Commando de guerre

Was a kid when I saw this movie first air on ABC television as it introduced me to a World War II U.S. Army that I didn't know existed. Yes, the mysterious, wooden and often referred to obnoxious Stephen Boyd is in it along with superstars Rosie, Richard and Billy Dee. One of Ireland's most famous Hollywood actors, Boyd was a genuine thespian who shines in his role as the angry officer. The wonderful Susan Oliver's not too shabby either. Neat little drama for fans of the "Ben-Hur" and "Fantastic Voyage" guy. It's a sad note that Stephen died before he had successfully comeback into the arms of Tinsel Town after knocking about in Europe doing no-money/no fame work, but that was his thing. See him in "The Oscar" as he's a hoot in the bomb and he'd be the first to tell ya.

I recently watched Carter's Army (1970) on Prime. The storyline revolves around a racist officer tasked with leading an all-black brigade to capture a bridge from the Germans. Can the troops and the officer overcome their differences to achieve this challenging mission?

Directed by George McCowan (Frogs), the film features Richard Pryor (Harlem Nights), Glynn Turman (Super 8), Billy Dee Williams (Return of the Jedi), Paul Mooney (Bamboozled), and Stephen Boyd (Ben-Hur).

Despite a stellar cast, this wartime picture is a bit of a mixed bag. The cinematography falls short, and many lines come off as cliché. However, Billy Dee Williams and Richard Pryor deliver solid performances, and witnessing a young Glynn Turman is enjoyable. The depicted animosity feels authentic, and Pryor's action scenes add a touch of humor. While the mission execution and final sequence lack impact due to a low budget, the characters' charm makes it worth a watch.

In conclusion, Carter's Army isn't a great film, but the characters' charm is worthwhile. I would score this a 4.5-5/10 and recommend giving it a watch at least once.

I was damn near ready to turn this movie off when I saw that "B" company, the Black Brigade, was a bunch of back alley fools shooting dice, drinking wine, and acting foolish. Did I mention that this was at an outpost in Europe during WWII? Oh, I forgot to mention that? Now you know. They were so uncouth and ignorant they couldn't behave like soldiers during the war. They looked like F Troop except dumber and lazier. Pretty much every negative stereotype that you'd have about a black soldier: too old, too fat, too scared, too dumb, too shiftless, too lazy, and overall incompetent.

A company of clowns. But, the blame wasn't entirely on them. They were ill-prepared from the start. They never went through basic training, never given duties other than manual labor, they were never even properly screened (one soldier was deaf and another was well over 270 pounds)! So, even though they were a company of clowns it was almost as if they were set up to be so.

Finally, they were given a captain and a mission. Their new captain was a white Georgian named Captain Carter (Hence the movie title Carter's Army). Their mission: take a dam and hold it for reinforcements.

Their captain was a racist to be sure, but he definitely had some valid complaints. He wasn't given soldiers he was given a circus. Nevertheless, he was responsible for taking this band of unprepared personnel on a suicide mission.

This movie wasn't a total waste though. It needed to be longer with more character development, but this is what we got. With actors like Richard Pryor, Billy Dee (sans mustache, lye, and relaxer), Glynn Turman, and Robert Hooks I was expecting something better. They were given so little to work with though. There was a slight redemption for the movie at the end, yet nothing enough to completely rescue this film. The movie plot was a noble one and I can only assume that intentions were good. Still, I think Glory did a lot better with the same concept.

I purchased "Black Brigade" (apparently a re-issue of the original) this week for $3.33 from the previously-viewed bin. Expecting to view a comedy, prepared to laugh, I discovered with mixed feelings, ten minutes into the film, that this is no comedy; it is not "hilarious". Rather, this film sends a realistic message about war. "Black Brigade" ranks well with "The Red Badge of Courage" and "Johnny Got His Gun" in depicting innocence and ignorance under fire. Moreover, "Black Brigade" educates the viewer as to what it must have been like for most black men serving our country in WWII, assigned individually and collectively to menial service slots because of the color of their skin. A classic. Just wish the quality of my copy of the film were better.

I thought I knew it all when it came to Blaxploitation films and for that matter tv shows such as White Shadow and What's Happening. I came across this film in a chain video store and had to make a command decision. It was necessary to determine whether to buy and risk losing the few dollars or more arguably having an eyesore of an item that second hand stores would not even give money for. That would mean throwing it away if it were truly dreadful. I decided to pass at first b-lining home to read online reviews to see the scoop. Fortunately, the critics were kind enough, prompting me to return to the store with renewed vigor and confidence that I was not buying a total turkey. I played the first half of the tape on several occasions only halfway paying attention to ensure that it worked at least functionally. Well finally I had an audience and played it from beginning to end, and was not just impressed but very impressed. I grade on a curve considering the time period and budget put into the project. I really liked the character development in which the subtle differences of personalities remains consistent. The best friend twosome of Pryor and Grier is formable and yet handled in a subtle manner. The other allstars of Moses Gunn, Glynn Thurman, and Billy Dee Williams make this a film that a film expert of black cinema should not miss.