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Battleground [VHS]

Van Johnson (Actor), John Hodiak (Actor), William A. Wellman (Director) Rated:

Format: VHS Tape

283 customer reviews

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Battleground (1949)

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Battleground [VHS]

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Product details

Actors: Van Johnson, John Hodiak, Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, Marshall Thompson
Directors: William A. Wellman
Format: Black & White, NTSC
Language: English, French, German
Rated:
NR
Not Rated
Number of tapes: 1
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
VHS Release Date: April 1, 1992
Run Time: 119 minutes
Average Customer Review: 283 customer reviews
ASIN: 6301967135
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #457,495 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Director William Wellman (The Big Heat) offered up this 1949 treatment of the Battle of the Bulge, which won Oscars for best screenplay and best cinematography. The film concentrates on the camaraderie and the divisions between the troops as they ready for the big offensive. Told in a taut narrative, the men of the 101st, led by Van Johnson, wait out the winter in the Ardennes forest to confront the German army in what would be the last major offensive of World War II. The men are demoralized and trapped, with no hope of support from the Allies as they are forced to band together and defend their position. A classically assembled war drama that nevertheless manages to be both engrossing and entertaining, Battleground is a mainstay of the genre. --Robert Lane

Customer reviews

283

4.5 out of 5 stars

5 star		70%
4 star		21%
3 star		5%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

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Top customer reviews

I watch this move at least once a year. You will like it too.

ByKvilledbon March 27, 2017

Format: Blu-rayVerified Purchase

Although I have seen the movie several times, it still is somewhat faithful to the history of the bulge. It's pretty generic in the presentation as you never know if this is the 502pir, 506th[ir, etc. No, it's not as good as Band of Brothers, but is excellent in its own right. It managed to convey the lack of winter clothing. lack of ammunition, and the fact Bastogne was surrounded. It is one of the better character studies of men in war. . . .ever.

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This is really a good war movie

ByNeil Whitegullon January 23, 2017

Format: Amazon VideoVerified Purchase

This is really a good war movie, that doesn't have to rely on war and carnage. There is some action scenes but most this this is a character driven story about the battle of Bostone or "Battle of the Bulge" . If you can place your self in the time period of the movie, it must have been an edgy movie for the time.

It's mostly shot on a sound stage, so don't be bummed out about that, the with and humor adds to the movie.

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Very good....

ByNE residenton September 1, 2010

Format: DVDVerified Purchase

This is not the standard WW2 ultra-patriotic "shoot-em-up movie", but rather one which emphasizes the life of the soldier as a member of a platoon. To be sure, there are some skirmishes, with fatalities involved, but this is not a movie dependent upon explosions and gun fire at all times.
The cast is excellent, with Van Johnson ( Holley), the light-hearted wisecracker of the outfit, and John Hodiak ( Jarvess), who portrays a small-town journalist who enlisted to fight. Other cast members are as follows:
Ricardo Montalban ( Rodriguez), an religious LA native who has never seen snow;
George Murphy ( Pop Stazak), an older soldier who accepts a dependency discharge to help his ailing wife at home, but who can't leave just yet;
James Whitmore ( Kinnie), an experienced platoon leader with the common touch, who suffers from frozen feet, but soldiers on;
Doug Fowley ( Kip), the biggest griper in the unit, and the one who constantly clicks his false teeth that he may have acquired through dubious circumstances;
Don Taylor ( Standiferd), a light-hearted soldier with a fondness for cognac;
Herbert Anderson( Hansen), a bespectacled family man from Springfield, IL, who demonstrates quiet competence and bravery in a critical moment;
Richard Jaeckel (Bettis), a soldier who experiences "shell shock", and has difficulty with battle scenes;
Bruce Cowling ( Wolowicz), a football-loving sergeant-type who has strong leadership skills;
Jerome Courtland ( Abner), the stereotypical rural Southerner, with a pleasant, easy-going manner, and a fondness for folk songs;
Marshall Thompson ( Layton), the young newcomer, who must learn to find his way into adjusting to life in a combat platoon;

A good movie, the characters are fairly well-developed, and there are a number of scenwes that are quite memorable, and with no small amount of humor , as well. Some of the characters exhibit questionable bevaior at times, but they are all likeable, and tehy redeem themselves well. Not all of them make it, but in war movies, this is not unusual. I can recommend this movie strongly; it will surprise and entertain you at the same time.

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The Original Band of Brothers

ByD. Burkeon August 8, 2007

Format: DVDVerified Purchase

Long before there was the miniseries "Band of Brothers", there was "Battleground." The story of the 101st Airborne's heroic stand against Germany's final massive assault in the Ardennes - commonly referred to as the "Battle of the Bulge" - and the effects of combat on regular GIs. This movie is as spectacular as it is underrated. Whereas movies such as "Patton" and "Battle of the Bulge" get much airplay and acclaim, "Battleground" sort of sneaks by under the radar, even though it was a fairly major film for its time. With stars such as James Whitmore, Richard Jaeckel, Van Johnson, Denise Darcel, and John Hodiak (did I forget a young Ricardo Montalban?), this film had a substantial talent pool. It also did what few films made today: it took a real event that was remarkable for its drama and importance, and did not overblow it. Rather, they "played it straight," and the result can be overwhelmingly powerful at times.

"Battleground" is a black and white picture, and it makes the images of snow "feel" colder to the eye. The lack of bright red blood is not missed - you know it is there. It is conspicuous by its absence, but again, your mind knows it is there. And you get to like these guys - you really do. And it hurts when they die. Rarely do you really get to care about soldiers in a war movie, and here you really do. Maybe it's because in real life, my uncle was one of those guys at Bastogne - or perhaps it is because it is just an excellent film.

In short, "Battleground" is easily my pick for the best film made about land combat in the European Theater (for air combat, I would say "12 O'Clock High," and for sea, it would most likely be "Das Boot.") It is simply that outstanding a movie, and if I could, I would replace the annual Patton-fest on Ted Turner's networks with it (not to short-change George C. Scott, even though he got the voice all wrong.)

If you want a great WW2 movie, get "Battleground." You will thank me.

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Five Stars

ByAlanon March 16, 2017

Format: DVDVerified Purchase

great old time war movie without blood and gore

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JAMES WHITMORE AND VAN JOHNSONS finest performances.

ByJ.phippson April 27, 2017

Format: DVDVerified Purchase

CLASSIC Battle of the Bulge war movie.

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Oldie but goodie reminder

ByDonbon October 28, 2015

Format: DVDVerified Purchase

I saw this when it was first released and liked it very much. Since then I have aged and have encountered some men who were actually there, and even though they did not want to talk about it some info was forthcoming after getting to know them much better. It has given this movie a new meaning. Even though there is the usual creative editing and drama, it still reminds of what this countries people are all about. Guts and determination for a worthwhile cause!