Actors: Van Johnson, John Hodiak, Ricardo Montalban, Marshall Thompson, James Whitmore, Denise Darcel, Richard Jaeckel
Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Battleground
This movie was directed by William A. Wellman in 1949. It earned two Academy awards (Best cinematography and Best Screenplay)in 1950.
The main setting is the forest surrounding the small town of Bastogne, Belgium in december 1944. The Nazis launch a counter-attack in the Ardennes forest and the foot soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division who were ready to get back to Paris are blocked in the Bastogne area. It's snowy, foggy, very cold and the soldiers are left with few ammunitions and rations while the airplanes can't help them because of the fog.
The movie follows them in their everyday life while the Germans are sending among them spies disguised in G.I.'s and are dumping propaganda over their head. Some of these soldiers will freeze to death, be hit by German bullets or bombs but the squadron will resist until the end as the German tanks step forward. Meanwhile, the allies are bombing Berlin.
--Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar
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Analysis of Battleground
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie Actual chase scenes or violence - 30% Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 50%
Time/Era of Movie:
- 1930's-1950's
War Thriller
Yes
Armed Forces:
- Army
Specific to
- WW II
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- infantry soldier
Age:
- 20's-30's
Hair style
- short/standard straight (man)
Body type
- average (man)
Events of movie makes character more...
- irritated
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- very athletic
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- average build (man)
How much in movie?
- 90%-100%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- enemy army
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- German
Setting
Europe
Yes
European country:
- France
Forest?
Yes
Misc setting
- fort/military installation
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately messy visuals of dead
Movie makes you feel...
- depressed/sad
How many deaths in film?
- dozens
Kind of violence:
- land battles
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--bullets
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
