Service On Celluloid

This week the panel tackles “A League of Their Own,” the story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Founded by chewing-gum magnate Philip K. Wrigley in 1942, the league was born at a time when male ballplayers were being drafted to serve in World War II. (Photo courtesy of The History Museum South Bend)

Following our conversation about 1943’s “Bataan,” we hear from Lester Tenney (pictured), Robert Rosendahl, and Glenn Frazier, who experienced the harrowing Bataan Death March.

This week, “Service on Celluloid” examines the 1943 film "Bataan,” which focuses on the American and Filipino defensive retreat on the Bataan Peninsula in early 1942. The panel will address what this film does well and what is curiously missing.

Following our discussion of “Battleground,” we will discuss the lingo showcased in the film and hear from veterans John Pogue, Edward Heffron, and Donald Malarkey (pictured).

This week our panelists discuss the misery, hope, and humor seen in 1949’s “Battleground,” a tale of the 327th GIR of the famous 101st Airborne Division while it is encircled at Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.

Following our conversation about "Anthropoid," we take a deeper look this week at the lives and actions of Reinhard Heydrich (pictured), a main architect of the Final Solution, and Jozef Gabčík and Jan Kubiš, the exile Czechoslovak soldiers who assassinated him.

This week our panelists look at the 2016 film Anthropoid and its depiction of the true story of Operation Anthropoid, code name for the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich, a main architect of the Final Solution. See what our team thinks of this Jamie Dornan/Cillian Murphy vehicle’s depiction of WWII-era resistance, betrayal, and heroism.

Following our discussion of "Tora! Tora! Tora!" we venture into territory rarely visited here at "Service On Celluloid"—history’s what-ifs. In this minisode, we discuss potential signs that an attack was imminent and the response options that were available. Hear from veterans Don Stratton, Kermit Tyler (pictured) and Sterling Cale, who were all at Pearl Harbor that fateful day.

Roger Ebert opened his review of 1970s’s Tora! Tora! Tora! by calling it “one of the deadest, dullest blockbusters ever made.” Tune in to see how our team of historians and local film critic Mike Scott (NOLA.com|The Times-Picayune) view this classic depiction of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Following our discussion of “The Great Escape,” hear from veteran Malcolm Higgins (pictured) as he describes how his family learned that he was a POW in Stalag Luft III.  Additionally, listen to Colonel Robert Ingraham, who helped dig the tunnels later made famous by the film, reveal how he became part of the breakout team.

This week we look at the often-imitated Steve McQueen hit “The Great Escape.” It’s certainly drenched in cool, but how accurate is it? Our panelists discuss what life was really like in Stalag Luft III.

Following our discussion of the 2014 Brad Pitt vehicle “Fury,” tanker John Rogers (pictured) describes attacking Tiger tanks in Normandy. As a bonus, listen to veteran Robert Christie’s poem “The Hunter,” which describes the existential guilt of fighting a defeated but dangerous enemy during the closing days of war.

For this week’s episode, our panel takes on the Brad Pitt vehicle "Fury." We will be discussing director David Ayer’s graphic depiction of the 2nd Armored Division during the closing days of World War II in Europe.

Following our conversation about "Midway," hear veterans Don Hoff (pictured) and Dusty Kleiss retell what it was like to fly in the Battle of Midway.

This week the panel takes aim at 1976’s "Midway," co-starring Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, and Hal Holbrook—as well as recycled footage from several previous (and much better) WWII films. 

Following our discussion of "Schindler's List," hear survivor Luna Kaufman speak of the horrors she endured as a child in Płaszów concentration camp.

This week our experts look at the masterpiece, Schindler’s List. Exploring the relationship between businessman Oskar Schindler and SS officer Amon Göth – how two men of similar circumstance, chose such vastly different paths. 

Following our review of Saving Private Ryan, hear from veterans Dr. Hal Baumgarten and Harley Reynolds, who saw firsthand the chaos and carnage of D-Day.

Celebrated WWII epic "Saving Private Ryan" turns 20 this summer. It remains one of the most famous depictions of World War II to date. Is it true to history? We sought to answer that question on this week’s episode.

Following our review of "The Best Years Of Our Lives", hear from veterans Francis Resta and John “J.J.” Witmeyer, who recount the struggles they faced upon returning from World War II.