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tapes in the Collection, click here.
In 1948, Mickey Marcus was made General of the Armies of Israel – the first in two thousand years. This Jewish-American New Yorker, West Point graduate and World War II hero defended Israel's independence from six hostile Arab nations intent on destroying the newborn nation. When his troops complained about the overwhelming odds, Marcus reminded them, "David did it with a slingshot, didn't he?"
Cast a Giant Shadow features an all-star cast, including John Wayne, Yul Brenner, and Kirk Douglas as General Marcus. Shot in Israel with the Israeli Army as battlefield extras, the film chronicles Marcus's efforts to turn a green military into a super-efficient fighting machine. Battling against the sense of doom and fear rampant in the country, Marcus draws upon his own feelings of pride in the birth of the Jewish state to accomplish his mission.
1966, 142 mins.
While you watch, consider . . .
•Marcus’s realization of his own feelings of fitting in as a Jew. How does it parallel the film’s narrative of winning the War of Independence?
•How Marcus maligns the outcome of the Hebrew revolt at Masada. Do you think his opinion is justified?
•The use of humor to illustrate the Israelis’ plight early in the war – a classic Jewish response. This title is distributed by MGM
(http://www.mgm.com).
Other films of interest:
Exodus Based on the Leon Uris novel, this epic film portrays the odyssey of the steamer Exodus and the events leading up to Israel’s War of Independence.
Hill 24 Doesn't Answer A drama about four soldiers in Israel’s War of Independence.
Israel: A Nation Is Born History of the establishment of the State, with Abba Eban.