44 of 47 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Martin Sheen portrays my great uncle greatly!, May 17, 2000
This review is from: The Execution of Private Slovik [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This movie shows how brave, and great of a man my great uncle really was. I don't think any movie can ever top this. Not even Saving Private Ryan. This movie shows you that you don't have to have million dollar special effects, foul language, and blood to be good. Eddie Slovik was a truly brave man who stood up for what he believed in, even through death. I am proud of him, and I only hope he is proud of me. Thank you to everyone who has viewed this movie. I am sure he would be very proud if he knew he was looked upon as a very courageous man.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Chilling Performances Of A Chilling Story, May 24, 2000
This review is from: The Execution of Private Slovik [VHS] (VHS Tape)
A must see (and read) for anyone interested in WWII or the conflict each dogface must have experienced on the front lines. It is amazing to me how out of 40,000 deserters, 49 of which were sentenced to death, only ONE was executed. Indeed, the only one since the Civil War. What was so "special" about Eddie Slovik? The movie follows true to the excellent book by William Bradford Huie and Martin Sheen's performance is a study in reserved pain. He doesn't shout with indignation when sentence is conferred upon him. Rather, he takes it "in stride" as just another bit of dumb luck he has experienced his whole life. Snatched from the only good thing his short life ever provided, his wife Antoinette, after being reassured he would not be drafted was a cruel joke played upon a guy who was made to suffer cruelties all his life. I am not going to sit in judgment on his decision to confess to desertion. Hey, my dad faught in that war, you just can't have everyone deciding they are not going to fight. My argument is with the system that drafted this guy in the first place and the system that made him unique in the execution of sentence. Was Eddie Slovik the worst case of desertion in the entire war? I highly recommend this film and book. The book is out of print but Amazon found me a copy and I just finished reading it. I wish the film was available on tape but it isn't. I saw the movie on the "Encore" channel about a month ago after first seeing it on TV in 1974. It hasn't lost a thing. If you get a chance to see it, please do so, you won't believe how moving this story is.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Parade of Mistakes, April 17, 2000
This review is from: The Execution of Private Slovik [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Being an active-duty military member, I have a special interest in the world of the profession of arms. Especially fond of WWII films, I have seen many of the wonderful and entertaining creations from this genre. It was my pleasure to view The Execution of Private Slovak, I ranked it right up there with films such as 12 o'clock High and Saving Private Ryan.
I must admit I was not all too familiar with the life and death of Mr. Slovak. As I watched his life develop under the brilliant acting of a young Martin Sheen, it became aware to me this young man only wanted to be happy and safe in life. He was not a fighter, but a lover of life.
After his reformatory days, Eddie is keen on getting his life together and getting a good job, and a fine woman. He gets both eventually, Antoinette was a definite match for him made in Heaven. They complimented each other perfectly. The draft board ultimately selects Eddie and he is off to training before you know it. You can sense the fear growing in Eddie already, not only because of his new warrior status, but because he is separated from his lovely new wife.
In the days that follow, he is sent to the front lines and comes under fire, which scares Eddie so much he decides to be a deserter, rather than face almost certain death from enemy fire. His zest for life picks up when the Canadians befriend him, but is reunited with his unit where he ultimately goes AWOL once again. This time, Eddie turns himself in and sign a confession stating his guilt. If only poor Eddie had broken parole back home and done a few months. He would've never been in that situation. But as Eddie said in a letter to his wife; "I never had a streak of luck".
Upon his courts-martial, Eddie is convicted of the charges of desertion in three separate ballots, and sentenced to death. Even then, the reality hasn't sunk in to his head yet. There is always the hope he will be reunited with his love. It isn't until the very end, where Eddie shows his true bravery, that he accepts nervously his fate.
I loved this film tremendously. As stated earlier, Martin Sheen made the movie true to life, as it should have been in the memory of Mr. Slovik. The special effects were lacking to today's standards, but hey, we're talking about a 1974 film here. The other actors, such as Ned Beatty and the actress who played Eddie's wife, we're also worth mentioning, they did a more than fine job. Also, the Major who presided over Eddie's execution and final drama was very convincing. He had many different emotions and a job to do, which conflicted with each other, and it showed.
Finally, this film brings out many deep thoughts and emotions brought on by the superb acting and storyline. I highly recommend this film to anyone who is a lover of WWII, drama, and the condition of being human. It can also be considered a tragedy in a sense. I salute Mr. Slovik, may he rest in peace.
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