Cast a Giant Shadow (1966) User Reviews (44)

Good story, clumsily told

[grantss · 5/10 · 5 October 2019]

1947. An American Army officer, Colonel David 'Mickey' Marcus, is offered an advisory role with the Israeli Defence Force. Israel is about to gain its independence from Britain and faces overwhelming odds as it faces powerful enemies on all sides.

A good story, largely based on historic events. Covers the formation of the state of Israel and its initial military struggles against massive odds.

However, doesn't cover the events in much depth though. Much time is wasted on sub-plots, almost all of which add nothing to the story.

These sub-plots, especially the romantic angle with Marcus and Magda Simon, not only use up film time that could have been better spent, but make the film quite clumsy. So many contrivances and Hollywoodisms. Just about every piece of dialogue seems written as a soundbite, a one-line zinger. It all just seems so cheesy.

A good and spectacular epic film with all-star-cast and a lot of cameos

[ma-cortes · 6/10 · 27 May 2004]

The movie deals upon the birth of State of Israel . It's based on real deeds . Here David , ¨Mickey¨ , Marcus (Kirk Douglas) , an American Jew and general of the WW2 who helps the Jewish to build the State of Israel . There are various flashbacks remembering exploits of Marcus during second world War . After that , he goes to Israel and he commands the troops . Marcus formed an Israel's formidable army to fight during the 1947-1948 struggle for Independence . Mickey is in every military action , culminating in a dangerous mission through a risked pass to arrive in Jerusalem .

¨Cast a giant shadow¨ follows the fabulous career of Col. Mickey , he is Kirk Douglas who does a first-rate acting as the daredevil Israeli commandant . John Wayne plays as an American general , he is excellent , as always . Yul Brynner is a Jewish colonel who has the command of the army that will defeat the Arabs . There's a warmly glowing portrait of a woman warrior from Senta Berger . And Luther Adler gives an awesome acting as Ben Gurion . The ending with its spontaneous sentiment on the people when takes place the Independence declaration is the most moving moment in the movie .

The music from Elmer Bernstein is impressive and cinematography by the Italian Aldo Tonti is magnificent. The flick will appeal to history buffs . This propaganda motion picture was well directed by Mellville Shavelson . Rating : Acceptable and passable , well worth watching. Rating 6.5/10

A Rather Bloated Tale On The Founding Of Israel

[Theo Robertson · 6/10 · 23 August 2013]

This was made in an era when just about every household had a television and Hollywood doesn't tolerate competition and needed to bring out its big guns . Those howitzers would be big name stars and epic storytelling . Unfortunately by this time this type of film would be dying out and a year later BONNIE AND CLYDE arrived on the scene which changed Hollywood film making with relatively unknown actors starring in smaller scale films that had a dubious morality to them so a film like CAST A GIANT SHADOW would have become relatively dated very quickly by the end of the decade

On its own merits it isn't a bad film though it's certainly not a very good one either . The problem is that " Epic " is often a euphemism for " bloated " , therefore we get to see the main protagonists war experience and family life . Why do we have to see all this ? one can speculate that the war sequences is an excuse to shoehorn John Wayne in to the film that'll appeal to all the manly men in the audience and the family life of the protagonist will get women flocking in to the cinema . It also has the unnecessary addition of Frank Sinatra which like Wayne seems to be included to give box office appeal

It's not just the lack of brevity that's the flaw but the sometimes embellishment to the story that doesn't do it any favours . Some other commentators have gone in to detail so I won't dwell to much upon it but one noticeable aspect is that the Israelis in 1948 are portrayed to being total strangers to war which isn't in any way true . The British Army had a Jewish brigade which served in Italy during the war and were engaged in some very tough fighting in 1944 . Likewise Palmach and Haganah members would have had military experience fighting against Arabs in the Special Night Squads during the Arab revolts of 1938-39 and wouldn't be the inexperienced military virgins as seen here . Sadly the film doesn't make the point that the Irgun and Stern Gang were the purveyors of modern day terrorism that EOKA , the Provisional IRA and many other terrorist organisations modelled themselves upon until Al Quada took terrorism to new depths , but if you've got a Hollywood movie and it contains Brits as an occupying power then it's easy to turn a blind eye , but to be fair it points out it's better to be occupied by the British than the French

That said the Brits aren't full blown villains and the American view of Israelis is I imagine not as black and white as it would be today regardless of your politics . In 1948 the American State Department was very suspicious about Israel since many of its inhabitants were from Eastern European countries and Eastern European equalled communist in American eyes with Zionist support for the country confined to a small American Jewish lobby . The film does touch upon the fact that the fledgling Jewish state obtained its weapons from the international black market rather than being supplied by America with America realising that the Arab lands contain an awful lot of oil so best not to annoy them . It should be remembered that the first arms supply from America to Israel didn't happen till 1965 and the often overstated influence America has over the Israeli state wouldn't have existed when this film was released

In summary CAST A GIANT SHADOW is a relatively entertaining yarn but it's a melodramatic Hollywood movie using big names to make money for the studio . If you're interested in finding out the proper history of the creation of Israel it's a much better idea to read a book on the subject with the only problem trying to find a totally unbiased book on the subject

Good action but so-so writing

[irishtom29 · 27 September 2005]

I thought some of the battle scenes in the picture were very good, especially the battle in which the Israelis attack the fort held by the very professional Jordanians and are defeated, the shot where wave after wave of attackers emerge from the standing wheat was very well done.

For what it's worth most of the weapons were realistic, the Jordanians were equipped with the proper British arms; SMLEs and Vickers and Bren guns. I'd liked to have seen Glubb Pasha.

The story goes back and forth between sappy and inspired. The scene where the Israelis declare their independence brought tears to my eyes but I'm notorious for the manly tear.

A Giant Shadow of a Cast

[fastball1740 · 6/10 · 19 June 2004]

One of the greatest casts ever assembled for a single film including Kirk Douglas, Michael Douglas, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, Yul Brynner, Senta Berger, Angie Dickinson and others was put completely to waste in this film of unfulfilled potential. Sadly, despite a disproportionate amount of Jews in influential positions in Hollywood, Exodus and Cast a Giant Shadow remain the only two major films on the subject of Israeli independence.

Clearly almost the entire budget was spent on a two minute cameo by John Wayne because even for 1966 the special effects were poor, the dialogue was flat, the plot was boring, many scenes made little sense, and every actor either seemed bored with his or her role or they overacted. For a movie based on actual events the filmmakers due an incredibly poor job of explaining how things actually come to pass in the movie, maybe the truth was just too boring. The film sends a message but it is poorly conveyed and in the end I simply am left unsatisfied with a desire to see a Longest Day type caliber movie about the Israeli War of Independence.

CAST A GIANT SHADOW (Melville Shavelson, 1966) **1/2

[Bunuel1976 · 6/10 · 15 July 2007]

Earnest, well-mounted but essentially dreary epic about the real-life involvement of an American Jew in the post-war struggle for Israel's independence – thus sharing its theme with EXODUS (1960), and clearly aiming (but failing) for a "Marcus Of Israel" feel!

Kirk Douglas stars as Mickey Marcus – perhaps chosen due to the character's similarities to another historical figure forced by circumstances into leadership, Spartacus, whom Douglas had portrayed in 1960. He's supported by an eclectic cast which includes Angie Dickinson as his neglected(!) wife, Senta Berger as the Israeli girl he falls for, Topol as an ill-tempered Arab sheik, Luther Adler as a local politician, a plethora of reliable British character actors – and even guest appearances by Frank Sinatra (which doesn't amount to much), a glum Yul Brynner as a fellow freedom fighter, and John Wayne as a U.S. General whom Douglas initially falls foul of but the two eventually end up respecting one another (still, seeing Wayne at the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp is about as incongruous as his stint playing the Roman Centurion at Christ's crucifixion in THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD [1965]!).

Despite a sharp script and good individual sequences, the film is compromised by its necessity to be both a spectacle and a message picture (the WWII flashbacks, for instance, are unnecessary and merely render the film overlong); unsurprisingly, it works best during the action highlights (complemented by a typically fine Elmer Bernstein score). Apparently, the events have been partially fictionalized – I wonder whether these embellishments concerned the romantic complications and the Hollywood-style ironic ending. For the record, Shavelson had started out as a scriptwriter (and later director) of Bob Hope and Danny Kaye vehicles; this was his most serious effort – a brave try, but not quite the 'giant' film he clearly intended...

Don't be distracted by that all-star cast; focus on the message.

[mark.waltz · 7/10 · 18 October 2017]

While this dramatizes American involvement in two different wars (overlapping in the film's structure even though they take place several years apart), it is presented in a forward manner that is never confusing. Of course, one of those wars is the second world war, and the other one is what little involvement that the American military had in the attempt to create a Jewish state in Israel. At the center of this is Jewish American Kirk Douglas, an army attorney with his own ways of viewing situations, often to his detriment and on occasion to the bemused smirk of his superiors.

With John Wayne as a two star general and Yul Brynnur as the Jewish leader fighting for the independent state, there's sure star power. Angie Dickinson is pretty much in the background as Douglas's wife, but has a few moments of greatly influencing her idealistic husband. Senta Berger plays an Italian Jew who teaches Douglas the ways of the Jewish Nationals who consider Douglas an American outsider.

One poignant moment has Douglas showing Wayne around Dachau and observing Wayne becoming sick inside as he realizes the horrors. Future Tevye, Topol, plays a classic music loving Arab leader struggling for peace in his changing world. A walk-on by Frank Sinatra as a pilot seems almost gratuitous. Michael Hordern appears briefly as a politician who tries to urge Douglas to convince the Jewish Israelis to proceed slowly, giving the indication that America would only support the leaders who would aide them in getting oil.

At a lengthy 140 minutes, this manages to fly by pretty quickly with moments intense and poignant, violent and peaceful, traditional and modern. I really felt that I was getting a pretty authentic view of some of the situations that could have gone on, taking account that this war for control has never really ended, only getting more complex as new leaders and technologies have become involved. Indeed, no matter how much money and power a country at war has, the results are usually the same as those countries which don't.

Jerusalem or Bust

[wes-connors · 5/10 · 3 January 2010]

After service in World War II, assimilated Jewish-American lawyer Kirk Douglas (as David "Mickey" Marcus), is offered a dangerous assignment in Palestine. There, Allied victors and the United Nations are supporting the formation of Israel through partition. Arriving, Mr. Douglas finds himself on the ground floor of what will dominate the remainder of 20th century in ways they couldn't have imagined in 1966 - the Arab/Israeli conflict. Reluctantly, Douglas finds himself leading the charge…

"Cast a Giant Shadow" is well-named. First, it begins with giant shadow-casting footage of three larger-than-life figures - Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin (at Yalta). Second, it features "special appearances" by giant shadow-casters who normally star in features - Frank Sinatra, Yul Brynner, and John Wayne (as the General). Third, you have sexy shadow-casting Senta Berger (as Magda Simon), who helps Douglas get over still smokin' wife Angie Dickinson (at home).

This film is what you'd expect, considering the politics and time. Douglas is always a strength; his performance holds the film together through some tough times, and his varied selection of projects is appreciated. A couple of the big name supporting players, once you get over the initial distraction, present real characterizations. Director Melville Shavelson and cinematographer Aldo Tonti make attractive use of the locations. The real story is Douglas juggling Ms. Berger and Ms. Dickinson, not war.

***** Cast a Giant Shadow (3/30/66) Melville Shavelson ~ Kirk Douglas, Senta Berger, Stathis Giallelis, John Wayne

Terrific story of Israel's 1st general in 2000 years

[magbo · 8/10 · 16 May 2009]

Excellent cast, intelligent script, heart-warming scenes of loyalty, determination, re-discovered faith, sobering scenes of the cost of freedom, wow! I was completely engrossed watching this film, the story of General David "Mickey" Marcus (Kirk Douglas), who in 1948 became the first Israeli general since Joshua of Biblical times. This film came out when I was 14 and I have somehow missed seeing it all these years. I had no idea what I was missing.

What I don't understand is the grumbling and complaining about what a "bad" film this is. Huh? I loved it! Kirk Douglas, John Wayne, Yul Bryunner, Senta Berger and Frank Sinatra were perfectly cast in their roles. The script covered the highlights of the War of Independence during the brief time time Marcus was involved, and I don't know what more you could expect for a feature film. To tell the story of the war completely and thoroughly would take a miniseries of 20 hours or more. Yes, the special effects look dated now, but you can't fault something because it doesn't use technology that hadn't been invented yet. Also, learning that Senta Berger's character was fictional and apparently only inserted to make a good story, was a disappointment. However, her character was a wonderful metaphor for Marcus' newly found love for Israel and re-discovery of his faith, after living as a secular American Jew for his entire life. (At one point Marcus says he hasn't been to temple since his bar mitzvah).

Also, I must say that I think the person who complained here on IMDb about John Wayne's reaction to seeing the Dachau concentration camp in the World War II flashback is completely off the mark. Wayne, as Pattonesque American general Mike Randolph, struggles to keep his emotions intact as he looks at the horror of the camp his troops have recently liberated. He orders his adjutant to give Marcus whatever he needs to tend to the Dachau survivors and turns away, his back to the camera. He leans against a fence, head down, physically and emotionally overcome. What would you want him to do in such a situation? I suspect the objecting person just doesn't like John Wayne no matter what the film or what his role.

His son Michael Wayne was co-producer with the film's director and screenwriter Mel Shavelson, and Wayne's Batjac Productions is one of four production companies listed. Another reviewer here has cynically suggested most of the budget went to Wayne's salary and I say balderdash! I'm quite sure the Wayne family's interest and participation in this film was not merely financial. I'm equally sure they wanted to help tell this story of the Israeli struggle for freedom they thought the world should hear. Then and now, for that matter.

I want to thank the Showtime networks for airing this film in the USA on May 16, 2009, which happened to be two days after the 61st anniversary of Israeli independence day. Nice touch, and a terrific weekend to see this film.

Hollywood does it again, a great story turned average

[tresross · 7/10 · 9 January 2009]

Every time the situation in Israel flares up I catch this movie. No, it is not the definitive movie on the creation of Israel from a military standpoint. What it is, is a good first try to show the overwhelming odds the fledging nation faced with no support form outside. The cast of so many good actors shows that everyone in Hollywood wanted a piece of this one. If you read the biography on Mickey Marcus, which this movie prompted me to do, you would want to be in any movie about this Giant. F.Y.I General Marcus is the ONLY U.S. ARMY OFFICER TO BE A GENERAL IN TWO COUNTRIES ARMY'S. That is worth a movie attempt even if it comes out poorly.

Giant shadow.

[rmax304823 · 5/10 · 19 May 2005]

I don't know why this movie doesn't work, but it doesn't. I guess I'd hold the writers and the actors responsible -- the direction is efficient and the score good.

The script tells us things that most of us already know, without adding much that we didn't. Thankfully it avoid extensive shots of the death camps. If anyone needs to be told about that, he's hopelessly benighted anyway. That mass genocide was perhaps the most horrible expression of the baser impulses of human nature, and like any transcendental event should be treated with caution, not with an eye to the box office.

Still, the dialog is flat and ordinary. Giant closeups of faces telling us important things -- "For the first time, I've realized I'm a Jew" -- doesn't really help. It's like being hit over the head by someone wielding a crowbar and yelling -- "GET IT? GET IT?" Yes, we get it. Stop already.

Kirk Douglas isn't bad. In fact he's pretty good, outdone only by Topol as an Arab sheyk -- "I course your Faddair." Cheese, Topol is good. And so is his role. He plays "The Sheik of Arabie" on a Victrola and rolls his eyes with glee.

John Wayne's performance is perfunctory and so is Frank Sinatra's, but the latter's involvement is interesting. At one point in the film he protests, "Don't leave me alone -- I'm anti-Semitic." Far from being anti-Semitic he was, let's say, pro-Semitic. Like a lot of recent immigrant families in the Northeast his had a keen eye for the strengths and weaknesses of ethnicity, and Sinatra plumped for the strengths in Judaism. He envied and admired Jews for their family values and their solidarity, and even learned to read a little Hebrew. A scene in which he spurts seltzer water at an attacking Arab fighter is beneath comment.

Overall the film is not a success because it doesn't spell out in any detail exactly what Mickey Marcus actually DID for the Israelies. It won't do to have two minutes of Marcus telling them "Attack! Attack!," when ten times that amount is spent on an unconvincing adulterous affair with Senta Berger -- not that having such an affair with such a magnificent woman would be a blot on anyone's escutcheon. (I could never spell that word. It means "shield".) I guess it's worth watching once, just to remind us of a part of history that some of us have not bothered to look into. As a film, (shrug).

Enjoyable film, some great lines, marred by the usual tacked-on romance angles

[holdencopywriting · 8/10 · 25 October 2010]

I enjoyed Cast a Giant Shadow.

Like so many films of its type, it has the obligatory love angles that only slow the film down. Angie Dickinson and Senta Berger are much better actors than their silly parts allow them to be. When Dickinson's characters says to Douglas: "Don't hate me for loving you so much," I wanted to scream. Oh, wait, I think I did scream. After that silliness, I fast-forwarded through the rest of the "love" scenes. As a result, I have no idea what happened in the last scene between Douglas and Berger; somehow I'll still be able to sleep at night.

Another reviewer thinks the scene with John Wayne at the concentration camp is ridiculous and hard to believe. I actually thought it very believable and a remarkably directed and acted scene. Douglas's character has been there before. But Wayne as the general hasn't seen the camps first-hand and seems to think the stories have been exaggerated. Wayne and Douglas walk into the camp but the camera remains in a tight shot on them. So instead of showing us the scenes in the recently liberated camp, the camera shows us Wayne and Douglas's reactions to what they're seeing. It's only a short scene, but the few seconds of the look on Wayne's face register powerfully. It's subtle. He doesn't overplay it with a look of obvious horror, disgust, etc. Instead, there's a sort of confused, muffled pain in his eyes. John Wayne was a much better actor than he's usually given credit for. When Wayne turns to his right and goes over to lean on a fencepost with his head down (trying to compose himself? trying not to puke?), well, that was a powerful moment for me. There was something about seeing that tall, broad-shouldered man have to walk away, shut his eyes, and hang his head. I forgot it was John Wayne for a few minutes, and that's a big compliment to any star actor. I won't forget any part of that scene.

I agree with another reviewer. Douglas' part has too many wisecracks. It gets old. Still, there are some quite funny lines in this film, and not only spoken by Douglas. My favorite is when Douglas is telling the weapons- and manpower-strapped Haganah commander and the others that they have to attack, hit the enemy hard. And Yul Brynner deadpans: "With what? Noodle soup?" Cast a Giant Shadow is not the greatest film ever made, but it's an enjoyable one. Just fast forward through the romantic scenes and you'll be okay.

A good war movie!

[Filmnerd1984 · 7/10 · 12 November 2008]

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.

Great as Propaganda, below average as a feature film

[adiomedo · 3/10 · 27 October 2009]

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.

A giant cast....a moderate shadow.

[Poseidon-3 · 5 July 2005]

A truly remarkable figure in military history is given an alternately dignified and silly tribute in this nicely appointed biographical film. Douglas plays a U.S. Colonel who is approached to advise the military operations of the scattered tribes and groups that are about to form Israel. To his wife Dickinson's dismay, he leaves soon after the close of WWII and works to organize and stimulate the rather ragtag factions in place. In flashbacks, his previous exploits in the war (including his parachute jump into D-Day and his dismantling of the concentration camp at Dachau) are briefly shown. Once in Israel, he works alongside present leader Brynner, though they are occasionally at odds. He is assigned a curvy and attractive liaison in the form of Berger. The forging of Israel is a far more complicated and massive undertaking than seemingly possible and many lives are lost on both sides as a result. Finally, Douglas is able to help make it all happen, though ultimately he is unable to see the fruits of his labor. Douglas gives his typically solid, square-jawed performance, providing his character with guts, bravado and foresight. Dickinson barely bothers to get dressed in her thankless, clingy role. Most of the time she is in bed, getting out of bed or about to go to bed and spends the bulk of her screen time fretting about the fact that Douglas isn't around enough. The story is set in the forties, yet she is given a bouffant Mary Tyler Moore-ish flip (though they do stick a flower in it in one scene to capture the period detail!) Berger is luminous and exceedingly appealing, though she isn't given a chance to really show her bravery and heroism as other females in the Israeli army are. Given the circumstances, it's easy to see why Douglas is tempted by this (fictional?) woman. The film features rather flashy supporting roles by three big names of the day. Sinatra shows up late in the game as a pilot who pitches in to help the cause. He tosses off a zinger or two before trying to fight armed Arab jets with seltzer water! Wayne (billed as "The General"!!) seems like he's only going to show up briefly and toss around his heft, but he's actually in the film for quite a while and adds some dramatic weight to it. Brynner seems unduly subsidiary when one is used to seeing him as the King of Siam, ordering everyone around and getting it done! However, he does a nice job in his role. Topol is enjoyably hammy as an egotistical Arab sheik. The film is attractively shot and has some large scale action scenes along with some impressive crowd scenes (no CGI here, folks!) It also features a very rousing and beautiful score by Elmer Bernstein. In truth, the story should have focused more on the military and strategic accomplishments of its subject and less on his (supposed) melodramatic romantic entanglements. A sequence near the end involving the building of a road and the testing of it is a winner. The potential for it to be a deep and meaningful portrait are diffused somewhat by a script that calls for Douglas and others to make pithy, clever comments in the heat of tragedy. It winds up being a soapy, cartoonish sketch of a man who truly accomplished a great deal. Additionally, (**SPOILER**) - the real Marcus was shot by a guard in part because he was draped in a blanket, making him appear more like an Arab in the dark. Here, he's wearing his regular uniform and carrying a rose! How threatening is that? It was a senseless change for him not to be wrapped in a blanket, especially since he - in this version - had just come from a rendezvous with Berger.

Kirk Douglas Kirk Douglas Kirk Douglas

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 26 November 2013]

Col. Marcus (Kirk Douglas) is recruited to fight for an independent Israel. He must organize the disparate fighting forces to win against overwhelming odds.

The action is pretty good and the underdog story is very compelling. Kirk Douglas and Yul Brynner make for very charismatic leaders. Seeing Frank Sinatra in the movie breaks the tension. He's in it more for the comedy and probably the box office. And similarly, the same can be said of John Wayne. He's more of a distraction from the main story. Angie Dickinson has little to do as Mrs Marcus. Senta Berger is the Israeli love interest and she overacts in a pivotal scene. There's a lot of melodrama going on with her.

The saving grace is Kirk Douglas. He is the magnetic personality that glues the movie together. He's the driving force, and it's him that makes this movie works. It is a bit of a sided propaganda piece, but I don't think it should be penalized for it.

A hero in the early years of the new state of Israel

[SimonJack · 7/10 · 8 April 2022]

"Cast a Giant Shadow" is a highly fictionalized account of the life of Col. David 'Mickey' Marcus during his years helping the new state of Israel get off the ground. Specifically, he was an American officer from WW II who was hired by the new Israeli government to establish and train the new nation's army. Besides the biographical aspects, this film has some historical significance in showing the plight of the early years of the new Jewish nation. It shows the inexperience of the young men and some women who made up the army. Marcus trained these people and then commanded the Israel Defense Forces during the Arab-Israeli War of 1948.

Kirk Douglas is very good in the role of Marcus. The early scenes of the picture - before Marcus gets to work in Israel, look like a top cast list of Hollywood. John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, Angie Dickinson, Senta Berger, Topol, Gordon Jackson, Jeremy Kemp and more. Dickinson plays Mickey's wife, Emma Marcus, who stays in New York. Berger is a Jewish woman who becomes part of Marcus 's life. The film shows the success of the early leadership by Marcus in shaping up Israel so that it can survive Especially in in those early years, the new nation had to contend with neighboring Arab states that were then hostile toward Israel.

Again, the character of Marcus and some of his exploits and work are fictionalized But this film, based on a book by Ted Berkman, is a good look at the trials and travails of the earliest years of the new nation of Israel.

Israel's struggle for Independence

[KingBrian1 · 7/10 · 2 May 2017]

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.

Golda is AWOL

[gamay9 · 2/10 · 10 December 2015]

Luther Adler played David Ben Gurion but isn't listed as such; Golda was in the U.S. raising arms money, but is not represented in the film. At least Adler resembles Ben Gurion. Golda Meir doesn't mention Marcus (Douglas) in her brilliant 1975 autobiography, 'My Life,' which I have read. Berger and Dickinson are merely wallpaper. Wayne will overact miserably in any role in order to make money, but he never served in any form of military, much less combat. Sinatra was drunk and the battle scenes show soldiers dropping like zombies in a bad horror flick.

Golda Meir raised an incredible amount of money for the Israeli cause. She liked to visit the U.S., especially Milwaukee, where she grew up. Before she could return with the arms money preceding her, the NYC 'cabbie' was in an accident and her leg was broken. She was hospitalized but still raised money there. A movie about the Arab-Israeli war is 'duffus' without a character named Golda because no single leader did more for Israel achieving statehood than Golda Meir, who was prime minister from 1967-72 and to whom I am not related and never had the pleasure of meeting. I did, however, stay at a Holiday Inn Express in Milwaukee one night.

(By the way, the Arabs didn't attack until immediately after the statehood celebration, not before as depicted. That's a small inconsistency amongst many glaring ones. Golda left to raise funds in the U.S. right after the scroll signing. She raised over $50 million which matched the sum of an earlier fund-raising trip).

WOW

[joelbarder · 10/10 · 20 September 2002]

This is a wonderful film, the actors superb, Kirk Douglas, Yul Brynner, John Wayne, Frank Sinatra and the brilliant Chaim Topol, I thought he along with Frank Sinatra were superb and funny. A definite film to watch! If u dont youll have missed a brilliant film. the music is glorious by Elmer Bernstein > It is unknown, both the film and the music, but it is one of elmers best scores and one of hollywoods most unknown but wonderful movies. A gr8 10/10

Great subject but not so great execution of it, though the movie is definitely above average.

[Boba_Fett1138 · 7/10 · 26 March 2007]

This could had been a good and relevant movie to watch but instead the movie remains stuck somewhere between entertaining and poorly told.

The movie is about the interesting story of about establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. It isn't the best known piece of history, mostly because it still was overshadowed by the aftermath of WW II, of which the establishment of the State of Israel was also a direct result. Yet it isn't a subject much handled in movies, compared to other subject from the same time period. But the story is mostly interesting and intriguing to learn about. Also to see how little has actually changed for the Israeli situation, even till this date. Too bad that this movie just can't really be regarded as one of the best sources about this subject.

The movie is too poorly told for that. The movie make some mistakes by putting in some needless plot lines and characters, which make the movie drag and overlong at times. It also lets the movie start of too slow and it isn't exactly clear from the beginning on what the movie is going to be about and were it is heading to. It makes the movie feel like it's 3 hours long, though in reality it isn't. Judging by looking at this movie it seemed like they thought that they were making the new "Lawrence of Arabia" and the choose a same kind of approach with it's storytelling and character treatments. It however isn't halve as brilliant obviously.

The movie also has a totally misplaced love (triangle) story, though that of course was the curse of about ever genre movie from the '50's and '60's.

Basically all of the actors have Jewish roots. The obviously starred in the movie for personal and moralistic reason. I don't know but it just gives the movie a sort of misplaced and biased feeling of that what they were creating here was something totally important, relevant and brilliant. Not that there is anything wrong with the actual acting of course. Kirk Douglas always have been a great leading man and the supporting cast is one to die for. Angie Dickinson plays a bit of an ungrateful role but Yul Brynner and Topol show up in some good roles. Also no one less than John Wayne and Frank Sinatra make an appearance.

All criticism about the story and storytelling aside, this movie still has some good redeeming qualities. The movie definitely gets better in its second halve when the poor formulaic drama makes place for what the story is truly about. It makes the story and drama become more solid and therefor also the movie to become more interesting to watch. The movie also features some good battle sequences, so the fans of 'old' war movies will also get pleased, though this all occurs pretty late into the movie.

The movie is probably more 'entertaining' than educational and interesting but that's not really a bad thing of course. Nevertheless, the subject deserved a better treatment.

7/10

http://bobafett1138.blogspot.com/

A wasted opportunity

[grahamsj3 · 5/10 · 3 November 2006]

This film is a decidedly one-sided account of the events leading up to the partition of Palestine and the establishment of the State of Israel. Except for Topol, playing a sheik, there is no consideration given to the Palestinian point of view. But that aside, the film is poorly written but decently executed. The cast is stellar, containing Kirk Douglas, John Wayne, Angie Dickinson, Senta Berger and Yul Brynner. The story could be epic...the struggle of Israel, alone and lacking weapons, against most of the Arab world. But, as I mentioned, the writing is the film's weakest point. The dialog seems stilted in places. The writing just basically lacks the strength to keep the viewer interested. I also found the sound track quality on the DVD to be poor, or perhaps it wasn't properly mixed. But some parts of the film, particularly dialog, are difficult to understand. If you crank the volume up enough, you can understand the audio OK, but then the music will blast you out of the room. The actual events featured tremendous amount of heroism (on both sides, actually), a story that kept the world's attention riveted on Palestine/Israel for a long time and political wrangling that created the monster that is today's middle east. Yet most of that was left untold. Also unrealistic was the Arab artillery accuracy. It seems that nearly every shot was a direct hit on a moving truck. Nobody's that good. I enjoyed the film on a shallow "action film" level, but was terribly disappointed that it didn't show the true events of the birth of Israel.

Kirk Douglas Casts A Giant Shadow!!!

[zardoz-13 · 8/10 · 1 October 2010]

Writer & director Melville Shavelson was better known for his comedies, such as "Yours, Mine and Ours," "The War Between Men and Women," and "Houseboat," than his combat films. The closest he came to helming a war-time epic was the Charlton Heston World War II service comedy "The Pigeon That Took Rome." Despite his lack of familiarity with war movies, "Cast A Giant Shadow" emerged as better than average despite its tragic finale. John Wayne's production company Batjac co-produced it with the Mirisch brothers about the rise of the state of Israel in 1948 when everybody feared the Arabs would annihilate the Jews. Considering the scale of the subject matter, Shavelson does a good job of orchestrating events, jumping back and forth in time to show that the largely deskbound officer fought in World War II. Indeed, Daniel 'Mickey' Marcus took advantage of his friendship with fellow West Point classmate of General Maxwell D. Taylor to join the first wave of Taylor's 101st Airborne Division when they bailed out over Normandy the night before D-Day. Mind you, Marcus had never jumped out of a plane with a parachute! Later, Marcus went on to serve on General Lucius D. Clay's staff during the occupation of Germany. During the occupation, Marcus became the chief of the Army's War Crimes Division in Washington and supervised the legal and security procedures for both the Nuremberg trials and the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal.

Kirk Douglas plays Marcus with his usual virile bravado. Anyway, Marcus and his law partner are window shopping during the Christmas holidays when our protagonist spots somebody tailing them. Later, he learns the man is Israel Army Major Safir (James Donald of "The Great Escape"), and Safir does his best to persuade Marcus to serve as a military advisor for Israel. Despite his deep-set misgiving about leaving his fragile wife behind once again, Marcus accepts the post of a military advisor to a young country with no military armed forces. Eventually, Marcus straightened out this predicament. He brought the various military factions in Israel together and molded them into a force to contend with.

The interesting thing about "Cast A Giant Shadow" is its time and setting. Contemporary audiences who have grown up with Israel as a first-class fighting nation have undoubtedly forgotten the gigantic eight ball this country was behind after World War II. Basically, they had neither an army nor an air force, and they were surrounded by Arab enemies. Marcus toured the country. Supplies including uniforms, weapons, jeeps, tanks, etc., were lacking. Mind you, Marcus had to create an entire army, supply it, and use whatever men he could muster. Our hero was at a severe disadvantage because he wasn't conversant with the Israel language and relied principally on interpreters. He does the seeming impossible when he has non-combatants clear a mountain road so Jerusalem can survive a siege. Not long after their clashes with Egyptian tanks in the desert, Marcus was shot by a soldier who did not recognize him and couldn't understand what he was saying. Equal parts soap opera and war movie, "Cast A Giant Shadow" qualifies as an exciting, often inspirational epic about a man who gave everything to save his country.

Marcus behaves likes an insubordinate S. O. B. When he ignores the orders of his superior officer and bails out over Normandy. He carries on a love & hate relationship with a two-star American general. After the war, Marcus trades in his uniform for a lawyer's Homburg and an attaché case, but he is persuaded to act as an adviser to the fledgling Israeli army. Yul Brynner, Frank Sinatra, Angie Dickinson, and John Wayne co-star in a war movie that shifts back and forth between soap opera and shooting. Mind you, it is terrifically inspirational stuff, especially when you consider the David versus Goliath predicament in which the Israelis found themselves. Shavelson's screenplay establishes the character of our protagonist as a man who would rather fight than love. The battle scenes are competently helmed. Angie Dickinson plays the long-suffering wife of Colonel Marcus, while voluptuous Israeli freedom fighter Senta Berger cannot take her eyes off him after her own husband dies in the war.

Reportedly, Douglas feuded with Shavelson throughout the production. Neither Wayne's production company nor Douglas' Bryna Productions scrimped on production values. "Cast A Giant Shadow" looks spectacular, with no end of extras trudging off to fight the war. Indeed, the film presents a realistic enough picture of the problems that faced an army without any officers and soldiers who didn't know how to switch off the safety mechanism on their weapons. Furthermore, this army spoke in many different languages. Matters are not helped by a downbeat ending after the underdog Israelis construct a road out of solid stone to relieve the besieged town of Jerusalem. The ending is a downer and "Cast A Giant Shadow" didn't cast a giant shadow at the box office. Composer Elmer Bernstein contributed one of his least memorable orchestral scores. Filmmaker Otto Preminger fared much better with his earlier epic "Exodus" that covered similar ground. The action was lensed on location in Israel and Rome. Naturally, John Wayne is cast as 'General Mike Randolph,' but he appears to be a composite of General George Patton and some other American generals.

To explore for nostalgia with the cast, not history

[philjeudy · 6/10 · 27 June 2020]

The cast for this movie is phenomenal, probably not the direction of the movie and some scenes, nor the vision it gives in that historical facts but it gives a light on what happened in Palestine in 1948. The movie may have had problems to be released for its pro-Israel approach back in the sixties, it's quite interesting to see Issur Danielovitch, aka Kirk Douglas, being the hero here.

Poorly made.

[biggiebaby · 4/10 · 8 December 2020]

For some reason this was a Hollywood stepchild. John Wayne, from what is rumored, forced studio execs to fund.... And the paltry support shows, stong acting, no doubt. But, the direction, editing, production just falls apart. Akward blocking and scene setting, non sense dialog. Just poorly made. Meh, its decent enough afternoon couch fodder, worth a watch if nothing better is on...