Listing only ten favorites doesn't do justice to it all. So many great films. Though as one who appreciates the military genre of films, I was tempted to list ones like "A Bridge Too Far" and "Gettysburg". However I didn't, because both had an eerily similar narrative that was flawed.
Operation "Market Garden" was a concept developed by Field Marshall Montgomery- not General Fredrick "Boy" Browning. Yet apparently director Richard Attenborough chose to leave Montgomery's role largely out of the entire equation. Casting a shadow over Browning, whose job was to execute Montgomery's plan. A plan that was terribly flawed, particularly regarding poor intelligence of what German units were in all the drop zones and logistical errors in terms of paratroops and the distances they had to advance to hold their assigned positions. It was a disaster, costing the Allies another six months to defeating the Third Reich.
"Gettysburg" also dealt with a similar historic dynamic. That in as much as Robert E. Lee was both a respected tactician and beloved general by his troops, the offensive foray of his army of Northern Virginia, was very different compared to all of his defensive campaigns that resulted in victories. That much like Operation Market Garden, this operation into Union territory involved a failure of adequate intelligence in central Pennsylvania (no thanks to Jeb Stuart's cavalry) and a catastrophic decision to launch a direct attack across a mile of open ground against Union troops between Seminary and Cemetery Ridge. Equally ordering General Hood to move in an uphill assault on "Devil's Den" was also disastrous. Had Hood's cavalry attempted an end-run completely around "Devil's Den", it may have allowed for a different outcome.
Perhaps the closest battle fought which proved as disastrous for the South as "Gallipoli" was for Britain and Winston Churchill in particular. Where the only real hint of any of this was a brief conversation between Lee and Stuart where Stuart offered his resignation, and Lee scorned him as well as refused his resignation. Leaving the only person to really question this folly to General Longstreet, who seemed to be the only one predicting what would happen. But as a good soldier, he followed his orders.
Though of the two generals (Montgomery and Lee) I see Lee as the one who made a far greater mistake in comparison. Both were very cautious tacticians, always mindful of limited logistics. But unlike Montgomery, Lee threw caution to the wind at Gettysburg in going on the offense in the wrong place and time which was never his best suit.
Some directors/producers want to be both sensitive to their viewers. I get that. Not wanting to spoil public perceptions of Lee or Montgomery as beloved, yet flawed military leaders. And in these two instances despite not focusing on these tactical errors the films were otherwise excellent, IMO. Both of course are in my DVD library.
But then there are hundreds of war films that have technical glitches which can make historians either laugh or cringe...or most likely both.
Operation "Market Garden" was a concept developed by Field Marshall Montgomery- not General Fredrick "Boy" Browning. Yet apparently director Richard Attenborough chose to leave Montgomery's role largely out of the entire equation. Casting a shadow over Browning, whose job was to execute Montgomery's plan. A plan that was terribly flawed, particularly regarding poor intelligence of what German units were in all the drop zones and logistical errors in terms of paratroops and the distances they had to advance to hold their assigned positions. It was a disaster, costing the Allies another six months to defeating the Third Reich.
"Gettysburg" also dealt with a similar historic dynamic. That in as much as Robert E. Lee was both a respected tactician and beloved general by his troops, the offensive foray of his army of Northern Virginia, was very different compared to all of his defensive campaigns that resulted in victories. That much like Operation Market Garden, this operation into Union territory involved a failure of adequate intelligence in central Pennsylvania (no thanks to Jeb Stuart's cavalry) and a catastrophic decision to launch a direct attack across a mile of open ground against Union troops between Seminary and Cemetery Ridge. Equally ordering General Hood to move in an uphill assault on "Devil's Den" was also disastrous. Had Hood's cavalry attempted an end-run completely around "Devil's Den", it may have allowed for a different outcome.
Perhaps the closest battle fought which proved as disastrous for the South as "Gallipoli" was for Britain and Winston Churchill in particular. Where the only real hint of any of this was a brief conversation between Lee and Stuart where Stuart offered his resignation, and Lee scorned him as well as refused his resignation. Leaving the only person to really question this folly to General Longstreet, who seemed to be the only one predicting what would happen. But as a good soldier, he followed his orders.
Though of the two generals (Montgomery and Lee) I see Lee as the one who made a far greater mistake in comparison. Both were very cautious tacticians, always mindful of limited logistics. But unlike Montgomery, Lee threw caution to the wind at Gettysburg in going on the offense in the wrong place and time which was never his best suit.
Some directors/producers want to be both sensitive to their viewers. I get that. Not wanting to spoil public perceptions of Lee or Montgomery as beloved, yet flawed military leaders. And in these two instances despite not focusing on these tactical errors the films were otherwise excellent, IMO. Both of course are in my DVD library.
But then there are hundreds of war films that have technical glitches which can make historians either laugh or cringe...or most likely both.
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