FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS (2006), LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA (2006),

ALL THIS AND WORLD WAR II MONTH

(Post 10 of 10)

If Clint Eastwood just made one of these two films about the United States invasion of Iwo Jima, it would have been a nice achievement. But the fact that he made both back to back is most impressive indeed. Flags of Our Fathers is from the American perspective, but it is far from jingoistic. It goes into how the selling of the war was so as important in keeping the war effort going.
And from the American perspective-War is Hell.

Letters from Iwo Jima twists the perspective to the Japanese soldiers, most of whom know they will not be coming back. Iwo Jima may even be better than Flags of Our Fathers, as it neatly incorporates aspects of the other film in subtle ways, such as showing us the Japanese solider suicides in the cave in which the bodies were found by the American soldiers in the other film.
And from the Japanese perspective-War is Hell.

From the Soundtrack of All This and World War II

Perennially sultry song stylist Tina Turner is one performer who can really make just about any song her own. Her version of Come Together may be may favorite song on the soundtrack. She fared less well a couple of years later when she joined the chorus for the finale of Robert Stigwood's Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Tina performs with Sir Paul in 1986.

Come Together

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqAkdxjneig

Lou Reizner and Will Malone are primarily know as producers, but they have a chance to show off their vocal talents (with the aid of a lot of synthesizers) on You Never Give Me Your Money.

Will Malone did the soundtrack to the
British horror film Raw Meat.
Note to self: Watch a movie called
Raw Meat ASAP!

Lou Reizner was one of the producers
of Rick Wakeman's 70's magnum opus
Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

You Never Give Me Your Money

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0oAta3CoI0&list=PL6C89D8BDC5D3D5C3&index=27

The London Symphony Orchestra concludes the soundtrack with a version (appropriately enough) of The End.

The All That and World War II soundtrack is a mixed bag for sure, but I'm still glad I went through it.

The End
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL7YNM_VOGM&index=25&list=PLopo84-Y-n5mDT4CQvm5Lz6P2nhOWsNAO

Might be time to listen to some of the originals now.

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL (1996, ITALY)

ALL THIS AND WORLD WAR II MONTH

(Post 9 of 10)

When you look at the plot of  Life is Beautiful, it seems like it could have been a disaster along the lines of Jerry Lewis's infamous The Day the Clown Cried. Robert Benigni plays a Jew living in Germany with his family shortly after the Nazis take power. He goes through a lot of escapades, romance and Buster Keatonesque shtick in the first half of the movie. Then Benigni and his son are taken away to a concentration camp where he spends most of the time trying to convince his son it's all a game. The mixing of the the slapstick and tragedy (Frankly, more successful than the mixing of unrelated themes in All This and World War II) actually works. It's sad, tragic, but inspirational at the same time. And Benigni ended up as one of the few acting Oscar winners ever to win that honor in a non-English language movie.

From the Soundtrack of All This and World War II

I guess it's okay to call Henry Gross a one-hit wonder since he proudly alludes to that title in the picture below. That hit of course was Shannon from 1976. That song is memorable partly for Henry's falsetto, which he also uses in the soundtrack's version of Help!

Help!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJUimA2hrIQ

Legendary musician Peter Gabriel, with Genesis and with those crazy 80's videos, lends a distinctive version of Strawberry Fields Forever to the soundtrack. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go listen to Shock the Monkey or watch the Sledgehammer video for old times sake.

Strawberry Fields Forever
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBXXqpOq9po

THE SORROW AND THE PITY (1972)

ALL THIS AND WORLD WAR II MONTH

(Post 8 of 10)

The Sorrow and the Pity is a documentary about the French occupation by Germany during the war. It was filmed in 1969, which made it close enough to the events where you can still get some first person testimony from those who lived through it. It is often illuminating and has a most interesting cast of real life characters, including resistance fighters, regular French citizens who had to live under the Nazis and even some insights from some former Nazis!

This has been one that I've always thought I needed to see but never got around to until now. It is also the film within a film that Woody Allen sees multiple times throughout Annie Hall.

From the Soundtrack of All This and World War II

Status Quo had only one hit on the American charts, which was Pictures of Matchstick Men in 1967. A one-hit wonder, right? Wrong! They had over 60 charted hits in the UK, more than any other rock group.

Why didn't they make it bigger in the U. S.? What I've listened to them, I've liked. Go figure.

Staus Quo's rather groovy 1974 album cover

Getting Better

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPGpniZ6XR8

According to the album below, Frankie Laine was America's No. 1 song stylist at the point this album came out in the 50's. He may be best known for his recording of Rawhide, played every week on the long running show and in reruns ever after. He also showed his cheeky side by his spirited performance of the opening song to Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles. He brings this same humorous bravado to Maxwell's Silver Hammer on the All This and World War II soundtrack.

Maxwell's Silver Hammer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5eRE5CaINs

The Brothers Johnson brought their soulful stylings to a handful of hits in the 70's and 80's, the most well known to me is probably Stomp! from 1980. The Brothers bring their funk to Hey Jude on the soundtrack and later did their own version of The Beatles Come Together. And honestly, pictures don't get much funkier than the brother's picture sleeve below.

Hey Jude

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl1G2LY6zyQ

THE ASCENT (1976, SOVIET UNION)

ALL THIS AND WORLD WAR II MONTH

(Post 7 of 10)

Dramatic and poignant drama about two Russians soldiers captured and tortured by the Nazis for information about their unit. The film looks at definitions of honor, what you are willing to do to save your life and the pain that mankind will inflict on others without blinking an eye. All of this is set using the backdrop of a brutal Russian winter which adds layers to the horrors perpetrated on the screen.

                  From the Soundtrack of All This and World War II

Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons scored many top 10 hits during the early 60's, including Sherry, the #1 song the week I was born. Of course, once the Beatles hit the scene, the Seasons had to give away their chart positions to the Fab Four, but not before they gave the Beatles quite the battle in the collectible Vee Jay album The Beatles vs The Four Seasons!

We Can Work it Out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT3Ee-BwsUo

A Day in the Life

                                          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbHKwynq86o

70's Australian superstar Helen Reddy had a string of hits throughout the 70's including Delta Dawn, Angie Baby and the feminist anthem I Am Woman. Helen lent her distinctive voice to the All This and World War II soundtrack with Fool on the Hill, which in the film is played in the background while we see footage of Hitler.

Helen's role as the singing nun in Airport '75
simply cannot be seen without thinking
of the similar scene in Airplane. Sorry, Helen.

Fool on the Hill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqpAlC-tBnc