UP FROM THE BEACH
US, 1965, 98 minutes, Black and white.
Cliff Robertson, Red Buttons, Francoise Rosay, Marius Goring, Irina Demick, Broderick Crawford, James Robertson Justice, Slim Pickens.
Directed by Robert Parrish.
Up From The Beach is a story of D Day Plus One, 7 June 1944. It shows part of the group that landed on D-Day? on the Normandy beaches, a small group who encounter 21 French hostages and release them from the Germans. In the confusion of orders, the sergeant has to take the people back down to the beach and then back to their village. And then orders are changed because of the different circumstances of each day.
Though the story is slight, the film was made in Panavision. It is a kind of follow-up to 20th Century-Fox's The Longest Day. Cliff Robertson is genial as the sergeant. Red Buttons shows humour as Harry, the Jewish boy from Brooklyn who has to guard the German officer. The German officer is played with dignity (and final humanity revealed) by Marius Goring. French actress Francoise Rosay leads the supporting cast which includes Irina Demick and Broderick Crawford and Slim Pickens in guest roles. Direction is by Robert Parrish.
1. Interesting and entertaining war film? Small scope?
D Day plus one?
2. Black and white photography, location photography, the Normandy beaches, the French village? Panavision? Musical score?
3. The title, the focus on the beaches of Normandy, the Allies and their advance, the irony of taking the French back down to the beach?
4. The establishing of the beach-head, the invasion of the Allies, progress from the beach? Into the French town? The hostages, the Germans, the attack on the house, the Allies' victory? The introduction to the characters, the French?
5. Sergeant Baxter, his role in the invasion, the siege of the house, following Lily? The French, the discussions, the decisions, the orders to take them to the beach, the trek from the village, getting to know the characters? The German commandant and Harry in charge of him? Back at the beach, the various officials rejecting them, ordering them away? The command to go back to the village? The action going on around them? Back to the village, hunger, water? The American officials trying to get the civilians out of danger? The changing circumstances and their being allowed to stay? Baxter, his American background, getting to know the people well, talking to the old Frenchwoman, friendship with Lily, the mayor and his memories of World War One and his death, with the German commandant and his death? His achievement?
6. Harry from Brooklyn, in charge of the commandant, their talking together, about things Jewish, about Nazism, sharing friendship, the drink, getting to know one another better? Harry and his sense of achievement?
7. The German commander, his place in the town, the Frenchwoman's story about his being there, the passing of the years, just? The hostages and his opening the door of the church? His helping Sergeant Baxter and his death?
8. The townspeople, Lily and the Resistance, her relationship with the old woman, the Resistance man's death? Her friendship with Baxter? The old woman, her dignity, memories, comment on the war? The mayor? The old Frenchman and the memories of World War One? The boy in the gun tower, almost killed, wanting the helmet? Looking for his dog?
9. A glimpse of the day after the invasion, the French citizens and their experience, the Allies and their work, those in charge and the confusion of orders? A cross-section of war?
