Reviews

This movie is a great example of a thriller, not looking to be a non-fiction account of a WWII sub, just a great story with a group of true professionals. Cary Grant was so compelling in this role that Tony Curtis said he based his famous part in Some Like It Hot on Cary Grant's performance in this picture, and that Curtis always wanted to do a movie with Grant on a submarine from that moment forward---and of course got his wish with Operation Petticoat. A previous reviewer slammed this movie for its anti-Japanese propaganda. Perhaps a slight bit of history would help. Statisitically, an American POW was FOUR times likely to die as a prisoner of the Japanese than of the Germans. The end of the war saved the lives of thousands of Americans because their treatment in Japanese camps was so horrifying. Six foot tall sailors weighing 100 pounds was not an uncommon site. The same Japanese military also starved its own people in places like Okinawa to feed itself, and I would hope that all people would now be familiar with the 'rape of Nanking,' so what was called propaganda was more just the way of the world at the time. This is one reason that the people who fought for America during World War II are revered and treasured so much.

OK..Ocean's 11, the original, was not citizen Kane, but at least it had charm and the natural ability of the rat pack could not be totally contained regardless of the weakness of the endeavor. This movie, perhaps as much as any, vividly shows why Turner Classic Movies has such good ratings, and why so few of today's actors and actresses come even close to measuring up to their predecessors. Evidently someone has come up to the conclusion that if a few good looking, well primped up people are gathered together, and place them in the ultimate cool setting of Las Vegas Boulevard, they would somehow radiate and attract the audience's undivided attention. Whoever thought that was wrong.

The criticisms of the reviewer who makes fun of this movie either is totally oblivious to what Germany was like, pre and post war, or does not want to admit that the movie was accurate. The Germans acted exactly as portrayed in the movie in the post-war era. No one knew anything, and no one saw anything. Millions disappeared, no one noticed. OK. That's believeable. Additionally, the interactions between the Americans and the Germans was perfectly depicted in the film, and as to Klemperer's character being a joke, it should be remembered that many Nazis acted exactly like that--totally defiant--during the trials. Meanwhile, to say that the Germans were not well defended by Schell's charater is totally wrong. Perhaps that is where this reviewer was wrong more than any area. Schell quotes Oliver Wendell Holmes and laws from the Commonwealth of Virginia to show that German laws portrayed as immoral were ones in force in America. Additionally, he quoted Churchill's positive statement about Hitler which was made before 1938. This movie is extraordinary. Tracy and Schell are beyond compare.

Sometimes, but very rarely, a movie tells a story so well that it almost becomes difficult. This movie tells several stories so well simultaneously that it was the first few times a movie I could not watch to completion. It was too real....and the characters SO STRONG that watching it became a personal struggle. Seeing these three men and their families deal with their hardships, one in particular, often hit me too hard. Now, I have watched in its entirety without interruption several times, and I realize what I always suspected. This movie is a masterpiece. The writing, the acting, the blending of several stories without being even the least bit choppy, everything about this movie is exceptional. Seven Academy Awards? No wonder, it certainly must have deserved them.

There will never be a cast of characters brought together for one movie which could compare to this one. Clint Eastwood shows that he can be good at being quite serious, humorous, and even let other people steal scenes without losing presence. The real difference though lies in the rest of the cast which is a group of All-Stars who excel at certain type characters the likes of which you can not find today. Examples: Telly Savalas showing why he would become a MAJOR TV star later, Don Rickles being Don Rickles but keeping his movie character true to the film, Carroll O'Connor showing that greatness was just around the corner for him, and Donald Sutherland is just too good for words. What really makes this movie though is unlike other movies which bring together a lot of big names and top character actors, Kelly's Heroes did not lose focus on the importance of the plot. THe story never gets lost to the characters. Absolutely great job!

This has to be one of the best movies ever made of any type. Henry Fonda leads the cast but there are so many powerful performances that it is unfair to just mention a couple and not the rest. Today, no jury in America would be comprised of 12 white men....perhaps that is why the judicial system is in the mess it is in today....Jury nullification would not tolerate such a jury, and that is probably why there will not be any Henry Fondas on today's juries.

Outstanding movie...everyone involved on and off camera make for a perfect 10, and of course Gregory Peck and John Garfield were extraordinary. A movie with great relevance today as well as when it was made, perhaps even more so today, and a movie which could never be made as well because there are no more Gregory Pecks today.

The three leading women and token Bernie Mac should take the money they 'earned' for this film and enroll into acting school, take whatever money is left over and give it to the writers who seemingly think that all people in this country have been dumbed down by public school systems.

This is to movies what Dogs Playing Poker is to painting.

Paul Newman leads a terrific cast in a very moving and important movie, one which should be revisited by all who lack a feel for what that region of the world is REALLY like. It is a timeless movie that is not shown very often and should be shown regularly.

Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn and Jimmy Stewart. How do you improve on that unless Spencer Tracy would have played Kittridge. This movie is spectacular....outstanding performances not only by the big three but the supporting cast was terrific, and the writing just magnificent. Some of Cary Grant's lines are just brilliantly timeless, and when said by Cary Grant, well that can not be topped.

I do not believe that any other movie has ever included two better speeches than those delivered by Maximillian Schell and Spencer Tracy. The writing was brilliant and I doubt that two people have ever been better in one movie.

If ever there were doubts as to who is America's greatest actor, this movie should end the debate. Spencer Tracy, now a much older Spencer Tracy, shows that even in his later years, he is the best.

Maximillian Schell could not be any better, and when you add Burt Lancaster's best performance and many other terrific ones too, the leadership of Stanley Kramer and writing of Abby Mann, this movie must be considered among the five best of all time. Period.

The movie with the greatest group of three stars ever. Cary Grant, James Stewart and Katherine Hepburn in the same movie sharing scene after scene.....the best trio ever assembled, and they were not wasted. This was outstanding all the way around.

People forget or perhaps were not old enough or around to remember the first blockbuster terrorist attack by Arafat's PLO. To those who fall under those categories, this documentary should be mandatory. Additionally, two things this documentary shows which should be well remembered is how happy Arabs were and are to kill Jews, and how the German response to the attack was, well, one which many W.W. II era German leaders would have enjoyed---total indifference, even obstruction. A job well done by those involved in this project from top to bottom.