Battleground
Seen it?1949 | 118 min | Action, Drama, War
Saturday Specialearly ratingWhy it’s a Saturday Special
It won 2 Oscars and it earned strong reviews (78% on Rotten Tomatoes), despite soft box office. A strong pick for the weekend.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for action fans and history buffs. If you loved The Guns of Navarone or Greyhound, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Intense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 58 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1949: an older pace and style.
Members of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division are fighting for their country amidst the rugged terrain of Bastogne, Belgium, in December 1944. Holley and his American compatriots have already seen one of their own, Roderigues, perish under enemy fire. The men try to rebuff another series of Nazi attacks, but what they really need is a change in the weather. Without clear skies, they'll never get the air support they need.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
78% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.7 out of 10
- AwardsVery strong
Won 2 Oscars: Academy Awards: Best Story and Screenplay, Academy Awards: Best Cinematography – Black-and-White. Won 2 Golden Globes: Golden Globe Awards: Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture, Golden Globe Awards: Best Screenplay – Motion Picture. Also nominated for 4 more Oscars and 1 WGA Award. Plus 1 other award.
- Reach & staying powerBelow par
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactSolid
About 53K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by William A. Wellman
- Van JohnsonHolley
- John HodiakJarvess
- Ricardo MontalbanRoderigues
- George Murphy'Pop' Stazak
- Marshall ThompsonJim Layton
- Jerome CourtlandAbner Spudler
- Don TaylorStandiferd
- Bruce CowlingWolowicz
- James WhitmoreKinnie
- Douglas Fowley'Kipp' Kippton