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| World War II Collection, Vol. 1 - Battlefront Europe (The Big Red One Two-Disc Special Edition / The Dirty Dozen / Battle of the Bulge / Battleground / Where Eagles Dare) | 
 enlarge | Directors: Brian G. Hutton, Ken Annakin, Robert Aldrich, Samuel Fuller, William A. Wellman
Actors: Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, John Cassavetes, Telly Savalas
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $59.98
Buy New: $30.47
You Save: $29.51 (49%)
New (41) Used (9) Collectible (1) from $30.47
Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 22446
Format: Box Set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), German (Original Language), Italian (Original Language)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Number Of Items: 6
Running Time: 755
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.5 x 3.1
MPN: WARD70566D
ISBN: 1419811037
UPC: 012569705661
EAN: 9781419811036
ASIN: B0007TKNLK
Theatrical Release Date: March 12, 1969
Release Date: May 3, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/13/2007
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| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
 Five different looks at one world war August 10, 2008
I'm sure there are statistics out there somewhere that could verify it, but my guess is that more movies have been done about World War II than any other war. Certainly, if you wanted to come up with a boxed set of movies about the War of 1812, you'd be hard-pressed to come up with one (the only one that comes to mind is The Buccaneer, dealing with Andrew Jackson, Jean Lafitte and the Battle of New Orleans). The WWII boxed set, Battlefront Europe, provides a sampling of stories taking place in the European Theater of Operations.
The first two movies in the set (based on when they were made) both deal with the Battle of the Bulge, that last real offensive by the Germans. Battleground is the better of the two, focusing on one group of soldiers involved in a battle that's bigger than they can fully grasp; they just do their part. As in all of these movies, some will live and some will die. The Battle of the Bulge is one of those all-star, big budget epics that Hollywood produced in the late sixties and early seventies (others include A Bridge Too Far and The Longest Day) that were often big on spectacle and short on real substance. The Battle of the Bulge has its moments but it is almost too ambitious and makes it seem like Henry Fonda's character was solely responsible for winning the battle (and maybe the war). Other stars include Charles Bronson, Dana Andrews, Telly Savalas and Robert Ryan.
Ryan, Bronson and Savalas would also be in the next movie, the fictional Dirty Dozen, in which Lee Marvin plays a plays-by-his-own-rules major who fashions a team of convicted soldiers to perform a special mission prior to D-Day. If they succeed, they get their freedom. While it is entertaining, it does take a long time to get to the actual mission. On the other hand, in the other truly fictional movie in the set - Where Eagles Dare - the mission kicks in almost immediately. In this movie, Richard Burton leads a small crew of soldiers (including a young Clint Eastwood) on a raid of a German castle where an American general is being held prisoner. There are some twists, however, in exactly what the mission is supposed to accomplish (from a plotting standpoint, this is easily the most sophisticated movie in the set).
Finally, there is The Big Red One, more specifically, the reconstructed version that adds close to an hour to the movie. The title refers to the insignia worn by the soldiers who are the principals in this movie, that of the U.S. 1st Infantry. Lee Marvin plays a grizzled sergeant (and WWI veteran) who leads a group of soldiers in what seems like every major battle in the ETO (as well as North Africa). I have not seen the original version, so I can't fully say whether the longer version is an improvement, but it is a decent movie.
In fact, all of these movies are decent, though not outstanding. I think if you were creating your own boxed set of WWII movies, none of these would make the top five, though not all would miss the cut by much. There are a few extras in the set, including some "making of" features and a commentary on The Big Red One. Overall, I'm rating this four stars: it's worth watching, but it's not the best there is.
 Great collection WWII movies July 14, 2008
This is a great collection of WWII movies. They are individually packaged movies. The Big Red One: Great movie with Lee Marvin, this version is the extended edition more like a directors cut. They did a very good job on bringing the old footage back into the movie and cleaning it up so that everything looks like it belongs. Excellent movie captures the flavor of surviving small infantry group during WWII. The Battle of the Bulge, great action movie. Not Historically accurate but a good blend of action and adventure. The Dirty Dozen, great movie worth owning all by itself the fact that you get packaged with other movies is just gravy. Battleground, maybe the original Band of Brothers from 1949. Won 2 Academy awards. A good movie that shows the hardships of being a soldier.
Where Eagles Dare, you may have to watch this one two or three times just so you don't miss all the surprises and plot twist.
This is one of the better WWII sets. Lots of action and fun to watch. Maybe get your kids interested in history of what happen durring WWII.
Memory Lane July 27, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This box is worth the money just for Where Eagles Dare and The Dirty Dozen. Being a WWII Tank fanatic spoilt the other movies for me, trying to pass off an Israeli tank as a Tiger, no no no. Other wise a good buy.
WWII Collection Battle Front Europe May 18, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
5 of my favorite WWII movies in one package. Super!
War Movies November 10, 2006
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Three of this collection are movies I have wanted for many years, and to get them in one collection is my reason for acquiring the set. Battleground is the story of a small group of doughboys stuck in the Argonne, basically surrounded by Germans, and their fight for survival. Where Eagles Dare is about a group of highly trained soldiers trying to destroy a fortress in the Alps controlled by the Germans; however, a mole and high ranking officer overseeing the operation want the group to fail. The Dirty Dozen is a war classic about criminals given a respite to carry out a basically suicide mission against a host of high ranking German officers
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