Battleground
by William A. Wellman
List Price:
Our Price: $6.74
You Save: $6.19 (48%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $5.46 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: George Murphy, John Hodiak, Marshall Thompson, Ricardo Montalban, Van JohnsonDirector: William A. Wellman
Brand: Warner Brothers
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language); French (Original Language); German (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, NTSC, Subtitled
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 118 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2005-05-03
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Model: 67521
Studio: Warner Home Video
Product features:
- Van Johnson, Ricardo Montalban and George Murphy star in this remarkable war film, nominated for six Oscars(R) (including Best Picture) about courageous American G.I.s caught up in the battle at Bastogne. Year: 1949Running Time: 118 min. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: NR Age: 012569675216 UPC: 012569675216 Manufacturer No: 67521
DVD Reviews of Battleground
DVD Review: Classic war film sets a new tone
Summary: 4 Stars
"Battleground" is filled with so many good character actors it's hard to know where to begin. Let's do it alphabetically - James Arness, Douglas Fowley, John Hodiak, Van Johnson, Richard Jaeckel, Ricardo Montalban, George Murphy, Marshall Thompson, and James Whitmore.
James Arness is best known as Marshall Dillon on TV's "Gunsmoke" from 1955 to 1975 and subsequently has returned every so often for various Gunsmoke TV movies. Before he put on the star for Dodge City, Arness got his big break from John Wayne who cast him in four films in the early 50s. Personally I like to remember him as the original "The Thing" (1951). Arness was a decorated WW 2 vet, serving as a rifleman. He landed on Anzio Beach.
Douglas Fowley appeared in more than 300 films and TV shows from 1933 to 1982. He's best remembered as the director in "Singing in the Rain" (1952) and as Doc Holiday in the TV series "Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" (1955-61). In the film, Fowley plays with his false teeth. In fact, Fowley lost his teeth while serving in the Navy aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific.
John Hodiak's brief career included memorable roles in "Lifeboat" (1944), "A Bell for Adano" (1945), and "Command Decision" (1948).
Van Johnson appeared in more than 100 films between 1940 and 1992. He made several WW 2 films ("30 Seconds Over Tokyo", "Command Decision", "Two Girls and a Sailor", "Go For Broke"). He's probably best known as Lieutenant Maryl from "The Caine Mutiny" (1954).
Richard Jaeckel appeared in more than 100 films between 1943 and 1993. He was nominated for an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor opposite Paul Newman in "Sometimes a Great Notion" (1970) but is probably remembered best for his role as the Sergeant in "The Dirty Dozen" (1967).
Ricardo Montalban is best remembered as Mr. Roarke from "Fantasy Island" (1977 - 84) and from his role in Star Trek as Khan, a role he performed on TV and on the big screen. Montalban won an Emmy for his role in "How The West Was Won" (1978).
George Murphy is best remembered as the Senator from California (1965 - 71). His undistinguished film career lasted from 1934 to 1955 and included a few dozen films.
Marshall Thompson's boyish looks served him well as "the new kid" in films like "They Were Expendable" (1945) and "Command Decision" (1948). From 1944 to 1991 he appeared in more than 50 films and transitioned to TV in the early 50s. He had recurring roles as Johnny Smith in the series "Angel" (1960-1) and Dr. Marsh Tracy in "Daktari" (1966-9).
The great character actor James Whitmore was nominated for an Oscar for this film and for "Give `em Hell Harry" (1975). He won the Golden Globe for this film and also won an Emmy for his appearance in an episode of "The Practice" (1997). One of his best roles came late in life, at the age of 73, when he played a convict unable to adjust to the real world in "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994). Whitmore served as a Second Lieutenant in the Marines in WW 2.
The film was directed by William Wellman. Wellman was nominated 4 times for an Oscar, winning for Best Writer in 1938 for "A Star is Born". He was nominated for an Oscar and a DGA for "The High and the Mighty" (1954) and among his many war films are "Darby's Rangers" (1958), "Blood Alley" (1955), "The Story of GI Joe" (1945) and "This Man's Navy" (1945). Among his non war films are such classics as "The Ox Bow Incident" (1943) with Henry Fonda, "Beau Geste" (1939) with Gary Cooper and Brian Donlevy, and "Public Enemy" (1931) with Jimmy Cagney. Wellman served in WW 1. He was the first American to join the "Escardrille" and was highly decorated.
Robert Pirosh wrote and co-produced. Pirosh's early work was with the Marx Brothers ("Night at the Opera", "Day at the Races"). He won the Oscar, the Golden Globe, and the WGA award for "Battleground". Pirosh had been a Master Sergeant and led a patrol into Bastogne where the film takes place. Pirosh went on to do several more war films (e.g., "Hell is for Heroes") and then the TV series "Combat" (1962-7).
The great Dore Schary shared production credit. Schary was nominated for an Oscar 5 times, winning in 1939 for "Boys Town". His 1958 play "Sunrise at Campobello" won 5 Tony awards and he wrote and produced the film with Ralph Bellamy as FDR.
Paul Vogel won the Oscar for cinematography. He was nominated again in 1962 for "The Brothers Grimm". Among his memorable films were "The Student Prince" (1954), "The Tender Trap" (1955), and "The Time Machine" (1960).
The focus of the film is the Battle of the Bulge. Other films to cover this topic include "Attack" (1956), "Battle of the Bulge" (1965), "Patton" (1970), "A Midnight Clear " (1992), "Hart's War" (2002) and "Saints and Soldiers" (2004). There is also a 1994 PBS documentary "Battle of the Bulge" and the battle is covered in the TV series "Band of Brothers".
What distinguishes "Battleground" from the war films that went before it is the focus on the men and their foibles and their lives outside the combat. Indeed, the first half of the film has no war footage at all. Films like "Bataan" (1943), "Guadalcanal Diary" (1943), "The Fighting Seabees" (1944), "God is my Co-Pilot" (1945), "They Were Expendable" (1945), "Command Decision" (1948), "The Sands of Iwo Jima" (1949), and "Twelve O'Clock High" (1949) are essentially war films while "Battleground" is a film about the warriors, not the war.
The film is also notable for its focus on the Platoon, rather than on individuals. This focus would become commonplace in the TV series "Combat" and later "Band of Brothers".
The film received 6 Oscar nominations (Picture, Director, Supporting Actor, Writing, Cinematography, Editing), was previewed by President Truman, and was MGM's biggest box office success in 5 years. It was so good MGM tried a follow-up in 1951 "Go For Broke" with Van Johnson, directed by Pirosh and produced by Schary.
Description of Battleground
BATTLEGROUND - DVD MovieBestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Hell to EternityWarner Brothers; Release date: 2007-06-05; DVD
Best price: $3.47
Price in other shops:
Where Eagles DareWarner Brothers; Release date: 2010-06-01; DVD
Best price: $4.19
Price in other shops:
The Enemy BelowFox; Release date: 2004-05-25; DVD
Best price: $7.01
Price in other shops:
The Desert RatsFox; Release date: 2002-05-21; DVD
Best price: $6.77
Price in other shops:
The Devil's BrigadeSony; Release date: 2002-05-07; DVD
Best price: $7.14
Price in other shops:
Von Ryan's ExpressFox; Release date: 2001-05-15; DVD
Best price: $7.17
Price in other shops:
Merrill's MaraudersWarner Brothers; Release date: 2008-04-22; DVD
Best price: $4.92
Price in other shops:
Thirty Seconds Over TokyoWarner Brothers; Release date: 2007-06-05; DVD
Best price: $5.53
Price in other shops:
The Longest Day (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)TCFHE; Release date: 2006-05-23; DVD
Best price: $10.42
Price in other shops:
Battle of the BulgeWarner Brothers; Release date: 2005-05-03; DVD
Best price: $3.69
Price in other shops: