Twenty Memorable War Movies
I'm not trying to glorify war with this list, but in many ways, war, with its intense moments and life-and-death struggles, does provide an opportunity to tell good stories, teach important lessons, and affirm the values of sacrifice and courage.
In some ways, this is a hard list to put together. Should it include movies that take place in wartime, or movies about the war itself? I ended up choosing movies that are primarily about combat and the choices people make. Here are 20 that I enjoy. As always, comment and discussion are welcome.
In some ways, this is a hard list to put together. Should it include movies that take place in wartime, or movies about the war itself? I ended up choosing movies that are primarily about combat and the choices people make. Here are 20 that I enjoy. As always, comment and discussion are welcome.
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- StarsScott GrimesDamian LewisRon LivingstonThe story of Easy Company of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and their mission in World War II Europe, from Operation Overlord to V-J Day.An HBO miniseries, based on the great book by Steven Ambrose, that tells the story of a company of paratroopers, from their training in the states up until the end of the war. Fine performances all around.
- DirectorJ. Lee ThompsonStarsDavid NivenGregory PeckAnthony QuinnA team of Allied saboteurs is assigned an impossible mission: infiltrate an impregnable Nazi-held Greek island and destroy the two enormous long-range field guns that prevent the rescue of 2,000 trapped British soldiers.One of my very favorite war movies, with great performances by Gregory Peck, David Niven and Anthony Quayle, among others. "To tell you the truth, sir, I didn't think we could do it." "To tell you the truth, neither did I." Whoever thought it would be a good idea to make a sequel of this should be stood up against a wall and shot (even if Barbara Bach was beautiful in it).
- DirectorHenry KingStarsGregory PeckHugh MarloweGary MerrillA tough-as-nails general (Gregory Peck as General Savage) takes over a B-17 bomber unit suffering from low morale and whips them into fighting shape.I remember watching this in Dr. Paul Lakey's class in organizational communication at ACU, as a case study in leadership. A war film that is decidedly anti-war. Gregory Peck is brilliant, of course, and Dean Jagger won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor as Maj. Stovall.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsTom HanksMatt DamonTom SizemoreFollowing the Normandy Landings, a group of U.S. soldiers go behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper whose brothers have been killed in action.The Normandy landings are as intense as anything ever put on film, but I think Tom Hanks could make reading the phone book look interesting. I also love Barry Pepper as the scripture-quoting sharpshooter. I think I read somewhere that his character was supposed to be from Ft. Worth. I approve.
- DirectorDick PowellStarsRobert MitchumCurd JürgensDavid HedisonDuring WWII an American destroyer discovers a German U-boat, and in the ensuing duel the American captain must draw upon all his experience to defeat the equally experienced German commander.Robert Mitchum and Curd Jurgens give amazing performances as as captains of an American destroyer and a German submarine in this way-above-average war movie. One of my favorite episodes of Star Trek, "Balance of Terror," lifted much of its storyline from this movie. A tense, taut, excellent bit of storytelling that wonders about who is the real enemy.
- DirectorRon MaxwellStarsTom BerengerMartin SheenStephen LangIn 1863, the Northern and Southern forces fight at Gettysburg in the decisive battle of the American Civil War.A great study of how personalities shape battles, and battles shape history. Lots of really nice performances by a really strong cast, but none better than Sam Elliott as the historically under-appreciated Union Cavalry General John Buford.
- DirectorJack SmightStarsCharlton HestonHenry FondaJames CoburnA dramatization of the battle that was widely heralded as a turning point of the Pacific Theatre of World War II.It was popular back in the 1970s to make these "blockbuster" movies with lots of big-name stars in relatively small parts. But this one is better than that, with fine work by Charleton Heston and Henry Fonda. Lots of actual DOD footage add to the realism, also helped by a nice score by John Williams.
- DirectorFranklin J. SchaffnerStarsGeorge C. ScottKarl MaldenStephen YoungThe World War II phase of the career of controversial American general George S. Patton.George C. Scott won a well-deserved Oscar for this film, but as a bio of Gen. Patton, it's not very flattering. Karl Malden, as Gen. Omar Bradley, comes off pretty well, probably because the movie was actually based on Gen. Bradley's memoir. Things that make you go, "Hmmm."
- DirectorHoward HawksStarsGary CooperWalter BrennanJoan LeslieA Tennessee farmer and marksman is drafted in World War I, and struggles with his pacifist inclinations before becoming one of the most celebrated war heroes.Gary Cooper leads a fine cast in the based-on-a-true-story of the most decorated American soldier of World War I. It's a great examination of a man of conscience who must weigh his beliefs in God against his duty to his country.
- DirectorJohn SturgesStarsSteve McQueenJames GarnerRichard AttenboroughAllied prisoners of war plan for several hundred of their number to escape from a German camp during World War II.The true story of a group of Allied POWs and their efforts to escape from a Nazi prison camp. Steve McQueen is as cool as they come.
- DirectorFrancis Ford CoppolaStarsMartin SheenMarlon BrandoRobert DuvallA U.S. Army officer serving in Vietnam is tasked with assassinating a renegade Special Forces Colonel who sees himself as a god.Everyone uses superlatives to describe this movie, and rightly so. It's over the top in almost every category. I don't know how authentic is it to the Vietnam story, but as a movie, it excels. Martin Sheen is terrific, as is Robert Duvall as the crazy Air Cav colonel. The helicopter charge set to "Ride of the Valkyries" is movie-making genius.
- DirectorJohn GuillerminStarsGeorge PeppardJames MasonUrsula AndressA young pilot in the German air force of 1918, disliked as lower-class and unchivalrous, tries ambitiously to earn the medal offered for 20 kills.George Peppard. Ursula Andress. Incredible aerial combat action. 'Nuff said.
- StarsRobert MitchumAli MacGrawJan-Michael VincentThe trials of the Henry and Jastrow families in the early years of World War II.I realize this is a made-for-TV miniseries and not a movie, but Robert Mitchum is amazing. I love this kind of historical fiction, even though the soap opera often overrides everything else.
- StarsRobert MitchumJane SeymourHart BochnerThe trials of the Henry and the Jastrow families amidst the events after the U.S.'s entry into World War II.This sequel to "The Winds of War" is longer and (I believe) better in almost every way. The sequence where Aaron Jastrow (John Gielgud) goes to the gas chamber is stunning and heart-wrenching in its simplicity and sadness.
- DirectorRandall WallaceStarsMel GibsonMadeleine StoweGreg KinnearThe story of the first major battle of the American phase of the Vietnam War, and the soldiers on both sides that fought it, while their wives wait nervously and anxiously at home for the good news or the bad news.Mel Gibson is terrific as a leader of men in battle. An Army veteran from that era told me that the scene of the cab driver delivering KIA telegrams would not have really happened, but the author insists that it did.
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsKen WatanabeKazunari NinomiyaTsuyoshi IharaThe story of the battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Imperial Japan during World War II, as told from the perspective of the Japanese who fought it.Clint Eastwood directed this movie, along with "Flags of Our Fathers" - two movies telling the story of the battle of Iwo Jima from both the American and the Japanese point of view. Both are good, but I think this one is better. Ken Watanabe shines.
- DirectorWolfgang PetersenStarsJürgen ProchnowHerbert GrönemeyerKlaus WennemannA German U-boat stalks the frigid waters of the North Atlantic as its young crew experience the sheer terror and claustrophobic life of a submariner in World War II.Famous for its gritty realism of life and service on board a German "U boat" submarine. Not romantic at all, but very well done.
- DirectorKen AnnakinAndrew MartonGerd OswaldStarsJohn WayneRobert RyanRichard BurtonThe events of D-Day, told on a grand scale from both the Allied and German points of view.A comprehensive retelling of the Normandy landings with several fine performances. The movie almost didn't get made - the studio was going broke trying to finish Elizabeth Taylor's "Cleopatra." Don't miss the scene with British commandos going into battle, being led by bagpiper Bill Millen, who passed away just recently.
- DirectorLewis GilbertStarsKenneth MoreDana WynterCarl MöhnerThe World War II story of the Royal Navy's effort to defeat Nazi Germany's most powerful warship.Not the most exciting movie ever made, but I kind of like its documentary style. The true story of sinking the German battleship before it could devastate Allied shipping. The movie inspired the song of the same title by country singer Johnny Horton.
- DirectorRonald NeameStarsClifton WebbGloria GrahameRobert FlemyngIn order to fool the Germans into thinking the Allied invasion of Sicily will take place elsewhere, British Military Intelligence comes up with a cunning ruse.I remember seeing this movie when I was little, but I still recall what an impression it made on me. It's the true story of an amazing bit of deception by the Allies before an important operation, to try and confuse the Germans, and the sacrifice one family makes.