Battle of the Bulge (1965)
An astonishingly spectacular WWII epic based on the last German offensive in the winter of 1944 when thousands of German tanks smashed their way through the snowy forests of the Ardennes pushing back the Allied forces as they neared the German border.
Both sides are superbly represented with Robert Ryan, Henry Fonda and Dana Andrews leading the charge for the Americans, but all are outshone and dominated by Robert Shaw as the German colonel and tank commander Hessler, in what is a stunning performance of both military tactical nous and obsessed paranoia.
There are historical inaccuracies galore including as is usual for American films no mention of British involvement at all which is ridiculous as Field Marshal Montgomery commanded two armies in the northern half of the Bulge, it also lacks authenticity as no German King Tiger tanks were used in the film instead replaced by American M47 Pattons which look nothing like them. In the film makers defence none of the Tigers existed so couldn't be used. (Footnote - The only King Tiger in existence is at The Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset)
Get past these inaccuracies though and Battle of the Bulge is a terrific action packed and extremely thrilling depiction of all out Panzer assaults on the Allied forces.
Director Ken Annakin filmed in Ultra Panavision 70 and exhibited in 70 mm Cinerama and it looks absolutely stunning on Blu-ray.
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