Post by jrwentz on Jan 30, 2022 4:05:54 GMT -5
"Silent Night" is a movie released in 2002 about an actual event that happened in the Hurtgen Forest Dec. 24-25 during the Battle of the Bulge. Three U.S. soldiers were separated from their unit during a battle when one of them was wounded. They came upon a cabin and knocked on the door seeking shelter and a chance to treat their wounded buddy. A mother and her son were there and let them come in. A short time later three German soldiers show up and ask for shelter. After getting everyone to agree to leave their weapons outside and have a truce during their time there she let them in in. There are some tense situations, but no violence. The mother is played by Linda Hamilton. In my opinion it is well done.
The son was named Fritz Vincken. When he grew up Fritz told the story in Reader's Digest. It was fact-checked. President Reagan recounted the story in a speech. After searching for many years Fritz finally located one of the American soldiers in a rest home and went to see him. You can find this story online. The movie changes or adds a few things, but the core of the story is factual. In the movie, for example, the mother speaks English and German. The true fact is the mother spoke French and German. One of the American soldiers spoke French so she was able to interpret for both sides.
Silent Spring is available on several streaming services. I have Spectrum Cable, and this movie is available On Demand for free in the Hallmark listings. I suspect most major cable and satellite services have the Hallmark lineup.
"Decoration Day" is also available for free in Hallmark On Demand. It was released in 1990, stars James Garner, and won many awards. Garner plays a retired judge who has been become reclusive since his wife died. He is drawn back into the community when the Department of Defense finds an old account recommending one of the judge's boyhood friends for the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of the Bulge. His friend refuses the medal, and also wants to be left alone. I have a small number of all time favorite movies, and this is one of them. While it is not based on a true story, it does contain truths about the Battle of the Bulge and the emotional scars left on those who survived it.
The son was named Fritz Vincken. When he grew up Fritz told the story in Reader's Digest. It was fact-checked. President Reagan recounted the story in a speech. After searching for many years Fritz finally located one of the American soldiers in a rest home and went to see him. You can find this story online. The movie changes or adds a few things, but the core of the story is factual. In the movie, for example, the mother speaks English and German. The true fact is the mother spoke French and German. One of the American soldiers spoke French so she was able to interpret for both sides.
Silent Spring is available on several streaming services. I have Spectrum Cable, and this movie is available On Demand for free in the Hallmark listings. I suspect most major cable and satellite services have the Hallmark lineup.
"Decoration Day" is also available for free in Hallmark On Demand. It was released in 1990, stars James Garner, and won many awards. Garner plays a retired judge who has been become reclusive since his wife died. He is drawn back into the community when the Department of Defense finds an old account recommending one of the judge's boyhood friends for the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of the Bulge. His friend refuses the medal, and also wants to be left alone. I have a small number of all time favorite movies, and this is one of them. While it is not based on a true story, it does contain truths about the Battle of the Bulge and the emotional scars left on those who survived it.