Discount Malta Story (1954)

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The Malta Story is well worth watching, for it provides the viewer with a good, overall history lesson of the battle for Malta. That the British were able to hold off a German invasion on this small, isolated island testifies to the strong spirit shown by Great Britain throughout World War Two. In some ways, it reminds me of the battle for Corregidor, which was actually taking place during the same time. Of course, the circumstances and outcomes were different in both battles. By watching this movie, the viewer comes away with an appreciation for the sacrifices and casualties endured by British soldiers and sailors, in addition to many Maltese civilian deaths.

One interesting aspect about the battle for Malta is that it was one of the first times in the war that the United States used an aircraft carrier the USS Wasp ferried RAF spitfires from Britain to Malta. These aircraft were vital for the island's defense. The movie honors the United States for the use of the Wasp with a fitting performance of the Star-Spangled Banner.

Alec Guinness does a good job portraying an RAF photo-reconnaissance pilot. His character is warm and sincere. The other British characters are quintessentially British, stiff upper lip and all. The woman who plays Guinness' love interest also gives a good performance. She was quite beautiful and rather charming.

The action scenes are fun to watch, and are quite good for a 1953 film. All in all, The Malta Story is a good war movie that showcases an important part of World War Two history. I highly recommend it.

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Some may think that old war movies can not be compared with the modern ones because of the lack of super high-tech effects and millions of dollars which current productions have in ambudance. Although it is true that no old movie can give you the terrific visual effects of "Saving Private Ryan" they do have some advantages, especially when the theme is about World War II. First of all, they were closer to the real time of the war, thus the heroes, the faces, the mentality, the materials, the surroundings and even the language are much more realistic than any modern director could ever hope for. "The Malta Story" belongs to this category of excellent old British war films, picturing the drama of the besieged Malta in 1942, through the story of a young RAF reconnaissance pilot strandled on the island. There are fine scenes of air battle, of the terrible bombardment by the Luftwaffe and the convoys' desperate efforts to reach the island. The story of tanker "Ohio" of the "Pedestal" convoy is especially well presented. Those old days the director had numerous authentic Spitfire aircraft at his disposal and he used them in a marvellous way!

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What more could a man ask for in a War Film? What with the following: A small strategic island that lays in the way of the enemies supply line. A ruthless, cunning enemy doing its best to put it out of the fight. The British loyally doing their best to supply the heroic Maltese with huge losses of men and ships in the process. (We even helped out with the loan of the Aircraft Carrier Wasp to deliver some much needed replacement Spitfires.)

A good love story and some really strong actors who seem to be at their best. That and for the time some very good special effects with a ending you don't expect.Altogether a tape that is well worth the coin. I just hope that the DVD comes out soon!

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Really nice story. Great combat footage and other new footage I have never seen anywhere else. Matter of fact I have never seen any of this footage before. Aircraft buffs should like it :) This is really a step above the majority of old war films.

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Welcome addition to my WWII collection. My father was a merchant marine sailor on Esso tankers in the forties, he would have loved this movie. The movie lead me to locate books on the subject of the SS Ohio.

Hard to believe that the British people of this period are the same people suffering the burning of their cities by hooligans today.