I don't just want you guys to think I'm blowing smoke up your collective arses with these movies.....if you haven't seen any of the ones I have been touting here....you are really really missing out..

IMHO this is William Holden's finest performance and Billy Wilder's best movie, well and Some Like It Hot and Sunset Blvd..

I didn't even intend to tout 3 Billy Wilder movies...but I did..

I think this trivia is a good way to generate some interest.....

Stalag 17 (1953)
The movie was shot in sequence (i.e., the scenes were filmed in the same order they're shown). Many of the actors were surprised by the final plot twist.

The uncredited soldier singing at the Christmas Party is Ross Bagdasarian, also known as 'Dave Seville' , the leader/creator/voice of 'Alvin and the Chipmunks' .

Stalag 17 was not the inspiration for the TV series "Hogan's Heroes" (1965), despite the presence of a character called "Sgt. Schultz" and a somewhat put-upon Kommandant. The creators of "Hogan's Heroes" were sued over this very issue and were victorious.

The role of Sefton was originally written for Charlton Heston. But as the role evolved and became more cynical, William Holden emerged as the director's choice. Holden was asked to see the play on which the movie was based. He walked out at the end of the first act. He was later convinced to at least read the screenplay.

William Holden's acceptance speech for Best Actor was the shortest in Academy history. He said only two words: "Thank You."

Kirk Douglas turned down the role of Sefton.

William Holden did not like the part of Sefton at all as written in the script, thinking him too selfish. He kept asking Billy Wilder to make Sefton nicer and Wilder refused. Holden actually refused the role but was forced to do it by the studio.

Billy Wilder filmed the movie at a studio-owned ranch in Calabasas, California. He wore his best shoes and made sure cast and crew saw him with those shoes on in the mud. Wilder felt he could not ask his co-workers to work in the mud unless they saw him do the same.

This film was one of the biggest hits of Billy Wilder's career. He expected a big piece of the profits. The studio accountants informed him that since his last picture Ace in the Hole (1951) lost money, the money that picture lost would be subtracted from his profits on this film. Wilder left Paramount shortly after that.

To improve the chances for commercial success in West Germany (at that time already an important market for Hollywood) a Paramount executive suggested to Wilder that he should make the villainous camp commander a Pole. Wilder, whose mother and stepfather had died in the concentration camps, was furious. He refused and demanded that the executive would apologized. When he didn't Wilder did not extend his contract at Paramount

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Watched it! Oh boy was that good. Yessir. William Holden was brilliant, as well as all of the supporting cast. I felt so sorry for "Animal" and his Betty Grable fixation.

Don't know if it's the "best damn war movie ever"...but it is a "damn good war movie".

I have a thing for The Dirty Dozen

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You're not just buying local, you're buying the best.
http://vimeo.com/33917642

Yeah..somebody watched it... ...

And it has a Christmas scene in it so it is almost a Christmas movie too...

So glad you enjoyed it my dear....

I don't really know if it is the best damn war movie either, I like The Dirty Dozen alot as well and also The Bridge on The River Kwai...I was in the midst of a William Holden, Billy Wilder craze when I started this thread...

but it is most excellent, glad you liked it too, it is my favorite war movie anyhoo...

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Yep, this has got me on a war flick kick. Rented two war movies today. I'm just so very feminine

Yes, the Christmas scene is so cute. Putting their dog tags on the little tiny tree, singing songs, etc.. *snif* Then they give Joey (I think it was Joey) the ocarina....awww.

I really enjoyed the scenes with Shultz. He was hilarious. Especially when they have the radio, and the antenna is outside. Shultz runs into it, starts looking around (the boys are around, playing a game of volleyball), then they sort of mix him into the game to get him to ignore the antenna

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You're not just buying local, you're buying the best.
http://vimeo.com/33917642

I have a real soft spot for World War II movies, I grew up watching them all with my Dad, who was in World War II, and all of my uncles served in the War as well......and they all liked to talk about it...

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This being December 7th, let me list a few worthy war movies:

Saving Private Ryan
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (naval warfare)
Full Metal Jacket
Platoon
The Dirty Dozen
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Twelve O'Clock High
All Quiet on the Western Front
Stalag 17
Braveheart
Glory
Schindler's List
Zulu
Dr. Zhivago
Battle of Britain
Dr. Strangelove
Das Boot
The Deer Hunter
Lawrence of Arabia
Midway
The Sand Pebbles

And so many others...

As a tribute to the late Wendy Jo Sperber, I'll mention 1941, a terrible film overall -- but one in which she actually gave a decent performance.

Nice list. Also nice to see The Dirty Dozen on there. I have no idea why I love that movie so.

Favorite quote: "No sir, we are not going to shave!". Of course it's not nearly as funny unless you can hear the man saying it and the "kill" look on his face.

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You're not just buying local, you're buying the best.
http://vimeo.com/33917642

Simple Silver, it is chock full of men doing manly things...

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Must be. I do like manly men. 12 manly men being manly all at once.......hehe

Rented Patton, I think I'll watch that tonight.

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You're not just buying local, you're buying the best.
http://vimeo.com/33917642

Which is one manly man being manly enough for twelve men!

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