Veteran's Day 2020. I won't talk books on the subject; that's for the Study. No political hot-takes here; that's for Empire. Instead, I put to you one of my favorite war films, a 1968 film starring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood: Where Eagles Dare.
This movie is about a commando raid during the later years of World War 2. It turns into an exercise in strategic deception, and when the major plot twist occurs a first-time viewer will be suitable surprised, a surprise that gets a second impact at the resolution when the deception achieves its objectives and wins the day.
This film was a blockbuster, and its appeal endures well past its year of original release. The reason? This is a film where no one carries the Idiot Ball. The viewer that actively engaging with the film as he views it will see that every player is acting as best he can given what he knows and has at his disposal, even those that are venal and petty.
This is a film that wears the trappings of a war film, but it is really a spy thriller. You could do a shot-for-shot remake today, put Tom Cruise in the lead, call it "Mission: Impossible 1945", and no one would claim that it isn't a solid MI film. That's because it is one, as the first Cruise film shows (because its plot is a Cold War style revisiting of the premise).
And that brings us to Strategic Deception.
You engage in Strategic Deception when your enemy is in a superior position to you, your allies are unreliable or incompetent, and your resources are limited to handle matters. By appearing to be where you are not, appearing to be what you are not, and appearing to be doing other than what you are, you keep the enemy unable to effectively respond to your moves- you seize and hold the initative, flushing out hidden enemies and forcing allies up or out. This is exactly what the protagonist does in the film. When the film ends, he knows who he can rely upon; his enemies have all--but the target of the operation--been exposed and killed, and his dead weight cut loose. He outmaneuvered his foes, and when victory is certain the target sensibly concedes defeat.
In a conflict between reasonable, but opposed, parties that sort of outcome--even in a hardball play-for-keeps thing like Total War--you can do that and be gracious in victory, as the protagonist was. Against unreasonable opponents this is not an option, and that means the only resolution is to kill or to die; the protagonist has neither qualms in killing such opposition, or guilt after the fact.
Don't be surprised if you see this displayed in everyday life, and soon. In the meantime, pick up this film; it's one that is always good for watching time and again.
Agreed. Excellent film and the first time I can remember seeing Eastwood on the big screen. Based on a book by Alistair MacLean which is also quite good.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorites too. I read somewhere that Burton did it because he wanted to make a movie his sons would enjoy. Mission accomplished I believe.
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