Battle of the Bulge (1965)

This truly spectacular war epic is almost on a par with Patton (1970), though its original widescreen impact is sorely diminished when shown on TV.

Based on the last German offensive in mid-December 1944, when – with the war nearly over – thousands of Hitler’s new King Tiger tanks smashed their way through the snowy pine forests of the Ardennes to head for Antwerp and strangle the British and American supply lines, it’s a study of resolve on both the American and the German sides.

Representing Uncle Sam are Robert Ryan and Dana Andrews, with Henry Fonda as American Intelligence Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Kiley – the only man who sees the German tactic months before it happens.

The picture is dominated, though, by Robert Shaw as the German Panzer leader of great dash and distinction, Colonel Martin Hessler, who is called in to command the attack by the new King Tiger tanks. It’s a riveting portrait of military genius infested with paranoia.

Also on the side of the Nazis is Ty Hardin as the leader of a German commando group who drop behind the Allied lines disguised as GI’s to disrupt communications and sever supply lines.

Amid all the warfare, there’s a charming lady – Pier Angeli as a Belgian girl involved in a complex black market organisation with an American GI (Telly Savalas).

Lt Col Kiley
Henry Fonda
Colonel Martin Hessler
Robert Shaw
General Grey
Robert Ryan
Colonel Pritchard
Dana Andrews
Sergeant Duquesne
George Montgomery
Schumacher
Ty Hardin
Louise
Pier Angeli
Elena
Barbara Werle
Wolenski
Charles Bronson
Colonel Kohler
Werner Peters
Conrad
Hans Christian Blech
Lieutenant Weaver
James MacArthur
Guffy
Telly Savalas

Director
Ken Annakin

Video