Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed
Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed | |
---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Ryan Little |
Produced by |
Adam Abel Ryan Little |
Written by |
Lamonte Grey Lincoln Hoppe |
Starring |
Corbin Allred David Nibley Jasen Wade |
Music by | J Bateman |
Cinematography | Ryan Little |
Production company |
Go Films |
Distributed by | Purdie Distribution |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 94 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed is a 2012 religious-themed war film set during the invasion of Southern France in World War II. An example of LDS cinema from Excel Entertainment Group, it was directed by Ryan Little, written by Lamont Gray and Lincoln Hoppe and starring Corbin Allred, David Nibley, and Jasen Wade. The film's story has no relation to the events or characters portrayed in the 2003 war film Saints and Soldiers, although both films feature actor Corbin Allred and share a director. It was inspired by a true story.[1]
Plot
Members of the American 517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team parachute into Occupied France as part of Operation Dragoon and come under fire, getting separated from their units. Three paratroopers, Sgt. Caleb Jones (David Nibley), T/5. James Rossi (Corbin Allred), and Cpl. Harland "Bud" Curtis (Jasen Wade), meet and begin making their way to their intended drop zone in Les Arcs. En route, they encounter members of the French Resistance and small infantry and armored patrols of the German Army. Flashbacks show some of the back story of the Resistance fighters as well as the airborne soldiers' lives back home, and reciting of the 'airborne creed' becomes a touchstone for continued perseverance and offensive action under fire.
One skirmish ends with Sgt. Jones capturing a German captain, Erich Neumann (Lincoln Hoppe), alone in the woods; an off-camera gunshot suggests that he has shot the captain. As the group travels together, Rossi begins a flirtation with Emilie (Virginie Fourtina Anderson), an attractive young female Resistance fighter. Later, the paratroopers and Resistance ambush a small German tank convoy. Casualties are high on both sides, including Rossi, who apparently dies from his wounds in the hands of the same German officer who had been caught earlier by Jones.
Neumann carries Rossi's body to an abandoned warehouse. When Rossi regains consciousnesses, he finds that he's been bandaged by the German officer. Neumann tries to make friends, but Rossi questions whether he should hate Neumann and why Neumann didn't hate him. When night falls, Neumann is writing in his notebook and wincing in pain. He pulls back his shirt to reveal he has been shot in the gut. In the morning, Neumann is dead and Rossi is rescued by a patrol of Americans.
In the regimental field hospital, Rossi learns that Jones was transported to a hospital and Curtis was K.I.A, along with most of the French Resistance members. Rossi again meets Emilie, who has come to look for him. Rossi and Emilie are happy to reunite.
Cast
- Corbin Allred - Cpl. James Rossi
- David Nibley - Sgt. Caleb Jones
- Jasen Wade - Cpl. Harland "Bud" Curtis
- Lincoln Hoppe - Capt. Erich Neumann
- Nichelle Aiden - Charlotte
- Virginie Fourtina Anderson - Emilie
- Loïc Anthian - Phillipe
- Lance Otto - Jacques
- Erich Cannon - Gustave
- Curt Doussett - Lt. Woodward
- Calvin Harrison - Pvt. Stewart
Reception
The film received mixed reviews. The Evening Standard 's review described the film as "watchable but hardly memorable",[2] while The Guardian's critic Peter Bradshaw wrote the film was "well-acted" and "competently put together" but also "plenty of cliches" and "a kind of diet or lite version of Steven Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan."[3]
See also
Further reading
- Kershaw, Alex (May 11, 2004). The Bedford Boys: One American Town's Ultimate D-day Sacrifice. Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-81355-6.
- Lefebvre, Laurent (September 2008). 29th Division ... a division of heroes. American d-Day. ISBN 2-9519963-9-X.
- Lefebvre, Laurent (June 1, 2004). They Were on Omaha Beach. American d-Day. ISBN 2-9519963-5-7.
References
- ↑ http://www.legion.org/yourwords/books/213216/letters-home-paratroopers-story
- ↑ "Also showing: Saints and Soldiers 2: Airborne Creed, The Campaign and Husbands". The Evening Standard. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
- ↑ Peter Bradshaw (27 September 2012). "Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
External links
- Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed at the Internet Movie Database
- Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed at AllMovie
- Saints and Soldiers: Airborne Creed at Rotten Tomatoes