If you have been reading my blog for long, you will know that the best books and movies for me are ones that are based on true stories. In particular, I have a great fondness for books and movies about World War II veterans. (I worked for twenty years as a travel agent and spoke with many vets going to their reunions.)
There will be a movie coming out this Friday and it is based on the true story of Desmond Doss, a conscientious objector who joined the U. S. Army in World War II even though he refused to carry a weapon. Andrew Garfield, an English actor, portrays Desmond Doss and I am amazed at the resemblance between these two men.
(Also. like many British actors, Andrew Garfield does an incredible American accent!). I have a clip of the actor speaking about the movie, so I will let him tell you about it in his real accent!
Now, before I go all Hollywood on you and just start speaking of the film, I want to emphasize that this movie is about a real person, Desmond Doss. I hope that this will honor his memory, as a true American hero. Desmond Doss...there click on his name for more info about him...what an amazing story!! (Desmond Doss spent a great deal of his adult time in Rising Fawn, Georgia. Anybody remember my post about Cloudland Canyon from a few years ago? That is in Rising Fawn!)
Desmond Doss receiving the Medal of
Honor from President Truman. (image from Wikipedia.)
Desmond Doss receiving the Medal ofHonor from President Truman. (image from Wikipedia.)
I really want to see this movie but the Fall colors are calling to me! Don't you want to walk down this trail with us?
Lucky you! I love walking through autumn woods. Sigh. I wonder how accurate American actors' accents playing Brits are.
ReplyDeleteThe colors right now are so pretty, wish you could walk with us!
DeleteAnyone who refuses to put themselves in a situation where they are very likely to take another human's life is a hero in my eyes! Mr Doss fully deserved this medal.
ReplyDeleteYou know I'd love to skip along that trail with you! Wait until you see the wonderful autumn woods and vineyards in one of my next posts :-)
Look forward to your autumnal post!
DeleteSuch a lovely place, i'd want to live there!
ReplyDeleteIf he refused to carry a weapon, did Mr. Doss go as a medic or a chaplain? Guess i'll have to look that up, and then see the movie!
Sorry, I didn't say too much about him, I didn't want to spoil it. x
DeleteI've been seeing this movie advertised and it looks like it'll be a very good movie. I love the winding road with all the fall colors.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a winding road but it is a paved trail that goes through the woods, it is for bikes and hikes, and it is very hilly in places, ask my knees! LOL.
DeleteI'll keep my eyes peeled for that movie. I always thought that Damian Lewis' accent in 'Band of Brothers' (excellent series) was pretty good, but not being American it's hard to tell. The very WORST British accent in a movie was surely Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins? "Oi soi, Bert!"!!! PS - yes, love the idea of that stroll so I'll do a tour round the village while the sun still shines. TTFN.
ReplyDeleteI thought that Damian Lewis did a great accent in "Band of Brothers"! That was an excellent movie made from the book "Band of Brothers" by Stephen Ambrose, one of my favorite writers. And don't get me started on Dick Van Dyke, I love him! I know people make fun of his accent, but hey, at least he tried! Did I inspire you to go out for a walk? You have made my day! Thanks for your comment, Mike!
DeleteI have been seeing clips of the movie on TV. Since I don't watch war movies I probably won't see it but I like the story of it.
ReplyDeleteI must admit, that if a movie is rated R, it most likely will be a rough one for me to watch. I have very strong feelings about films, and I wish I could talk to a director and tell him/her what they should have done to make the movie better!
DeleteI can't wait to see this movie! But gracious, those fall colors are gorgeous! Leaf peeping by day and movie by night has to be the best solution.
ReplyDeleteAh, there you go, walk in the day and watch the movie at night. That's the ticket! :-)
DeleteThis movie filmed here in Australia...directed by Mel Gibson is receiving high praise; and rumour has it Hollywood might forgive Mel for his drunken outbursts 10 years ago and he might be up for an Oscar for his direction and or best movie awards.
ReplyDeleteI know, I have heard the same thing. Strong drink seems to bring out the worst in people does it not?
DeleteSo many films made down under!
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DeleteLiked Andrew Garfield in Never Let Me Go so I'll watch out for the film. Lovely autumn colours at the moment in the trees. Learned recently that the Russians (and the Russian winter) wiped out up to 80 percent of Hitler's forces as compared to UK/USA and other European troops which accounted for between 20 to 30 percent but that's never reflected in western based films I find where they still reinforce the old basic concept that John Wayne won the war single handed :o). So if it hadn't been for the Russians we would have been stuffed and the future would have looked very different. Also learned recently that the Russians have 30 large arctic icebreakers as opposed to USA's 2 so at the moment they are winning the new race to exploit the melting icecaps in Greenland etc and dig out the precious reserves of minerals buried there while other countries have mass migration problems to deal with. Which will obviously make them very rich and powerful:o) Not a big fan of Russia and taking nothing away from anyone in any war but different nations always distort the truth in so many ways when telling a story. Just like the Romans did with Cleopatra's behavior and character assassination which is still going on between west and Middle East cultures to this day so I can't see that changing anytime soon. The deeper you look into things the more you think "What is the truth anymore?" Maybe it's just what version of the distortion and propaganda you choose to believe at any given time and I find that a comforting thought :o)
ReplyDeleteWorld War II was truly a world war and it took a great many people from many countries for it to turn out the way that it did.
DeleteWar movies? I must admit I much prefer the ones that starred John Wayne rather than the more "gritty" films, like the ones by Quentin Tarantino.
I think that you have to read a great deal from many sources to get to the real truth of things and even then, I take things with a grain of salt.
"What is truth?". The truth is we are all flawed human beings but that should not stop us from trying our best to make the world a better place.
Funny, this is now underlining in red again, don't know why!
Hope you enjoy the film!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Amy, I have a tough time with R rated movies, so wish me luck! HA!
DeleteThat does sound like it would be quite interesting. To be honest I've never heard of the man but that is quite the story. I do like those kinds of films so I should check this out when it comes out.
ReplyDeleteI hope Mel Gibson did a good job with his story!
DeleteFall is particularly spectacular everywhere this year it would appear. It's my favourite time of year from that point of view.
ReplyDelete