Armored Command is a 1961 American war drama film directed by Byron Haskin, and starring Howard Keel and Tina Louise. It was filmed in Hohenfels, Bavaria, but takes place in the Vosges Mountains during the Southern France campaign.[1]
| Armored Command | |
|---|---|
 Original film poster | |
| Directed by | Byron Haskin |
| Written by | R.W. Alcorn |
| Produced by | Ron W. Alcorn |
| Starring | Howard Keel |
| Cinematography | Ernest Haller |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros-Pathe |
Release date |
|
Running time | 99 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
"It was the one picture that Howard Keel didn't sing on", reminisced Burt Reynolds later. "That was a terrible mistake."[2]
Plot
editThe Germans use a female spy to infiltrate an American position to get information on the movement of troops at the height of the Ardennes offensive.
Cast
edit- Howard Keel as Colonel Devlin
- Tina Louise as Alexandra Bastegar
- Warner Anderson as Lieutenant Colonel Wilson
- Earl Holliman as Mike
- Carleton Young as Captain Bart Macklin
- Burt Reynolds as "Skee"
- James Dobson as Arab
- Marty Ingels as "Pinhead"
- Clem Harvey as "Tex"
- Maurice Marsac as Jean Robert
- Lieutenant Colonel Thomas A. Ryan as Major
- Peter Capell as Little General
- Charles Nolte as Captain Swan
- Brandon Maggart
Production
editRon Alcorn produced and directed the film and raised finance via Allied Artists.[3] Filming started 21 November 1960.[4][5]
Lt. Col. Thomas A. Ryan, who appeared in the film as the Major, also acted as the film's technical advisor.
Reception
editThe Los Angeles Times called the film "fairly good but it could have been better. A kind of poor man's Battleground."[6] The New York Times called it an "improbable little melodrama".[7]
Lawsuit
editMajor General Daniel H. Hudelson (retired), who commanded the 40th California National Guard in Korea and fought in the Battle of the Bulge, sued Allied Artists and Ronald Alcorn for $350,000 alleging unauthorised use of his story ideas. He claimed in 1955 he sent a tape recording of his experiences in the Vosges Mountains in France to a film company, and said they used his ideas in the film. He claimed the film had earned profits of $1.5 million.[8][9]
References
edit- ^ "Armored Command (1961) - Byron Haskin | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie".
- ^ Siskel, Gene. (Nov 28, 1976). "Workaholic Burt Reynolds sets up his next task: Light comedy". Chicago Tribune. p. e2.
- ^ Scheuer, Philip K. (May 2, 1960). "Kovacs Latest Star Due to 'Go North': Mrs. Sessue 'Introduced'; 'Armored Commitand' Alerted". Los Angeles Times. p. C11.
- ^ Scheuer, Philip K. (Oct 28, 1960). "Road Now Rejoices in Original Casts: Keaton Will Assemble Silents; 'Anastasia' Set as Musical". Los Angeles Times. p. B9.
- ^ "Hollywood Production Pulse". Variety. 18 January 1961. p. 26.
- ^ Stinson, Charles (Sep 30, 1961). "'Armored Command' Proves Fair War Drama". Los Angeles Times. p. A9.
- ^ Archer, Eugene (Oct 7, 1961). "Screen: Nazi Strategem: 'Armored Command' at Local Theatres". New York Times. p. 14.
- ^ "General Sues Allied Artists Over Movie". Los Angeles Times. 4 July 1962. p. B6.
- ^ "General Sues Allied Artists Over Ideas Used for Movie". The New York Times. July 4, 1962. p. 13.
External links
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