Back when Steven Spielberg wanted to film the definitive version of the Invasion of Normandy on D-Day, the French government wouldn’t let Spielberg use any of their locales. So Spielberg went to England and he made do with English resources for Saving Private Ryan. He did it again when he executive-produced Band of Brothers, which was mostly filmed in England too. At some point, the Queen was so happy that this Yank was bringing so much industry and so many jobs to England, she knighted him.

I was thinking of that when I looked through these photos of George Clooney filming The Monuments Men in England. Again, I’m pretty sure they’re using the English coast as a stand in for the French coast. The Monuments Men probably will be set in France, Germany, Austria, and maybe Poland. If it’s anything like the splendid documentary, The Rape of Europa, it should involve those countries and more. But I wonder if they’re just going to film the whole thing in England? And if that’s the case, I wonder if we’ll soon have to refer to him as Sir George Clooney?

I’m including photos of George (and his creepy mustache), John Goodman, Bill Murray, Hugh Bonneville and Jean Dujardin. The cast also includes Matt Damon and Cate Blanchett. “The Monuments Men” were a real group of art historians, art specialists and art restorers who were tasked by Gen. Eisenhower to recover and commandeer all of the artwork the Nazis had plundered from European families and from European museums. Can you believe that someone had the presence of mind – in the midst of World War II!! – to think about art? That art historians were drafted to serve their country with a special mission that sent them into the heart of Nazi Germany? Yeah. This movie is going to win a ton of awards. I’m kind of surprised to see Bill Murray playing along with the ensemble. And damn, Jean Dujardin looks HOT in uniform.

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.