“That’s fer sure. That’s fer dang sure.” Historian John Heiser joins Jared Frederick for a lively reflection on the 1949 classic about the Battle of the Bulge entitled “Battleground.” Why do they think it is the best WWII film? Tune in and find out!
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Reel History delves into historical films to separate fact from fiction. These engaging episodes explore, contextualize, and clarify stories related to the most famous historical movies. In contrast to the more prevalent “reaction” videos, these installments seek not only to entertain but to educate and inform. For host Jared Frederick and producer Andrew Collins, these episodes are a labor of love and a means of expressing passion for the past as well as cinema. Courteous viewer feedback is always welcome. The views expressed are our own and do not necessarily represent our employers or organizations with which we are involved.
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42 Comments
Agreed, this is one of the few war films Hollywood has ever gotten right. What this movie captures, which few other films have done, is the culture, mannerisms, behaviors, etc of the wwii soldier.
Those nuances are Something band of brothers and saving private Ryan, for example were unable to do. Perhaps because their technical advisors were from the 1960s – 1990s US military, it is clear to me in both of those films that the actors, while visually accurate, still act, walk, and talk like more modern soldiers. The culture, slang, tactics, and mannerisms of the wwii GI is something modern Hollywood is terrible at re-creating, often Hollywood portrayals are an overdone “caricature” of the real thing.
Speaking of cigarettes: I think I told you my dad commanded an LCT on Utah Beach. A German round, possibly from one of the guns that Winters and Co. took out, hit the little office area at the rear of his boat. He wasn't there at the time. His jacket, draped on the chair, was shredded, and several cartons of cigarettes were, his words, 'turned to snuff'.
It's in my top five for sure
I strongly disagree. This movie portrayed American soldiers as lucky cowards who were only good at close-order drill.
Father served in the 11th Armored Div which was committed to its initial combat SW of Bastogne on 30 Dec 44. Never wanted to talk about it. About 10 years ago I invited him to join my son and I to an annual Belgian volksmarch in honor of the 82nd Abn Div. Dad said no, “One winter in Belgium was enough for me.”
The 10th Armored Division Combat Command B was sent into Bastogne BEFORE the 101st ABN ever showed up! 10th Armored Division Combat Command B was dispatched directly to Bastogne on 17 December 1944, just one day after the Ardennes Offensive was launched!
James Whitmore was indeed a fine actor. You can see him here on youtube play a German soldier masquerading as a priest on the TV series "Combat". The episode is "The Cassock".
Robert Pirosh was a creator, producer, and writer on "Combat".
One of my favorite films. As you mentioned, the ambiance of the film is what first caught my attention.
Now I am going to have to rent and watch "Battleground" this weekend.
Not sure if it was mentioned below, but I think there's a correction to your commentary during the opening scene. The soldiers in ponchos and helmet liners are not headed to the showers. They're headed to "Short Arm Inspection". At least, that's according to a dear friend who was a Bulge veteran in the 501st PIR.
Also, there were 3 Parachute Infantry Regiments in the 101st. The 501, 502, and 506. The soldiers in Battleground are from the 1Bn 401 GIR, which was attached to the 327th GIR (as its 3Bn) just prior to D-Day.
I've always wondered how many viewers understood and appreciated the scene in which the squad member (Pop?) collected a wad of leaflets and walked off into the woods.
This being an excellent movie. I looked to They Were Expendable as being one of the great WWII movies. The only propaganda was at the very end of the movie. I'm hoping you'll do The Rick Schroeder WWI film. The Lost Battalion. Almost the Saving Pvt. Ryan of The WWI gangrene. Semper Fi
One of my favorites also!
The Robert Shaw, Henry Fonda "Battle of the Bulge" was beautifully shot in Technicolor, but that is its most enduring feature. If you want to know what happened in the Battle of the Bulge for real, watch "Battleground".
I must add, the attack scene of the opening assault in the 'color' version is great! "And you wanted to see Germans!" 😉😸
I bought this movie on DVD over 10 years ago. I also have the Band of Brothers series and every book I could find on the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment's history during Works War 2.
I loved that movie as a boy growing up in the 60’s
Kelly’s Heroes is mine. Ever since seeing that movie I still think a hero is some kind of sandwich.
And Carol O’Connor. “Get me my unifoooorm!” 🤣🤣🤣🤣
This is my favorite of the old wwii movies.
James Whitmore was my favorite actor.
Battleground is a great movie, well worth watching!!
wow…i love the movie…and when i showed (he had no choice) it to my son…he actually liked it…and said so! yes i had it on dvd… 🙂
Liked your rendition battleground loved it in camp 4 but gotta get ur tshirt it's all so beautiful…
One of my favorite War films. Facts, that James Whitmore had been a Marine in WWII, James Arness had been in the Italian Campaign as an infantryman and was wounded. Richard Jackel served in the Merchant Marine.
I agree with this movie. Outstanding film
I didn't hear them say that the Aid Station with the staff, had been captured. The church with a few volunteers, with little to no medication, plays a huge part.
I think my favorite scene is the response to the Germans offer of surrender: "NUTS".
The Hurtgen Forest battle/campaign affect should have been touched on in the movie.
My Dad, like a lot of WWII veterans, thought that “Battleground” was one of the best movies about the war. He and I would watch a WWII whenever one was on TV. No streaming services back then. “Battleground” was not one of the rah-rah patriotic movies. It showed that the American soldiers were doing a job that they didn’t like or understand sometimes, but needed to be done.
Van Johnson’s character of Holley, is talking about being a PFC-praying for civilian.
One of the excellent points in the review are the observation of the bayonet lug on the M-1 carbines. In the ETO, there were no bayonet lugs on the carbines. I believe that the Marines were issued carbines with the bayonet lugs late in the Pacific war. Okinawa, Saipan and Guam would have been some of the battles where the carbines might have been encountered with the bayonet lug.
Also, the point of the German soldiers trying to infiltrate American lines did take place in the northern shoulder of the Bulge. Dad was in the 99th Division, which was near the far northern end of the US front. There were several instances of the Germans disrupting traffic, changing road signs and other forms of sabotage.
A 2nd Lieutenant was stopped by an MP of the 99th Division. The Lieutenant was dressed too neatly and had on his gold bars on his uniform. The MP questioned the Lieutenant for several minutes and he gave all the right answers to the MP. The MP relaxed a little bit, got out a cigarette and offered one to the Lieutenant. As they were lighting up, the MP asked the Lieutenant where he went to OCS. The Lieutenant promptly said, “Ft. Benning”. The MP asked, “Ft. Benning where?”
The Lieutenant said, Ft. Benning, Texas.” That’s when another German infiltrator went to the POW cage. Several of the German infiltrators were executed as spies in the 99th Division area.
I haven't watched most of the video but I love this film is in my top 10 favorite WW2 movies
If you had a non white version of the shirt I would buy one or two. Thanks
Great commentary on " BATTLEGROUND". WHAT is your take on " Red Badge of Courage with Audie Murphy or Richard Thomas ?????
My dad was in the 4th Armored Division, Combat Command A, 35th Tank Battalion from Cobra until the Rat Race. He also said that Battleground was the only movie that was realistic in the interactions between the men. He said that Whitmores portrayal of the grizzled Sergeant with the frozen feet was the best he ever saw. Dad said that 'Saving Private Ryan' was a crockofshit because it imposed recent values and attitudes on WW II soldiers. The costumes and equipment however were excellent in that otherwise dud of a movie. Dad said the only time they ever buttoned up the hatches in the war was in the attack on Tintange, just outside Bastogne, when the Kraut 5th Parachute Division was dropping mortars down on them.
Ten years after my father died, I met a man who fought in my Dad’s company (CCB 10th Armored) in Bastogne. He described Battleground as the best depiction of their experience.
I haven't seen this film since I was a kid, and remember asking my dad if this was really the way it was in the Ardennes offensive. I remember him telling me how cold it was, he had nightmares about climbing out of a fox hole, and he scratched my moms face one night. He was a medic I the 8th Golden Arrow pathfinder Division. I am not exactly sure where he was in proximity to Bastone, always wanted to know? I remember him telling me about carrying a litter through the trees all broken at different levels by the artillery. Up down through over and under, hard work. This movie made me cry….I miss my dad alot.
James Arness, who was wounded at Anzio.
My favorite war movie of all times, saw it every time it was on as a kid. Fast forward to 1969 joined Army Airborne, in Vietnam my first unit was the 101st Airborne, B Co 3/187th Airborne. Sometimes life is stranger than fiction.
I want to thank you for this program. You mentioned three of my favorite things about World War II, Willie&Joe from the Bill Mauldin cartoons in his book Up Front. This movie "Battleground" and the movie "The Best Years of Our Lives".
I think by the time of the D Day reenactment Mentioned Van Johnson was pretty far along in dementia.
Another great James Whitmore film “Black Like Me”. From 1964.
I totally agree. It's my favorite WWIl movie about the army and the Battle of the Bulge.
As a period piece, made in the 40's – okay, it's good. But IMO, not even close to being teh greatest WW2 film depicting combat or even the behavior of American troops. Far too many cliches inserted by Hollywood to try and personalize the men by using the then acting method of over-acting – which was normal then on the big screen and in early TV, which was often live.
None of the films made before Saving Private Ryan even come close. The Dirty Dozen, The Longest Day, Battle of the Bulge – were all just Hollywood vehicles for the large and illustrious cast. SPR changed EVERYTHING.
My favorite of all ww 2 movies
I grew up in Connecticut and the actress Eileen Heckart lived down the road from us. She had a Scottie named Fala we'd play with from time to time in the neighborhood. It was a gift from James Whitmore when she played Eleanor Roosevelt.
Battleground pictured the 327th Glider Infantry most of whom landed on Utah Beach for Overlord instead of the gliders they trained for. They even took almost as many casualties as the parachute infantry they fought beside.