Search - WWII 8 Movie Pack on DVD

The 20th Century's seminal event

Annie Van Auken | Planet Earth | 02/02/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"ST. CLAIR DVD multi-packs are reasonably priced, and offer fine quality video/audio transfers of public domain material. Discs are single-side recorded.

SYNOPSES:

BATTLE OF BLOOD ISLAND-- Two G.I.s, the only survivors of Japanese attacks, are stranded on a small Pacific island. Even under such trying circumstances they struggle to get along with each other.

CASABLANCA EXPRESS-- A commando must protect Winston Churchill from being kidnapped by Nazis. Stars Sean Connery's son, Jason.

COMMANDOS-- A group of disguised American soldiers infiltrate an Italian Army camp in North Africa, forcefully take over the position and wait for the arrival of their own troops.

GO FOR BROKE!-- Story of Japanese-American soldiers fighting in Europe, and overcoming the prejudice of their commanding officer. Look for Roger Moore in a bit part as a major.

GUNG HO!-- True account of Carlson's raiders and their attack on Makin Island.

SKI TROOP ATTACK-- An American patrol skies behind enemy lines to detonate a railroad bridge. One of Roger Corman's few war films-- Corman appears as a skiing extra, even though he could barely stay upright on them.

THE STEEL CLAW-- A Philippine-stationed Marine loses a hand and is discharged. He's called back to rescue a general after the Japanese invade, and replaces the missing hand with a metal prosthetic. Directed by the movie's star, George Montgomery.

A WALK IN THE SUN-- An American platoon assaults an occupied farmhouse during the invasion of Italy. Excellent cast includes Bowery Boy Huntz Hall and Winnie the Pooh's cartoon voice (Sterling Holloway). Narrated by Burgess Meredith.


WWII: FRIENDS & FOES (also from St. Clair) contains vintage documentaries on Hitler, the Warsaw Ghetto, Nuremburg, Kamikaze, the Battle of Britain and much more!

.
Parenthetical numbers preceding titles are 1 to 10 viewer poll ratings found at a film resource website.

(4.5) Battle of Blood Island (1960) - Richard Devon/Ron Kennedy

(3.4) Casablanca Express (Italy-1989) - Jason Connery/Francesco Quinn/Donald Pleasence/Glenn Ford

(5.0) Commandos (Italy/W Ger-1968) - Lee Van Cleef/Jack Kelly/Helmut Schmid

(6.9) Go For Broke! (1951) - Van Johnson/Lane Nakano/George Miki (uncredited: Richard Anderson/John Banner/Hugh Beaumont/Roger Moore)

(6.0) Gung Ho! ("The Story Of Carlson's Makin Island Raiders") (1943) - Randolph Scott/Noah Beery Jr./J. Carrol Naish/Sam Levene/Robert Mitchum/Rod Cameron/Milburn Stone/Chet Huntley (narrator)

(1.7) Ski Troop Attack (1960) - Michael Forest/Frank Wolff/Wally Campo/Richard Sinatra

(5.3) The Steel Claw (1961) - George Montgomery/Charito Luna/Mario Barri/Paul Sorensen

(7.5) A Walk in the Sun (1945) - Dana Andrews/Richard Conte/John Ireland/Lloyd Brdges/Sterling Holloway/Norman Lloyd/Herbert Rudley/Huntz Hall/Steve Brodie (uncredited: Robert Horton/Burgess Meredith-narrator)"