Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for November 11, 2024

A bridge too far

But, M*A*S*H was a movie before it was a TV series.

I believe it can be said that about every war movie has some kind of Comic Relief including some of my favourites, A Matter of Life and Death, The Life And Times Of Colonel Blimp, I Know Where I’m Going, and even The Scarlet Pimpernel.

The Longest Day, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Casablanca, Grave of the Fireflies, Schindler’s List, The Great Escape, Stalag 17, Patton, Platoon, From Here to Eternity, Hack Saw Ridge, The Dirty Dozen

Congratulations for the service.

Hell is for Heroes, Bob Newhart’s monologue on the phone from a foxhole.

Laugh so you don’t cry. Sorry for the crappy wars.

Ensign Pulver.

MASH was a movie first.

I have never seen Arlo in a bar before,

Happy Veteran’s Day to my fellow vets. I remember the hostile attitude service members got from a lot of people during and following the Viet Nam war and am glad to see the difference.

I loved the TV show China Beach.

“Kelly’s Heroes.” Maybe we should also consider “The Seven Samurai.” Not only is it a famous movie, its plot has been re-worked many times, and there are homage scenes in other movies and TV productions - including “Kelly’s Heroes” and ST-DS9 to name two.

Be at peace on Veterans Day!

Stalag 17.

I could just scream.

One of my favorites as a child was Gary Cooper in ‘’Sergeant York". It came out in 1941, ten years before I was born, but it left a good impression on me. And to all the Veterans out there, ’’Thank You!"

Private Benjamin

White Christmas. And Happy Veterans Day to my Dad.

What about “Saving Private Ryan”?

Like anywhere else, it depends on your sense of humor. But humor is definitely there.

Full Metal Jacket

Off topic, but important: The “Install drivers” ad that has appeared in GC in recent days may be more virulent than I suspected. I made the mistake of clicking to close the ad, and almost immediately I began getting reports on Malware Bytes (installed) of me apparently logging into accounts on a Chrome desktop in California moments after I had actually logged into them on my laptop in Arizona. I also have a warning from another site I frequent about a login from a Chrome desktop running Windows NT.

For those who are not familiar with Windows security, there can hardly be anything more risky than letting unsolicited sites install highly privileged software on our computers.

I have noticed GC has become inundated with ads, and that is a fertile ground for the worst sorts. I may have to bid adieu to my friends here, at least until Go Comics can get a grip on user security.

All Quiet On The Western Front, A Bridge Too Far, and Zulu

Tour of Duty

war is always ugly, that people can find some black humor to survive speaks of the human spirit not humanity.

Us “old folks” already knew that. Gary Burghoff (Radar O’Rielly) was the only actor in both movie and TV series.

Speaking as a vet to others, thanks. And thank you to those who support us, the families who saw us off and waited, especially those whose vet made the ultimate sacrifice.

I don’t really think of “Good Morning Vietnam” as a comedy. Not that it’s a drama, but it’s definitely got some heavier stuff going on.

Here’s hoping the military continues to remember that its allegiance is to the Constitution and not one man.

The Best Years Of Our Lives in my mind is the best…

Not only film and television, Don’t forget Bill Mauldin’s Willie and Joe.

I will add my voice to those before me.

M*A*S*H: I strongly recommend the novel upon which the movie and television series were based.

Indeed it was.

I remember laughing out loud while reading one passage of The Naked and the Dead, which otherwise had pretty horrible stuff in it.

So was Sgt. Bilko

Lotta good ones in a more dramatic vein too, but I appreciate Jimmy’s point here.

If it weren’t for dark humor, we’d often have no humor at all. IYKYK

My good friend at Jiffy Lube called to remind me that oil changes are free all day for vets, like myself, (they do it every year). So, I drove over in my EV with donuts and coffee and thanked them for all that they do for vets.

The Boys in Company C

M*A*S*H was a well received movie long before it was on TV

“You can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!” Classic!!!

Has anyone mentioned Apocalypse Now? Although based on Conrad’s novel Heart of Darkness, it was a Viet Nam-era war movie.

M*A*S*H was a movie first….then adapted for TV.

Sgt. Bilko (The Phil Silvers Show) was also on TV in the ’50’s and was then made into a movie in 1996..

Not only Army. Some of those shows were also about Navy and Air Force personnel.

Down Periscope.

I can’t believe, with all these titles, no-one mentioned “The Wackiest Ship in the Army” or “I Was a Male War Bride.” Not in a class with Catch-22 or MASH, but for completeness.

F Troop ( on TV)

My little choo choo. Funny, funny movie.

A little off-topic:

Not being a veteran, my opinion might be all wrong. To me, “Happy Veterans Day” is the incorrect wording to use. From what I have read, seen, and heard, combat is sheer hell. Also, those who were not in combat saw people die in training. I imagine that we have many veterans who are truly the walking wounded, even if they were nowhere near combat.

I don’t know what else to say, if anything. Maybe a nod of respect is right.

All I know for sure is that I can’t say, “Happy Veterans Day.”

MASH was first a movie.

Glad to see “Mr. Roberts” at the top of the list. James Cagney, Henry Fonda, William Powell, Jack Lemmon, Ken Curtis, Harry Carey, Jr., Ward Bond, Nick Adams, Betsy Palmer, and don’t forget Marty Milner!

“Mister Roberts” and “No Time for Sergeants” were TV shows as well!

My favorite, “The Best Years of Our Lives”.

How long has it been since we had a good military comedy? I recently saw “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” and it was terrible.

What about “Down Periscope” with Kelsy Grammer. That’s the service comedy for me!

I enjoy most all of the military movies from historical to comedies. The Drill Sergeant in Stripes was just like the one I had in basic 52 years ago, though mine had no sense of humor and he was actually scarry. If I ever meet up with him, I would give him a big bear hug and hopefully he would respond by pushing me away before he hugged me back……

Not a war movie, per se, but a top AF movie has to be “Strategic Air Command”. Heck, it stars a top Hollywood star who happened to be an AF officer himself.

On TV, Balck Adder IV was a comedy set in WW I with one of the most tragic endings I’ve seen

It’s not a movie, but if you don’t know about it, look up the Ballad of Roger Young.

M*A*S*H was a movie first.

No Time for Sergeants also became a TV show. So did Private Benjamin.

McHale’s Navy

M*A*S*H debuted as a movie before the TV series

We had to laugh or we’d drown in tears. Remember “Sad Sack” (Baker) and “Up Front with Willie and Joe” (Mauldin). The funnies had a number of military themes in wide circulation. Know the REAL translations of “SNAFU”, “FIGMO”, “FUBARBE” or “BUFF”? Bet most of them would pass by the license plate censors.

So was SGT. Bilko

I will watch any movie with Ann Sheridan.

In Harm’s Way. Some marvelous photography.

all watched this weekend and this morning. The Big Parade, Flyboys tonight and tomorrow as well as reading All Quiet on the Western Front

AMAZING NUMBER OF COMMENTS TODAY

Not complaint – just a comment – why did so many feel a need to mention that M*A*S*H was a movie first after the first person to post same did?

Not mentioned that I noticed – Nov 11 Veteran’s Day as the armistice ending WWI was signed at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11 month. It was originally called Armistice Day but after WWII it was changed to Veteran’s Day to honor all who fought for our country. (As opposed to Memorial Day which honors those died for our country.)