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Leslie GoodwinsParachute Battalion (1941)

You can find more information regarding this film on its IMDb page.


This movie is part of the collection: Feature Films

Director: Leslie Goodwins
Producer: Howard Benedict
Production Company: RKO Radio Pictures Inc.
Audio/Visual: sound, b&w

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: Spuzz - - March 14, 2006
Subject: Make way for Buddy!
This curious movie, which seems to be part documentary and part drama, tells of three individuals who have signed up for a parachute batallion. This film almost gives the VIEWER a heads up on what it takes to train to drop your parachute. Everything from Jumping exercises to height practice to even detailed instruction on how to pack a parachute! Oh yeah, two of the squad have a bit of a spat over a girl, but the main plot is about the training. Whats so curious is that the film was made with the National Paratroopers Batallion in America, but shows some curious habits of the paratroopers that almost put them in a bad light. Im talking of course of the captain pushing off a scared paratrooper off a plane for his solo flight, and another scene where another scared paratrooper pulls a gun on the plane (!!) and tells them HES NOT JUMPING!! Anyways, thats all forgotten of course, because any film that has Buddy Ebsen dancing and doing comedy is fine by me J

Reviewer: moxey - - November 17, 2005
Subject: not bad
as the previous reviewer said,propaganda in a time of war is not a bad thing.
its great to see the old hollywood films from the world war 2 era.they used proganda in an effort to win.
today..they use propaganda of the enemy.
pretty good if you like films of that era

Reviewer: jvervalen - - November 16, 2005
Subject: Very Good for it's period.
I felt this movie was not only worth watching, I felt that it also conveyed the feeling of the 40's. It was a welcome step back into time. Don't beleive the other's when they say it is propaganda, all films are propaganda of one sort or the other. It is worth watching to get a feeling for the patriotisam of the time.

Reviewer: Sinfuldreams - - June 5, 2005
Subject: It's Fun
Well written if not acted.
Robert Preston has a great part.
Corny as all hell
American Propaganda

Jumps are worth while

Reviewer: van helsing - - May 27, 2005
Subject: parachute battalion
well no wonder people went to war.its alot better to fight than watch this film .the best bit about this film was the end.

Reviewer: Robert B. Livingston - - March 5, 2005
Subject: Entertaining Action Film About Paratrooper Training
This traditional cornball Hollywood feature is rescued by real footage of parachute drops at Ft. Benning, Georgia-- and, in one scene, a young Buddy Ebsen showing off his gift for dancing.

Made in 1941, this is a good example of a cooperative relationship between the military and cinema-- yes, it is propaganda.

Still, it may be possible to relax and enjoy the merits of this film knowing that the civilian Commander in Chief at the time was popularly elected, and did not parade around like a monkey in a military uniform.

I enjoyed the movie.

Credits

Robert Preston .... Donald 'Don' Morse
Nancy Kelly .... Kit Richards
Edmond O'Brien .... William Mayberry 'Bill' Burke
Harry Carey .... MSgt. Bill 'Thunderhead' Richards
Buddy Ebsen .... Jeff Hollis
Paul Kelly .... Sgt. Tex McBride
Richard Cromwell .... Spence
Robert Barrat .... Colonel Burke, the Superintendent
Edward Fielding .... Chief of Infantry
Erville Alderson .... Pa Hollis
Selmer Jackson .... Thomas Morse
Grant Withers .... Captain
Jack Briggs .... Private
Walter Sande .... Medical Officer
Kathryn Sheldon .... Ma Hollis