Cast a Giant Shadow

1966 "Outnumbered - unarmed - unprepared - they stunned the world with their incredible victory!"
6.3| 2h26m| NA| en| More Info
Released: 30 March 1966 Released
Producted By: United Artists
Country: United States of America
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
Info

An American Army officer is recruited by the yet to exist Israel to help them form an army. He is disturbed by this sudden appeal to his Jewish heritage. Each of Israel's Arab neighbors has vowed to invade the poorly prepared country as soon as partition is granted. He is made commander of the Israeli forces just before the war begins.

Genre

Drama, War

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Director

Melville Shavelson

Production Companies

United Artists

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Cast a Giant Shadow Audience Reviews

Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.
Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good
BeSummers Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.
Numerootno A story that's too fascinating to pass by...
KingBrian1 The struggle for Isreali Independence as portrayed in media, with all the old favourites playing the cast of characters. Col David Marcus former US military officer is recruited into the Israeli army to help his people build a new future in the post war era. This movie sheds light on the historic emergence of Israel as a nation among the nations of the world. The focus is primarily aimed at the Jewish/Israeli events that led to their nationhood. The character of David Marcus a proud patriot for Israeli's who build and managed the Israeli army.
reisen55 This is not strictly a review, but I have just returned from a 13 day to Israel, and among our stops was a visit to the Latrun Tank Museum, which is the locale for the battle taking up the last 1/4 of the film. To one who has been to Latrun, the setting is entirely real and I wonder if, in 1965, it was filmed AT Latrun before it was changed into the proper, most magnificent, museum that it is today. Secondly, the convoy effort into Jerusalem is depicted in an entirely realistic way, so that aside from the Romantic Subplot - and John Wayne as a weird version of Patton - and Frank Sinatra sprays seltzer out of a plane - this is an entirely fine and satisfying film on the history of the Israeli state. The re-creation of the 1948 announcement by Ben-Gurion of the creation of the state is faithful to the proverbial T. Good job to all involved. And SEE this, and MASADA, before ever going to Israel and see both again when you return.
adiomedo That pretty much says it all. It even has John Wayne! Except the Indians are played by Arabs with keffiyeh instead of feathers. Not to belabor the Dukery, but this movie does for Palestine what "The Green Berets" did for Vietnam. No one expects (or should expect) movies like this to be a documentary, but holy cow! At least if we'd have gotten a little more heat from Angie Dickinson it might have saved the picture. Even the combat scenes are boring. This is the kind of movie that I see coming on and think, "wow, Kirk Douglas, Yul Brenner, Palestine 1948, this is gonna be great" and then you get a movie that could make Leni Riefenstahl blush, and it isn't even entertaining! This is one you can definitely leave off your list.
Tom Erik Høiås a forgotten gem amongst all the other lesser known war movies in Hollywood's snack vault. this one revolves around the liberation of Israel(or birth). the people of Israel stand alone against 5 Arab states who have swore to drive them into the Mediterranean sea as soon as British forces leave their land. but the Israelis have no military training or arms to fight back, so they turn to a ww2 veteran (Kirk Douglas) who cant say no because he loves war to damn much. and so begins the training and battle strategy which revolves around bluffing the opponent and literally getting their asses blown to bits. many familiar faces here in small parts , like John Wayne, Frank Sinatra and Michael Douglas. this is a different war movie than usual because of the political turmoil that the movies foundation is set on. and it seems like peace is a far away word for either the Israelis or Palestinians. but even so the movie packs a light tone of humor and wise cracks now and then. Good movie overall, watch it if you like old war movies.