Battleground
1949 · Movie · 118 min · ★ 6.7 · 70% critics
A small group of American soldiers is sent into the freezing, foggy forests near Bastogne during a brutal winter offensive in 1944. Cut off from supplies and clear skies, they endure hunger, fear, and relentless pressure as they try to hold their ground and wait for conditions to change.
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Details
- Years
- 1949
- Release date
- 1949-11-09
- Language
- English
- Runtime
- 118 min
- Critic score
- 70/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.7/10 (101 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want a gritty, character-focused WWII story about endurance under siege, closer to Band of Brothers than a big battle spectacle; Not for you if you need constant action or modern pacing.
Pros: tense survival atmosphere; strong ensemble performances; grounded wartime feel | Cons: slow, talky stretches; dated character types; limited large-scale action
Themes
- world war ii
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography, Black-and-White · 1950
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Original Screenplay · 1950
- Academy Award — Best Cinematography, Black-and-White · 1950 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Supporting Actor · 1950 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Film Editing · 1950 · nominated
Show all 8 awards →
- Academy Award — Best Writing, Original Screenplay · 1950 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Picture · 1950 · nominated
- Academy Award — Best Director · 1950 · nominated
Cast & crew
Van Johnson
as Holley
John Hodiak
as Jarvess
Ricardo Montalban
as Roderigues
George Murphy
as 'Pop' Stazak
Marshall Thompson
as Jim Layton
Jerome Courtland
as Abner Spudler
Don Taylor
as Standiferd
Bruce Cowling
as Wolowicz
James Whitmore
as Kinnie
Douglas Fowley
as 'Kipp' Kippton
Directed by William A. Wellman