FabSwingers.com forum: National War Film Templates

By *inaTitz OP TV/TS
over a year ago

Titz Towers, North Notts

National War Film Templates

I was watching Where Eagles Dare yesterday and it struck me how in almost all of his war films, Alistair McLean follows a template consisting of secret agents, secret double agents and if possible a secret triple agent. This idea of a template can be extrapolated to national war films.

British

The rules for British War films include a small bunch of plucky chaps, up against it, who just about manage to pull it off. Normally these are actually misfits who you wouldn't want to spend time with in a pub and are the sorts of grandparents you only see once a year.

Do's – small band, a boffin in the wardrobe, mention Churchill every so often. The guy who shows pictures of his bride to be is the first to get shot.

Don'ts – mention that half the world was giving us a hand in winning.

American

Show them responsible for every victory from Hastings to the Battle of Britain. Lots of weapons, technology and even more things that go bang louder than the enemies things that go bang.

Do – show the Navy Seals rescuing the hostages in the Iranian Embassy siege, decoding Enigma and blowing up sundry dams in Germany. Also remember to show all members of the SS wearing full dress uniform, even if on the loo.

Don't – mention arriving late and invoicing people.

France

Show lots of glory under Napoleon, but then go strangely silent. Make a big thing about Hastings and point out that everyone was in the Resistance and would have won the war sooner if it hadn't been for the Brits or Yanks.

Germany

Show that not everyone was a Nazi and that in fact many German's weren't and that it was most definitely just a minority who were into that sort of thing and that no one was chuffed at how the war went – initially, anyway. Mention Stauffenberg a lot.

Russia

Show how the present leadership is responsible for all of the victories and how any defeats are due to people catching the ghey.

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I've noticed in movies where hostile Alien species invade earth its usually an American citizen who saves our planet .......

PS...... I reckon you can tell a lot about a person based on what colour lightsaber they'd choose......

I'd have a leopard print light sabre

I'd go for a neon rainbow one ........