"The lone tank against the bad guys" Topic

A lone-tank crew faces a horde of German infantry (lacking any armour mind you) who plan a war winning flank attack. The crew must decide whether to stick with the sergeant commanding the tank or flee. Brief exchange of views, but all stay on and most are killed, but not in vain.

Sound familiar?

Humphrey Bogart in North Africa with an M3 General Lee in 1942. The film? "Sahara" which was televised during the week. Not seen it in at least 40 years but I was so struck by the storyline, exactly as in "Fury"

We all know there were some anachronisms and dubious tactics in "Fury" but the first 2/3 of the film I found very entertaining and gripping at times. The closing battle I thought insane, especially in mid 1945, but Humphrey's Stand made much more sense (and, for its time, quite a remarkable film)

Agreed! This is one of my favorite WW II films. I loved "Lulu Belle!"

Agreed! Not a movie you hear much about, but a very good one

Yes, one of my favorite wartime films, too.

I understand it was based on a recently released Russian film that had the same story line, only presumably not in a desert setting!

TVAG

It also spoke to the allies working together in order to win the war. Besides the 3 U.S. crew, it had 3 Brits, a South African, and a "Frenchie". The Italian represents that nation's change over from Axis to Allied. Excellent 1943 film

It was remade years later with Jim Belushi. I was not half as good.

I feel the same as deadhead. First 2/3rds I watch and rewatch a lot. Great tank /infantry battles. I even liked the Battle vs the Tiger, if only for the ricochets and "head" shots, etc. I recommend the extended scene DVD. They're not put in the film (dang!), but are viewable as individual scenes. One especially goes a long way toward explaining why Wardaddy is the way he is.

Yes. Fury. It started so well and then that end battle. I mean, everything was far too close together tactically but I can forgive that from a cinematic point of view. However, I still do not understand how two Hitlerjugend can take on five fully operational tanks and knock one out while an entire Waffen SS battlegroup cannot knock out one immobile tank. Even though they hit it a number of times with Panzerfausts they are never as effective as the one fired by the teenagers. (Strangely when we first see the SS it seems that every third one has a Panzerfaust but that number dwindles away when they have to use them.) Also, instead of a mad charge to their right into the open ground, why didn't they go to left and stalk Fury using the hedgerow. I could go on …

I am sure that there was a better way to end the film and still be as poignant. (Either way it was better than 'Napoleon'.)

Strangely when we first see the SS it seems that every third one has a Panzerfaust but that number dwindles away when they have to use them.

I always found that odd, as well, although defective Panzerfausts may have been an actual problem at the end of the war, I don't actually know. In addition, didn't the SS have a 1/2 track when first spotted, but that was down-graded to a truck for the final battle?

You are right Mserafin. The half track is there all right with a truck, but we do not see it during the fight. Mind you, I am not sure it could have helped as it was not the version with a PAK. I suppose it could also have played at 'run in front of the enemy tank and see who makes it' which seems to have been the SS tactics.

I will never criticise a film for inaccuracies again after watching "Napoleon". I always put S. Bondarchuk in the lowest bowels of Dante's Hell for wasting the facilities he was granted, as a director, in 1970 making "Waterloo".

I had forgotten how ineffective proved the panzerfausts in the final sequence of "Fury". Indeed, what it took to kill Brad Pitt. At least two sniper hits, a turret penetration, was there a couple of grenades also, but he can still speak and tell the young lad how to escape?

Brad's a hero …

Though normally not a Brad Pitt fan, I have to admit, I enjoyed Fury when a few of us saw it at the theatre. But then I realize you don't watch war movies for realism.