What have you been watching?

Hey Carl, Seasons 3 and 4 of Hogan's Heroes finally came in the mail today. I placed the order way back on 6/30 but it's been only 7 business days. I guess that's not too bad considering the shipping was free. I think I'll start in on Season 3 right now.

 

Hi Col, I just finished watching season 4, and so far, I found season 3 to be the funniest so far. Im still awaiting my season 6 to arrive. So because of not having it, I started watching season 2 of Daniel Boone--which is in color and has been pretty interesting so far. I can't stand that annoying Goose that is Israel Boones pet. I hope some Pawnee Indian gets it on one of his hunting trips. After I finish DB season 2, I will start on H.H season 5.

 

I enjoyed season 5 very much. I'm about half way through season 3 and it's also very good. What's your favorite episode? Mine is still the one where Carter dresses up like Hitler. The best is when he says to Shultz, "I was a corporal once you know. I hated Sergeants then and I hate Sergeants now!"

 

Some posts here were starting to get into non-WWII topics, so I threw them over to the "What Have You been Watching" thread in the Free Fire Zone.

Peppy >>> just keeping threads on topic

 

My favorite season 3 episode is when a nearby Zoo or Zoo Train gets bombed and all the animals escape. Carter is sent on some mission and returns with a Monkey. Watch Schultz's reactions regarding the monkey.

Still watching season 2 episodes of Daniel Boone. (This aint off topic is it? ;-D )

 

Finished watching season 2 of Daniel Boone and started watching Gary Cooper, Paulette Goddard (a redheaded beauty) Ward Bond, Mike Mazurky, Howard de Silva, A younger Alan Napier (aka) Batman's Butler-Alfred: on the TV series) and a very young Lloyd Bridges (as a lower-ranking British officer at Fort Pitt) After this I will be gladly watching James Cagney in: Blood on the Son."

 

Hey Carl. That episode is on disc 5 which I might pop in later. I just watched a really good one the other night where Hogan and the gang convinced the Krauts the the war was over so the captured underground agents could escape.

This afternoon, I watched John Wayne in The Fighting SeaBees. Not bad. Pretty much your typical wartime John Wayne flick to rally the homefront. Pretty surprised that the Duke got it at the end though. Might watch The Flying Tigers tomorrow.

 

Hi Col, nice episode was it not? ;-)) I rewatched several scenes in that one-several times before letting the show continue. That "war-is-over" episode was a really good one. Im currently watching one (season 5) that has Sgt Carter (in winter) climbing down a water well-to retrieve a Luftwaffe code book, that Newkirk dropped down the well just before getting searched.

The Fighting Seabees actually was meant to be sort of a Navy propaganda-kinda film. It is dated but still is enjoyable. I likeed the solution they came up with that stopped the Japanese attack at the end of the movie--just shows "constructionmen know-how."

Flying Tigers is OK for a Duke war movie. I like it and all but, I still prefer Sands of Iwo Jima, Back To Bataan, Operation Pacific, Longest Day etc; much more.

Currently watching Season 5 of Hogans Heroes and will do season 6, when it finally arrives. Afther that will hopefully be: The Winds of War and War and Remembrance.

 

Excellent episode Carl. I love how Schultz was going to let them keep the chimp in the end. I need to head out to Wally World and see if they lowered the price for Season 6.

I'd give The Fighting Seabees a 5 out of 10. What was the deal with that love story? Were the LT. Commander and that lady married or what? Otherwise, I liked the film. Good supporting cast. That guy from the I Love Lucy show played a good part in the movie. Although I wouldn't say The Fighting Seabees is as good as some of the other war time films to drum up support for the war effort. I'd say my favorite war time film is Sahara. My favorite Duke war movie is The Green Berets. Sands of Iwo Jima, Back To Bataan, and The Longest Day were great too. I've never seen Operation Pacific though. Another Duke war movie I haven't seen is In Harm's Way. Have you seen this one Carl? Any good?

What can you tell me about The Winds of War and War and Remembrance? Those titles sound familiar.

 

Hi Col, yeah-that chimp episode was a great one. Deep Discount still has it at $21 and change. Still waiting for my 6th season to come in.

I liked Fighting Seabees--but not as much os say Back To Bataan or Sand of etc. I'd probably give it a similar rating as you did--too much wartime propaganda. Operation Pacific has him serving on a Submarine. Its pretty good and I like it. And for you to see it a first time--I think you will like it no problem. I always loved watching The Green Berets--never could understand why a few people keep bitching about it not being so accurate. I mean--it was a fictional story and to me-fictional stories do not have to be historically accurate to be a good story.

In Harms Way is a pretty good movie--but a bit longer than I like. Otto Preminger directed that film. It and Operation PAcific, both have great casts and I highly recommend watching both.

Ill have to make a 2nd post to tell you about those 2 mini-series. I keep being booted from the system when making long replies.

 

The Winds of War and War and Remembrance were both series turned into TV mini-series during the 1980's and were written by Herman Wouk (SP?).

Both mini-series are excellent and have many great stars and recognizable "faces" in them. The biggest star in both series is Robert Mitchum.

It's been quite sometime since I last saw these so im not sure how accurate I can be in my descriptions of them.

The Winds of War, is set a bit of time before WWII, and leads up to the sneak attack by the Japanese-on Pearl Harbor. Robert Mitchum is some sort of US Naval Attache, who gets sent all over the world--Russia, Germany etc--before war breaks out.

MOst of this revolves around Mitchums family--I think are the Henrys? And they go about living their lives-but do so by the world events that are (then) currently happening.

Its too long and complex to try to tell you more but--this is an excellent mini-series. They tried their best to be as accurate as possible in all details--history etc. It is out on dvd as well as War and Remembrance. I think to get all is about $170 or so from deep discount. Im going to try to order these very soon as I only have parts of them on tape.


War and Remembrance is as the title suggests. You see this families struggles through the war-on and off the battlefield. This second mini-series is as good as the first one is. You see fighiting, concentration camp life, etc etc etc etc.

 

I’ve seen two movies recently starring Bill Paxton:

RESISTANCE (2003) about an American reconnaissance pilot downed in occupied Belgium at the height of World War II. Paxton recovers from injuries sustained from the crash at a farmhouse. While the resistance plans his escape he becomes involved with a married woman whose husband turns Paxton over to the Germans instead of executing the planned escape. Paxton provided fabricated intelligence to secure his lovers release. He dies in prison. Muddied by the love story.

FAITH OF MY FATHERS (2005) about an American pilot downed in North Vietnam. The story of Senator John McCain's experience as a Vietnam War POW. Base on the memoir of the same title.

 

I've just ordered "The Bridge at Remagan" and the Italian "El Alamein". Can't wait to see them again.

 

I have'nt seen those 2 since they premiered back in the '80s. I wonder why the History Channel or someone won't play them again.

 

Hey speaking of Winds of War, I was cast as an extra in the War and Rememberance series. I was stationed at RAF Alconbury at the time. We filmed at the Duxford Airfield. It took all day just for a 20 second clip. It was the scene where Eisenhower (E.G. Marshal) goes and sees the paras prior to D-Day. My supervisor got better scenes and can be easily picked out. He was holding a map in the room when Eisenhower was making his decision to go.

Just thought I'd add this little tidbit in case any of you want my autograph.

PS. We did get to 'fiddle' with Robert Mitchum's wardrobe while we were being fitted.

 

...caught a series entitled 'Tank Overhaul' on UK TV history channel - restoring a Comet tank..tonight's programme looks at Panther restorations...

http://www.ww2f.com/wwii-films-tv/15819-tank-overhaul-uktv.html

excerpts on youtube here

YouTube - The Panther

..who is the (presumably) British 'expert'...?

 

Hmmm,interesting stuff...there is such a fascination about 'relics from the East' appearing from rivers, lakes, forests, etc......

 

Some documentary films on their way to me:

"Death & Destruction in the Falaise Gap"

"Clash of Warriors : Buckner vs Ushijima"

"D-Day- The Secret Battle"

"War Diaries: 1939"

 

My guess is that they either have not thought about them or, probably because each episode is movie length and they probably can't find the proper time to air them. Shame too, because they are all excellent.