Silent Raiders (1954)

A squad of U.S. Army commandos enter Nazi-occupied France under cover of darkness on the eve of the historic Normandy landings in 1944 in "Joe Dakota" director Richard Bartlett's "Silent Raiders," a low-budget, black & white, behind enemy lines, World War II combat thriller. Incidentally, "Silent Raiders" marked Bartlett's cinematic debut as a director. By and large, the action in Earle Lyon's screenplay follows our heroes as they cross the beach and then infiltrate the underbrush in search of a German army communication center that they must destroy before the Allies land. This is a serviceable, tolerably entertaining military actioneer that boasts a surprise or two, but nothing so utterly significant that it qualifies as a must-see movie for war movie aficionados. The way that movies were made back in 1954 when Bartlett helmed this minor item has changed so drastically compared to contemporary filmmaking that you have to understand why Bartlett staged some of the scenes the way that he did. The lighting capabilities of the latest Hollywood cameras would have compensated for scenes of American G.I.s strolling through the dark but spotlighted so that we could see them. These G.I.s should have been blown up before they reached the shore or mowed down after they came ashore because they present excellent targets in virtually every scene. Moreover, the threadbare budget inevitably meant that scenarist Earle Lyon had to drum up something to say because talk (dialogue) is cheaper compared with noisy battlefield fireworks. Our heroes are predictably whittled down before fade out when we learn that it was 'the end of the beginning.' Of course, only World War II armchair historians will appreciate this while lay spectators will have no idea what those end words mean. Some of "Silent Raiders" is okay, but other scenes with the G.I.s involved in horseplay are far from realistic. One G.I. coughs and apologizes that he couldn't have helped it. Two G.I.s escorting a tethered goat back to their camp is ridiculous. The biggest surprise occurs with the lieutenant dies first and command is juggled between one sergeant who doesn't want it and another who begrudging takes it on. In a sense, this is like the death of Janet Leigh in Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho." All too often, however, some of these G.I.s take things too easy. Sergeant Malloy (Earle Lyon), who gets busted down to buck private for sneaking a drink with his companions, storms a house, stabs a German officer, and then leaves his guard down long enough for the officer to recover and plug him with his Luger. Were that any imbecilic enough, the new top sergeant (Richard Bartlett) dispatches a G.I. to check out the shack and see what is taking doing. Actually, Malloy was kissing the French girl (Jeanette Bordeaux) who the German officer had been with earlier before Malloy barged in and knifed him. Eventually, during the last five minutes, our heroes shoot up the communications center, but they take casualties. One of the kill happy G.I.s, Pepy (Earl Hansen) dies because he cannot keep his helmet on and pays the price by getting shot in the back. This tears up Sergeant Jack. Altogether, despite its loquacity, "Silent Raiders" reminded me of a cross-between of "A Walk in the Sun" and an episode of the vintage television series "Combat." Bartlett makes interesting use of apparent G.I. newsreel photography lensed under fire at Normandy.

From the first scene in "The Silent Raiders," I had a sense that I was about to watch a movie about an Army unit in war that had little, if anything, real about it. The commentary by the lieutenant gave the impression that his unit was something like a smaller rendition of "The Dirty Dozen." But the differences were plenty. He had no confidence in any of their particular "skills." They weren't particularly able GIs chosen for their talents and abilities. They had little preparation for their mission. This was taking place just before the D-Day landing in Normandy, June 6, 1944. U.S. troops and our allies had been building up and training in England for that event since late 1942. So this small unit comes together for a special mission in just the last two months?Next scenes – the bickering, and loud fighting among the men. Where was their fear, caution or sense of real danger of being discovered or shot? Where was their discipline? Or, how about their standing up and walking upright, close together, in enemy territory. In basic and advanced military training, soldiers learn to crawl, crouch close to the ground, and keep from bunching up. Indeed, some of these guys didn't appear to be in top physical shape. This film must have had such a tight budget that they couldn't afford to rent or borrow three rifles for the German troops whom the invaders jumped on the road. I actually found that scene hilarious – three German soldiers marching on a road in single file with only holstered pistols for weapons. Another reviewer commented on the scene when a soldier kills a German in a house and then begins to take up with the young woman who was with the German. What real smarts and sense of the danger of a mission behind enemy lines! Did anyone feel a sense of justice when the stabbed German soldier had enough strength left to shoot the stupid American? An absolutely unbelievable scene – unbelievable that it would be in the script and that they would use it. I'm sure that we may have had some depraved individuals serve in our Armed Forces in the past, including in wartime. But was there ever anyone as dumb as that GI? His hormones for sex were stronger than his adrenaline and fear for his life deep behind enemy lines? Come on, Hollywood. Get real!Where was the communications center? I couldn't tell. We don't see any considerable security that the Germans would have had for such a center. It's no wonder that most of the members of that special squad didn't make it back. This was a real stink-bomb of a film. I can tolerate some low-budget stuff in war films, so long as they have a trace of a plot and accurately portray GIs. But this film missed on all counts.

True, you won't see many familiar faces in this cast, however, they do turn out some first-rate performances. Bartlett is the career sergeant, and Lyon the "Hollywood-type" just in for the duration, but both are driven, in the end to do their duty and serve their country. The low-key, downbeat ending is chilling, but realistic.

A gritty, low-budget, WWII drama high-lighted by fine performances from a cast of virtual unknowns. Commando team lands on the beach just prior to D-Day to knock out Nazi communications center. Stars Lyon and Bartlett turn-out great drama. Lyon wrote and performed the haunting title song. This is obviously a quickie production, hence the plot isn't as well developed as it could have been, however, for a first entry by the film makers it remains respectable. Also of note is the score by "newcomer" Elmer Berstein. Sadly, this film is over-looked and seldom available for viewing. NO, this was NOT one of Lippert's 'overseas endeavors' but was directed and produced by Bartlett and Lyon, released by Lippert, and filmed in Malibu California. In a recent interview, producer Lyon revealed that the picture was made for a measly $27000! Lyon and Bartlett also worked on the Lippert produced "Silver Star" and "Lonesome Trail."