Dave Magarity -- Love and War

Since all of us coaches go to battle every day, such a theme seemed all too appropriate for a film critique column. And over the past couple of weeks I have received tremendous response from fans in regards to some of the classic World War II movies of all time.

But before we get to the theatrical masterpieces, I'd like to take a moment to touch on CollegeInsider.Com's latest project, "College Basketball's 50 Most Eligible Bachelors."

What a tremendous idea, which will bring a lot of attention to many assistant coaches across the country. I have learned, from good authority, that this project will be complete with photos, quotes from their piers and their responses to a questionnaire.

I used my size and girth to get a hold of this list of questions and found it quite entertaining. I have also been amused by some of the responses that eligible bachelors have had to some of these questions.

One of the questions was, "What is the sexiest part of a woman?" Apparently many of the responses have been such things as an adoring smile, sparkling eyes and wonderful attire.

Are you kidding me? Come on guys, how about some truthful answers.

Another interesting question was, "What is your idea of the perfect date?" Once again the responses are comical, listing such things as good conversation, a moonlight walk on the beach and admiring her inner beauty.

Yeah, I am buying into all of those responses. Come on guys, how about some honesty?

Last March I did a column on post-game press conferences, the questions asked by reporters and how coaches would "really" want to respond. Very shortly I believe I am going to have to list all of these questions put to the eligible bachelors and present the answers that they "really" want to give.

So the sexiest part of a woman is her adoring smile? Okay.

But my favorite question on the list was, "What is the worst pick-up line you have ever used?" Some of the responses have been tremendous.

One coach listed this as his smoothest pick-up line. "Are you a parking ticket because you have fine, fine, fine written all over you?"

No question that the lovely Ms. Angela Lento has come up with another very entertaining feature. I am looking forward to reviewing some of the comical profiles.

GOING TO WAR

Many of you emailed some tremendous suggestions for classic WW II films. I even received an "un-named" email recommending that I cast myself in, "The Battle of the Bulge." Obviously a few people have recognized my propensity for a few extra pounds around the waist.

I have a pretty good idea of the origination of this correspondence and I will be putting in a call to my good friend in New Rochelle, New York to get to the bottom of that remark.

As for the films, the following is a list of 25 selections submitted by readers as well as my own personal favorites.

A BRIDGE TOO FAR: All-Star cast with such names as Sean Connery, Robert Redford, Michael Caine, Gene Hackman, Anthony Hopkins, James Caan and others. It's a tremendous film about the Allied plan to capture a series of bridges in Holland. If you look carefully you will see a brief appearance from "Cheers" star character Cliff Claven.

BATTLEGROUND: Nominated for four Academy Awards, this film tells the story of the Battle of the Ardennes Forrest, in Belgium, better known as the Battle of the Bulge. Released in 1949, it was one of the outstanding war films of the era.

BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI: William Holden and Alec Guinness are outstanding in this motion picture, which won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. POWs are forced to build a bridge, which will aid Japan's war effort. While Guinness and his men find pride in building the bridge, Holden leads a team that sets out to destroy the creation.

THE DESERT FOX: No, this is not a feature film on Angelina Jolie in the sand. James Mason is tremendous in the role of German Field Marshall Rommel. The film illustrates his conquests in North Africa and his involvement in the assassination plot to kill Hitler. Jessica Tandy also stars in this war classic, which was one of my father's all-time favorites.

THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE: William Holden is put in charge of taking a group of misfits and making them into a crack commando group. Cliff Robertson stars as the commander of a Canadian Special Forces unit that teams up with the Americans to take on the Germans. Carroll O'Connor and Claude Akins are terrific and there is a cameo from Green Bay Packers legend Paul Hornung.

THE DIRTY DOZEN: Lee Marvin, Telly Savallas, Charles Bronson Donald Sutherland, Ernest Borgnine and football star Jim Brown lead the way as a cast of criminals are sent on a mission behind enemy lines, with the reward of being pardoned for their crimes, should they live through it.

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED: Jack Higgins best-selling novel makes it to the big screen in 1977. The German high command, in a desperate attempt to change the tide of the war, comes up with an elaborate scheme to kidnap Winston Churchill. Robert Duvall, Michael Caine and Donald Sutherland in this clever film set in the English countryside.

THE FIGHTING SEABEES: One of my favorites, which stars John Wayne. The Duke commands a Navy Seabee outfit, which finds themselves fighting the Japanese rather than clearing paths for runways.

THE GUNS OF NAVARONE: I have touched on this film before. Gregory Peck leads a commando group, which sets out to dismantle two massive guns controlling a strategic channel in the Aegean Sea. Anthony Quinn, David Niven and Anthony Quail also star in one of the greatest war films ever made.

KELLY'S HEROES: Clint Eastwood commands a rag-tag bunch of soldiers that break away from their units in search of Nazi gold. Their exploits, behind enemy lines, are misinterpreted by Carroll O'Connor who believes them to be heroes taking the war to the Germans. Telly Savallas, Don Rickles and Donald Sutherland also star in this entertaining film.

THE LONGEST DAY: An adaptation of Cornelius Ryan's book, this film tells the story of the greatest invasion ever planned. John Wayne, Richard Burton, Henry Fonda and Robert Mitchum headline and All-Star cast, which also includes a young future star named Sean Connery. It's a tremendous depiction of D-Day.

THE MAN WHO NEVER WAS: One of my personal favorites, which tells the story of a Great Britain's rouse of the Germans. British Intelligence creates a person that never existed and has his body wash up on shore with papers indicating an Allied invasion of Greece. Clifton Webb and Stephen Boyd are terrific.

MIDWAY: One of the greatest casts ever assembled for a war film, featuring Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Cliff Robertson, Robert Wagner, James Colburn, Glenn Ford and Hal Holbrook. This film recounts the events that turned the tide of World War II, just six months after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Keep your eyes open during the scenes on Midway Island and you will catch a glimpse of a very young (no-mustache) Tom Selleck.

MISTER ROBERTS: Jack Lemmon picked up an Oscar for Best-Supporting Actor in this war drama that combines a touch of comic relief. James Cagney is terrific as the ship's crusty old captain and Henry Fonda gives a tremendous performance and the lovable Mister Roberts. Released in 1955, it was the first film Fonda made in the decade of the 1950?s.

PATTON: One of the all-time favorite films of Cincinnati head coach Bob Huggins. George C. Scott is fantastic in his portrayal of "Old Blood and Guts." This film won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor. It's one of the all-time greatest war films.

PT-109: Cliff Robertson portrays future President, John Fitzgerald Kennedy in this film, based on a true story. PT boat 109 is destroyed and Kennedy and his crew are stranded on an island surrounded by Japanese soldiers.

SAVING PRIVATE RYAN: Stephen Spielberg's masterpiece depicts the carnage of the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944. The D-Day invasion scenes are grizzly. It's a film for the ages. If for some reason you have not seen this film, make it a point to add it to your collection.

SCHINDLER'S LIST: The American Film Institute ranks this film No. 9 in its Top 100 of all-time. Stephen Spielberg outdoes himself with this gripping real-life account of how one man saves the lives of eleven hundred Jewish prisoners of war. Liam Neeson gives a tremendous portrayal of Oskar Schindler. This is a must see motion picture.

SINK THE BISMARCK: Another example of the great English-made war films, this movie tells the tale of the pursuit of Germany's unsinkable battleship. Johnny Horton wrote a classic ballad of the perilous search for the Bismarck.

THE THIN RED LINE: CollegeInsider.Com's Editor-in-Chief lists this film at No. 1 on his all-time list. It marks the long awaited return of Director Terrence Malick who had not made a film in two decades. Nick Nolte, Sean Penn and newcomer James Caviezel are all outstanding. The all-star cast includes brief appearances by John Travolta, John Cusack, Woody Harrelson and George Clooney. A gripping and eye opening look at the reality and horror of war.

TORA, TORA, TORA: Great movie, which documents the planning and carrying out of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It's a unique look at the perspective of both sides in this attack that forever changed the world. Many of the action scenes were used in future films, such as Midway.

THE TUSKEGEE AIRMEN: This was a well-done story about a squadron of African-American pilots that battled racial prejudice to serve their country in the air, during the war. Laurence Fishburne is tremendous. It's also one of the early films of Cuba Gooding, Jr.

U-571: Great action-adventure film, which stars Matthew McConaughey, Harvey Keitel and rock star Jon Bon Jovi. The mission is simple; seize a German U-Boat, which carries the secret enigma machine and codebooks. But the plans change and the American's find themselves under attack by their own Navy.

WHERE EAGLES DARE: A lengthy, but very suspenseful classic from the late 1960?s, which stars Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood. They have to rescue a captured American General who is being held in an impregnable German fortress in the Bavarian Alps. Great twist at the conclusion of the film.