Interesting films for war movie enthusiasts, where it's possible to witness a substantial deployment of Sherman tanks and the famous first US 90 mm-gunned tank (M26 Pershing), although erroneously utilized since it did not become operational until February 1945, rather than in the fall of 1944 when the film is set.
Aside from the display of these military assets, which were still abundant at the time of filming, only a few years after the conclusion of WW2 and with a continued strong American military presence in liberated territories, the movie doesn't offer much more. The narrative is quite lacking, and the characters are only superficially sketched.
The use of real footage, well integrated with the fictional sequences filmed for the occasion, is interesting. The cinematography stands out solely due to its subject matter, and on very few occasions does it contribute more to the storytelling. The film earns a passing grade, but nothing more, as it is replete with the typical resources of American war-themed cinema, which doesn't make an effort to disguise its underlying purpose, which is war propaganda. However, we are accustomed to this, as this particular cinematic vein always has to contend with this aspect.
Aside from the display of these military assets, which were still abundant at the time of filming, only a few years after the conclusion of WW2 and with a continued strong American military presence in liberated territories, the movie doesn't offer much more. The narrative is quite lacking, and the characters are only superficially sketched.
The use of real footage, well integrated with the fictional sequences filmed for the occasion, is interesting. The cinematography stands out solely due to its subject matter, and on very few occasions does it contribute more to the storytelling. The film earns a passing grade, but nothing more, as it is replete with the typical resources of American war-themed cinema, which doesn't make an effort to disguise its underlying purpose, which is war propaganda. However, we are accustomed to this, as this particular cinematic vein always has to contend with this aspect.