Fighting On Film - The War Movie Podcast!

This week we interview the legendary Dale Dye, who has served as a Military Advisor on some of the most famous films from within the war genre. From Platoon to Saving Private Ryan , Dale has more than perhaps anyone else shaped how actors and productions create the modern war film. Join us as he answers questions from our Patreon supporters and tells on-set stories from over 40 years in the indust...

This week the boys run down a trio of war films for your delectation. Starting with 2023's 'Ambush' starring Aaron Eckhart in this straight-to-streaming Vietnam film. Then onto 2013's 'Company Of Heroes' and ending on the first animation to be featured on the show, 'R.A.S' which tells the story of a bored group of French soldiers in Afghanistan. Follow us on Twitter  @FightingOnFilm &nbs...

Gold, Girls, and Guns! Sisu is the latest action film to be released in the wake of the success of the John Wick films. This time with a wartime twist. Written and directed by Jalmari Helander we follow a former Finnish commando who has struck gold, literally, and has an unfortunate run in with a marauding tank crew on the way to the bank. We were kindly invited to an advanced screening of th...

Enemy Coast Ahead! This week we commemorate the 80th anniversary of Operation Chastise as we look back at 1955's The Dam Busters, with very special guests Al Murray and James Holland. Directed by Michael Anderson the film follows 617 Squadron into action with a large cast led by Richard Todd and Michael Redgrave. Climb aboard the Lancaster and ready the spot lamps as we discuss everything from Ric...

This week's episode finds us deep behind enemy lines in Afghanistan as the Mujahideen, aided by Jason Patric, chase down a T-55 and its maniacal commander, George Dzundza. Join us as we discuss 1988's ' The Beast' , directed by Kevin Reynolds with the screenplay written by William Mastrosimone, based on his 1984 play Nanawatai .  The film was chosen for us in our monthly Patreon supporter pol...

The Patrol (2013) is one of the few British films about the war in Afghanistan, we are joined this week by the film's director Tom Petch . Who takes us through the making of the film from its inception to opening night. The film concerns a small British patrol as they fight more than just the enemy. The script tackles issues such as the soldiers feelings in regards to their equipment and the wider...

In this week's bumper episode we are joined by aviation historian Matt Bone from the Damcasters podcast to tackle 2012's Red Tails. The film follows the Tuskegee Airman in Italy during the Second World War. Funded by Star Wars legend George Lucas the film aims to tell the story of how the African American pilots found themselves fighting not only the enemy but also their own military for a chance...

Repeat, please!? We cover perhaps one of the most beloved 60s war movies this week with 1969s 'The Battle of Britain'! From its all-star cast to thrilling air combat sequences, it's one of the most requested films we've been asked to review. To join us in this gargantuan task is Aviation Historian James Jeffries! Join us to find out why this movie endures to this day and why its portrayal of histo...

We take to the air in this week's episode as we look back at 2006's ' Flyboys ' James Franco stars as a cowboy turned pilot in this Great War aviation movie. Directed by Tony Bill and loosely based on the Lafayette Escadrille - a squadron of American pilots flying for the French air force. Does Flyboys hit the heights or does it fail to take off? Join us to find out. Follow us on Twitter&nbsp...

We recently had the chance to talk to writer/director Martin Hemingway-Mosely and producer Zoe Lewin about their upcoming film 'A Memory Owed'. This ambitious film project is currently raising funds ahead of the next phase of shooting. The project brings together a talented cast and some impressive practical effects work to tell a story steeped in the history of the RAF's bomber command. We talk a...

We round off Mercenary Month 2 with a bang as we go over 1998s 'Ronin'. John Frankenheimer directs an ensemble cast made up of 90s powerhouses from De Niro to Reno, the car chases leap from the screen and the gun fights pack a punch, as the gang of Mercs hunt for a briefcase thats contents remains a mystery. Join us as we talk everything from stuntmen to the colour of the boathouse at Hereford! Fo...

This week Gene Hackman assembles a team of Vietnam veterans to rescue his son from a POW camp in Laos. In the penultimate instalment of Merc Month 2. This beloved film is a hybrid of the Vietnam and mercenary genres, written by Wings Hauser and produced by John Milius it has a great ensemble cast including Patrick Swayze, Fred Ward, Robert Stack, and Reb Brown. Join us for a real classic.  Fo...

We continue Merc Month 2 with another Cannon Films classic - 1988's 'Mercenary Fighters'. Starring Peter Fonda, as a no-nonsense mercenary leader, Ron O'Neal as an experienced helicopter pilot and Reb Brown as a hard fighting merc that has a change of heart. Directed by Riki Shelach Nissimoff the film follows an ensemble mercenary team tasked with forcing local people from their homes to make way...

  This week Merc Month 2 continues with 1971's 'Universal Soldier'. Starring George Lazenby as Ryker, a mercenary turned weapons consultant, as he prepares to embark on a new mission after a few years out of the game but as the mission approaches he has a miraculous change of heart which sees Ryker submerge himself in London's counterculture scene.  Directed by Cy Endfield, of 'Zulu' fame, this in...

We begin our second edition of Mercenary Month with Richard Brooks's classic 'The Professionals'! Burt Lancaster and Lee Marvin head up an all-star cast who are sent to rescue a railroad magnate's wife from the clutches of a Mexican bandit in the dying days of the Old West. But all is not as it seems! A classic western with great shootouts and set pieces the film, 'The Professionals' is one of the...

To mark the one year anniversary of Russia's Invasion of Ukraine, we look at the 2017 Ukrainian film 'Cyborgs'. The film shows the hard-fought battle for Donetsk International Airport in 2014. The cast of Ukrainian troops hold the terminal from Separatist forces in a film that tries to come to terms with the war in Donbas through not only firefights but also its dialogue and attempts to explain th...

'Platoon Leader' is a Cannon Films production that attempted to cash in on the glut of 80s Vietnam War films that saw films like Platoon (1986), Full Metal Jacket (1987), and Hamburger Hill (1987) flourish. Directed by Aaron Norris 'Platoon Leader' features the skilled cinematography of Arthur Wooster and a strong cast of TV actors while Micheal Dudikoff plays the lead, LT. Knight, who is sent to...

We stand in the doorway of the transport plane and wait for the red jump light as we cover 1953's ' The Red Beret ', we're joined this week by journalist and historian Mark Urban , writer of the recent ' Red Devils ' that charts the history of the Parachute Regiment during the Second World War.  Alan Ladd stars along side British war movie stalwarts Leo Genn, Harry Andrews, Donald Houston and Stan...

This week we trek across the Cretan mountains with Dirk Bogarde and co as we review 1957s ' Ill Met by Moonlight ' from the illustrious filmmaking duo - Powell and Pressburger. Filmed in the golden era of the British War film the film follows the audacious kidnapping of a German general. Does the picture evoke the previous works of the famous directing duo or is this one undercooked? Follow us on...

This week we look at the John Milius epic tale of diplomacy versus military intervention in the early 1900s as Sean Connery's Raisui kidnaps an American citizen, will the troops be called in or will politics save the day? The Wind and Lion is in the style of a 40s/50s epic with great turns from Connery, Bergen, and Brian Kieth as an uncanny Roosevelt lookalike in Milius's second feature. Follow us...

In 2008 A group of self-absorbed and washed-up actors find themselves lost in the Vietnamese jungle while filming one of the most expensive war movies ever put into production.   In the first episode of 2023, we look back at the war movie comedy hybrid ' Tropic Thunder '. Ben Stiller stars and directs a film that not only lampoons the War movie genre but the Hollywood Studio system itself. Still h...

Happy New Year! We take a moment to look back at all the films and specials released in 2022 on FoF. From 'Nine Men' to 'Where Eagles Dare'!  Thanks to all who listened and supported our show and here's to 2023! Missed some episodes? Find our whole back catalogue at www.fightingonfilm.com Check out our website for more - www.fightingonfilm.com We are thrilled to partner with www.warfaremedia.net ,...

Zip up your parkas, load your MP40s and prepare for the Fighting On Film Christmas Special! We're joined by author Geoff Dyer, author of ' Broadsword Calling Danny Boy ' (2018) to discuss one of the most iconic men-on-a-mission war films ever made: Where Eagles Dare! Directed by Brian G. Hutton and starring an incredible cast including Richard Burton, Clint Eastwood, Mary Ure, Ingrid Pitt, Donald...

We're pleased to be joined by award winning playwright and filmmaker Lance Nielsen . Lance was the driving force behind Pegasus Bridge , a film about Operation Coup De Main/Deadstick during D-Day. Sadly, the funding for Lance's ambitious film didn't materialise and the Covid-19 Pandemic halted production. Thankfully, Lance has now published the film's screenplay along with an introduction which te...

This week we examine a war film with a difference. 2019's 'World War Four' is an independent film from New Zealand which uses a vast amount of public domain military footage and scenes filmed with a small cast to craft a narrative that explores how World War Four begins. With nods to real world conflict and hot spots filmmaker AK Strom crafts a film which has an interesting place in the war film g...