Review of Anzio (1968) by Grant S — 28 Dec 2008
Another potentially great historic war drama sacrificed on the alter of commercial expediency. Don't be fooled by the appearance of Robert Mitchum - The Longest Day this is not. Historically inaccurate. Why on earth did the script writers replace Generals Clarke and Lucas with Generals "Carson" and "Lesley"? Were they worried that they would be sued for portraying the real generals as incompetent?
The military tactics were bizarre and very unrealistic. An ambush involving fake straw stacks, and then, rather than opening fire, the Germans tell the Americans to throw down their weapons and surrender. Sounds like a cop movie!
Then, of course, there is the obligatory appearance in a 1960s WW2 movie of 60s vintage American M-48 tanks, masquerading (very unsuccessfully) as both American Sherman tanks and German Panthers / Tigers / Panzer IVs.
The plot even involved Robert Mitchum as some sort of preachy anti-war type, going on in long diatribes about how war is wrong, sometimes to squad members in the middle of gunfire!
Some of the firefight scenes were fairly good though, especially the final one, with the German snipers.
Overall though, very disappointing.
This review of Anzio (1968) was written by Grant S on 28 Dec 2008.
Anzio has generally received mixed reviews.
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