WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WW II MOVIE STARS?

[ozzy72]

I believe that David Niven left a safe haven in Hollywood & risked his future career (& obviously his life) to travel back home at his own expense & volunteer to serve his country.

Quite correct Doug, he was with Phantom the SAS signals squadron and often in the line of fire. It is worth reading his book "The Moon Is A Balloon" which covers that period of his life

[myshelf]

ok, as i said, i didn't compile the list, but even if some of those ain't american, the principle still stands, they rushed to fight for their country in war, rather than letting others do the fighting and insulting them from a save place.


another thought:
statistically speaking there should be some actors who fought in vietnam, but you'll have a hard time finding details about that. now, why is that so?

[C]

I always find Richard Todd of Dambusters fame to be one of the most remarkable. Little could Todd  have known on the morning of June 6th 1944 when he met Maj John Howard at Pegasus Bridge, that 20ish years later he would be playing Maj Howard in the film "The Longest Day"...

[ozzy72]

statistically speaking there should be some actors who fought in vietnam

Jane Fonda?
Sorry I just couldn't resist that one. I think Robert Duvall was in the US Army in Vietnam...
Jesse Ventura was a SEAL in 'Nam I believe.
Richard Kline (Army?)
Ken Kercheval (Army?)

[H]

As others have pointed out I find this somewhat contradictory.

If those you mention had been American and steadfast non-compliant, then it would be contradictory. Rather, they make the list: errant, inaccurate, incorrect, amiss, defective, erroneous, flawed, imperfect or wrong (choose as you will).

[Hagar]

If those you mention had been American and steadfast non-compliant, then it would be contradictory. Rather, they make the list: errant, inaccurate, incorrect, amiss, defective, erroneous, flawed, imperfect or wrong (choose as you will).

Whatever. My point was that the list is flawed in that it contains misleading information, like so many of these things circulating on the Net. I don't have time to check my facts as I usually would but it's quite possible that some of the Americans on that list were drafted rather than volunteer for active service. Most of them weren't film stars or even well known actors at the time. It's also quite possible that there's an equally long (or longer) list of male Hollywood stars that did not serve in WWII or volunteer to do so. I can only speak for the UK but people tended to be far more patriotic in those days & things are completely different now, mainly thanks to those who fought & died for our freedom. With the benefit of hindsight I wonder if the veterans who survived would volunteer so willingly now. The young always think of war as being glamourous when any veteran will tell you that it's anything but that.

[myshelf]

Whatever. My point was that the list is flawed in that it contains misleading information, like so many of these things circulating on the Net. I don't have time to check my facts as I usually would but it's quite possible that some of the Americans on that list were drafted rather than volunteer for active service. Most of them weren't film stars or even well known actors at the time. It's also quite possible that there's an equally long (or longer) list of male Hollywood stars that did not serve in WWII or volunteer to do so. I can only speak for the UK but people tended to be far more patriotic in those days & things are completely different now, mainly thanks to those who fought & died for our freedom. With the benefit of hindsight I wonder if the veterans who survived would volunteer so willingly now. The young always think of war as being glamourous when any veteran will tell you that it's anything but that.

well, drafted or not is beside the point, them people served.
and yes, you might find a few actors who didn't (and some who volunteered only to be sent back to hollywood because films to boost public morale were considered essential to the war effort) can you get any examples that those people insulted the fighting men?

[denishc]

another thought:
statistically speaking there should be some actors who fought in vietnam, but you'll have a hard time finding details about that. now, why is that so?

 If I'm not mistaken, James Stewart flew atlease on mission over Vietnam in a B-52.

[WebbPA]

Whose name is conspicuously missing?  John Wayne, who never served in the armed forces at all.

[myshelf]

[quote]Whose name is conspicuously missing?

[Hagar]

well, drafted or not is beside the point, them people served.
and yes, you might find a few actors who didn't (and some who volunteered only to be sent back to hollywood because films to boost public morale were considered essential to the war effort) can you get any examples that those people insulted the fighting men?

I really don't see the relevance of the argument & my original point still stands. Many of the 18 men on that list weren't film stars at the time they served in the military. Including 3 British subjects on the list is misleading as their loyalty to the USA does not come into the equation. A couple of real Hollywood stars (Clark Gable & James Stewart) served with distinction in WWII. I don't know the feelings of the others but I would expect the American citizens among them to do their bit when the time came. I don't know why the opinions of overpaid actors or celebrities should be taken seriously anyway. As I said before, this seems to be just another piece of misleading propaganda.

PS.

James Doohan ("Scotty" on Star Trek) landed in Normandy with the U. S. Army on D-Day.

James Doohan was Canadian & landed on Juno Beach ("the Canadian Beach") with the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.

[myshelf]

I really don't see the relevance of the argument & my original point still stands. Many of the 18 men on that list weren't film stars at the time they served in the military. Including 3 British subjects on the list is misleading as their loyalty to the USA does not come into the equation. A couple of real Hollywood stars (Clark Gable & James Stewart) served with distinction in WWII. I don't know the feelings of the others but I would expect the American citizens among them to do their bit when the time came. I don't know why the opinions of overpaid actors or celebrities should be taken seriously anyway. As I said before, this seems to be just another piece of misleading propaganda.

PS.
James Doohan was Canadian & landed on Juno Beach ("the Canadian Beach") with the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.

is there a monopoly for patriotism held by americans?

[H]

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WW II MOVIE STARS?
Here's where they were during the war.
Hope you find this as informative as I did, be sure to scroll to the bottom.
In contrast to the ideals, opinions and feelings of today's "Hollywonk" the real actors of yester-year loved the United States.

Is there a monopoly for patriotism held by americans?

Certainly no monopoly. If you had not specified the U.S. or provided reference to the admiration of the U.S. by those mentioned, there would be less for controversy. Your title simply asked What Happened to WWII Movie Stars; if it were more aptly named WWII Era Movie Stars, there would even be less controversy.

[Hagar]

is there a monopoly for patriotism held by americans?

Not at all. As H points out, your original topic specifies WWII movie stars & their love of the United States. [quote]..... the real actors of yester-year loved the United States.

[Clownloachlover]

[quote]The professor in the television show