Movies about MoH and VC winners. (1 Viewer)

[Jack]

Just thinking about the discussion of the movies 'Zulu' and 'Sergeant York' and I wondered how many movies have been made about Medal of Honor and Victoria Cross winners. The Dambusters told the story of the raid although Guy Gibson was naturally front and centre but are there many others?

 

[Shiloh]

To Hell and Back the story of Medal of Honor recipient Audie Murphy also starred in by Audie Murphy.{sm4}

 

[jazzeum]

Are you referring to movies primarily about the medal winner or can the movie include the medal winner? In the latter catergory, you have Joshua Chamberlain in Gettysburg and John Basilone, who was in the Pacific series.

 

[Jack]

Are you referring to movies primarily about the medal winner or can the movie include the medal winner? In the latter catergory, you have Joshua Chamberlain in Gettysburg and John Basilone, who was in the Pacific series.

Let's be as broad as people would like. Including the medal winner will be fine!

 

[Jack]

To Hell and Back the story of Medal of Honor recipient Audie Murphy also starred in by Audie Murphy.{sm4}

Yes - forgot that one. I read the book years ago. Very light on detail and apparently written in the main by someone else. That does not detract from Murphy's achievements of course.

Thanks for the contribution!

 

[lancer]

Not a movie but there was a 1964 TV show called The Great Adventure that was an episodic program about different historical events. Episode 15, season 1, was called Rodger Young. Young was awarded a posthumous CMoH for actions of July 31, 1943, at Munda on the island of New Georgia as a member of the 37th ID. I believe Young was portrayed by James (book 'em, Danno) MacArthur. -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

To Hell and Back the story of Medal of Honor recipient Audie Murphy also starred in by Audie Murphy.{sm4}

He might be unique. How many MoH recipients get to star in their own movie?

Brad

 

[lancer]

The 1942 James Cagney movie Captains of the Clouds has a very prominent appearance by Canadian WW1 hero William A. Bishop, VC, as himself at the rank of Air Marshal. -- Al

 

[Shiloh]

(Fictional) Garden of Stones MOH recipient Private Albert Wildman played by D.B. Sweeney
(Fictional) Heartbreak Ridge MOH recipient Gunny Hightower played by Clint Eastwood
(Fictional) Forest Gump MOH recipient Forest Gump played by Tom Hanks
Longest Day MOH recipient Brig General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. played by Henry Ford

 

[Jack]

There were the two MoH winners in Black Hawk Down.

There would appear to be a disinclination to make movies about people who win their nation's highest honour. I cannot think of a single instance when an Australian VC winner has received the movie or mini series treatment.

 

[The Military Workshop]

Good subject as does appear these type of stories not being picked up as movie subjects.

One reason could be that the actual incident for which medal awarded might not be enough to sustain a movie script. If you were an Australian producer looking to make a Vietnam movie you would probably pick Long Tan over say Keith Paynes VC action. Has to be more to the story.

Hard to think of any specific movies apart from Yorke and Murphy as mentioned.

Zulu Dawn does show Coghill and Melville in the saving the colours incident. They were actually the first VC's to be awarded posthumously and that was 30 years after Ishandlwana.

Going back to the script side of things. For example there have been some MOH's awarded for Afghanistan but would they make good movie subjects. Not saying they would not. I did note Bradley Cooper and Spielberg were going to make a movie based on a sniper who was later shot at firing range by another veteran. Unfortunately may no longer be going ahead. The Pat Tillman story would be a good movie but there is already a very good documentary about him.

Whilst not particularly related to MoH a good movie subject would be about the Kentucky National Guard actions during an ambush in Iraq on 20 March 2005. The squad known as Raven 42 earned a Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Stars, 3 Bronze Stars. One of the Silver Stars was to a woman who was first to receive that medal. The 8 men and 2 women were reservists from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

Another good movie subject would be COL David Hackworth who did not get a MOH but got the most impressive medal collection of any US soldier. His story covers his exploits as a Sgt in Korea to battalion commander in Vietnam. Also we'll known for his criticism of how the war was being run. Has an Aussie connection as lived on Sunshine Coast. See www.hackworth.com

Some of the British Generals in the 1800's earned VC's and went on to have interesting careers but simply not going to happen as a movie.

NZ could do one on double VC winner Charles Upham. Perhaps after Peter Jackson done The Dambusters!

Brett

 

[lancer]

Brett's mention of Zulu Dawn with Coghill and Melville just brought to mind the movie Zulu. Everyone who knows Zulu, knows it is Rorke's Drift and knows that there were 11 VC winners in that action. Don't know how we overlooked this movie in our discussion.:tongue: -- Al