# Things I've learned from War Movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 6, 2007, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017 "2007-04-06T19:21:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/121 "2007-04-09T17:49:27Z")
[QUOTE=Raguleader] Commander Hornblower was English. Mr. Gruffudd is Welsh. Pretty sure they were different nations back then, though I have been known to talk out of my ass from time to time. [/QUOTE] Ethnically, you’re correct, though it’s a difference that probably only matters to a Brit or Welsh. Politically, not so - Wales came under English rule & English law in the 16th century. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/122 "2007-04-09T18:44:52Z")
[QUOTE=Zeldar] If you and your last two living buddies have shot up all your ammo and are completely surrounded by several hundred bloodthirsty enemy troops, don’t despair. Several jets with naplam and rockets are just over the hill and will completely annihilate the enemy in just a matter of moments. Of course they were nowhere to be found while the battalion you were with was being slaughtered, but let’s not get all picky. [/QUOTE] Like the P-51’s in _Saving Private Ryan._ The Cavalry always rides to the rescue in the nick of time. It’s an old trick, but it seems to work. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/123 "2007-04-09T18:56:41Z")
[QUOTE=audit1] The proper way for a figher pilot to relieve stress during combat is to remove his oxygen mask and take a deep breath. It does not matter what the air pressure or temperture is, you dont need that mask. [/QUOTE] Give 'em a break. If they kept their masks on they would all look the same. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/124 "2007-04-09T19:00:32Z")
At least one person in the unit/squadron/whatever will always be referred to by the name of a geographic location like Brooklyn, Bronx, or Hollywood. While folks will usually be from that location or close by, if they’re named Hollywood, they’re almost certainly _not._ ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/125 "2007-04-09T19:16:18Z")
If an elite group of _n_ parachute in behind the lines, _n - 1_ will actually touch the ground with their boots again. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/126 "2007-04-09T20:02:20Z")
The USA was so racially integrated in the 1940’s that you wouldn’t even notice that a black man can’t really masquerade as a Nazi until you’re actually in a plane getting ready to parachute into Germany. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/127 "2007-04-09T20:49:14Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon] Unless you’re Enrest Borgnine and Frank Sinatra in _From Here to Eternity_. [/QUOTE] This was was a boner occasioned by the fact that movie was based on a book written by an actual soldier. I’m surprised it was left in the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/128 "2007-04-09T21:05:10Z")
[QUOTE=muldoonthief] The USA was so racially integrated in the 1940’s that you wouldn’t even notice that a black man can’t really masquerade as a Nazi until you’re actually in a plane getting ready to parachute into Germany. [/QUOTE] 😕 What movie was this? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/129 "2007-04-09T21:19:06Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon] 😕 What movie was this? [/QUOTE] _The Dirty Dozen_, though Jim Brown didn’t actually put on a Nazi uniform. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/130 "2007-04-09T21:45:46Z")
[QUOTE=Walloon] 😕 What movie was this? [/QUOTE] Actually, [The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089026/), a straight-to-TV disaster. The entire team really did parachute into Germany in Wermacht uniforms, and they really didn’t notice that the black guy wouldn’t pass as a German until they were already in the air. IIRC, they wrapped his face in bandages to make it look like he’d been injured, but his hands were spotted by a German officer and gave them all away. In the original, only Lee Marvin & Charles Bronson wore German uniforms. Of course, only of them spoke German, and that badly, but it got them through the mission. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/131 "2007-04-09T21:45:59Z")
[QUOTE=Lust4Life] The N.C.O who likes to be his squads friend off duty,smokes dope ,has long hair hates the war but cares about the locals and is a nice person is the best senior soldier. The guy who just wants to kill the enemy,instil discipline in the men and shouts at them and who is quite frankly a nasty man is an ignorant army barmy bully who just doesn t understand about the conflict. [/QUOTE] Unless the unit is in training, in which case the nasty NCO is always right about everything, because he cares more about saving lives than anything else. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/132 "2007-04-09T22:04:20Z")
[QUOTE=muldoonthief] Actually, [The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089026/), a straight-to-TV disaster. The entire team really did parachute into Germany in Wermacht uniforms, and they really didn’t notice that the black guy wouldn’t pass as a German until they were already in the air. IIRC, they wrapped his face in bandages to make it look like he’d been injured, but his hands were spotted by a German officer and gave them all away… [/QUOTE] That’s hysterical! 😃 I never saw the sequel. Sounds like it could be Ed Wood bad. ---
**Author:** ![Caridwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c89c15/32.png) [@Caridwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caridwen)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/133 "2007-04-09T22:10:20Z")
There’s no such thing as a bad war movie. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/134 "2007-04-09T22:13:11Z")
[Negro soldiers](http://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/ww2-pictures/images/african-americans-wwii-031.jpg) of the 161st Chemical Smoke Generating Company, U.S. Third Army, move a barrel of oil in preparation to refilling an M-2 smoke generator, which spews forth a heavy cloud of white smoke. These men are engaged in laying a smoke screen to cover bridge building activities across the Saar River near Wallerfangen, Germany. December 11, 1944. [Tricky Nazi captured](http://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/ww2-pictures/images/african-americans-wwii-036.jpg). German prisoner wearing civilian clothes, sits in jeep at south gate of walled city of Lucca, Italy, awaiting removal to a rear area. Circa September 1944. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/135 "2007-04-09T22:14:18Z")
[QUOTE=dmatsch] This is not cliche. It’s a military fact of life. [/QUOTE] So you never get TWO black guys in a platoon? ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2007, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/136 "2007-04-09T23:32:56Z")
[QUOTE=Boyo Jim] That’s hysterical! 😃 I never saw the sequel. Sounds like it could be Ed Wood bad. [/QUOTE] And according to IMDB they made two **more** sequels after that. :eek: **Walloon** , what’s the point of those pics? Interesting pics, and good ones, of course, but I have the impression you’re trying to make a point with them, and it eludes me, completely. If you’re trying to offer evidence that African Americans were in the US military, I wouldn’t disagree. However, it wasn’t until the Korean War era that African Americans were integrated into units with whites. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/137 "2007-04-10T01:40:27Z")
[QUOTE=Lemur866] So you never get TWO black guys in a platoon? [/QUOTE] What, are you mad? That’d throw off the Black/Jew/Guy-Named-Brooklyn ratio! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/138 "2007-04-10T02:25:51Z")
Pearl Harbor was a really bad movie. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/139 "2007-04-10T02:46:10Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] **Walloon** , what’s the point of those pics? Interesting pics, and good ones, of course [/QUOTE] That was the point. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2007, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017/140 "2007-04-10T03:18:59Z")
Others have made mention of the anachronistic performances in WWII movies like Donald Sutherland in _Kelly’s Heroes_ or T.C Carson’s in _U-571_, so I’d like to add another rule: “Characters in war movies act like people in the year when the movie was made, not like people in the year when the actual war occurred.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-ive-learned-from-war-movies/399017.md?page=8)