Captain Dale Dye @ Historicon

[Hammers]

I just read on TMP that this soldier-actor of war movie fame is going to be present at Historicon and will also be doing a couple of seminars. A bit of a loud mouth, I suspect but ought to be very interesting since he's been advisor and actor on films and series like Platoon, Band of Brothers, Saving Private Ryan, Pacific just to name a few.

[former user]

my oh my
3 purple hearts....

[Hammers]

my oh my
3 purple hearts....

Is it true you get a Purple Heart for head wounds as well as stubbed toes?

[former user]

Is it true you get a Purple Heart for head wounds as well as stubbed toes?

I am not an american nor an ex marine, so must stick to reading....

that guy might be an aged jarhead, but he surely has an impressive line of ribbons

and let's be honest - isn't it true that war movies "coached" by him do look more realistic?

[Hammers]

I am not an american nor an ex marine, so must stick to reading....

that guy might be an aged jarhead, but he surely has an impressive line of ribbons

and let's be honest - isn't it true that war movies "coached" by him do look more realistic?

I wasn't asking you, specifically, about purple hearts. But you are right him making movies realistic, he has a company which specializes in coaching actors and advising producers and directors in various martial disciplines (like strategy, military history, jargon etc.).

[former user]

this topic must be boring for others, it seems it's only the two of us 

[Hammers]

That's alright. I don't answer or even read all post neither.

There's some terrific extra material on the Band of Brothers DVD box on how Captian Dye takes the actors through boot camp.

[former user]

I've seen only parts of it because it was a bit too much "stars and stripes" waving for me. Like "saving private Ryan"
and also too much "germans are the faceless evil enemy"

But realistic war it was  (as far as I can judge)

[Calimero]

I've seen only parts of it because it was a bit too much "stars and stripes" waving for me. Like "saving private Ryan"
and also too much "germans are the faceless evil enemy"

Do you really expected US made films to be anything else?

[Hammers]

I've seen only parts of it because it was a bit too much "stars and stripes" waving for me. Like "saving private Ryan"
and also too much "germans are the faceless evil enemy"

But realistic war it was  (as far as I can judge)

Well, it is based on eyewitness accounts by US Paras (E company, 101 Airborn). I think it is as authentic as it will get, including their sentiments about Germans. That said it is not always flattering to the Americans.

Anyhoo, I sort of have a wish Wolfgang Petersen would make a similar film about the ordeals of company of Fallschirmjagers throughout WWII.

[former user]

Do you really expected US made films to be anything else?

Platoon?
Apocalypse now?

[OSHIROmodels]

I just hope he didn't have anything to do with U571 !!!

cheers

James

[Doc Twilight]

Is it true you get a Purple Heart for head wounds as well as stubbed toes?

No. It's not true.

-Doc

[Westfalia Chris]

Do you really expected US made films to be anything else? Wink

Platoon?
Apocalypse now?

You cannot really compare WW2 and Vietnam movies, since the latter operate under a totally different sociocultural paradigm.

Anyhoo, I sort of have a wish Wolfgang Petersen would make a similar film about the ordeals of company of Fallschirmjagers throughout WWII.

Some years ago, I'd have said this would be unfeasible given the current German cultural sensibilities. The problem is to pull it off and not have it look ridiculous due to inept actors (the "Die Brücke" remake of some years ago, which IMHO was an insult to the original), unintentionally hilarious while at the same time depressing ("Der Untergang"), or inappropriately glorifying the German soldier, which would be pretty much box office poison for the cultural establishment.

That said, I consider Band of Brothers one of the best treatments WW2 has ever had, particularly outside of dedicated anti-war movies. It has excellent acting and superb production values, while avoiding the shortcomings of SPR - I would say it takes a more "silently patriotic" approach, much like the excellent "The War" documentary series.

I think Petersen's film-making qualities declined somewhat since "Das Boot" (which was a superb adaptation of a rather contentious book), so I'm not sure he would be the best to tackle such a project. I really "enjoy" (it's a poor choice of words, but you know what I mean) war movies, but I personally think that during the last 60 years, there have only been three really worthwile German war movies - "Die Brücke", "Das Boot" and "Stalingrad". "Der Untergang" has some very impressive qualities, but is a bit too torn in its mix of grotesque, accuracy, and mystification for my taste.

[former user]

You cannot really compare WW2 and Vietnam movies, since the latter operate under a totally different sociocultural paradigm.

oh, give me a break