Western and War films on TV (UK listings)

[Aba452]

The war films I like are all old favourites like Where Eagles Dare, The Eagle has Landed, Lawrence of Arabia, Dr Zhivago, Ryan's Daughter (Lean's best; Mitchum is superb), The Great Escape and Cross of Iron.

The one that gut punches me every time is Operation Daybreak, always got something in my eye at the end!

Westerns can't go wrong with Unforgiven, but I love the Spaghetti trilogy. And Once Upon a Time in The West, just epic. Love High Plains Drifter and Bring me the head of Alfredo Garcia. Modern westerns, Seraphim Falls and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.

 

[BrianW]

A Bridge Too Far got me quite emotional. (It's down to me, a by-product of depression is that I can tear up quite easily at certain things.)

I kept thinking, all those brave lads, dead and wounded, all those innocent civilians killed, their houses and lives fucked up, all because politicians couldn't come up with a sensible solution after World War I. Fucking nationalism did the rest.

 

[mexico1970]

A Bridge Too Far got me quite emotional. (It's down to me, a by-product of depression is that I can tear up quite easily at certain things.)

I kept thinking, all those brave lads, dead and wounded, all those innocent civilians killed, their houses and lives fucked up, all because politicians couldn't come up with a sensible solution after World War I. Fucking nationalism did the rest.

No matter what political ideology you follow mate, that ideology will try to kill as many as humanly possible. It's not a political problem it's the human condition.

Bit weird but every time a bomb goes of either on land or at sea how does that affect the wildlife, I suggest it would be devastating.

 

[donkinho]

Anyone who went to Manchester Grammar School will remember Ian 'Basher' Bailey, a much-loved, long-serving teacher there. His claim to fame outside that was that he guarded Rudolf Hess on his first night in captivity after Hess's flight to Scotland. (He didn't actually know who it was at the time and only found out a few days later when it became public knowledge).

What was less well-known about his war exploits was that he served in SOE, training agents for their missions in Occupied Europe. He was apparently stationed at Arisaig House on the west coast of Scotland and Heydrich's Czech assassins did their training there. So he almost certainly played some part in the preparation for what was officially known as Operation Anthropoid.

Operation Daybreak was re-made a few years back as 'Anthropoid' (which, as you say was the correct title of the operation) with Cillian Murphy and Jamie Dornan. While the assassination and battle scenes are a bit grittier, I don't think the remake tells the story quite as well as the original with Anthony Andrews, Timothy Bottoms and Martin Shaw. For anyone visiting Prague (which is well worth in it's own right) the Church of St. Cyril Methodius is a must see - the Church where the paratroopers were cornered, and the crypt where they were drowned out and eventually committed suicide is now the museum of the Heydrich terror, and is incredibly poignant. The assassination site in Holesovice is also easily located, albeit almost unrecognisable from the day.

 

[Gremlin]

I watched "Unforgiven" a couple of nights ago,and it is a typical,gritty, uncompromising Western from Clint.
And I got "Full Metal Jacket" on DVD as a Christmas gift from the wife, so watched that yesterday afternoon.
It's the best war movie ever made in my opinion. I prefer the first half of the film to be honest,when Joker, Cowboy,Pyle and the rest of The Lusthog Squad are put through Marine recruit training on Parris Island by
Hartman,to turn them into killers.
Definitely one of my favourite films of all time.

Geek time: the training scenes in FMJ were actually filmed at a British Army training barracks (Bassingbourn). Plus the battle scenes were shot at Becton gas works in east London. Kubrick lived in the UK and didn't like to travel. They had to import and set up palm trees everywhere.

 

[Boo or Boo-urns]

Modern westerns, Seraphim Falls and The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.

Great shouts Aba, hardly hear those Westerns recommended on here.

 

[manclad]

Geek time: the training scenes in FMJ were actually filmed at a British Army training barracks (Bassingbourn). Plus the battle scenes were shot at Becton gas works in east London. Kubrick lived in the UK and didn't like to travel. They had to import and set up palm trees everywhere.

Yes pal, I found out all that about 10 years ago, so I lived in ignorant bliss for about 25 years, thinking that it was actually filmed in Vietnam.
I think alot of the fields/ countryside scenes were filmed in East Anglia as it's nice and flat ,like in parts of SE Asia.
Very convincing though, I think Stanley Kubrick was a film producer/director genius.

 

[BrianW]

No matter what political ideology you follow mate, that ideology will try to kill as many as humanly possible. It's not a political problem it's the human condition.

Bit weird but every time a bomb goes of either on land or at sea how does that affect the wildlife, I suggest it would be devastating.

I think the overwhelming majority of humanity, irrespective of race, religion, colour or nationality just want to live their lives in peaceful tranquility.

The problem is we have a sub-species of manipulating, greedy obsessive cunts who want power over others and who are never satisfied no matter how much power and wealth they accrue. They will destroy the world in pursuit of their egomania.

If we could somehow eliminate that sub-species, the world would be a much better place. Though of course, it will never be perfect. Because of what theologians call 'original sin'. We are all imperfect beings. But making your shed three inches too tall and pissing off the neighbours is of far less consequence than wanting to dictate the lives of countless millions.

 

[mexico1970]

I think the overwhelming majority of humanity, irrespective of race, religion, colour or nationality just want to live their lives in peaceful tranquility.

The problem is we have a sub-species of manipulating, greedy obsessive cunts who want power over others and who are never satisfied no matter how much power and wealth they accrue. They will destroy the world in pursuit of their egomania.

If we could somehow eliminate that sub-species, the world would be a much better place. Though of course, it will never be perfect. Because of what theologians call 'original sin'. We are all imperfect beings. But making your shed three inches too tall and pissing off the neighbours is of far less consequence than wanting to dictate the lives of countless millions.

My point was pretty simple mate, be it nationalism or a rabid form of socialism it's all murderous. I actually don't believe that most of the human race is kind and compassionate it's easily swayed by the norms of the day and every day people are quick to other the opposition and are only a stones throw from concentration camps and gulags.

It's like when religious people claim to be tolerant and kind, in reality they can be and are often the worst kind of vindictive cruel people.

Conclusion?

If it weren't for politics or religion the human race will find another angle to make themselves feel righteous and other another set of people to such a degree they'd murder them.

 

[Aba452]

Yes pal, I found out all that about 10 years ago, so I lived in ignorant bliss for about 25 years, thinking that it was actually filmed in Vietnam.
I think alot of the fields/ countryside scenes were filmed in East Anglia as it's nice and flat ,like in parts of SE Asia.
Very convincing though, I think Stanley Kubrick was a film producer/director genius.

As we're veering wildly off topic, I'll just put here that back in the mid 80s I loved Robin of Sherwood, really atmospheric retelling of Robin Hood.

Yeah there were a number of mullets but that was then. One actor in the frame to replace Michael Praed was Neil Morrisey, actually filmed a few scenes, before the producers decided they wanted a blonde Robin.... Anyway it's vaguely war related as it's the Anglo Saxons v the Normans.

Robin of Sherwood ran for 3 seasons from 1984 - 86, it got canned despite huge ratings as the makers Goldcrest ran out of money.

They had just made a war of independence film in Revolution, starring Al Pacino with a pre EastEnders Sid Owen as his son. It was filmed in East Anglia, Pacino got pneumonia on the very wet shoot and from a budget of £28m it made £300k! In 1986 Goldcrest's fortunes improved when they had a big hit with The Mission, with De Niro and Jeremy Irons. Brilliant film, amazing locations and great score. Even 40 odd years later it's mad they took US/UK stars and filmed in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay.

Other hits for Goldcrest include Gandhi, The Killing Fields, Absolute Beginners and White Mischief. I thought they also made Dempsey and Makepeace too, apparently not! Anyway I think Al and Bob's salaries cost us more Robin adventures. Goldcrest still making films too.