, German guilt, the inherent creepiness of Goebbels, and How High was Hitler?
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It'd be hard to find a more successful movie - at least upon release - than Miramax's "The English Patient." This late-1996 pic made tons of money, swept the Oscars, and was one of the most critically acclaimed movies of the decade. Case settled, right? Not so fast. On World War II Movie Night we like to look past the luster. Does TEP hold up? Is it an actual WWII movie? Join us as we ponder the deeper questions... Asides include the shenanigans of Harvey Weinstein, "Seinfeld" as a cultural barometer, and the weird connetion between TEP and an obsucre, 1981 slasher-in-the-woods flick.
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Tonight we do the 1981 American sports movie "Victory" (also called "Escape to Victory" in European markets). A powerhouse cast of Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine, Max von Sydow and Pele take us through the story of Allied POWs who agree to stage a soccer game against Germans. The idea quickly spirals out of control, though, resulting in bigger stakes than they could've imagined... asides include sports movies, Pele's recent death, and the time I faked my way through coaching a season of youth soccer.
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Kind-of a Halloween episode tonight, as World War II Movie Night does 2018's "Overlord." Mega-producter J.J. Abrams brings us this zombie gorefest that's also an homage to "Nazi'ploitation," a mostly-'70s genre that saw horror, thrillers, and even pornos centered around history's most reliable villains. So turn off your brain and enjoy the fast-paced action as a D-Day unit behind enemy lines in France has a timely mission before the boats hit the beaches; complications arise when they stumble upon secret experiments meant to ensure a 1,000-year Reich!... Asides include numerous observations about horror and exploitation, the African-American experience in the War, and WWII movies with weirdly modern touches.
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Tonight World War II Movie Night does 1970's "Patton," a curious biopic that straddles the line between the Big Epics of the 50s/60s, and what filmmaking would become in the '70s. George C. Scott plays George S. Patton in a role so iconic it was parodied for years afterward. Join us as we address almost every element of the European theater, from the invasion of Sicily to D-Day to the Battle of the Bulge... asides include the so-called Goodfellas Effect, Spuds MacKenzie, and translator humor.
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World War II Movie Night does its 4th (!) movie starring Robert Mitchum with 1957's "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison." During the War in the Pacific, a U.S. Marine washes ashore a small island improbably inhabited by a Nun (Deborah Kerr). The Japanese periodically poke their heads around, but for the most part it's just the Marine and the Nun, figuring out their new, shared living situation. Made by the same director who did "The African Queen," HKMA may be an attempt to do for WWII what that movie did for WWI... Asides include the famous - and unexpectedly moving - rivalry between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling, and the time I interviewed the most famous Nun.
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No, 1949's "Battleground" isn't the most original World War II movie, but many consider it one of the best examples of what it is: the ensemble, combat-heavy, real-events-lightly-fictionalized genre. See how our group does in the Battle of the Bulge, as Germans try to infiltrate the lines. Because why? Because Nuts!... asides include people who have never seen snow, and a discussion of SPAM.
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The whole country's got Oppenheimer fever (and heatstroke)! Yes as Christopher Nolan's biopic enters theaters with surprising fanfare, World War II Movie Night offers a short review - without spoilers! You can absolutely listen to this episode before going to see "Oppenheimer" and not have the experienced diminished.
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World War II Movie Night returns with what's considered one of the greatest, best, and most revered movies ever made, Steven Spielberg's "Schindler's List." The master director was already having a good 1993 with summer blockbuster "Jurassic Park," but before the year was out he snuck this 3+hour, black-and-white Holocaust drama into theaters, making history. Given the movie's reputation, we take a slightly different tack tonight as we examine the backlash that emerged, as well as look for humor in "Schindler's List" (which is there)... Asides include "Seinfeld," yes, "Seinfeld."
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World War II Movie Night returns to old-school, black-and-white British WWII movies with 1955's "The Colditz Story." Officer prisoners from different European countries compete (?) to escape from Colditz, the infamous Nazi fortress prison. Can the British break their unlucky streak and get some 'home runs'? Tonight we find out with this very accurate movie.
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"Operation Storm King"... https://www.amazon.com/Operation-Storm-King-Elliott-Sumers/dp/B0BYRPXN51/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1G5V5ETWJT37O&keywords=operation+storm+king+elliott+sumers&qid=1685065940&sprefix=operation+storm+kin%2Caps%2C159&sr=8-1
"Diplomats and Admirals"... https://www.amazon.com/Diplomats-Admirals-Negotiations-Misjudgments-Powerful/dp/B0BMSKP9C7/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ME6F8LGKHYFD&keywords=diplomats+and+admirals+dale+jenkins&qid=1685066020&sprefix=diplomats+and+admirals%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-1
"Prisoners of the Castle"... https://www.amazon.com/Prisoners-Castle-Survival-Colditz-Fortress/dp/0593136330/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1N1QL7UGLER8V&keywords=prisoners+of+the+castle+ben+macintyre&qid=1685066120&sprefix=Prisoners+of+the+castle%2Caps%2C190&sr=8-1
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Tonight we have not only a Japanese production but also our first animated movie. Since "Grave of the Fireflies" appeared in the late '80s, it has steadily garnered a following in the West, notably led by its biggest advocate, Roger Ebert. Seita, 14, must care for his 4-year-old sister Setsuko, after their home is destroyed and their mother killed in the firebombings of 1945. Regarded as one of the saddest movies ever made, this one really tests World War II Movie Night's mission to be a fun podcast, but we manage... Asides include a mini book club, the more unfortunate examples of dubbed movies, and war as a balm for the restlessness of youth.
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Tonight World War II Movie Night covers the 1951 Marines-tribute, "Halls of Montezuma." The men have to take an unnamed Pacific island from the Japanese. Progress is going well until they're hit with rockets from an unknown location. With only hours to discover the source of the rockets, our guys must overcome their personal issues to complete a life-or-death quest. Although not as famous as many WWII combat-themed movies of the time, HoM sports some stylistic touches that likely influenced subsequent WWII films (including "Saving Private Ryan")... Aisdes include how people watched movies decades ago, the 1999 Columbine massacre, McCarthyism, and we say goodbye to a member of the awkwardly named World War II Movie Night Trophy Case.
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What happens when the guy who made "Robocop," "Basic Instinct" and "Showgirls" makes a World War II movie in his native Netherlands? Tonight we find out with the 2006 Dutch film, "Black Book." There's quite a bit of sex and violence (again, the guy) as Rachel/Ellis joins the Resistance Underground against their Nazi occupiers. All is not as it seems, though, and preconceptions about good guys and bad guys get jostled... Asides include the rather stunning fallout from "Showgirls," an ultra-obsucre movie about a murderous elevator, and the importance of brushing one's teeth after vomiting.
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World War II Movie Night goes up and away yet again with 1949's "Twelve O'Clock High." Regarded as a darker take on the war, compared to more optimistic fare such as "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," "Twelve O'Clock High" follows the 918, an American bomber group flying missions out of England. Things are bad, though, so Gregory Peck is brought in to make the boys' lives miserable, compared to his softer-touch predacessor. Can Peck's Savage get the job done? Who will die, and who will merely lose his head?... Asides include the newspaper life, Harvey Weinstein, and movies that open with shots from way after the events of the movie (e.g., "Citizen Kane," "Sleepway Camp," etc.).
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World War II Movie Night goes back to the comedy well with Neil Simon's "Biloxi Blues" a 1988 movie based on his play of the same name. Matthew Broderick is Jerome, a young Jewish man from Brooklyn who couldn't be more out of his element at boot camp in Mississippi. Will he fulfill his wish to lose his virginity? Will he ever shake the scrutiny of the sadistic drill sergeant (Christopher Walken)? We won't learn much about the war tonight, but we will try to have some fun, so sit back and enjoy... Asides include the concept of age-appropriateness in the 80s, Vietnam movies, the novels of Dostoevsky, and Ferris Bueller's treatment of minorities.
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Tonight we conclude our Pearl Harbor series with 1970's "Tora Tora Tora," a perennial favorite of World War II-movie sticklers. The producer of "The Longest Day" wanted to do for Pearl Harbor what that movie did for D-Day. The result was Tora(3), a movie that incorporates twin productions about the event, one from the American perspective and one from the Japanese (with the actual planners of the real attack hired as consultants for accuracy!). A true World War II-movie cult classic... Asides include an obscure Memphis rock band, and what Yamamoto and George Carlin have in common.
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Happy (?) Dec. 7! To mark the anniversary World War II Movie Night finally gets to the only movie to bear the event's name, 2001's "Pearl Harbor." A red-hot Michael Bay used his clout to make this Disney summer blockbuster (in a darkly ironic twist, released just a few months before Sept. 11). The results? Well... it's complicated. Tonight we explore not only the movie but the culture that surrounded it, and exactly why Michael Bay was so popular... Asides include-too many to name.
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