Search - Battle Cry on DVD

Battle Cry ? there?s a lot to see here.

gobirds2 | New England | 08/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is surprising how a sprawling war film like this contains so little action. But, don't be disappointed. This film focuses on characterization and characters are plentiful be they ever so stereotypical. James Whitmore as Sgt. Mac, Aldo Ray, Tab Hunter, L. Q. Jones and Perry Lopez as Marine recruits and Dorothy Malone, Anne Francis and Nancy Olsen as their love interests all give standout performances. Max Steiner's patriotic and rousing score is in its full glory. This film is high on good old-fashioned sentimental entertainment. By the film's end the viewer comes to realize many of the sacrifices that were made during this time in history and some of the gloss wears off. As an aside, a deceased acquaintance of mine who served in the US Army 1st Division during the Second World War from North Africa, D-Day to Germany's surrender, found this film to be the best representation of W.W.II military life. That was an exceptional compliment and recommendation for this film from a veteran who was not a Marine and one who fought in the European theatre. This is a good film. This VHS recording sounds very good in stereo."

Be a Marine to be a real man

Shalom Freedman | Jerusalem,Israel | 05/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This movie had a great influence on me when I was young. When I first saw it I was in the age of trying to understand how to be a man. Of course it had to do with being tough. And of course it had to do with being able to fight. And of course it had to do with being able to get the girl.
This movie puts a group of young Marines through boot camp, has them wait and warm up for the war in Australia, and then sends them into combat. Their tough Sergeant Mac ( James Whitmore) who is the narrator of the story tells it all from beginning to end. Their Commanding office Highpockets Huxley(Van Heflin) leads them with a discipline and demandingness. One of the most impressive scenes of the movie has to do with their training march in which bruised and pained they hike for thirty or forty miles or more , and end up singing a song which resounds in my ears to this day."I'm just like a prairie flower, honey, honey, I'm just like a prairie flower, babe, babe. I'm just like a prairie flower, growing wilder by the hour. Honey, Oh baby , mine. Go to your left your right, your left. Go to your left your right. Your left'.
After the training they go into combat in the Pacific,those who have made it through, go home .
Years later from another continent in another country whose Army I have been a part of, though I was never really a combat soldier in it, I think how far even in mind and dream my own life and sense of manhood have come , from the image of the Gyrenes presented in this outstanding and highly enjoyable movie."

Not as good as the book...

B. Garrison | Houston, TX | 08/11/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I read the book after entering the Corps, in what now seems like both yesterday and decades ago. It is timeless in its protrayal of enlisted Marines. There is a lot more to being a Marine than combat. Unfortunately, a big part of it is boredom and loneliness which this story nails right on the head.

I can add the face of someone I actually knew to every character in this story, including my own. While the situations in the current Corps are more like what is depicted in Full Metal Jacket (Boot Camp) and FoxNews, this is about the individual Marine.

And, since the Author WAS one of us, it is not surprising in its accuracy. It is both a valid representation of Marines in WWII and those presently serving.

But... the book is still much better than the movie."

...GANG WAY!!!!!!.......HERE COMES THE MARINES.......

Christopher E. Sarno | Boston, Massachusetts United States | 04/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Excellent movie [DVD] about WW2 and the USMC....from the spartan Marine Boot Camp scenes and the dangerous amphibious landing/assaults against Japanese Marines throughout the Pacific war...good casting and on location scenery...looking again at Mainside at Camp Pendleton, Calif brought back fond memories of the physically brutal combat preparation for service in the Fleet Marine Force...Van Heflin portrayed a Marine Major who over identifies with his Marines, a rare breed of Officer, but pulls it off just the same...his Sgt/Major, the wiley James Whitmore cast perfectly as the combat/crusted 'old salt' [a 30 yr Marine] and good luck to Witmore for he was a genuine Marine Major while making this film in real life [kudos]...Tab Hunter can't act to save his life but there he was, must of had a good agent...moving onto his home/town girl, Mona Freeman, she's to be a teenage sweetheart but looks 30ish, if for a day, totally miscast, but the desireable and captivating, Dorothy Malone, is perfect as the loved/starved lonely wife [and makes herself available] who is every Marine's dream of the perfect weekend liberty to all Marines...WoW...she fits this role with abandon...mmm/mmm...then there's the burly lumber/jack molded into a fighting Marine, Aldo Ray, who has a penchant to excell as a military man..."The Squad"...lest I forget, all displayed the various camraderie that is always prevalent to the success of completing whatever mission that befalls them...one of the Squad is L.Q Jones "nervous in the service type" as the Company clown....there's one in every Marine Company...and the frosting on the cake is the bombastic Marine musical score provided by Hollywood's greatest musical director, the legendary, Max Steiner...in summation, having Raoul Walsh directing certainly adds to all concerned...folks, you get more than your monies worth getting this DVD, no doubt about it...Semper Fidelis...SSGT CHRIS SARNO-USMC FMF"