Overrun by tanks

Movie
German title	Overrun by tanks
Original title	Darby's Rangers
Country of production	United States
original language	English
Publishing year	1958
length	104 minutes
Age rating	FSK 18
Rod
Director	William A. Wellman
script	Guy Trosper
production	Martin Rackin
music	Max Steiner
camera	William H. Clothier
cut	Owen Marks
occupation
James Garner : Major Darby Jack Warden : Sergeant Rosen Etchika Choureau : Angelina Edd Byrnes : Lt. Arnold Dittman Venetia Stevenson : Peggy McTavish Torin Thatcher : Sergeant McTavish Peter Brown : Burns Joan Elan : Wendy Hollister Corey Allen : Sutherland Stuart Whitman : Sergeant Bishop Murray Hamilton : Delancey William Wellman Jr .: Pvt. Eli Clatworthy Andrea King : Sheilah Andrews Adam Williams : Cpl. Heavy reverb Frieda Inescort : Lady Hollister Reginald Owen : Sir Arthur Hollister Philip Tonge : Prof. John Andrews Edward Ashley : Lt. Dave Manson Raymond Bailey : Brig. Gen. WA Wise Willis Bouchey : Brig. Gen. Truscott

Overrun by tanks (original title: Darby's Rangers ) is an American war film by director William A. Wellman from 1958. The world premiere in Germany took place on May 23, 1958.

action

Major Darby is the commander of the US Army's 1st Ranger Battalion . The force is trained by British command units in Scotland . Darby and his Sergeant Rosen explain to their people that the British commandos are the best in the world, but should now be replaced by them. The Americans are housed in Scottish families, and liaisons are also formed. Burns teamed up with Peggy McTavish, the daughter of the Scottish commander.

After the invasion of North Africa , two ranger battalions are formed and Darby is promoted to colonel . The West Point -Absolvent 2nd Lieutenant Dittman learn Angelina know that frees him from his military fixation. During the fighting in Italy, Italian villages are bombed. The men must be on their guard against snipers . This is followed by a firefight with German troops.

Darby confides in his sergeant and reveals that he is having a nightmare in which he is run over by a train. At the Battle of Anzio , the 1st and 2nd Ranger Battalions are ambushed and destroyed. Darby himself tries to provide relief with the 4th Battalion, but he has no success. Of the 767 men, only seven come back. Most of their comrades were taken prisoner by Germany .

Reviews

"Staged weak war film, which in an uncomfortably intrusive way mixes country humor, tough battle images, enthusiasm music and the apparently associated love affairs into an inedible brew."

- Lexicon of international film

background

• The film is the penultimate work by director Wellman.
• In a supporting role as Private Clatworthy is the son of the director William Wellman Jr. to see.
• Charlton Heston was slated for the role of Major Darby . Garner, known to German television audiences in the 1970s through detective Rockford - just call it all , played a supporting role. But Heston left the film and Garner took over his role.
• Rackin was Paramount's head of production from 1960 to 1964.
• Three Oscar winners worked on the film with: director Wellman (Oscar 1938 for best screenplay), composer Steiner (Oscars 1936, 1943, 1945) and costume designer Marjorie Best (Oscar 1950).

Historical background

• The Battle of Anzio took place in January 1944 as part of the Allied landing operation, Operation Shingle .

Web links

• By tanks rolled over the Internet Movie Database (English)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ cf. Lexicon of International Films 2000/2001 (CD-ROM)