The Devil's Brigade - 1968

This is a great action movie based on World War II's 1st Special Service Force. This unit was created from both American and Canadian troops and was used during the war for difficult missions. As with any movie of this type, the facts of the events depicted are not always accurate but they do accurately convey the courage and determination of the 1st Special Service Force. The film succeeds in drawing you into the lives of the men involved. As they face the dangers of war, you become involved emotionally and cheer for their success and cry for the loss of the men who fought and died for this country. This movie has plenty of action and moves along well. The acting is well done as is the filming. Some of the scenes would be too intense for young children but a good film for all. Not all war movies have stood the test of time but this is definitely one of them.  *****

The Coward - 1915

Compelling film of a young man whose fear brands him a coward even in the eyes of his father. This was truly a remarkable film of the inner struggle this boy felt (and most of them were just boys) when presented with the realities of war. The story is a fairly simple one with little character development except for that of the father and the son. At only a little more than an hour, the story moves along quickly; perhaps a little too swiftly, but the impact of the story is still present. The film itself is color-toned black & white and includes very few title cards. Most of the story is told simply by the actions of the characters themselves. Certainly the moment the boy faces his inner demons strikes a chord in each of us and includes a perfect title card: "The blood of his fathers, the shadowy hands of past generations of fighting men shatter the fetters of cowardice, and the last of the house of Winslow stands forth unafraid." The ending is a little abrupt but typical of the silent era. Although not for everyone, this is a wonderful part of our cinematic history. I'm not aware of this film available separately but it can be found with a collection of silent films of the Civil War.  ****