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Original poster

Can you find a film from one line of dialogue?

17 replies

Sacreblue · 09/04/2021 18:38

I’ve been trying to find a film on and off for years.

The scant details I have are:

On TV in the late ‘70’s or ‘80’s (UK or Irish channels)

Set in UK or Ireland during WWII, filmed in colour I think.

From POV of a child or group of children

A German pilot is shot down & hides in a tree - possibly in the children's treehouse or den?

He is found by one of the children who helps him & he gives them his (signet?) ring

When he is found or captured or shot an older man (grandfatherly I think) tells the child:

“He wouldn’t have given a big old ring like that to just anyone, would he? He gave it to you”

Or words to that effect, to reassure the child that they had done the right thing I think after the child has been either ostracised, or the pilot did a ‘get away from me’ Free Willy type rejection in order to protect them.

I don’t even know if this is the main storyline! It’s proven impossible (so far) to track down, any chance anyone knows what it is?

No prizes I’m afraid but I’d be grateful for the help because it’s bugged me for years now!

OP posts:
PeskyRooks · 09/04/2021 18:54

Sounds like the book The Machine Gunners?

BorisandHarriet · 09/04/2021 18:56

@PeskyRooks

Sounds like the book The Machine Gunners?
I thought the same thing. But I’ve just googled and couldn’t find mention of a ring. I can’t remember it well enough to know if there was one.
PeskyRooks · 09/04/2021 18:59

No I don't remember the ring! But just remember some kids finding the pilot in the woods in that book. We read it at school I think.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Films
Standrewsschool · 09/04/2021 19:00

Not a war film, but the plot line reminded me a little of ‘Whistle down the Wind’.

Tlollj · 09/04/2021 19:00

What’s the one with Hayley Mills?
Whistle down the wind? Something like that?

Nookable · 09/04/2021 19:01

Friend or Foe has kids finding a German pilot but no idea if it has the bit with the ring

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friend_or_Foe_(film)

Original poster
Sacreblue · 09/04/2021 19:02

Oh I think you’ve got it! I’ve just read the plot summary, the BBC adaptation is bang on the right timing and the name Rudi even rings a bell - thank you @PeskyRooks

Now you’ve given me the name I see it’s on YT so that’s my evening sorted (& years long mystery put to bed!)

I appreciate it Smile

OP posts:
PeskyRooks · 09/04/2021 19:04

You're very welcome @Sacreblue! Enjoy!

Original poster
Sacreblue · 09/04/2021 19:06

I guess I’ll discover if it has the bit about the ring but it does seem to fit with the den, the kids, the German being shot (I can picture the German in amongst foliage 😂 )

I’ll come back later tonight or tomorrow after I’ve watched it and confirm!

OP posts:
Arbadacarba · 09/04/2021 19:06

I don't think it's The Machine Gunners because there was no signet ring, and Rudi (the pilot) didn't reject the children, in the book at least. There was a home guard, Stan (?) who consoled the children but more along the lines of how well their encampment was built. There was a BBC TV series in the 80s but I'd read the book and don't remember it being substantially different.

Whistle Down the Wind didn't involve a German soldier - the man was an escaped convict, I think, and definitely British. The Hayley Mills film is B&W.

OP, you'd probably enjoy both the above as they sound similar to what you're thinking of.

IWantAllTheDogsInTheWorld · 09/04/2021 19:08

Summer of My German Soldier bu Bette Greene?

I loved this book and wrote to the author to tell her but never got a reply. I didn't realise it had been made into a film.

IWantAllTheDogsInTheWorld · 09/04/2021 19:08

*by

Original poster
Sacreblue · 10/04/2021 00:38

Sorry folks just finished watching Machine Gunners (2hrs well spent)

@Arbadacarba was right it wasn’t the one with the ring but not sorry I watched it and I’m grateful for the suggestion.

Actor playing the german Rudi was in Emmerdale! (as a swedish tourist) & in Boys from Brazil, another great watch.

I really thought as he got into the boat that he was going to leave Nicky his ring (he is wearing one clearly in one scene & I was ‘yes!’ but no 😂)

I’ll look up the others mentioned tomorrow, thanks so far everyone - the hunt continues...

OP posts:
Arbadacarba · 10/04/2021 00:45

For anyone who enjoyed The Machine Gunners, the sequel, Fathom Five is a must-read. It's YA fiction (if a book of that age can be so-described) - Chas & co are 6th formers. I don't think it was ever televised, sadly, but it's a cracking read,

BluTangClan · 10/04/2021 01:03

@IWantAllTheDogsInTheWorld

Summer of My German Soldier bu Bette Greene?

I loved this book and wrote to the author to tell her but never got a reply. I didn't realise it had been made into a film.

I think you've got it there! en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_of_My_German_Soldier_(film)
Sweetchillidumplings · 10/04/2021 01:18

[quote Nookable]Friend or Foe has kids finding a German pilot but no idea if it has the bit with the ring

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friend_or_Foe_(film)[/quote]
I was going to suggest this too. I haven't seen the film, only read the book and nothing online mentions the ring though it could have been added for the film or as OP says such a small part that it hasn't been given a second thought in reviews. From what I can remember one of the soldiers allows the children to 'hand him in' at the end though as he needs medical care and otherwise they would be in trouble for helping him, and there is the man they are staying with (the children were evacuated) as the 'grandfatherly' figure.

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