7 days in Entebe

There were three movies made immediately after the raid, two for TV, and one a low budget theatrical release. I always preferred the TV version one with Bronson, but thought the storming of the terminal was done too drawn out. I am looking forward to seeing this new one and how they handle it. At least I know this one will not be full of Cal Guard stuff... Lol!

I cannot reply concerning this movie without dipping into "political commentary", so I won't!

Nice weather we're having here!

Gary

Looking forward to this one.  I remeber the TV movie -raid on entebee, first time I realized how bad ass these israeli forces were.  I was 12 or 13

There was a TV one I remember that was "OK".

I built a C-130 in Elephant Squadron markings.

Seriously, probably the most dangerous part was the withdrawal to Kenya.

Resistance on the ground was pretty lousy, although Jonathan Netanyahu did get KIA.

armor 2.0

I read the review 5 of them not one positive reviews in the bunch I was suprised. I think I'll pass on this one.

 

In the current world climate, all negative reviews probably means worth going to see.

Yeah, "Raid on Entebbe" was the 1977 made-for-TV movie, back when "made for TV" was pretty significant.  Bronson, but also Yaphet Kotto as Idi Amin, Martin Balsam, and Peter Finch headed an all-star cast.  Worth seeing.

I agree with the previous comment, too, that if the reviewers don't like a movie, it's probably something you do want to see. 

GAF

I cannot reply concerning this movie without dipping into "political commentary", so I won't!

Nice weather we're having here!

Gary

 

How is it political? It's a true story of the 1976 hijacking and the rescue of hostages.

Probably better not to ask. 

GMorrison

There was a TV one I remember that was "OK".

I built a C-130 in Elephant Squadron markings.

Seriously, probably the most dangerous part was the withdrawal to Kenya.

Resistance on the ground was pretty lousy, although Jonathan Netanyahu did get KIA.

 

Two TV films: Victory at Entebbe with Burt Lancaster, done first; Raid on Entebbe with Bronson, Kotto, Finch, and a young James Woods, done better

One Theatrical: Operation Thunderbolt, biggest name I recall was Klaus Kinski as the German hijacker. Filmed in Israel with IDF assistance by Golan Globus filmmakers. The same guys who gave us most of the Chuck Norris films of the 80’s. The takedown of the terminal was done more realistically manner in this one, but sound and cinematrography, not to mention the “spaghetti western” soundtrack were not as slick as the TV films.

Interesting stuff. I read the book after I found it in a garage sale. I never knew there were any movies about it but it shouldn't be surprising. 

I would like to see it just to see how much "based on true events" distortion there is. They might even end the movie without showing Yonatan Netanyahu's death or have him says some inpiring words as he dies. Not getting political, just the way Hollywood distorts fact into beyond fiction. BTW, he was the future PM's older brother. 

Overall the whole event was beyond impressive. Only 3 hostages and 1 commando killed. There were some wounded but considering they were in the lion's den that was beyond impressive. Aside from that there one hostage who was left behind because she was taken to a hospital and she was later murdered. 

I want to see it because the story itself is good. 

I've read a few accounts, and have a different take. The planning of the raid was well done, and a lot of it was political. Kenya ended up paying a very dear price for cooperating with israel. Amin murdered 245 Kenyans in Uganda and expelled another 3000. Certainly that's not on Israel in any way, but in my mind it calls into some question the wisdom of the raid.

The Ugandan military was so pathetic that a 707 circled over the airport the entire raid, providing command and control for the forces on the ground.

IMO the best Special Ops I've read about was Eban Emael. There's a TV movie about that one.

Well, a 707 over an airport is not unheard of... especially in the 70’s. And let’s just say that the IDF did some superb planning and contingency planning for the Op. Once they were on the ground, they were able to neutralize (read wipe out) the Ugandan AF fighters at Entebbe.

As far as Eben Emal compared to Entebbe, that’s an apples and oranges sort of comparison. A hostage rescue halfway across a mostly unfriendly continent is a whole different aspect than a seizure of strongpoint in time of war a short distance behind the frontiers. The Entebbe raiders had to get in and get out with the hostages. As much can go wrong on exfiltration, as can on insertion or during the raid itself.  The Eben Emal raiders, once they accomplished their mission, just had to sit and wait for their relief to arrive. Their mission was more like Pegasus Bridge on D-Day.

Raid on Entebbe was the one I saw as a kid. Never knew about the other versions. I do recall an elderly lady who was taken to the hospital, but was never heard of again. Don't know if my memory is faulty or not though.

Rob Gronovius

Raid on Entebbe was the one I saw as a kid. Never knew about the other versions. I do recall an elderly lady who was taken to the hospital, but was never heard of again. Don't know if my memory is faulty or not though.

 

You remember correctly. She was murdered after the raid.

Her remains were recovered three years later after Amin was deposed.

Rabin and Peres fought bitterly about the wisdom of ransom versus recovery versus refusal to act.

There was a plan to drop IDF commandos into Lake Victoria, but was thwarted by concerns about crocodiles.

Extraction was the challenge of this mission. There was no clear way of anticipating the reaction. The extraction took a long time because of the need to refuel the C-130s.

The IDF brought about 50 soldiers and a APC to support a perimeter while this all went on.

In a way Amin was most distressed by the destruction of the MIGs, he really wasn't all that invested in the hostage situation and had no benefit from it.

Yes, apples to oranges.

I didn't really mean to suggest they were comparable ops. But the idea of inserted forces depending on their light arms and limited supplies to last until relieved strikes me as very heroic. It went wrong for the Germans in Norway later.

Having four C-130s with engines turning while you extract is a different game.

But even that can go wrong and I truly hail those in that op. Similar op ended in disaster in Iran three years later.

Yes, the logistics of throwing together an op with only a few days deadline is what makes it even more impressive. This was not a contingency planned mission. Planned rapidly, massaged, and rehearsed to work out the bugs then executed in under one week. 

The German airborne into Norway was in April 1940, one month before Eban Emal

And Eagle Claw into Iran... that was an even tougher nut to crack with far more moving parts to go wrong...