It wasn't a very good picture and that wasn't Ladd's fault. His contract with Paramount had ended with Shane (made in 1951 and released in 1953, after he'd left). The British-made pictures that Ladd made around 1953 were of indifferent quality (Bryan Forbes had to do on-the-run scriptwriting for the ridiculous "The Black Knight", a picture full of historical howlers and anachronisms).
I loathe films having the credits removed but this one goes one step further: re-naming the film. Alan Ladd never made a movie called "Paratrooper"! SHAME!
Despite the negative comments this is an excellent account of early Paratroop training and kit issue, from the upset of losing their old headgear, mockery of the maroon beret and the wearing of the sleeveless jerkins (bone bags) copied from German airborne forces to the issue of the first pattern Denison smock. Harry Andrews is excellent as always but I really could have done without the insipid romance. Alan Ladd was a boring actor but his portrayal of a US volunteer is well done in the fact that many joined for excitement or because they were running away from something. Altogether a film that despite it's flaws is an entertaining watch.
When I was younger I knew someone who fought in a Maroon Beret in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and at the north end of the bridge at Arnhem. He told me the balloon jump was the most frightening thing he'd ever done.
Richard Todd was given the script, and when he read it he refused to take his offered role. And a RAF sergeant teaching army soldiers combat training? The RAF instructors were according to some paratroopers not even interested to give propper marching instructions. In the early days there were also instructors of the Royal Army Physical Training Corps but they were only there to train for the parachute jump.
At 5400 enter empty cabin and two lamps that no one turned on all ready lit!
Alan Lad couldn’t act his way out of a wet paper bag!
This is just like "the fruit sketch" in Monty Python.
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Harry Andrews plays the RSM very well here. What a shame though that a talented actor like Stanley Baker was killed off early in the film.
It wasn't a very good picture and that wasn't Ladd's fault. His contract with Paramount had ended with Shane (made in 1951 and released in 1953, after he'd left). The British-made pictures that Ladd made around 1953 were of indifferent quality (Bryan Forbes had to do on-the-run scriptwriting for the ridiculous "The Black Knight", a picture full of historical howlers and anachronisms).
they didnt seem to put much effort in the grenade throw. just flip it out there.
I loathe films having the credits removed but this one goes one step further: re-naming the film. Alan Ladd never made a movie called "Paratrooper"! SHAME!
What’s the movies title ?
16:50 "Red River Valley
Same tune , different words .
Despite the negative comments this is an excellent account of early Paratroop training and kit issue, from the upset of losing their old headgear, mockery of the maroon beret and the wearing of the sleeveless jerkins (bone bags) copied from German airborne forces to the issue of the first pattern Denison smock. Harry Andrews is excellent as always but I really could have done without the insipid romance. Alan Ladd was a boring actor but his portrayal of a US volunteer is well done in the fact that many joined for excitement or because they were running away from something. Altogether a film that despite it's flaws is an entertaining watch.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Red_Beret
I knew the joke about the Ghurkas was old, but not that old.
When I was younger I knew someone who fought in a Maroon Beret in North Africa, Sicily, Italy and at the north end of the bridge at Arnhem. He told me the balloon jump was the most frightening thing he'd ever done.
15:05 Benny Hill moment…
great flic. I remember watching this as a kid.
At 1:40 he TOSSES the rifle on the ground.
I quit there.
1:35 They ignore him throwing the rifle to the ground. BS, I'm out of here.
German radar must not have worked very well back then.🙂
Richard Todd was given the script, and when he read it he refused to take his offered role. And a RAF sergeant teaching army soldiers combat training? The RAF instructors were according to some paratroopers not even interested to give propper marching instructions. In the early days there were also instructors of the Royal Army Physical Training Corps but they were only there to train for the parachute jump.