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Retired Marine Capt. Dale A. Dye, right, delivers an American Legion plaque to director Steven Spielberg. Legionnaires selected "Saving Private Ryan," as the "best war film ever" during a recent survey by The American Legion Magazine. Spielberg directed the 1998 film, in which Dye acted and provided military advice. The two are currently working on "The Pacific War," a companion piece to the widely acclaimed "Band of Brothers." Photo by David James

By John Raughter

It may not have the notoriety of Cannes, but then again, film-maker Michael Moore probably would not be enthusiastically received at the GI Film Festival anyway.

The four-day event held at the Ronald Reagan Center in Washington May 25-28 featured 22 films and a smattering of celebrity appearances ranging from entertainer Pat Boone to former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard B. Myers.

Billed as the first of its kind, founders Brandon Millet and Laura Law-Millet wanted the event to showcase the heroism of America’s military. Brandon feels especially connected to the military since his wife, Laura, is a U.S. Army veteran and a graduate of West Point.

“Simply put, it occurred to us as we followed closely the public debate over the current war in Iraq, that sometimes in the political tussle over this particular conflict or that, the successes and sacrifices of our men and women in uniform get lost. We wanted to remember and we wanted others to remember with us,” the Millets said in a written message to festival attendees. “In doing a bit of research, we were surprised to find that among the hundreds of film festivals held each year, not one of them specifically focused on the military. And so, the GI Film Festival was born.”

Director John Dahl, whose film “The Great Raid” accurately portrayed the rescue of more than 500 men held in a Japanese POW camp, hosted a special screening of his film. He recalled that the original script called for a few Rambo-type characters to pull off the mission rather than the U.S. Army’s 6th Ranger Battalion that actually did it.

“The most difficult challenge in portraying real military stories in a Hollywood film is the temptation to amp up the action, consolidate characters and oversimplify the strategy,” Dahl said.

The festival featured several panels which in a very unHollywood-like fashion were unscripted and often morphed into discussions about politics and the media. Former Marine R. Lee Ermey, an actor best-known as the tough as nails drill instructor in “Full Metal Jacket,” had strong opinions about both.

“We need to support the troops no matter what the Communist News Network says. When you hear Sen. Harry Reid say we lost the war, how do you suppose that makes the troops feel?” he said. “You keep seeing the story of the young lady who threatened an Iraqi prisoner with a dog, but when an American soldier is killed and dragged through the streets naked it’s only a one-day story. They’re telling us half the story which is why we lost in Vietnam. The media will say we are losing the war but we are not losing the war.”

Best-selling author Andrew Carroll said that some in the media are afraid that by reporting the heroism of the troops they are somehow legitimizing the war. “Everytime we see a story on Rosie O’Donnell, Paris Hilton or Anna Nicole, we are not reading about the heroes of Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Country music artist Michael Peterson performed his song “It’s Who We Are” at the festival and used the event as a location to interview celebrities for his fundraising efforts for The American Legion’s American Legacy Scholarship Fund. “I think it’s fantastic to take that slice of American life and highlight it at this time in America’s history,” Peterson said of the GI Film Festival.

“CSI NY” star Gary Sinise accepted the festival’s “GI Spirit Award.” Sinise has entertained thousands of troops as the bass guitarist for the “Lt. Dan Band,” a group named after his role as a Vietnam war double amputee in “Forrest Gump.”

Sinise recalled his recent visit to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. “One of the soldiers said he was like Lt. Dan now. It was a bad joke, I know, but there is nothing funny about the outstanding job that these brave men and women are doing.”

Although the appropriateness of honoring the military on Memorial Day weekend is obvious, it likely had an adverse impact on attendance. Nonetheless, Brandon Millet said that he is committed to continuing the event because of the strong support he received by those who came.

“There is no doubt given the enthusiastic response we received this year that we struck a chord with the GI Film Festival,” he said. “We look forward to building on our successes next year and in the years to come.”

Legionnaires Vote ‘Saving Pvt. Ryan’ Best War Film

Legionnaires from across the nation voted “Saving Private Ryan” as the “Best War Movie Ever,” in a poll sponsored by The American Legion Magazine. The results were announced at the GI Film Festival in Washington May 27.

Readers were invited to write their choice for best war film in a letter or e-mail to the magazine. Since there were no pre-selected nominees or printed ballots, 71 films received at least one vote. The cultural divide between veterans and nonveterans seemed apparent when critically acclaimed films such as MASH, Apocalypse Now and The Deer Hunter failed to receive any votes.

Dale Dye, a military advisor and an actor in “Saving Private Ryan,” accepted a plaque from The American Legion, which he later delivered to director Steven Spielberg. The plaque’s inscription, signed by National Commander Paul A. Morin, said, “No one knows the cost of war better than those who have experienced it. That firsthand experience by America’s wartime veterans have made them the foremost experts in judging the accuracy and credibility of American war films. It is with great pleasure that the men and women of The American Legion, as indicated by a recent survey, name Saving Private Ryan as “The Best War Film Ever.”

The Legion’s Top 10

Saving Private Ryan

Private Ryan may have been snubbed by the Academy but it was not overlooked by members of The American Legion. The 1998 film was nominated for Best Picture but failed to bring home the Oscar when it was beat by “Shakespeare in Love.”

The movie, which starred Tom Hanks and Matt Damon, was not without its critics, even among Legionnaires who questioned the mission. The wisdom of risking the lives of many men to find one in an effort to spare a mother’s loss of an additional son to the war, was also doubted by one of the film’s characters. “Don’t we all have mothers?” groused Pvt. Reiben.

Retired Marine Capt. Dale Dye, who served as the film’s technical advisor, acknowledged some imperfections such as the shining rank insignia worn by Hanks and the conversations that occurred while men walked on patrol.

“Reality can sometimes be boring and you have to have dialog to keep the film moving,” Dye said.

What makes this film special, according to many of the voters, is the heroism and horror depicted in the D-Day landing and the bond shared by those who fought alongside each other.

“My vote for ‘Best War Movie Ever’ is ‘Saving Private Ryan,’” wrote John Gerfen of Ballwin, Mo. “Certainly there are a lot of very good movies that exemplify the spirit of U.S. fighting men and women. However, this one movie showed the brutality of war and the courage it took in the fight to liberate Europe from the Nazis.”

“The movie depicts the realism of war by showing the bravery, fear, cowardice and horror of it all,” added Mark C. Hemmrich, a Legionnaire from Stevens Point, Wis. “It exemplifies our American ingenuity, honor and our sense of liberty, justice, religion and family.”

To Hell and Back

This 1955 classic is unique because of the autobiographical nature of it. The star, Medal of Honor recipient Audie Murphy, played himself. Murphy, the most decorated soldier of World War II, was nearly rejected for enlistment because of his small stature. He more than proves his worth while fighting in the European theater. “To Hell and Back” re-creates the actions which led to Murphy’s Medal of Honor in a memorable fight against the Germans.

“This film, Audie Murphy’s story, left out all the usual clichés found in war movies and stayed away from the typical propaganda connected with this type of film,” wrote V.R. Vincent, of Conrad, Mont. “It told the simple story of one ordinary American soldier serving his country and being recognized for what he was, an outstanding hero and patriot.”

The Longest Day

Another D-Day film, this 1962 movie featured an ensemble cast including John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Sean Connery and Richard Burton. One notable person who lost out on a role, however, was former President Eisenhower. While Ike indicated a willingness to portray himself, make-up artists did not believe they could make the former two-term president resemble the younger version of himself. Even back then the Oval Office had a way of aging its occupants.

In one of the film’s more memorable lines, Brig. Gen. Norman Cota spells out his expectations of his men. “I don”t have to tell you the story. You all know it. Only two kinds of people are gonna stay on this beach: those that are already dead and those that are gonna die. Now get off your butts. You guys are the Fighting 29th.”

Band of Brothers

When a 10-part miniseries places near the top in a “best movie” survey, you know it has to be good. This 2001 HBO production reunites Private Ryan alumni Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who produced this World War II epic, along with the late Stephen Ambrose. Dale Dye once again provided his military expertise.

“Band of Brothers is a war movie about comradeship at its best,” wrote Joe Langenbach, of Allentown, Penn. “We watch these paratroopers of Easy Company from their training in Georgia than overseas to England to D-Day to V-E Day…We see the mental strain and in a few cases, breakdown of some men. All one has to do is watch this HBO movie to know that this is the way it was, without the Hollywood hype.”

Battleground

A winner of two Academy Awards, this film portrays a platoon from the 101stAirborne Division at the Battle of the Bulge. It stars Van Johnson and Ricardo Montalban, of future “Fantasy Island” fame. A 1949 MGM production, this film is a tale of survival against German spies wearing U.S. Army uniforms, relentless artillery, bitter winter weather, dwindling supplies and a fierce enemy. Made just five years after the real Battle of the Bulge, producers were able to find plenty of veterans to supply every detail in this black-and-white classic.

“I was an infantry PFC during this battle and think the movie was an excellent representation of the way things were – the only lack of authenticity was, of course, the lack of profanity,” wrote William G. Howe, of Schenectady, N.Y.

A Walk in the Sun

This 1945 World War II film set in Italy does not rely on combat action but instead on the perspectives and observations of the infantrymen who reveal their true characters while contemplating their mission, which is to capture an enemy-held farmhouse. Dana Andrews plays platoon squad leader Sgt. Tyne, who assumed command after his superiors were killed. Burgess Meredith supplies effective narration.

“It is an uncomplicated and low-tech story of a group of Americans doing a job. The scene that I remember most was the Lloyd Bridges’ character commenting, as a farmer, on the poor quality of the Italian soil – what a metaphor,” wrote Roger Stryeski, of Roselle, N.J.

We Were Soldiers

The only non-World War II film to finish in the top 10, this 2002 movie is also the most recent. Mel Gibson stars as Lt. Col Hal Moore who leads the 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry into Ia Drang Valley, the first major U.S. ground battle in the Vietnam War. Based on the book “We Were Soldiers Once…and Young” by Moore and Joseph L. Galloway, Sam Elliott steels the show as Sgt. Major Basil Plumley. When a soldier innocently comments on the “beautiful morning” to the sergeant major, he is bluntly asked, “What are you a (expletive) weatherman now?”

“Most movies about Vietnam were garbage that made it look like U.S. soldiers (were) the bad guys,” wrote Samuel D. High, of Lonoke, Ark. “This movie was based on real soldiers in a real battle and it showed the honor and courage the vast majority of us had who served in Vietnam. I appreciate Mel Gibson doing this movie and the veterans who served in this battle who made sure it was done right.”

Sands of Iwo Jima

John Wayne stars as Marine Sgt. John Stryker in this 1949 film that earned the Duke his first Academy Award nomination. Real-life Mt. Suribachi flag-raisers Rene Gagnon, Ira Hayes and John Bradley also appear in the film. According to Wikipedia, the film has the first recorded use of the phrase, “lock and load.”

Two voters credit the movie for “saving the Marine Corps,” at a time when leaders in Washington were questioning the need for the service.

Twelve O’Clock High

Screenwriters Sy Barlett and Bernie Lay Jr. drew on their own World War II experiences with the Eighth Air Force Bomber units in this 1949 film starring Gregory Peck. Twelve O’Clock High includes actual combat footage, with other portions of the film shot at Eglin Air Force Base.

Peck doesn’t win any friend at first as the heard-nosed Brig. Gen. Frank Savage but the men eventually see the value of his approach. Savage is believed to be a composite of Gen. Curtis LeMay, Brig. Gen. Frank Castle and Col John K. Gerhart.

The film is often viewed at leadership seminars and in the U.S. Service Academies. It was cited in The New York Times as one of the 1,000 best films ever.

The Story of GI Joe

World War II was still underway when this film was released in 1945. Sadly, war correspondent Ernie Pyle was killed in the fighting on Okinawa without ever having seen the film that was based on his experiences and newspaper dispatches from North Africa and Italy.

Burgess Meredith and Robert Mitchum star in this no-holds barred portrayal of the infantry, complete with mud, blood and death. Guadalcanal and Tarawa veteran Charles Wysocki, of Green Valley, Ariz., writes “It is the most realistic war movie I have ever seen…It tells the story our GIs in combat and I know about combat…GI Joe is real!”

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Rating: 4.5 /5 ( 4 votes cast)