The Real Inglorious Bastards

Quentin Tarantino's movie "Inglourious Basterds" centred around a team of Jewish (largely Jewish-American) soldiers who operated behind enemy lines, killing any Nazis they could find. This is a documentary on the real Inglorious Bastards - Jewish agents for the American OSS (Office of Strategic Services), sent in as spies into Nazi-held territories. Some of these spies were German Jews, returning to avenge the wrongs committed against their people and free Germany from the Nazis. Some of their deeds surpass even the fictional feats in Tarantino's movie.

Pretty interesting, though not entirely compelling. Told in a conventional linear fashion and without much in the way of frills, the telling is pretty dry. The feats, however, of the people involved are quite amazing - you couldn't make this stuff up.

Quite heroic some of the endeavors. The interviews with the surviving agents are also quite illuminating.

What should have been an excellent and fascinating documentary was for me, a huge disappointment and for one reason, the sound was horrible. I have good hearing, but whomever was responsible for the sound committed a war crime. I could barely hear the gents tell their own story and the narrator can barely be heard over excessive music and sound effects. And frankly, whomever let this slip by should also face trial. Very unfortunate!

This was a fairly conventional documentary but the story it told was both timely & inspirational. I think that we need to be reminded of what can happen when we turn our faces from real evil. What these men did must have been truly terrifying and I am in awe of them (& the thousands of others like them). Grateful also. I thought the film Tarantino made was entirely fictitious but again truth is stranger than fiction. Stories like this should never be forgotten. When life seems unfair or too hard, tales like this can give us perspective. They also tell us that we can stand against tyranny and triumph. I have given this a 9/10 not because of any technical or artistic merits, but because the story is so good & important. The price of freedom is eternal vigilance.

Brilliant documentary, nicely interspersed with recreations, of the true story of Operation Greenup. As a WW2 fanatic I was absolutely glued to it the whole way through. The courage and desire of these men was unbelievable. The early days of the OSS ( forerunner to the CIA) where the men virtually picked and suggested their own missions was exciting stuff. These men were true patriots who did everything for their love of freedom and their detestation of the Nazis. They really did change the course of history and helped to shorten the war. Fred Mayer especially was an absolute hero and his torture in Nazi controlled Innsbruck was an incredible act of survival and will. Nicely done.

This story is historic and told so well. The interviews with the real "bastards" are phenomenal., especially Fred Mayer. The role one soldier played in WWII is unbelievable. One soldier, Fred Mayer, changed the course of WWII. I love the archived footage and interviews.