I read the other day that only 44 of the 2 million plus American W.W.I veterans are still alive. In American history and even more in Hollywood, the war (in which we were involved for less than 2 years) has always been overshadowed by W.W.II. It makes me grateful that this true tale (which I had heard mention of - but didn't really know) has been dramatized.
I was particularly moved by Rick Schroeder's performance as Major Whittlesey.
Our depressed Dane's comments (beneath my own) complaining that this very American battle has been "Americanized", are absurd. What nationality would he prefer to be invented to have fought the battle? If the "lost battalion's" courage and resilience, fortitude and heroism are "childish and utterly unintelligent behavior" in Danish eyes, we can see why Denmark did (not) put up any resistance to invasion in 1940!!
Further, our not so Great Dane's comment that all prisoners would have been "killed on sight or tortured" is also 'dead' wrong. See any historical account of the First World War (even such dramatizations of the mutual respect of the armies shown in the French movie, 'Grand Illusion' or the English novel, 'The Fountain'). Funeral processions were even held by the enemy for downed fliers. This movie's characterization of the German Army's reaction to the doomed Americans' defense sounds completely authentic in that war. Our gloomy Dane should content himself with his (well, Anderson's) fairy tales!
This is pretty terrific - you won't regret seeing it
I was particularly moved by Rick Schroeder's performance as Major Whittlesey.
Our depressed Dane's comments (beneath my own) complaining that this very American battle has been "Americanized", are absurd. What nationality would he prefer to be invented to have fought the battle? If the "lost battalion's" courage and resilience, fortitude and heroism are "childish and utterly unintelligent behavior" in Danish eyes, we can see why Denmark did (not) put up any resistance to invasion in 1940!!
Further, our not so Great Dane's comment that all prisoners would have been "killed on sight or tortured" is also 'dead' wrong. See any historical account of the First World War (even such dramatizations of the mutual respect of the armies shown in the French movie, 'Grand Illusion' or the English novel, 'The Fountain'). Funeral processions were even held by the enemy for downed fliers. This movie's characterization of the German Army's reaction to the doomed Americans' defense sounds completely authentic in that war. Our gloomy Dane should content himself with his (well, Anderson's) fairy tales!
This is pretty terrific - you won't regret seeing it