Fighting On Film

Merrill’s Marauders (1962)

On this weeks episode we look back at Samuel Fuller's 'Merrill's Marauders' which shows the often gruelling conditions that the men of the 5307th Composite Unit went though in the Jungles of Burma in World War Two. We are joined by historian Gavin Mortimer who has extensively researched the Marauders and was even able to speak to veterans of the unit and shared with us how they felt about the film. Does this film do the men justice or does it fall short? Listen to find out!  Follow us on Twitter @FightingOnFilm and on Facebook. For more check out our website www.fightingonfilm.com Thanks for listening!  

We Have Ways Fest Wind-down 2022

We we're thrilled to be invited back to We Have Ways of Making You Talk's festival to put on our FoF War Movie Quiz. It was great to see old friends and new faces and speak to lots of FoF listeners. The festival had some amazing speakers and some exceptionally cool kit on display - everything from a Matilda I to an early M3 Lee tank which had been used as a range target! In this episode we not only recap some of our favourite parts of the weekend but also hear from historians and some FoF listeners as we asked everyone: Who is your favourite war movie character? We had some great answers! Apologies for some of the wind noise, it was a gusty day! Follow us on Twitter @FightingOnFilm and on Facebook. For more check out our website www.fightingonfilm.com

Vickers Guns in Film with Rich Fisher

This week we continue our series speaking to experts about interesting bits of kit featured in war films. This week we're joined by Vickers Machine Gun expert Rich Fisher, of the Vickers MG Collection & Research Association, to talk about an iconic British weapon which is represented in many classic films! We talk about our favourite screen appearances of the Vickers and some that perpetuate myths!  Follow us on Twitter @FightingOnFilm and on Facebook. For more check out our website www.fightingonfilm.com Thanks for listening!

Show & Tell #7 - Dog Soldiers & Jump Into Hell

Join us for the another edition of our Show & Tell series were we discuss films and programs we’ve been watching recently. In this edition we talk about 2002’s Dog Soldiers (sure to feature in a full length episode in the future) a horror movie following a besieged group of British squaddies and 1955's Jump Into Hell, an early, interesting depiction of the Battle of Diem Bien Phu. Follow us on Twitter @FightingOnFilm and on Facebook. For more check out our website www.fightingonfilm.com Thanks for listening!

Navy SEALs (1990)

This week we delve into the secretive world of the Navy SEALs with a classic of the Special Forces movie sub-genre. 1990's 'Navy SEALs' was positioned as a summer blockbuster but failed to launch despite some decent performances and good action set pieces. The film was directed by Lewis Teague and stars Charlie Sheen, Michael Biehn, Joanne Whalley-Kilmer, Rick Rossovich, Cyril O'Reilly, Bill Paxton, and Dennis Haysbert. Strap in for discussion of MP5 SDs, overpowered Barrett .50 cals and a powerhouse moustache. Follow us on Twitter @FightingOnFilm and on Facebook. For more check out our website www.fightingonfilm.com Thanks for listening!

Greyhound (2020)

This week we brave the North Atlantic, dodge marauding U-Boats and endure the biting cold to discuss 2020's 'Greyhound'. Directed by Aaron Schneider with a screenplay from the film's lead, Tom Hanks, Greyhound is an adaptation of C.S. Forester's 1955 novel The Good Shepherd. The film also stars Stephen Graham, Rob Morgan, and Elisabeth Shue. Follow us on Twitter @FightingOnFilm and on Facebook. For more check out our website www.fightingonfilm.com Thanks for listening!

Interview with Legendary Stuntman Jim Dowdall

We're thrilled to be joined by legendary British stuntman and stunt coordinator Jim Dowdall! Jim has worked in film for over 40 years as an armourer, stuntman, stunt co-ordinator and a supporting actor. He's had an incredible career which began with the likes of ‘The Dirty Dozen’, ‘Where Eagles Dare’ 'The Eagle Has Landed' and includes half a dozen Star Wars and James Bond films, and other war films including 'The Pianist', 'Fury', 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin', 'Enemy at the Gates' and 'Saving Private Ryan'. During our chat we put questions submitted by our fantastic Supporting Cast via Patreon to Jim and he had some brilliant stories to tell!  Follow us on Twitter @FightingOnFilm and on Facebook. For more check out our website www.fightingonfilm.com Thanks for listening!

Lancaster (2022) with Historical Consultant Steve Darlow

This week in a change of pace Fighting On Film moves into new territory discussing a documentary film for the first time. We were very pleased to be joined by historian, producer and historical consultant Steve Darlow who helped make Lancaster, the new documentary about the Lancaster bomber and the men who flew them during the war. The documentary comes from the team who produced 2018's Spitfire and brings together candid interviews with veterans, phenomenal aerial photography and stunning contemporary footage to tell the story of the bomber in a very human and engaging way. We spoke to Steve about his role in the documentary, bringing together the veterans interviewed in the film and the challenges of telling the Lancaster and bomber command's story in just 110 minutes. Follow us on Twitter @FightingOnFilm and on Facebook. For more check out our website www.fightingonfilm.com Thanks for listening!

Heartbreak Ridge (1986)

This week we discuss the only Hollywood depiction of the 1983 US Invasion of Grenada - 'Heartbreak Ridge'. Directed, produced and staring Clint Eastwood Heartbreak Ridge follows a US Marine Corps Recon Platoon as they are whipped into shape and thrown into battle. Written by written by James Carabatsos who also wrote Hamburger Hill the film's young cast includes Mario Van Peebles, Vincent Irizarry, Peter Koch, Tom Villard, Ramon Franco and Boyd Gaines alongside Everett McGill, Arlen Dean Snyder and Marsha Mason. Follow us on Twitter @FightingOnFilm and on Facebook. For more check out our website www.fightingonfilm.com Thanks for listening!

March Or Die (1977)

Fix your bayonets, check your canteens and load your Lewis Gun as we follow Gene Hackman's Major Foster deep into the desert. This week we discus 1977's 'March or Die', a film set during the Rif War of the 1920s, which follows a French Foreign Legion company as it tries to defend an ill-fated archaeological expedition. Directed by Dick Richards, the film stars Terrence Hill, Ian Holm and Max Von Sydow.  Follow us on Twitter @FightingOnFilm and on Facebook. For more check out our website www.fightingonfilm.com Thanks for listening!

War In Non-War Movies

examples of this might include the Vietnam sequence in Forrest Gump (1994), the Dunkirk scene from Atonement (2007), and the battle at the bridge in The Good, The Bad, The Ugly (1966). We reached out to our listeners via social media for their examples of war in non-war movies and collected over 100 responses! We discus many of these and some of our personal favourites. Follow us on Twitter @FightingOnFilm and on Facebook. For more check out our website www.fightingonfilm.com Thanks for listening!

Hamburger Hill (1987)

This week we discuss the under appreciated John Irvin film, 'Hamburger Hill'. The film charts the experiences of a platoon of the 101st Airborne as they attempt to take Hill 937 in May of 1969. Written by Vietnam veteran James Carabatsos and starring Dylan McDermott, Don Cheadle, Courtney B. Vance, Michael Boatman and Steven Weber. The film was released in the wake of 'Platoon' and 'Full Metal Jacket', should it be remembered in the same light as its more famous counterparts or is it just another ‘Nam film? Join us to find out! Follow us on Twitter @FightingOnFilm and on Facebook. For more check out our website www.fightingonfilm.com Thanks for listening!