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Post by quincannon on Nov 29, 2015 23:39:47 GMT
Over these ast years I have mentioned a movie, vintage 1939, called Confessions of A Nazi Spy. I believe it to be one of say four or five examples of Hollywood preparing the public for war, much like They Died With Their Boots On, Foreign Correspondent, Sergeant York and others.
To me it was a made up story about a bunch of rank bunglers, and straphangers all trying to be James Bond. Entertaining, get in the mood to fight the menace that looms near fiction.
That stopped when over this weekend I picked up a book long unread in my library, that I had obtained from a private collection sold off after the owner's death. The book is "The Game of the Foxes" by Ladislas Farago, and my surprise was that nearly every episode played out in the movie actually occurred in the period 1935-38.
I highly recommend the book. It was published in 1971, so it may be a bit hard to find. Farago you may remember was a biographer of Patton and it was that biography and Bradley's memoirs that formed the basis of the movie Patton.
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Post by yanmacca on Nov 30, 2015 14:36:13 GMT
Chuck you must have a library and a half in your house, a few family members have asked me what I want for Xmas, so I have asked them to look on amazon for a couple of books by a British author called Patrick Delaforce, he wrote about six or seven books about the British army in North-West Europe, from D-Day to Germany 1944-45.
Yan.
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dave
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Post by dave on Nov 30, 2015 18:34:33 GMT
Y'all " 'Pimpernel' Smith" with Leslie Howard was a great propaganda film from WW II. I saw it at the Boy's Club in the late 50's and loved it. Neighborhood kids took terms playing him and the dirty Nazi's. Do not believe it was based on a book or real life. Regards Dave
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Post by quincannon on Nov 30, 2015 18:58:39 GMT
One of the best movies in that type, was one that came out late in the war - "The House on 92nd Street". There was another vintage 1946 or so called "The Stranger". Robinson nearly reprises the Nazi Spy character in that one, and the cast includes Wells and Loretta Young. If you have not seen either I would recommend both
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Post by yanmacca on Nov 30, 2015 19:35:40 GMT
I have three British flag wavers from WW2, all three are corkers and I have them on DVD, they are;
In Which We Serve The Way Ahead Went The Day Well
Yan.
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dave
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Post by dave on Nov 30, 2015 22:08:17 GMT
Yan Don't forget Mrs Miniver A Yank in the RAF Pretty good films Regards Dave
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Post by Beth on Nov 30, 2015 22:37:28 GMT
Y'all " 'Pimpernel' Smith" with Leslie Howard was a great propaganda film from WW II. I saw it at the Boy's Club in the late 50's and loved it. Neighborhood kids took terms playing him and the dirty Nazi's. Do not believe it was based on a book or real life. Regards Dave It was based on the Scarlet Pimpernel
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Post by Beth on Nov 30, 2015 22:53:19 GMT
Sam and I share a love of movies from the 30's. It is amazing how many of them have war propaganda in them long before we were actually at war. British and American film makers were going all out to rally feelings of nationalism and painting the Germans in unflattering light. The 1940 "Pride and Prejudice" and "They Died with Their Boots On" are both great examples.
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Post by quincannon on Dec 1, 2015 4:48:20 GMT
Mrs. Miniver was the best of the bunch. People need reminding that cornball values are worth fighting for.
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Post by yanmacca on Dec 1, 2015 11:49:46 GMT
Dave I have seen both of those films, I must say that I cannot remember much about Mrs Miniver, but I do remember a Yank in the RAF and especially the over the top aerial fight scene at the end, I can't recall what aircraft he was in but the Lockheed Hudson springs to mind.
Yan.
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dave
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Post by dave on Dec 1, 2015 16:37:10 GMT
Yan You are correct about the plane being a Lockheed Hudson. The unique aspect of this film is that Tyrone Power went on to become a Marine transport pilot during WW II. He died at the age of 44 way too early. Regards Dave
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Post by quincannon on Dec 1, 2015 18:32:19 GMT
Bringing up Tyrone Power calls to mind another prep to fight period movie - The Mark of Zorro. Nasty guys getting their due at the hand of the stalwart and true, until the very end when the masses arise to put paid to them once and for all inspired by the example of one.
Film is a mighty medium.
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Post by yanmacca on Dec 1, 2015 19:25:34 GMT
Now I know that this looks bias but have a look at these British flag wavers and count just how many you have seen (well I am English after all “cor blimey guvnor”) link
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Post by Beth on Dec 1, 2015 21:45:07 GMT
Film and TV are powerful. I know it sounds unbelievable to imagine but there are actually people out there than just don't have the ability to separate what they see on TV and the movies from reality. Some even run for political office.
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dave
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Posts: 1,679
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Post by dave on Dec 2, 2015 1:47:59 GMT
Yan Speaking of Brits, don't forget David Niven in Spitfire. He was a graduate of Sandhurst who reenlisted at the outbreak of WW II. Regards Dave
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