Wicked Lady

What an odd film.

Part chick-flick, part war drama. I don't know how anyone else feels about this movie but I found it highly unsatisfying and...



I find Robert Taylor to be a tad wooden at the best of times, so maybe I would have found it more credible with another actor.

But I think ultimately it needed more action and less smooching.

Anyone?

orpheum

The problem with this film is that it was made in an era when most war films had to have a romantic sub plot to entice women to go and see it with their boy friend etc.The best film covering D Day is by far The Longest Day.Although Saving Private Ryan was a very good and realistic film it was not meant to capture the whole scope of the invasion.

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TimR

Agreed.

I am prejudiced in favor of any film about D Day and any film that even touches on Anglo-American relations, but here those facts of history are mere background.

Robert Taylor was one of the most prolific - and unavoidable - actors in films. My main difficulty with him is that he appears unable to project intelligence or the ability to think complex thoughts. He was not really a bad actor, but he was very limited. Yet he had many leading roles.

Hereafter, in a better world than this,
I shall desire more love and knowledge of you

TimR

I wonder if women ever like those war films? My wife and the other women in my family will watch them sometimes, but they will almost never choose them to watch.

Saving Private Ryan was a rare exception. My experience is that most of them just put up with them. (Maybe a bit stereotyped, but that seems to be the case......)

Hereafter, in a better world than this,
I shall desire more love and knowledge of you

Wicked Lady

Well, I can't speak for all womankind, but I love a good war film (and a good Western as well). I'd pick a Johnny Mills or Richard Todd epic as often as I'd pick a Joan Crawford or Margaret Lockwood.

I just hate it when the makers throw in the 'woman's element' (ie: some weak-kneed romance) to (supposedly) attract the female viewer. It really dilutes the film and it certainly puts this girl right off the film.

I mean can you imagine how dreadful The Dambusters would have been if you'd had to worry about some blousey wench pining after Toddy in the background?

I have no idea what film makers are thinking sometimes.

TimR

Interesting. I have often thought the inclusion of extraneous women in war films was condescending towards women. It seems that might be what you are saying.

But it looks like my theory about women and war films generally doesn't hold true for you, though!

Hereafter, in a better world than this,
I shall desire more love and knowledge of you

Wicked Lady

It is! I totally agree!

And the choice of women in these parts is usually not what another woman would relate in any case. It's usually who the director fancies (Operation Crossbow, anyone?).

Steve Crook

It's a mystery why Sophia Loren is in that film, except as eye candy. She does nothing for the plot and I almost cheer when the always wonderful Lilli Palmer sorts her out.

But that film does also include Barbara Rütting as Hannah Reitsch. It's a good portrayal of an interesting lady. Hate her politics but you have to admire her skill and bravery as the leading test pilot of the time

Steve

yankfilmbuff

I think a really good example of a woman being in a war film just for "romantic interest" is William Wellman's classic film about the Battle of the Bulge BATTLEGROUND. The character, played by Denise Darcel, wasn't of any real use to the story. She was simply there for Van Johnson to play off of. I'm not saying that women don't belong in any war films, only that they shouldn't just be there as a "token" so the producers have a sexy picture to use on the cinema posters.

Wicked Lady

Oh, as I woman I have to say I don't have a lot of use for women in war pictures.

They just slow down the action or provide a drab and cliched sub-plot that I'm just not interested in.

For example, Susanah York in The Battle of Britain. She just gave me the pip the whole way through.

I know women were involved in the WW2 and their role is still vastly under-explored in cinema. But there is a time and a place for such things, and the middle of an action drama is not the place.

Same with Westerns - imagine if Clint had dragged along a girlfriend in For a Few Dollars more.

TimR

I would make an exception there. She had a small role among many actors and she is a good actress. It was nice to have her to rest my eyes on in the midst of all the action, as an occasional break. If the York-Plummer plot had taken up more time, it would have dragged the film down.

Hereafter, in a better world than this,
I shall desire more love and knowledge of you

Harleybloke

The Battle of Britain without Suzy in her undies.....................?

Never!

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

Wicked Lady

Didn't do a lot for me.



Now if they had put Ian McShane in his undies......