This is a great and historic movie!
This is the kind of great war documentary/movie that most people outside this particular language/nation/area rarely get to see because it's not 'Hollywood.' Also, for lack of a better word...it's 'foreign' to most...uncommon. The same with Poland's "Katyn"(2007); Italy's "Torpedo Zone"(1955); and, many others...The Netherlands' "Soldier of Orange"(1977).
Although these 'same' T-34 Russian tanks converted into Tiger 1 German tanks, and, American Sherman tanks, are in the same movie (as well as the American M3 half-tracks converted to German Sd.Kfz. 251s), because it's a Hollywood production 'filmed in Yugoslavia,' everyone in the world can see "Kelly's Heroes"(1970); but, rarely this great movie. Just as everyone can see Hollywood's "Battle of the Bulge"(1965) and "Patton"(1970) (both filmed 'mainly' in Spain) that use the same tanks...because it's big-budget Hollywood. Hollywood is great, but, it sometimes leaves equally great non-Hollywood movies behind, and, sadly forgotten.
To me, this is likely the best eastern European war documentary/movie production ever. The German movie "Stalingrad"(1993), filmed in Germany, Finland, Czech Republic, and, Italy, is another sadly 'forgotten great.'
As per national budget at that time, this movie's ranks up there with "Doctor Zhivago"(1965); "Lawrence of Arabia"(1963); "The Guns of Navarone"(1961); "The Sand Pebbles"(1966); and, "A Bridge Too Far"(1977).
This movie even has an international 'Hollywood' movie-making cast - Yul Brynner and Oleg Vidov(Russia); Hardy Kruger and Curt Jürgens (Germany); Franco Nero(Italy); Orson Wells(USA); Sergey Bondarchuk(Ukraine); Sylva Koscino(Croatia); and, Anthony Dawson(Scotland). Despite this...this great movie isn't nearly as famous as similar Hollywood movies that take place in 'Yugoslavia' like "Force 10 From Navarone."
If you're a World War II buff who likes to see every aspect of that war, even the lesser-known parts...see this.
This is the kind of great war documentary/movie that most people outside this particular language/nation/area rarely get to see because it's not 'Hollywood.' Also, for lack of a better word...it's 'foreign' to most...uncommon. The same with Poland's "Katyn"(2007); Italy's "Torpedo Zone"(1955); and, many others...The Netherlands' "Soldier of Orange"(1977).
Although these 'same' T-34 Russian tanks converted into Tiger 1 German tanks, and, American Sherman tanks, are in the same movie (as well as the American M3 half-tracks converted to German Sd.Kfz. 251s), because it's a Hollywood production 'filmed in Yugoslavia,' everyone in the world can see "Kelly's Heroes"(1970); but, rarely this great movie. Just as everyone can see Hollywood's "Battle of the Bulge"(1965) and "Patton"(1970) (both filmed 'mainly' in Spain) that use the same tanks...because it's big-budget Hollywood. Hollywood is great, but, it sometimes leaves equally great non-Hollywood movies behind, and, sadly forgotten.
To me, this is likely the best eastern European war documentary/movie production ever. The German movie "Stalingrad"(1993), filmed in Germany, Finland, Czech Republic, and, Italy, is another sadly 'forgotten great.'
As per national budget at that time, this movie's ranks up there with "Doctor Zhivago"(1965); "Lawrence of Arabia"(1963); "The Guns of Navarone"(1961); "The Sand Pebbles"(1966); and, "A Bridge Too Far"(1977).
This movie even has an international 'Hollywood' movie-making cast - Yul Brynner and Oleg Vidov(Russia); Hardy Kruger and Curt Jürgens (Germany); Franco Nero(Italy); Orson Wells(USA); Sergey Bondarchuk(Ukraine); Sylva Koscino(Croatia); and, Anthony Dawson(Scotland). Despite this...this great movie isn't nearly as famous as similar Hollywood movies that take place in 'Yugoslavia' like "Force 10 From Navarone."
If you're a World War II buff who likes to see every aspect of that war, even the lesser-known parts...see this.