Product Details

• Actors: Ritchie Boys
• Directors: Christian Bauer
• Format: Black & White, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: New Video Group
• DVD Release Date: November 20, 2007
• Run Time: 90 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000UUX2UU
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #33,168 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #4 in	Movies & TV > Documentary > Series & Studios > Docurama > Jewish Heritage
  #7 in	Movies & TV > Documentary > Series & Studios > Docurama > Military & War
  #15 in	Movies & TV > Documentary > Series & Studios > Docurama > History

• For more information about "The Ritchie Boys" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Run out of Germany by the Nazis, a small contingent of German Jewish intellectuals exacted the perfect revenge--returning to Europe as U.S. soldiers to defeat the enemy. Groundbreaking and unforgettable, THE RITCHIE BOYS is the never-before-told tale of a handful of German nationals who used their language and cultural knowledge to wage psychological warfare against the Nazis and to liberate Europe. Still sharp as octogenarians, The Ritchie Boys --a medley of hilariously unlikely soldiers--vividly recall their treacherous and heroic slog through World War II, from their training at Camp Ritchie, Maryland to the beaches of Normandy, from dark weeks spent in a German POW camp to D-Day ebullience. Now highly successful artists, businessmen, and professors, The Ritchie Boys laugh at their clumbsy fit within the U.S. military, cry at the horrors of war, and marvel at the unorthodox--but effective--forms of interrogation and subterfuge that helped them to defeat the Nazis.

Shortlisted for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and widely acclaimed upon its release, THE RITCHIE BOYS mixes newsreels with razor-sharp interviews to spin a touchingly personal saga of men whose chutzpah, ingenuity, and playful camaraderie had a lasting effect on world history. A great human tale (San Francisco Chronicle), THE RITCHIE BOYS is a documentary of staggering importance.

DVD Features: Individual War Stories; Filmmaker Biography

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny interrogators of World War II, November 23, 2007

By	Brendan M. Howard (Kansas, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Put me to use. That's what the so-called Ritchie Boys asked of the U.S. Army in World War II, and they got what they wanted. These new recruits, alien refugees--some fresh off the boat from Europe--were shipped off to Camp Ritchie to learn how the German military did its thing so they could interrogate prisoners in warzones. It's a World War II story that hadn't been told yet, and the Ritchie Boys themselves make for engaging watching and a wonderful story. These are soldiers most of us can relate to, people who weren't so good at handling firearms but became single-minded in their work to charm, confuse, and terrify POWs who showed up and had information they wanted.

This is an excellent addition to the growing sub-genres of Jewish and World War II documentaries, and sports skillful use of talking-head inteviews, music, and archival footage.

DVD Extras: A full 43 minutes of deleted scenes and personal accounts fill out the disc.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, November 16, 2007

By	James F. Taszarek "Jim Taszarek" (Scottsdale, Arizona) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After just happening to see this on television, my son took my brother an I on a tour of World War II Europe. Among others, we took a guided tours of Normandy, Ste Mar Eglise, Malmady, Bastogne and Auschwitz. Returning home, I took another look at The Boys - and it all came alive. Rather than a well done documentary, it a classic story of of the human race at its best - up against the human race at its worst. I'd reccomend this to anyone who enjoys authentic history, a great story and an excellent piece of film. The production is 5-star.

The stories of these gentlemen before, during and after the war is incredible. There's sad dark events and hysterical humor - all in the same film. It's a treasure.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not to be Missed, September 23, 2009

By	Cary B. Barad (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a nostalgic and historically important film comprised of present day interviews and films of the period. It gives a very moving account of these patriotic and extraordinarly brilliant intelligence officers who were forced from their European birthplace in their youth and who found acceptance in their new homeland--the USA. During WW II their gratitude was expessed by exemplary military service which they carried out without blind vengeance or injustice.