THUNDERBIRDS 1952
This one is a Republic Pictures Production about the American Army's 45th Infantry Division during WW2.
The cast is headlined by John Derek and John Drew Barrymore, with support from, Ward Bond, Mona Freeman, Slim Pickens, Wally Cassell, Barton MacLane, Norman Budd and Gene Evans.
The film starts just before the start of WW2, and shows a group of friends from the same town going through National Guard training. The two leads, John Derek and John Drew Barrymore are in love with the same girl, Eileen Christy. The two are best friends and have been chasing Christy since elementary school.
Pearl Harbor happens and their National Guard unit is formed up with others to create the 45th Division. They are put through more training and are soon off to Europe. They land at Oran in North Africa before taking part in the Allied landing in Sicily. After fighting their way up the boot of Italy, they again are loaded on ships and landed at Anzio.
Once again they are pulled out of combat and this time landed on coast of Southern France. They then fight their way through France to the German border. The story has a side bit where the folks at home read the letters from the boys. It also tells the story of how various men from the town are killed in combat.
The film is full of stock footage which is used to fill out the rather bare story. OK for a Republic production, but it could have used a bigger budget.
The director was B-film veteran, John Auer. Auer's films include, HELL'S HALF ACRE, JOHNNY TROUBLE, THE ETERNAL SEA and THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS.
This one is a Republic Pictures Production about the American Army's 45th Infantry Division during WW2.
The cast is headlined by John Derek and John Drew Barrymore, with support from, Ward Bond, Mona Freeman, Slim Pickens, Wally Cassell, Barton MacLane, Norman Budd and Gene Evans.
The film starts just before the start of WW2, and shows a group of friends from the same town going through National Guard training. The two leads, John Derek and John Drew Barrymore are in love with the same girl, Eileen Christy. The two are best friends and have been chasing Christy since elementary school.
Pearl Harbor happens and their National Guard unit is formed up with others to create the 45th Division. They are put through more training and are soon off to Europe. They land at Oran in North Africa before taking part in the Allied landing in Sicily. After fighting their way up the boot of Italy, they again are loaded on ships and landed at Anzio.
Once again they are pulled out of combat and this time landed on coast of Southern France. They then fight their way through France to the German border. The story has a side bit where the folks at home read the letters from the boys. It also tells the story of how various men from the town are killed in combat.
The film is full of stock footage which is used to fill out the rather bare story. OK for a Republic production, but it could have used a bigger budget.
The director was B-film veteran, John Auer. Auer's films include, HELL'S HALF ACRE, JOHNNY TROUBLE, THE ETERNAL SEA and THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS.