The Forgotten Soldier Movie is now Official!

[Michael Root]

they would instantly turn his character into some gung-ho, swashbuckling hero.

Yeah, the movie industry has a long track record of portraying German (nazi) soldiers as heroes.

[bobcam1]

Is this not Sajer?

I could CERTAINLY see Kevin McKidd as Sajer.....

[pasoleati]

Well, I definitely hope they will do it properly, i.e. people speaking their correct languages and no dubbing should be allowed. I can´t watch any film where the mouth is clearly saying something else than the voice heard.

As for Cross of Iron, to me it was complete manure. In general, I don´t care for Fu*****pah´s films.

I have seen Gettysburg only once but Gods and Generals twice. I like both. Someone complained about re-enactor weight problems. I much perefer real people (tanks, explosions, aircraft) over any computer generated fertilizer.

[Michael Root]

I could CERTAINLY see Kevin McKidd as Sajer.....

Yeah, buddy!

Someone complained about re-enactor weight problems.

It's always the weight, no one ever has a problem with the height of civil war, ww1, ww2 reenactors. I guess it's harder to find a couple of thousand 5'6" xtra's than skinny ones.

[Doug Nash]

Re-enactor Weight Issues

It really isn't that weight is a problem - you can weigh 200 pounds, but if your height and build support that, that's not an issue. I think the issue is relative corpulence - I have done both WWII and Civil War reenacting - and have seen the extremes. Some German units, like Der Erste Zug, try to recruit young, skinny guys - which is fine, since most German youths of that era fit that body type. Same goes for the Civil War units - some, like the hard-core types such as the Southern Guards and the North State Rifles, try to get lean, hungry looking types - while others don't care and have men show up in their ranks that fit the "Year of Jubilo" description - as in

"He six foot one way, two foot tudder, An' he weigh tree hundred pounds; His coat so big, he couldn't pay de tailor, An' it don't go half way round."

I've seen quite a few of those guys. Needless to say, Paul Verhoeven won't be looking for them. As I said before, this movie will be shot in Poland, so most of the rankers will be played by Polish extras - lean, skinny and undernourished, like most infantrymen of those days were.
Cheers,
Doug

[TJ Suter]

I'd like to see Hans Ulrich Rudel's story on celluloid. Unfortunately, I suspect that no one will ever touch his story due to his political beliefs.

[Crunchey11B]

If done properly it would be outstanding, but as you know it will be jacked up poor acting so on, but the sucker I am would still go and see the movie.

[MaxxBrunn1938]

sure, if done properly it will be one of the classic war movies of all time.
By done properly, I mean like Das Boot, or Cross of Iron.
But most likely it will be weak, like "Stalingrad-1993" or "Enemy at the Gates-2001" and we will all feel let down.

I read this book while I was still in High School (11th grade) and did a report on it back in 81 and I thought it was one of the most excellent books back then and still do. I honestly hope they do this book with justice and keep to the text...

"Enemy at the Gates" was ok but they should of kept to the true story line as it was in "War of the Rats" which it is based on..

Joe

[Doug Nash]

Update on the Forgotten Soldier Movie

Here's the latest news from a studio insider I know who is connected with the project:

Paul Verhoeven has secured sufficient backing to finance the film. It will go ahead after 5 years in the works.

Casting is now in progress for the lead roles - the role of Guy Sajer has been narrowed down to 6 men, all of whom are well known actors. One is an American, the rest are Europeans.

That's it for now - more to follow as it becomes known.

Cheers,
Doug Nash

[rkoy]

cooooll cant wait

[DennyB]

Well, if they are filming it in Poland and can get some local boys in their teens and early 20s as extras, it will look much better than Gettysburg as far as the weight problems go. The first Confederate shown in Gettysburg was a man around 60 years old, short, probably 40% bodyfat, snow white hair and a beard that looked like cotton candy. The exact opposite of what they should have had, a skinny, dirty, young man.
This sounds like it may have potential.

[Anthony N]

Yeah, the movie industry has a long track record of portraying German (nazi) soldiers as heroes.

Das Boot, Cross of Iron, Valkerie, any portrayal of Rommel etc

[MaxxBrunn1938]

Well, if they are filming it in Poland and can get some local boys in their teens and early 20s as extras, it will look much better than Gettysburg as far as the weight problems go. The first Confederate shown in Gettysburg was a man around 60 years old, short, probably 40% bodyfat, snow white hair and a beard that looked like cotton candy. The exact opposite of what they should have had, a skinny, dirty, young man.
This sounds like it may have potential.

That's if the local teen boys aren't busy doing gay porn

[PZIV]

That's if the local teen boys aren't busy doing gay porn

What exactly does this mean?

[MaxxBrunn1938]

I've a friend that works for an adult book/video store and there is alot of non straight porn coming out of the former communist block cause they make more money in one film then they can in a year... Very Sad but True