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Amazon.co.uk Review
1966’s Cast a Giant Shadow is based on Ted Berkman’s biography of Colonel "Mickey" Marcus, the American soldier who served as an adviser in the fight to establish the state of Israel in 1948. It stars Kirk Douglas as the likeable "stiffneck" and WWII veteran persuaded to take up the cause. Israel back then was depicted as a negligible military force under threat of extinction at the hands of its Arab neighbours, hamstrung by a UN embargo on arms supplies. It takes Douglas at his most square-jawed to see off the Egyptian military and defy a blockade to beat a path through to Jerusalem.
This is not cinema verité but Hollywood. Marcus’ dilemma--to settle into peacetime in America or follow his more natural, combative instincts abroad--is symbolised by a love triangle, involving wife Angie Dickinson and Santa Berger as Magda, the soldier whom he falls for in Palestine. Although lavish and spectacular, especially in the war scenes--filmed in the actual Middle Eastern locations in which they occurred--Cast a Giant Shadow is not entirely authentic (for a start, they’re driving 1950s vehicles in the 40s). Moreover, in the light of later troubles in the region, not everyone will be heart warmed by this depiction of plucky little Israel coping against Arab foes who are barely depicted as human throughout the film, merely as tanks and gunfire. Still, it’s an impressive enough relic of epic 1960s cinema, with cameos from Yul Brynner, John Wayne as Marcus’ wartime general, and Frank Sinatra as a pilot scattering the enemy by dropping soda dispensers on them.
On the DVD: Cast a Giant Shadow‘s restoration here is visually immaculate. The mono sound, however, is often indistinct, with a good deal of sibilant hiss. Disappointingly, the only extra is the original trailer.--David Stubbs
Special Features
English
Region 2
Region 2
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
After an eventful second world war as a soldier in the US Army, Mickey Marcus (played by Kirk Douglas) thinks his days of soldiering are over but he is contacted at Christmas 1947 in New York by a representative of the Jewish government in Palestine asking him to be a military adviser to their forces defending the country. Marcus agrees but when he gets to Palestine he finds that there is no organised army but a multitude of militias that are deeply antagonistic towards each other, they are minute compared to their Arab enemies and woefully ill equipped. Nevertheless, Marcus uses the ability of the Israeli people to improvise and use what little they have to maximum advantage and he knows that so soon after the Holocaust when the memories of these horrific events in Europe are still fresh in their minds the people will fight to the last man as they have nowhere else to go. Marcus has very little time to accomplish his task, he knows that there will be no outside help and that Arab armies are massing on the borders waiting for the UN to make a decision about whether they will agree to independence for Israel.
When the UN passes a resolution agreeing to independence in 1948 and Israel is born five Arab armies attack the country from several points and the first Arab-Israel war commences. Marcus will then see whether what he has done is enough to spare Israel from a second Holocaust.
If you are looking for a film that provides a balanced account of the issues underlying the Arab-Israeli conflict you won't find it here and you should look elsewhere. The trouble is that nobody so far has attempted to make a major feature film that tries to do this so you will have to find the answers in books and fortunately there are some books that have done just this. Cast a Giant Shadow is unashamedly only the Israeli view of the situation and given the boundless capacity of Hollywood to rewrite history as far as America is concerned I wondered whether Mickey Marcus was as important as the film suggests. Sadly the 1948 Arab-Israeli war was only the first war in the region, several more were to follow and the middle east situation with all its dangers for the countries in the region and the wider world is still unsettled.
Douglas puts in a solid performance as Marcus but John Wayne and Frank Sinatra look a bit out of place as if they have been put there to increase star appeal. It is stirring stuff with plenty of action and great enertainment.
When the UN passes a resolution agreeing to independence in 1948 and Israel is born five Arab armies attack the country from several points and the first Arab-Israel war commences. Marcus will then see whether what he has done is enough to spare Israel from a second Holocaust.
If you are looking for a film that provides a balanced account of the issues underlying the Arab-Israeli conflict you won't find it here and you should look elsewhere. The trouble is that nobody so far has attempted to make a major feature film that tries to do this so you will have to find the answers in books and fortunately there are some books that have done just this. Cast a Giant Shadow is unashamedly only the Israeli view of the situation and given the boundless capacity of Hollywood to rewrite history as far as America is concerned I wondered whether Mickey Marcus was as important as the film suggests. Sadly the 1948 Arab-Israeli war was only the first war in the region, several more were to follow and the middle east situation with all its dangers for the countries in the region and the wider world is still unsettled.
Douglas puts in a solid performance as Marcus but John Wayne and Frank Sinatra look a bit out of place as if they have been put there to increase star appeal. It is stirring stuff with plenty of action and great enertainment.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
An epic film with a suitably epic cast. I can watch this film quite regularly, it tells the story of the birth of Israel in a well paced and dramatic manner and Kirk Douglas is certainly on form. The film is inevitable Israeli biased but is essentially telling one side of the recent Middle Eastern Story; all in all a good watch for drama, battle and history.
14 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
In 1965 no studio wanted to finance this film, it was only when Director Melville Shavelson guaranted John Wayne's participation that he did get financed.
And why should John Wayne be interested in making a film about the formation of the State of Israel? Acording to some Wayne biographers the 'Duke' thougth it was a good story to remind americans what their country was all about, since the films recounts the crucial role of a jewish american coronel in the formation of the Israeli army, and the role of the USA in helping the figth for indepence of the small and opressed jewish nation. Wayne helped finance the picture as a response to the liberals who acused the USA of Imperialism, but he only apperead in the supporting role of an american general, leaving the main role to the true american jewish star Kirk Douglas.
"Cast a Giant Shadow" his an agreable, almost epic film, witch main interest his a great cast that presents, Kirk Douglas and Angie Dickison with John Wayne, Frank Sinatra and Yull Brynner in supporting roles.
Since this is a 60's Hollywood picture, political readings, especially in the face of recent events are totally inadequate, keep in mind that this film is pure entertainment, only based on true events.
And why should John Wayne be interested in making a film about the formation of the State of Israel? Acording to some Wayne biographers the 'Duke' thougth it was a good story to remind americans what their country was all about, since the films recounts the crucial role of a jewish american coronel in the formation of the Israeli army, and the role of the USA in helping the figth for indepence of the small and opressed jewish nation. Wayne helped finance the picture as a response to the liberals who acused the USA of Imperialism, but he only apperead in the supporting role of an american general, leaving the main role to the true american jewish star Kirk Douglas.
"Cast a Giant Shadow" his an agreable, almost epic film, witch main interest his a great cast that presents, Kirk Douglas and Angie Dickison with John Wayne, Frank Sinatra and Yull Brynner in supporting roles.
Since this is a 60's Hollywood picture, political readings, especially in the face of recent events are totally inadequate, keep in mind that this film is pure entertainment, only based on true events.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A truly good story - if not historically correct
As other reviwers have detailed, this may not be a historically balanced and correct account of the Israeli war of independence. But then, few war movies are objective. Read more
Published 8 months ago by J. T. Hoeg
Cast a Giant Shadow
Kirk Douglas is one of my favourite actors but this is not one of his better movies but for those who hold a collection it has to be included.
Published 15 months ago by Northeaster
Interesting but flawed
Col. Mickey Marcus (Kirk Douglas) had just returned home from WWII when David Ben-Gurion and the fledgling Jewish freedom fighters asked him to come to Palestine to organize their... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Kona
Cast a Giant Shadow DVD
I had looked forward to receiving my copy of "Cast A Giant Shadow" but was very disappointed when it arrived. Read more
Published on 19 Dec 2009 by M. E. Baker
great buy
older film but still actuel with the ongoing conflict around Israel, a great buy..cast agiant shadow
Published on 6 Feb 2009 by Michael Wilden
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