I visited Normany, all along the coast on D-Day, 2000, culminating in a walk through the Omaha Beach cemetery seen in "...Pvt. Ryan." I saw hundreds of sweet old vets...Allied and Axis...resplendent in their ribbons and old uniforms, toasting each other in small villages. It was among the most powerful experiences in my life (my dad, a WWII ETO vet, had recently died).
This movie is equally stirring, and I defy anyone with half a heart to ever hear "Lili Marlene" again without shedding tears. Lauren Bacall, hitherto seen mostly hanging on Bogey's arm or chasing a rich husband, steps away from her glamor roles and plays an honest and sympathetic woman. Guinness, as usual, absolutely becomes his character, unafraid to assume the "challenged" persona of a simple, loyal but damaged veteran. Leo McKern moved beyond his grumpy barrister role from TV, exhibiting a depth and humanity that surprised me. I saw this movie on PBS once and never forgot it; I am happy to see it mentioned here.
I recommend this movie without reservation. It may even be meaningful for teens, especially with a discussion afterwords. For those of us with some years of experience, it's a triumph.
This movie is equally stirring, and I defy anyone with half a heart to ever hear "Lili Marlene" again without shedding tears. Lauren Bacall, hitherto seen mostly hanging on Bogey's arm or chasing a rich husband, steps away from her glamor roles and plays an honest and sympathetic woman. Guinness, as usual, absolutely becomes his character, unafraid to assume the "challenged" persona of a simple, loyal but damaged veteran. Leo McKern moved beyond his grumpy barrister role from TV, exhibiting a depth and humanity that surprised me. I saw this movie on PBS once and never forgot it; I am happy to see it mentioned here.
I recommend this movie without reservation. It may even be meaningful for teens, especially with a discussion afterwords. For those of us with some years of experience, it's a triumph.