The Tanks Are Coming (1951 film)

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The Tanks Are Coming
Ttacpos.jpg
Original film poster
Directed by Lewis Seiler
Written by Samuel Fuller (story)
Robert Hardy Andrews
Produced by Bryan Foy
Starring Steve Cochran
Philip Carey
Mari Aldon
CinematographyEdwin B. DuPar
Warren Lynch
Edited byJames Moore
Music by William Lava
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Release date
October 31, 1951 (1951-10-31)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Tanks Are Coming is a 1951 war film directed by Lewis Seiler and starring Steve Cochran and Philip Carey. The story is set during World War II in 1944 France. The film chronicles the U.S. 3rd Armored Division's advance across northern France and its attempt to pierce the Siegfried Line. [1] [2]

Contents

Not to be confused with the 20-minute educational film of the same name from 1941. [3]

Plot

Normandy, 1944, post-D-Day. A tank commander, Sgt. Joe Davis, is very popular with his men. So much so, that when he is killed during a brief skirmish with the enemy, his crew fall into despondency. That is, until Davis's replacement, Sgt. Sullivan, shows up. To the men, his arrival is like a splash of ice water. "Sully" rouses them out of their funk by ordering the immediate discard of Davis's personal effects. Further, he replaces their tank driver with a known drunkard named Tucker. Sully's anatagonism doesn't stop there. He challenges the loyalty of a German-American crew member named "Heinie." He verbally bullies another man, Kolowicz, into near-fisticuffs.

In short, Sully transforms a crew of emotional zombies, bemoaning their fate, into an over-achieving squad of efficient killers. All of this, despite their collective hatred of Sully. But in the following months, as they fight their way to the Siegfried Line, both Sullivan and the men begin to share a mutual respect.

Cast

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References

  1. "The Tanks Are Coming". Turner Classic Movies.
  2. "The Tanks Are Coming - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast - AllMovie". Archived from the original on 2012-07-20. Retrieved 2011-05-30.
  3. Eason, B. Reeves (4 October 1941). "The Tanks Are Coming". Warner Bros., U.S. Army. Retrieved 22 December 2021.