Identify this Movie - DPChallenge Forums

Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO M.Zuiko

09/10/2005 11:14:22 PM · #1

This is not a photography question/discussion.

Can you tell me what movie this was from this vague description:

I remember seeing a movie 10-15 years ago about a group of soldiers on "the front lines" in the middle of nowhere during a war. It's new years or christmas or something like that, and instead of hurling bombs across to the german or russian (don't remember which) enemy, someone hurls something like a bottle of alcohol, and for one night, they forget they are enemies. Things are going well, until some other soldiers arrive, and then the new "friends" have to revert back to being enemies.

Anyone recognize that? I've been racking my brain to remember the title, and my search words are too general to find it!

Brad

Olympus OM-D E-M1

09/10/2005 11:18:23 PM · #2

You are EVIL Neil!
I know that movie, and now have to put this is my watch threads so I can find out.

DrAchoo

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS

09/10/2005 11:19:22 PM · #3

I can't be positive, but that sounds like something I recall from Saving Private Ryan...

rex

Canon PowerShot SD780

09/10/2005 11:19:24 PM · #4

Was it "Red Dawn"?

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM

09/10/2005 11:21:29 PM · #5

Joyeux Noel, no dammit that was 2005.

//us.imdb.com/title/tt0395968/ <--the Christmas Truce
//us.imdb.com/title/tt0424205/ <--Joyeux Noel
//www.imdb.com/title/tt0289587/ <--The Truce

Message edited by author 2005-09-10 23:28:43.

CEJ

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

09/10/2005 11:22:52 PM · #6

Yes..I remember the movie and cannot for the life of me remember the name...let me think on it. It was Germans...I do remember that.

peecee

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0 L USM

09/10/2005 11:23:18 PM · #7

Stalingrad ?

wmprkg

Nikon D70

Sigma 105mm f/2.8 EX DG Macro for Nikon

09/10/2005 11:28:35 PM · #8

I think this is it.

"A Midnight Clear"

//www.imdb.com/title/tt0102443/

Message edited by author 2005-09-10 23:29:10.

CEJ

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

09/10/2005 11:30:24 PM · #9

Yes! The movie I was thinking of! Good find.

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM

09/10/2005 11:30:32 PM · #10

Originally posted by wmprkg:

I think this is it.
"A Midnight Clear"
//www.imdb.com/title/tt0102443/

I think Midnight Clear is a WWII movie and the Christmas Truce was 1914, WWI.

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS USM

09/10/2005 11:32:07 PM · #11

//us.imdb.com/title/tt0064137/combined Castle Keep. It's a 1969 movie that you could have seen 15 years ago.

I did quite a bit of hunting - this is my guess - I think it has to be the one Neil was looking for.

Message edited by author 2005-09-10 23:32:44.

HBunch

HP PhotoSmart 315

09/10/2005 11:38:37 PM · #12

Here's another one Oh What a Lovely War That deals with the Christmas Truce

09/10/2005 11:38:50 PM · #13

THANKS!!!!

I am pretty sure Wayne got it! I remember the snowball fight, and this description sounds just like it (from Rotten Tomatoes):

A Midnight Clear:

In 1944, a six-man American intelligence and reconnaissance unit is sent by their reckless major on a mission in a remote part of the Ardennes forest on the German front. Isolated in a remote villa in the dead of winter, they wind up developing a cryptic relationship with a small band of German soldiers nearby who've all but given up on the war effort. The disillusioned soldiers come face-to-face with one another in a beautifully filmed series of events, sharing Christmas carols, snowball fights, and a mutual desire to stay alive. Ethan Hawke stars as Will Knot, the young leader of the American unit who agrees to fake a battle with the German soldiers, who want to surrender peaceably but save their reputation. The cast includes Gary Sinise, Peter Berg, Kevin Dillon, Arye Gross, and Frank Whaley as Will's fellow recon officers. Against the hauntingly beautiful landscape of the Alpine tundra, the young men must face their darkest fears while trying to escape the horrors of war. This powerful and quietly stylish ensemble drama features lyrically beautiful voice-overs delivered by Hawke as he questions the validity of war and his spiritual place in the world. The film is based on the autobiographical novel by William Wharton.

Message edited by author 2005-09-10 23:39:10.

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

09/10/2005 11:48:52 PM · #14

Just FYI, the reason I was trying to find it is that we are starting a film discussion group with some friends, and I was thinking of interesting movies to start with (I think we are supposed to pick current ones, but I think there's nothing like something that you know is great and good for discussion.)

My first choice would be Lina Wertmuellers "Seven Beauties", but that's not available in any rental stores here. King of Hearts would perhaps be my next choice (I seem to like the "war is pointless" genre), but I've just seen it about five too many times to do it again now. So I was remembering this story, and I couldn't remember the title. (I guess Catch 22 would have been good too--loved the book and the move--but I recall it being pretty "gross".)

Thanks again!!!!!

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

09/11/2005 12:10:45 AM · #15

Well, just two weeks ago I read the screenplay for one of the classics of the genre, All Quiet on the Western Front. Besides the story itself, it has a quite unique episodic structure which might be worth discussing in addition to the content/message.

puma

Canon EOS-10D

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

09/11/2005 12:31:27 AM · #16

Not sure if you are familiar with your history but I believe that was based on an actual event. In WWII the British were fighting the Germans, I believe in France, around christmas time. The fighting had been going on for months, both side were tired and hungry and cold. There had been a short relief in the shooting when a german soldier start to sing. The british in turn also start to sing some christmas song. Before you knew it one british soldier got out of his fox hole and started to walk over to the Germans. Then a German got out of his fox hole. Before long they were singing together and looking at each other as human beings instead of enemies. After a time a British officer came along and ordered the men to start shooting age. They didn't want to but after a time shots were fired and the war was back on.