A Memorial Day salute to all-time favorite war films
As we enjoy the long weekend, I don't want to totally lose sight of the meaning of Memorial Day, and since this is a movies and TV blog, I got to thinking about war movies. I'm not a veteran myself, but my dad is (Korea) and he's a movie buff. (My mom too, and I wouldn't be the movie fan I am today if not for all the movies that I've watched with my parents.) So I asked him what are some of his all-time favorite war movies. His answers are below (comments by me); feel free to post a comment with your own favorite. --David
The Hunt for Red October (cold war): my dad's a Clancy fan so no surprise that this cold-war submarine flick (starring Alec Baldwin before Harrison Ford took over the Jack Ryan character) made the list.
Tunes of Glory (post-WWII): not one I've seen myself, but a well-regarded 1960 pic starring Alec Guinness and John Mills in post-war Scotland.
Das Boot (WWII): one we saw together in theaters, a claustrophobic thriller set aboard a German submarine.
Hope and Glory (WWII): another one we saw in theaters, but a little different. Funny and touching, it tells the story of the British homefront in World War II.
Danger UXB (WWII): a TV series we watched in my mom's post-Brideshead Revisited phase. It also takes place on the British homefront, with a squad in charge of defusing unexploded German bombs ("UXBs").
The Bridge on the River Kwai (WWII, pictured above): an all-time classic, again starring Alec Guiness.
Lawrence of Arabia (WWI): another classic, and one of my favorite "see it on the big screen" movies ever.
Letters from Iwo Jima (WWII): Clint Eastwood's deeply thoughtful look at the Japanese perspective of World War II. Oddly, neither my dad or I has got around to seeing the companion piece, Flags of Our Fathers.
M*A*S*H (Korean War): Robert Altman's black comedy that spurred the long-running TV series.
Gallipoli (WWI): another one we saw in the theaters (this is how we spent a lot of time in the '80s). Not exactly uplifting, but a powerful drama.
Joyeux Noel (WWI): another one from the Great War; glad this list is not only WWII. It's based on a true event, in which opposing armies take a respite for the holiday.
Mrs. Miniver (WWII): more from the British homefront, starring Greer Garson.
A few others we mentioned, and some of my own favorites: Saving Private Ryan, The Clock, Patton, The Great Escape, Stalag 17, Casablanca, The Guns of Navarone, Black Hawk Down, Glory, Breaker Morant, Dr. Strangelove.
FredTownWard on May 26, 2008 at 01:04 PM
One that belongs on any list of the best war films is "Zulu" (1964), the epic film of the Battle of Rorke's Drift of 1879, in which on the heels of the annihilation of a British force of 1,200 by 10,000 Zulus at Isandhlwana, barely 150 British soldiers held off 4,000 Zulus launching wave after wave of attacks for 12 hours. The tension builds relentlessly throughout the frantic preparations of the first half of the movie, and then comes the wrenching, brutal, and exhausting battle as the Immovable Object of the Thin Red Line attempts to resist the Unstoppable Force of the Zulu Impis.
Not to be missed.
FredTownWard on May 26, 2008 at 01:51 PM
Another that arguably belongs is "300" (2007). Though somewhat fast and loose with the details (Elephants? Giants? GUNPOWDER?) this adaptation of a Frank Miller graphic novel about the Battle of Thermopylae gets the big things right including a fascinating example of that marvelous killing machine, the Greek phalanx in action.
Another is "The Alamo" (1960). Though there are enough historical errors to reduce an expert to tears, John Wayne got the Big Idea right, the "why" this group of 185 chose to fight to the death, that none of the arguably more accurate more recent versions have been able to capture.
Ben Lukoff on May 26, 2008 at 02:42 PM
I second your votes for "Das Boot," "Breaker Morant," and "Glory." Other picks: "The Thin Red Line," "Full Metal Jacket," "Platoon".... and does "The Best Years of Our Lives" count?
oldbogus on May 26, 2008 at 05:14 PM
One of my favorites for gritty SE Asian movies was "The Seventh Dawn" with William Holden. Most especially for the leech scene and his remark near the end about a man being discussed by two women.
And as an Army Aviation VN vet whose unit supported Special Forces, "Air America" has a certain attraction.
Ben Lukoff on May 26, 2008 at 06:55 PM
I rather liked "Empire of the Sun," too.
Cookie the Dog's Owner on May 27, 2008 at 12:07 PM
I, too, second the nominations of "Das Boot," "Breaker Morant," and "Glory."
I would also suggest "Gettysburg," "A Bridge Too Far," "Saving Private Ryan," and the miniseries "Band of Brothers."
Bill Brown on May 27, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Did "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "Seargent York" slide down the memory hole along with many others?
Richard Aubrey on May 27, 2008 at 12:10 PM
How about the Four H's?
Hanoi Hilton and Hamburger Hill?
jeff on May 27, 2008 at 12:11 PM
No war movie list is complete without the "Dirty Dozen". The Great Escape was good also.
Neocon Don on May 27, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Dont forget: The Longest Day, Saving Private Ryan, All Quiet on the Western Front, 300, Zulu, Burn (more a cointel flick), Deer Hunter & Apocalypse Now.
Wayne Kohlwes on May 27, 2008 at 12:13 PM
All of the above or good but how about adding Battleground (1949), Pork Chop Hill, and Tora, Tora Tora!
The Know It All on May 27, 2008 at 12:14 PM
You missed a few:
Bridges At To-Kori
Stalag 17
The Great Escape
Deer Hunter (sort of)
Patton
Bruce Rheinstein on May 27, 2008 at 12:15 PM
I'm with Bill Brown on this. Many, arguably much better, films are not on the list.
A.W. on May 27, 2008 at 12:16 PM
I would add:
A bridge too far
Braveheart
Glory (meaning the Civil War movie)
Sparticus
JR in Tennessee on May 27, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Where is the "Longest Day"? C'mon! John Wayne,Robert Mitchum, Eddie Albert,James Garner,and the list of big name stars goes on and on. Obviously Hollywood wasn't afraid (embarrassed) to make patriotic films back then nor were most actors.
Saltine on May 27, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Good lawd...Letters? Snooz-o-rama.
-Last of the Mohicans
-Stalag 17
-Cross of Iron
-Saving Private Ryan
-The Great Escape
-The Lighthorsemen
-All Quiet on the Western Front
-The Blue Max
-Waterloo
-Patton
-Braveheart
BC on May 27, 2008 at 12:18 PM
I second "Gettysburg". The portrayal of the fighting on Little Round Top is particularly awesome: it gives a real sense of the fragility of the Union line, the gutsiness of Chamberlain's bayonet charge, of how the battle, and perhaps the entire Civil War, turned right there. And the sequence where General Armistead is mortally wounded during Pickett's Charge, and is told that General Hancock was also wounded, is heartwrenching.
Saltine on May 27, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Oh shiite!
Forgot "A Bridge Too Far".
War movie nut on May 27, 2008 at 12:21 PM
"The Train" Burt Lancaster was incredible, most of todays actors wouldnt work that hard. "To Hell and Back", considering the actor it should be accurate. 'Battleground" a true classic.
Barry Rose on May 27, 2008 at 12:22 PM
There are a lot of great war movies, just none that are recent. How about "The Longest Day" and one that doesn't get much mention, "The Great Raid." I don't really like any of those of my era -- Vietnam. Maybe because I was there.
Uncle Fester on May 27, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Recent standout: We Were Soldiers with Mel Gibson.
sonicfrog on May 27, 2008 at 12:22 PM
Uhm, where are the "Navarone" classics, "Guns of..." and "Force Ten from..."?
sonicfrog on May 27, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Uhm, where are the "Navarone" classics, "Guns of..." and "Force Ten from..."?
sonicfrog on May 27, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Uhm, where are the "Navarone" classics, "Guns of..." and "Force Ten from..."?
john aita on May 27, 2008 at 12:23 PM
I seem to have a different idea here than most.....but here goes, my top 10 war movies of all time..and whn I think fo "war" movies...I think" modern war" or I'd include flicks like Braveheart, Glory, Cleopatra, etc....
The Longest Day
Kelly's Heroes
The Devil's Brigade
Patton
Blackhawk Down
Full Metal Jacket
A Bridge Too Far
The Dirty Dozen
Apocalypse Now
Saving Private Ryan
I'd add Stripes in there too, but notn sure that counts as a war movie !!!!