Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge

Battle of the Bulge

1965Movie169 minEnglish

In the winter of 1944, the Allied Armies stand ready to invade Germany at the coming of a New Year. To prevent it, Hitler orders an all-out offensive to re-take French territory and capture the major port city of Antwerp.

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IMDb6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes40%
Google Users81%
Director: Ken AnnakinGenres: War, Drama, History, Action

Plot Summary

In December 1944, as Allied forces push into Germany, a massive German counter-offensive, the Battle of the Bulge, is launched. This epic war film depicts the desperate struggle of American soldiers against overwhelming German forces in the frozen Ardennes forest. It follows various characters, including a determined U.S. Colonel, a ruthless SS Colonel, and Allied commanders, as they navigate the brutal realities of this pivotal World War II engagement.

Critical Reception

Battle of the Bulge was a major box-office success upon its release, though critical reception was mixed. While praised for its scale, impressive battle sequences, and performances, some critics found its narrative and historical accuracy to be lacking, particularly its portrayal of the German army's capabilities and motivations. Audiences, however, generally enjoyed its epic scope and action.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its grand scale and intense battle sequences, offering a vivid depiction of the conflict.
  • Criticized for historical inaccuracies and a somewhat simplistic portrayal of the war and its participants.
  • Robert Shaw's performance as the German SS Colonel Klaus Ritter is often highlighted as a standout element.

Google audience: Google users largely appreciated the film's ambitious scope and action-packed war scenes, with many finding it an entertaining and engaging portrayal of a significant historical event. Some noted that while not perfectly historically accurate, it effectively captures the drama and intensity of the battle.

Fun Fact

The film was shot in Spain, with the arid Spanish landscape doubling for the snowy Ardennes forest. Tanks were equipped with special devices to spray water and foam to simulate snow during filming.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

It's far too long this, but otherwise isn't an half-bad wartime adventure that shows off Robert Shaw's ability to play a baddie with aplomb. He's "Col. Hessler", the commander of a Panzer tank division at a crucial stage towards the end of ...
Wuchak

Wuchak

***Nazi Germany’s last gasp*** “Battle of the Bulge” (1965) depicts the last major German offensive on the Western Front from December 16 – January 25, 1944-1945. The action takes place at the intersection of Belgium, Germany, France and...
lwpcolonel

lwpcolonel

This film is created out of composite characters, most notably Henry Fonda, as a Lt. Colonel in Intelligence and Robert Shaw, as a Panzer Brigade Commander supposedly just recalled from the Russian Front, where he was "losing the war there"...