colinmbarron1956

Dear Larry,

In my book I have in fact considered the accuracy (or otherwise) of the MVs and tanks used in various WW2 films. I think the last sentence of your post refers to 'The Rat Patrol', an American TV series which was shown on BBC-1 around 1967 and was stopped after just a  few episodes because of criticism from British veterans of the North African campaign

Best Wishes,

Colin

www.colinbarron.co.uk

According to Simon Beck's book 'The Aircraft-Spotter's Film and TV Companion' and I quote 'DC-3C reg G-DAKS did most of the flying with G-BHUB playing the second Ruskin aircraft.G-BHUA was also used. Several other DC-3s appear in one episode set during the Berlin airlift and which was filmed on Malta.'

Yes that's right. Roy Marsden starred as Jack Ruskin in 'Airline.' Just nine episodes, made by Yorkshire TV shown in first quarter of 1982. Filmed in 1981. Created by Wilfrid Greatorex who co - wrote 'Battle of Britain' film Originally to have run over a few seasons covering different time periods but was cancelled after just nine episodes. Colin M. Barron

Here's more info I remembered. There was a feature on the making of this programme in the 'TV Times' that week in June 1979 .focusing on the use of S for Sugar at the RAF museum in Hendon. I have no idea why the programme was called 'The Purple Twilight' although the word 'Twilight' suggests an influence from 'The Twilight Zone' TV series. Curiously, there was an episode of 'The Outer Limits' TV series called 'Keeper of the Purple Twilight.' I wrote an article for Flypast in 1996 called 'Warbirds on the Box' which mentioned 'The Purple Twilight' but it was not used because of problems sourcing photos. You may be interested to read my book 'Planes on Film' about aviation films. It is available from Amazon.  Colin M. Barron

Yes I know all about this programme. It was called 'The Purple Twilight' and aired on ITV in June 1979 (see imdb for date). It was written by Geoffrey Lancashire and starred William Franklyn,Sarah Lawson  and Bernard Archard amongst the cast. Some filming was done with Lancaster 'S' for Sugar at the RAF Museum, plus a lot of stock footage. The plot had a sci - fi element as it opened with the Lanc pilot in difficulty and seeing two different futures in one of which he is an airline pilot.

A big 'thank you' to all members of this forum who answered all my questions  over the last few months in relation to my new book 'Battles on Screen : WW2 Action movies'. The book has now been released and is available from all the usual outlets, including Amazon. There is quite a lot in it about tanks and military vehicles.

Colin M. Barron

Can anyone give me details of who supplied all the MVs in the 1969 film 'The Bridge at Remagen'? I know the Austrian Army supplied all the M24s and the Czech Army supplied OT-810 halftracks and Praga RN trucks but where were all the other MVs sourced from?

Thanks,

Colin

My reference to this claim is Cinema Retro Movie Classics special on 'Where Eagles Dare'. Page 77.

'Of the 16 Kubelwagens used in the film,two are known to have survived,with UK-based Club 'Tiger1 ' claiming to own one'.

Colin

I was wondering if any of you had any information about where all the German military vehicles were obtained from for the film 'Where Eagles Dare?' I know that some at least came from the Austrian Army e.g. the 1958 Saurer APC which appears in the film. What about the others? I believe 16 Kubelwagens were used in the filming and only two survived!

Thanks for your help.

Colin'

Yes please do let me have any information you have.

Thank You,

Best Wishes,

Colin

I have a little info on 'Gruber's little tank' from 'ello, 'ello as I interviewed Tony Oliver for the Ford V8 magazine back in 2012. PM me if you want the information.

Yes I will let everyone know when the book is published - probably late 2017 or early 2018. Colin

Hope you post on here when you publish

The makers of ' A Bridge Too Far' constructed four replica German armoured cars plus two replica Sd. Kfz 251 half-tracks plus some replica Kubelwagens mainly for use in the 'Grabner's charge' sequence at Arnhem (Deventer) Bridge which was filmed 12 times. I think they used a lot of replicas to avoid damaging real vehicles. Some genuine half -tracks etc were used in this sequence as well but they were kept well back and did not participate in the dangerous stunts which might have resulted in damage to priceless historic vehicles.

Colin

'A Bridge Too Far' only a few tanks involved , I would have considered sufficent real ones available ? Hardly seemed cost effective or needed by logistics to use ersatz for this film ? Or were they already available for stated purpose as realistic props well away from rolling camera ? - so did reduce a bit of hire / transportation ££ costs.

Yes that information would be very helpful. I will be mentioning 'Force 10 From Navarone' towards the end of the chapter on 'The Guns of Navarone.' I already know that much of the film was shot in Yugoslavia using T34s and other MVs supplied by the Yugoslavian Army. The film was completed in Jersey in January 1978 and one of the MVs used was the Sd.Kfz 251 replica built for ' A Bridge Too Far' . Any other information you have would be most appreciated.

Best Wishes,

Colin

Youv'e forgotten Force 10 from Navarone! I can tell you where a lot of the vehicles and horses for that one came from. :-D

Yes I have seen this footage already thank you.

Best Wishes,

Colin

I expect you have seen this where Land Rovers were put to work with good effect:

 

 

 

I remember seeing some of these at Charlie Mann's Museum at Gweek, Cornwall in the 1970s. Charlie is no longer with us & nor the museum.[/QUO

Thanks for all the helpful info guys. In due course I will also be researching Guns of Navarone,Kelly's Heroes,Where Eagles Dare,The Great Escape,The Eagles Has Landed,Saving Private Ryan,The Bridge at Remagen,,The Longest Day so may have further questions over the next few months.

Best Wishes,

Colin

The military vehicles and replica tanks and armoured cars used on Bridge too Far were all supplied and built by the late Charlie Mann who ran the Lamerva military museum in Cornwall, he also built the 6 wheeler Mercedes truck used in the chase scene on the original Indiana Jones film, it was based on a ww2 GMC 6X6, after he died Southerbys auctioned everything off.

The Dodge based 4x4 Armoured car was built on a 1950's US Military M43 Ambulance chassis/running gear, the replica body was not armoured but just sheet steel construction, very convincing even close up. Later on when it had been sold to another film prop hire company who I worked for, I drove it on an Agatha Christy film shot in Israel along with other vehicles we shipped out from the UK.. I have some photos of it somwhere.

It was in more recent years it re appeared at the War&Peace show for a few years then put up for sale, and I saw it again now owned and used by some French reenactors in Normandy in 2014,

I guess the other replica armoured cars on the film were probably also Dodge based too, probably later "blown up" or modified for other productions.

What other war films are you researching? I was in charge of all the vehicle used on "Full Metal Jacket" too[/

My name is Colin. I have just joined the forum and I hope some of you may be able to help me with some queries. I am currently writing a book on war movies and one chapter is on 'A Bridge Too Far.' I have read Colonel Waddy's article about the film in 'After the Battle' (1977) but still have some questions about the replica German armoured cars built for the film. Colonel Waddy's article merely mentions two 4 - wheeled and two 6 - wheeled armoured car replicas but no mention is made of what the base vehicles were. I have read on the Internet Movie Vehicle Database that one of the 4 - wheeled armoured cars was based on a 1951 Dodge chassis but would be grateful if anyone reading this can give me more information.

Thanks,

Colin