Armored Command

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Template:Short description Template:DMCA

Template:Infobox film/short descriptionPage Module:Infobox/styles.css has no content.

Armored Command
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:InfoboxImage/data' not found.
Original film poster
Directed byByron Haskin
Written byR.W. Alcorn
Produced byRon W. Alcorn
StarringHoward Keel
CinematographyErnest Haller
Distributed byWarner Bros-Pathe
Page Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:GetParameters' not found.
Running time
99 minutes
Template:Pluralize from textUnited States
Template:Pluralize from textEnglish
Budget$1,000,000[1]

Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "[".Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".

Armored Command is a 1961 American war drama film directed by Byron Haskin, and starring Howard Keel and Tina Louise with Burt Reynolds in a small role.

"It was the one picture that Howard Keel didn't sing on", reminisced Burt Reynolds later. "That was a terrible mistake."[2]

Plot

The Germans use a female spy to infiltrate an American position to get information on the movement of troops at the height of the Ardennes offensive, the start of the Battle of the Bulge.

Cast

Production

According to the film's director, Byron Haskin, writer-producer Ron Alcorn had made a TV series in Germany called Citizen Soldier and "had some kind of hold over some high muckamuck general... this general had sent through his permission to give Alcorn everything he wanted and Alcorn used all the tanks and ammunition and soldiers for nothing" on Citizen Soldier. This deal still applied during the making of what would become Armored Command.[3]

Haskin said Alcorn researched the Battle of the Bulge at the Library of Congress, and used some real incidents to create a story which he turned into a script. Alcorn then used his deal with the general to secure finance via Allied Artists.[4][5]

Adamson hired Haskin to direct. Haskin said "I didn't like the thing in the first place. I took it as a breadwinner - when you get low on dough you've got to take a picture."[6] He felt "the screenplay was somewhat amateurish but I figure I could make corrections."[7]

The movie was filmed in Munich and Hohenfels, Bavaria, but takes place in the Vosges Mountains during the Eastern France campaign of World War II.[8] Filming started on 21 November 1960.[9][10] Howard Keel directed some second unit.[11]

Lt. Col. Thomas A. Ryan, who appeared in the film as the Major, also acted as the film's technical advisor.

About 150 American soldiers stationed in Germany were assigned to duty on the film, without pay. Alcorn explained, "We contribute to unit funds.”[1]

Haskin said that when the unit returned to the US he was taken off the film, which was cut by Walter Hannemann of Allied Artists. Haskin claims all the humour in the movie was removed.[12]

Reception

The Los Angeles Times called the film "fairly good but it could have been better. A kind of poor man's Battleground."[13] The New York Times called it an "improbable little melodrama".[14]

Variety felt the attempts to combine melodrama and war story "doesn't jell" and called the film "a bit shopworn, sluggish and disjointed for the average war picture buff."[15]

Haskin said "the picture didn't make any money; I often wonder why."[16]

Lawsuit

Major General Daniel H. Hudelson (retired), who commanded the 40th California National Guard in Korea and fought in the Battle of the Bulge, sued Allied Artists and Ronald Alcorn for $350,000 alleging unauthorized use of his story ideas. He claimed in 1955 he sent a tape recording of his experiences in the Vosges Mountains in France to a film company, and said they used his ideas in the film. He claimed the film had earned profits of $1.5 million.[17][18]

Notes

  • Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Adamson, Joe (1984). Byron Haskin - A Director's Guild of America Oral History. Metuchen: Directors Guild of America.

References

Page Template:Reflist/styles.css has no content.

  1. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Allied Gets Okay For Free Tanks Plus Troops For Its 'Command' Pic". Variety. February 15, 1961. p. 24.
  2. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Siskel, Gene. (November 28, 1976). "Workaholic Burt Reynolds sets up his next task: Light comedy". Chicago Tribune. p. e2.
  3. ^ Adamson p 242
  4. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Scheuer, Philip K. (May 2, 1960). "Kovacs Latest Star Due to 'Go North': Mrs. Sessue 'Introduced'; 'Armored Commitand' Alerted". Los Angeles Times. p. C11.
  5. ^ Adamson p 243
  6. ^ Adamson p 242
  7. ^ Adamson p 243
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Armored Command (1961) - Byron Haskin | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Scheuer, Philip K. (October 28, 1960). "Road Now Rejoices in Original Casts: Keaton Will Assemble Silents; 'Anastasia' Set as Musical". Los Angeles Times. p. B9.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Hollywood Production Pulse". Variety. January 18, 1961. p. 26.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Keel, Howard (2005). Only make believe. Barricade. p. 199.
  12. ^ Adamson p 244
  13. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Stinson, Charles (September 30, 1961). "'Armored Command' Proves Fair War Drama". Los Angeles Times. p. A9.
  14. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Archer, Eugene (October 7, 1961). "Screen: Nazi Strategem: 'Armored Command' at Local Theatres". New York Times. p. 14.
  15. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Armored Command". Variety. August 2, 1961. p. 6.
  16. ^ Adamson p 244
  17. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."General Sues Allied Artists Over Movie". Los Angeles Times. July 4, 1962. p. B6.
  18. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."General Sues Allied Artists Over Ideas Used for Movie". The New York Times. July 4, 1962. p. 13.

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Navbox/configuration' not found.

Template:Asbox

Retrieved from "https://cosmopedia.co/index.php?title=Armored_Command&oldid=9392502"