Re:OK Yanks - A History Lesson

Rating: Null/10 (6 November 2002)

When World War II "started" is often perceived as when the war started for one's country, i.e., "when the was started for us." You give 1939 as the starting point. The Chinese would say 1931 - the Japanese invasion of Manchuria. Here across the pond, of course, our involvement started in late 1941. Some make the case that the WWII was in essence a continuation of WWI-the same war with a twenty-year cease-fire.
Your dead right that the Soviet contribution to the war is too often ignored in the canon of war epics. The studios no doubt believe (with justification) that there's more money to be made making movies of "our boys" bravely blowing the enemy off the map. Certainly during the Cold War there was little desire in glorifying the bravery and tenacity of the Red Army.
And of course it's beyond doubt that anyone who questions the quality of the British war effort during WWII is ignorant in the extreme. Did the British make mistakes? Surely. Everyone did. But the results speak for themselves.
Oh, the movie. Flawed, but well worth the price of admission. Go see it, you'll be glad you did. Do your best to ignore Ryan O'Neil.