And you obviously don't know what you are talking about. The USS Seaviper movie, while yes it may be low budget and you may not be able to go to your local theater to see it upon release (it could be a limited screen release or straight to DVD), the heart is in it. See, the guy who is doing this, director Ralph Villani, his father SERVED on the USS Drum in WWII. P.J. Villani, EM2c, was on the Drum for what would have been the 14th war patrol if the war hadn't ended before they reached their patrol station. Heck Ralph Villani was an EM3c himself back in '66 - '70.

And as far as giving to a museum submarine, you have to be VERY cautious about to whom you give your money to. If you visit Battleship Memorial Park and just make a donation to the Park, or use the "make a donation" link through the Battleship Memorial Park website, I can almost guarantee you that the Drum will never see a penny. There are funds out there for the Drum, and sometimes where to give isn't so obvious, especially in places where there is more on display than just a submarine (like USS Alabama battleship). I have tried to simplify the donation process for the Drum on the Drum228.org website as best I can. Those methods listed on the Drum228.org website - I can assure you the money will go exactly to where it is intended. I have given much of my time and money to the Drum throughout the past couple of years.

And as far as to how much money is made, that's completely up to the buyers of the film and the documentary.

Why put something down that isn't even finished yet? And I think it makes perfect sense to create a documentary on the Drum while you have all the equipment and personnel there anyway. Ralph Villani wants to help perpetuate the memory of his father and his father's boat. The documentary - he wants people to know the story of the Drum, which has been basically untold through any medium even after all this time. You can't find any book or documentary on the Drum, while many exist for other museum submarines. USS Cod, USS Silversides, USS Bowfin, USS Batfish, USS Pampanito, USS Nautilus, they all have books dedicated to them to name a few. The Drum was out there from April of '42 until August of '45, making 13 (and a 14th unofficial) war patrols. It's time for this documentary.

~16,000 Allied POWs died making the Burma Railway.

Terrible as THAT was, they had it easy. The Asian forced labor used by the Japs on the Burma railway? Around 90,000 died.

More Good Movies
 

For a good POW movie; King Rat (1965). 1945 Thailand. James Clavell novel based on Changi prison.

Some other movies not mentioned that I like:

The Bridge at Remagen (1969). 1945 Germany. We might have a distant relative in that one. Jan Schanilec, played Lt. Eckert on the German side. So I might be a bit biased there. I think he should have received an Oscar for best bit part.

A Bridge to Far (1977). 1944 Holland. Kinda a classic. Huge cast.
A Walk in the Sun (1945). 1944 Italy
The Story of G.I. Joe (year?) Italy. Burgess Meridith as Ernie Pyle. Good flick.

Pork Chop Hill (1959). 1953 Korea. I just plain outright love that movie.
The Blue Max (1966). 1917 World War I.

And I some good comedic ones.

Father Goose (1964). 1942 Pacific Coastwatcher.
Mister Roberts (1955). 1945 Pacific backwaters. An all time classic in my books.
Operation Petticoat (1959). 1942 Pacific submarine.
What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966) 1943 Sicily.
Willie and Joe (year?) Italy

Why are you suddenly talking about BoB?

There was no sarcasm in that post, and though I agree that conditions were generally terrible in the POW camps, the one Saito was in second command only squalid.

One more
 

And one more comes to mind. Academy award winner, The Fighting Lady. Color; 61 minutes. The best part. It's downloadable off yorktownsailor.com. Downloaded it a couple of weeks ago. It is quite good.

I just read through every post and noticed...

... not one person has mentioned The Thin Red Line.

Its an excellent film and is worth watching. It may move just a bit slow and may be a little hard to follow at points, but its not supposed to be like Saving Private Ryan (which opened in theaters the same year and overshadowed this film) or Eastwood's Iwo Jima films (which I must commend for its eye candy and sound mixing... has some neat cinematography too; ie, the Corsair scenes in the cockpit!). The Thin Red Line is, in my opinion, a very realistic and emotionally moving war film... because it really dives into the soldier's mind, captures the horrible conditions of the fight for Guadalcanal, and constantly reminds you that everyone is human... nobody is perfect... and anyone can die at any moment. I tend to feel a closer connection to this film, as if I were there with the characters, than I do with other films... because its all in the little realistic details.


Operation Pacific - A rather Americanized propaganda film but fun to watch! Can't beat The Duke!


Tom Hanks and Steven Speilberg are currently working on another WWII HBO Mini-Series called The Pacific, due to air this year I believe. From what I've read it follows two Marines (the 10-part plot is based on their memoirs), all the way from the hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor to the signing of the Japanese surrender!
http://www.pacificfans.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pacific_(miniseries)

The Thin Red Line
 

The Thin Red Line was left out in my opinion is that it was not a very well done movie. I felt that it was not a case of the Americal or 32nd division, as it was more of the 3rd shut-in Battalion of the 1st manic depression regiment of the Psycological division that should have been commanded by Dr. Phil. Way to much interpersonal drama that clouded what could have been one damned good action movie. It is no wonder Woody Harrelson and George Clooney jumped at the chance to snatch a roll in that film to get in another Hollywood liberal jab at how imperfect everyone is. I own the VHS and would have to dust it off to view it again if ever. Pacific should be much better. BTW, wasn't it originally titled `With the Old Breed'. Isn't it based on Eugene Sledge's book? Just wondering.

Tomorrow Night
 

`Run Silent, Run Deep' is on TCM (Turner Classic Movies) tomorrow evening at 8:00pm EST. I could watch it; but Fighting Sioux hockey is on a local station. Sioux vs. Badger's.:up:

This is why I own a copy on DVD. Watch it on my PC when nothing else is going on.

TCM
 

I guess tonight is submarine night on TCM. `Run Silent, Run Deep' is followed by `Submarine Command', followed by `Ice Station Zebra'. As for me though it's the University of North Dakota Fight Sioux at University of Wisconsin Badger's WCHA hockey.:rock:

I should be able to catch most of `Submarine Command'. I must have seen that movie. But I don't remember.:hmmm:

Cool thanks for the heads up !

I'm hrere to help
 

Originally Posted by Schani
I guess tonight is submarine night on TCM. `Run Silent, Run Deep' is followed by `Submarine Command', followed by `Ice Station Zebra'. As for me though it's the University of North Dakota Fight Sioux at University of Wisconsin Badger's WCHA hockey.:rock:

I should be able to catch most of `Submarine Command'. I must have seen that movie. But I don't remember.:hmmm:

Cool thanks for the heads up


Yes, should be a great game.

You meant the hockey game, right?:rotfl:

I can't wait to see the Hollywood messages this movie is going to contain. Throwing away any true historical context I expect to see a strong female character that captain's the boat and can easily emasculates any male chavinists twit that get's in her way. She is accompanied with her faithful minority second in command that has that folksy charm and wit . Add in a gay couple that just seeks civil justice but is tormented by several homophobe crew members that seeks to deny them their rights. The crew members who don't exhibit the stereotypical insensitive warmongering redneck behaviors will be countered by the rationally thinking atheists, enviromentally senisitive crew members. Yup should be a winner alright.

USS DRUM 228 Documentary
 

Hey all,

It's been some time since we've posted we are headed back to Mobile for three weeks of filming on the USS Drum. We've posted our documentary website www.ussdrum228story.com . It contains photos and documents that haven't been seen by anyone accept for families. Some of the documents here have been stashed on the boat since world war 2. Enjoy.

Best,
Carl Lyons
Producer
USS Seaviper and USS Drum Documentary