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The Tanks Are Coming

  • 19511951
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
294
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
The Tanks Are Coming (1951)
ActionDramaWar

An American tank crew fights its way into Germany in World War II.An American tank crew fights its way into Germany in World War II.An American tank crew fights its way into Germany in World War II.

IMDb RATING
6.3/10
294
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Lewis Seiler
  • Writers
    • Robert Hardy Andrews(screenplay)
    • Samuel Fuller(story)
  • Stars
    • Steve Cochran
    • Philip Carey
    • Mari Aldon
Top credits
  • Director
    • Lewis Seiler
  • Writers
    • Robert Hardy Andrews(screenplay)
    • Samuel Fuller(story)
  • Stars
    • Steve Cochran
    • Philip Carey
    • Mari Aldon
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos6

    Steve Cochran in The Tanks Are Coming (1951)
    Steve Cochran in The Tanks Are Coming (1951)
    Steve Cochran in The Tanks Are Coming (1951)
    The Tanks Are Coming (1951)
    The Tanks Are Coming (1951)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Steve Cochran
    Steve Cochran
    • Francis Aloysius 'Sully' Sullivanas Francis Aloysius 'Sully' Sullivan
    Philip Carey
    Philip Carey
    • Lt. Rawsonas Lt. Rawson
    Mari Aldon
    Mari Aldon
    • Patricia Kaneas Patricia Kane
    Paul Picerni
    Paul Picerni
    • Danny Kolowiczas Danny Kolowicz
    Harry Bellaver
    Harry Bellaver
    • Sgt. Lemchekas Sgt. Lemchek
    James Dobson
    • Pfc. George 'Ike' Eisenhoweras Pfc. George 'Ike' Eisenhower
    George O'Hanlon
    George O'Hanlon
    • Sgt. Tuckeras Sgt. Tucker
    John McGuire
    John McGuire
    • Col. Matthewsas Col. Matthews
    Eugene Baxter
    • Pvt. Jerry Marconi Whitehouseas Pvt. Jerry Marconi Whitehouse
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Boon
    • Heinrich 'Heinie' Weinburgeras Heinrich 'Heinie' Weinburger
    • (uncredited)
    Tony Christian
    • Gen. Oberon von Kolberas Gen. Oberon von Kolber
    • (uncredited)
    Jeanne Crandell
    • Belgian Girlas Belgian Girl
    • (uncredited)
    Art Gilmore
    Art Gilmore
    • Narratoras Narrator
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Lisa Golm
    Lisa Golm
    • Heinie's Grandmotheras Heinie's Grandmother
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Horton
    Robert Horton
    • Capt. Bob Horneras Capt. Bob Horner
    • (uncredited)
    Ray Hyke
    • Kempas Kemp
    • (uncredited)
    Gary Kettler
    • German Non-Comas German Non-Com
    • (uncredited)
    Fay Lively
    • Belgian Girlas Belgian Girl
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Lewis Seiler
    • Writers
      • Robert Hardy Andrews(screenplay)
      • Samuel Fuller(story)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    During the second-half of 1944, various Allied units stationed in Belgium attempt to smash their way through the tough German defenses at the Siegfried Line. If successful, the way to Germany is wide-open. One of these units is the American 3rd Armored Division. The film's story concerns a particular five-tank platoon, commanded by Lt. Rawson, the best platoon in Captain Bob Horner's Company C. During an ambush, the lead tank, California Jane, commanded by Master Sgt. Joe Davis, is seriously damaged by a German Panther tank. Davis is severely wounded and his driver is killed. Soon after, a replacement sergeant takes over Davis' role. However, the new man, staff sergeant Francis Aloysius Sullivan is cocky, heartless and tactless. His behavior frustrates both his men and his superiors. Many suspect that Sullivan is a show-off, and eager for an aggressive combat style in order to receive promotions, medals and praises. Some of the other men in the platoon are Danny Kolowicz, Sgt. Lemchek, Pfc. George 'Ike' Eisenhower, Sgt. Tucker, Pvt. Jerry Marconi Whitehouse, Heinrich 'Heinie' Weinburger and Lt. Rawson himself. Sgt. Sullivan is mercilessly pushing his men to their limit, with little rest, praise or empathy. This leadership style attracts the enmity of his men and of the more humane platoon leader, Lt. Rawson. At a river fording, the inadequacy of the American Sherman tank, armed with the 75 mm gun, becomes evident. The lead tank is neutralized by a German 88 mm Flack gun. During one-on-one tank duels with the much heavier, better armored, superior gunned German tanks, the American Shermans fall pray to German shells, while the Shermans' shells bounce-off the German armor. Some men bemoan the situation and dream of better American tanks to give the crews a better chance of survival during fire exchanges with the German monsters. Pfc. Eisenhower even begs a two-star general for better tanks and is promised newer tanks, armed with 90 mm guns and sporting thicker armor. They all take this promise as a joke, meant to humor the men, until, a few months later, the first Pershing tanks start arriving. After liberating a few Belgian towns, the division moves into position to assault the Siegfried Line. The German tank obstacles, including the deadly 'dragon's teeth' and heavy artillery await the American tank units. Sergeant Sullivan's reckless bravery wins them successes but casualties too. Later-on, a major German infantry counter-attack is repulsed by Sullivan's advance smart defensive preparations. The men don't know whether to admire or hate Sullivan's guts. Once over the border, into Germany proper, the men open a bottle of champagne to celebrate the event. When they reach a major German town, Pfc. Heinrich 'Heinie' Weinburger, a German-American, starts asking strange questions, in German, of the numerous German POW's being herded and processed by the American soldiers. When Weinburger wanders-off into the city, a suspicious Sullivan follows him around and discovers Weinburger's painful secret. Finally, a promotion to Lieutenant, arrives for Sullivan but it also means the mandatory re-assignment to another unit. Emotionally attached to his men and his platoon, Sullivan refuses the promotion, choosing to remain a sergeant with his outfit instead. —nufs68
    year 1944combatanti tank ditchm 4 sherman tankgerman tank52 more
    • Plot summary
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    • Taglines
      • The Happy, Scrappy Story of those Hit-'Em-First Heroes!
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Drama
      • War
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In all of his films, Samuel Fuller--who wrote the story for this film, but not the screenplay--has a character named "Lemcheck". In this film it's a sergeant, played by Harry Bellaver.
    • Goofs
      The main characters are assigned to crew an M26 Pershing tank armed with a 90 millimeter gun, with which they breach the Siegfried Line in Germany sometime in the Fall of 1944. In actuality, the M26 Pershing did not become operational until February 1945. Furthermore, the actual tank used in the movie was an M46 Patton, a post-World War II upgrade of the M26 which did not enter service until 1949.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Family Viewing (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      The Washington Post
      (uncredited)

      Music by John Philip Sousa

      Played when the tanks roll into Mons

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    I'd Rather Have Their Equipment...
    THE TANKS ARE COMING (1951) covered our (U.S. Army) Armored SpearHead and its problems during the war in Europe (WWII). The main problem being our Tanks were just not as good as our opponents the Nazi Germans. A captured German Tank Commander once commented "One (1) of our tanks are better then twelve (12) of yours, but you always have a thirteenth (13th)". True, we could (and the Russians) out produce by a factor of ten (10) to one (1) or more. That did not help the crews inside these coffins when inadequate armor (and firepower) gave little or no protection at all.

    The movie starts off clearly showing these inadequacies. As our Tank Platoon with Shermans takes on a German Panther (a disguised M36 sitting in). Our shells bounce off, theirs go right through. The film illustrates this well with the guns sound effects. Our guns sound like cap pistols the Germans like thunder. The story goes on from there as determination and guts have to overcome technological limitations. Toward the end our hero's get a M26 Pershing which had both the Armor and Gun to take on their opponents in a equitable manner. A little late for those who already had made the supreme sacrifice.

    It took awhile but lessons were learned and are reflected in the current equipment of the U.S. ARMY. The M1A2 Abrams and the other Armored Vehicles are World Class and second to none. Their only equivalents are also made/used by our allies (for the most part). One (1) further note this film should not be confused with the Warner Brothers Short of the same name made in 1941, also reviewed.
    helpful•16
    4
    • xerses13
    • Aug 14, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 31, 1951 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Les tanks arrivent
    • Filming locations
      • Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA
    • Production company
      • Warner Bros.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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