Cast a Giant Shadow (1966)

Too much of everything

Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

This is not strictly a review, but I have just returned from a 13 day to Israel, and among our stops was a visit to the Latrun Tank Museum, which is the locale for the battle taking up the last 1/4 of the film. To one who has been to Latrun, the setting is entirely real and I wonder if, in 1965, it was filmed AT Latrun before it was changed into the proper, most magnificent, museum that it is today. Secondly, the convoy effort into Jerusalem is depicted in an entirely realistic way, so that aside from the Romantic Subplot - and John Wayne as a weird version of Patton - and Frank Sinatra sprays seltzer out of a plane - this is an entirely fine and satisfying film on the history of the Israeli state. The re-creation of the 1948 announcement by Ben-Gurion of the creation of the state is faithful to the proverbial T. Good job to all involved. And SEE this, and MASADA, before ever going to Israel and see both again when you return.

John Wayne's production company Batjac bankrolled this war movie about the rise of the state of Israel in 1948 when everybody thought that the Arabs would annihilate the Jews. "Houseboat" director Melville Shavelson inked and helmed this ambitious but muddled biography of World War II military hero Colonel David 'Mickey' Marcus (Kirk Douglas of "Spartacus") who served as an adviser to Franklin Roosevelt. Marcus behaves likes an insubordinate S.O.B. when he ignores the orders of his superior officer and bails out over Normandy. He carries on a love & hate relationship with a two-star American general. After the war, Marcus trades in his uniform for a lawyer's Homburg and an attache case but he is persuaded to act as an adviser to the fledging Israeli army. Yul Brynner, Frank Sinatra, Angie Dickinson, and John Wayne co-star in a war movie that has more soap opera than shooting. Mind you, it is inspirational stuff, especially when you consider the David versus Goliath predicament in which the Israelis found themselves. Shavelson's screenplay establishes the character of our protagonist as a man who would rather fight than love. The battle scenes are rather tame, but the explosions are well done. Angie Dickinson plays the wife of Colonel Marcus, while voluptuous Israeli freedom fighter Senta Berger cannot take her eyes off him after her own husband dies in the war. The prologue of the semi-fictionalized "Cast A Giant Shadow" struggles to reinforce the film's authenticity: "The major events in this film actually happened. Some of them are still happening. The major characters actually lived. Many of them are still living. Although it was not easy." Reportedly, Douglas feuded with Shavelson throughout the production. Neither Wayne's production company nor Douglas' Bryna Productions scrimped on production values. "Cast A Giant Shadow" looks well-produced with no end of extras trudging off to fight the war. Unfortunately, Shavelson doesn't conjure up much momentum. When he does get things moving, they inevitably bog down in long dialogue sessions. Nevertheless, the film presents a realistic enough view of the problems that faced an army without any ranking officers, soldiers who didn't know how to switch off the safety switches on their weapons., and an army that spoke in many different languages. Matters are not helped by a downbeat ending after the underdog Israelis construction a road out of solid stone to relieve the besieged town of Jersualem. The ending is a downer and "Cast A Giant Shadow" didn't cast a giant shadow at the box office. Composer Elmer Bernstein contributed one of his least memorable orchestral scores. Filmmaker Otto Preminger fared much better with his earlier epic "Exodus" that covered similar ground. The action was lensed on location in Israel and Rome. Douglas provides his customary bravado, but all he really does is stand around and give orders. Shavelson's direction is barely competent and only one battle sequence when Sinatra flies over an Egyptian tank column tossing home-made bombs is memorable. Naturally, John Wayne is cast as 'General Mike Randolph,' but he appears to be a composite of General George Patton and other American generals. Future "Fiddler on the Roof" star Topol steals the show as an Arab sheik.

The pacing in this movie is extremely dated; it would have benefited from a good editing. Although the history presented, allowing for some fictionalizing, is somewhat interesting, the action drags. Also, if you care at all about accuracy in costuming, the costumes and hairstyles will drive you crazy. The movie is set in 1947, yet the characters, when not in military garb, look as if they pulled clothing out of their own 1966 closets and didn't bother to style their hair as it would have looked in 1947. If you're looking for a good war movie, I'm afraid this one will disappoint you. However, if you want to take a nap, pop in this DVD and prepare to Snatch a Giant Snooze.

Cast a Giant Shadow was a neat movie to watch on Satellite Television. The fight at the Jordanian fort was a good attempt. Here is another readback form Moon 168 Artevan that I skipper. "Opponents of Olmert and Dice must be dub checked L on the Beach Holodeck." David "Mickey" Marcus was the first General of an Independent Israel. Marcus was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. I always wondered if Marcus had faked his death so he could operate from the shadows. Marcus used his D-Day experience to describe Israeli held territory as a beachhead and that offended some Israeli Officers but Marcus was correct to fight like that. Seeing Israel get Independence in a film is a special Hollywood moment. My Jewish Fiancé would never throw a first punch at someone because she doesn't want to be viewed as the aggressor like Israel before the Yom Kippur War of 1973. Get it? Check out Kirk Douglas in 200 leagues under the sea as well.