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snapper
25-02-04, 17:17
This film is set in the Brutal WW11 Battle of Saipan. Starring Nicholas Cage is a fantstic film directed by John woo (Also directed Face Off and Mission Imposiible 2).
It is about Navajo indians who were trained to use their native language as code. In my opinion its a brilliant film and definately one to rent or even buy.

some info............................................

The Navajo Code Talkers Program was established in September 1942 as the result of a recommendation made the previous February by Mr. Philip Johnston to Major General Clayton P. Vogel, USMC., Commanding General, Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet, headquartered at Camp Elliott, California.

Mr. Johnston, the son of a missionary to the Navajo tribe, was fluent in the language, having lived among the Navajos for 24 years. He believed if that the Marine Corps used the Navajo language as a code language in voice (radio and wire) transmission could guarantee communications security.

Mr. Johnston's rationale for this belief was that Navajo is an unwritten language and completely unintelligible to anyone except another Navajo, and that it is a rich fluent language for which code words, in Navajo, could be devised for specialized military terms, such as the Navajo word for "turtle" representing a tank. With cooperation of four Navajos residing in the Los Angeles area, and another who was already on active Naval service in San Diego, Mr. Johnston presented a demonstration of his theory to General Vogel and his staff at Camp Elliott on February 25, 1942. Marine staff officers composed simulated field combat messages, which were handed to a Navajo, who then translated it into tribal dialect and transmitted it to another Navajo on the other side of the line. The second Indian then translated back in perfect English in the same form which had been provided originally. The demonstration proved entirely successful and as a result, General Vogel recommended the recruitment into the Marine Corps of at least 200 Navajos for the code talker program. Tests in the Pacific under combat conditions proved that classified messages could be translated into Navajo, transmitted, received and translated back into English quicker than messages which were encoded, transmitted and decoded employing conventional cryptographic facilities and techniques. With the Commandant's approval, recruitment began in May 1942. Each Navajo underwent basic boot camp training at San Diego, the Marine Corps Recruit Depot before assignment to the Field Signal Battalion for training at Camp Pendleton. It should be noted that at the outset, the entire Navajo code talker project was highly classified and there was no indication that any message traffic in Navajo language -- while undoubtedly intercepted -- was ever deciphered.

Xtreme
25-02-04, 17:24
This film is one of my all time favourites.

Interesting info :shock:

Bombardier
25-02-04, 17:32
I liked this film very much, the idea to have Navajo indians using their native language was a brilliant one. :roll:

Axis SS
25-02-04, 20:20
Great topic.. Great actors, but the directing was a little lacking , don't get me wrong I like the movie but John Woo is better suited for slick action pictures.. the topic of The Navajo Code Talkers should have been a little more dramatic.... Thin Red Line had the dramatic feel windtalker. should have had..

Band Of Brother and Saving Pvt Ryan have set the standard for modern war films....AND THAT IS A FACT JACK

Polar
25-02-04, 22:26
I seen this film and it's OK but I like older films as A ONE Bridge TOO FAR and Battle of Britain

Refugee
26-02-04, 02:43
a bridge too far is one of the best war movies ever

Viking
29-02-04, 17:03
If anybody out there is looking to purchase a new war film or documentary, then you cant go far wrong than to use Amazon, we have a search box at the top of the main forum index where you can search amazon for the film you are looking for, also books :arrow:

Axis SS
03-03-04, 22:49
http://www.ihffilm.com/index.html
check that site out.. you can get tons of Historical films from diffrent wars, army trainning and other VHS taps and DVD's

Derrick Stephenson
10-03-04, 22:07
Hi, Snapper,
I was flicking last night after the football and caught about 20 mins. of this film which was on Sky Movies.
Looks good!!
I am watching for it to be repeated and will hopefully see the whole movie, then vote.
I only noticed because I'd read your post. Thanks.
Derrick.

Zofo
11-03-04, 13:11
I thought the idea was good but the actual film itself was tiresome. I thought Cage was tired and his portrayal of a seasoned veteran just didn't add up. The action sequences were very good but the film limped along to its conclusion.

Axis SS
12-03-04, 07:55
the 1998 remake of "The Thin Red Line" is the best movie about the war in the pacific so far..

11bang_bang1983-87
25-06-04, 09:11
Interesting facts snapper. I have to agree with Xtreme it was an awesome movie.

battleshipbob
25-10-04, 08:11
I have seen the movie as well. I thought the story about the code talkers is one that has been way overdue in being told. However, I think John Woo relied to heavily on the fireball type of pyro in the movie, the kind you find in cheap hollywood action flicks. Otherwise I thought the movie was very good.