War! What is it good for?
Well, it's been good for drama and Hollywood has been drawn to it almost since films began. Unfortunately, Hollywood tends to prefer the "glory" of war, rather than the truth of it and also prefers a good yarn to history. This list will include both the accurate and the action yarns, comedy and drama. I will mostly stick to films that revolve around an aspect of warfare or soldiering, rather than something that just happens to occur during a war. There will be some tv, as well. Unfortunately, I haven't seen as many Asian works, so the list will be rather Euro-centric.
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- DirectorRudolph MatéStarsRichard EganRalph RichardsonDiane BakerA small Army of Greeks spearheaded by three hundred Spartans do battle with the whole invading Persian Army.Thermopylae tends to be more the stuff of legends than fact and this film is no different. It has been see as a Cold War metaphor, with a battle between East and West. It was this film that inspired Frank Miller to create his graphic novel The 300, which was even more removed from history. That film has far more in common with pro wrestling than historical drama.
- DirectorRobert WiseRaoul WalshStarsStanley BakerRossana PodestàBrigitte BardotThe Iliad's story of the Trojan war, told from the Trojan viewpoint.Epic film from Warner Bros., which uses the Iliad as a source, though it departs substantially from Homer. The biggest point is in making Paris more sympathetic. In fact, the Greek leaders are portrayed as the villains.
- DirectorWolfgang PetersenStarsBrad PittEric BanaOrlando BloomAn adaptation of Homer's great epic, the film follows the assault on Troy by the united Greek forces and chronicles the fates of the men involved.This one pretty much jettisons the gods, but doesn't exactly go for history, either. It follows the structure of the Iliad, but not quite the dramatic elements. It was released to mix reviews and a box office take below its bloated budget, but ended up a success. It pretty much reduces the war to the rivalry between Achilles and Hector. It even places Achilles inside the Trojan Horse, though Achilles is killed by Paris before the fall of Troy. It's also fairly well noted for its beefcake ratio.
- DirectorRobert RossenStarsRichard BurtonFredric MarchClaire BloomThe life and military conquests of Alexander III of Macedon (July 20/21, 356 - June 10/11, 323 B.C.), commonly known as Alexander the Great.Epic drama, with Richard Burton as the Greek conqueror. The film ended up a failure and Burton is often fingered as one of the main problems. However, it's got plenty of action, in the battle scenes.
- DirectorPietro FrancisciStarsAnthony QuinnSophia LorenHenri VidalAttila, the leader of the barbarian Huns and called by the Romans "The Scourge of God", sweeps onto the Italian peninsula, defeating all of the armies of Rome, until he and his men reach the gates of the city itself.Anthony Quinn stars as the noted conqueror, alongside Sophia Loren in this French & Italian production. It was a huge hit in Europe. Of course, a later breathalizer test, by police constables, revealed that Attila the Hun (son of Mr and Mrs. Norman Hun) was in fact Alexander the Great.
- DirectorJoseph L. MankiewiczRouben MamoulianStarsElizabeth TaylorRichard BurtonRex HarrisonQueen Cleopatra VII of Egypt experiences both triumph and tragedy as she attempts to resist the imperial ambitions of Rome.This is mostly a costume drama, but it does feature scenes of the Battle of Actium, with plenty of extras and mayhem.
- DirectorStanley KubrickAnthony MannStarsKirk DouglasLaurence OlivierJean SimmonsThe slave Spartacus survives brutal training as a gladiator and leads a violent revolt against the decadent Roman Republic, as the ambitious Crassus seeks to gain power by crushing the uprising.This isn't quite a war film, but it does feature some spectacular battles, as it depicts the slave revolt of Spartacus, including one with a pronounced Brooklyn accent.
- DirectorAnthony MannStarsSophia LorenStephen BoydAlec GuinnessThe death of Marcus Aurelius leads to a succession crisis, in which the deceased emperor's son, Commodus, demonstrates that he is unwilling to let anything undermine his claim to the Roman Empire.Film depicts the civil war between Commodus and Livius, following the death of Marcus Aurelius (who is poisoned). The film has some spectacular battles, but does go on rather long. It is the chief inspiration for Ridley Scott's Gladiator.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsRussell CroweJoaquin PhoenixConnie NielsenA former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery.Ridley Scott's adaptation of The Fall of the Roman Empire, with a twist. The opening sequences depict, with some accuracy, the Roman method of warfare (at least at that stage). Like its predecessor, it throws history out for the rest of the film and even has Emperor Commodus fighting in the Coliseum. I guess being strangled in a bath isn't cinematic enough.
- StarsCiarán HindsSusan LynchVictoria SmurfitAfter returning from the Third Crusade in the Holy Land, Ivanhoe discovers that England is under the rule of the corrupt Prince John.This is probably the best version of the romantic tale, in regards to getting the history and combat right. The mini-series better illustrates the lives of the nobles and servants, while showcasing both the monastic martial orders of the Templars, as well as mercenary fighters and those of the nobles. The arms and tactics are relatively correct, illustrating medieval warfare.
- DirectorSergei EisensteinDmitriy VasilevStarsNikolay CherkasovNikolai OkhlopkovAndrei AbrikosovThe story of how a great Russian prince led a ragtag army to battle an invading force of Teutonic Knights.Segei Eisenstein's epic film about the Invasion of Novgorod, where Alexander Nevsky defeated the Teutonic Knights. Plenty of hacking and chopping in this one. The film was also a major piece of political propaganda, as it parallels then-curent relations between the USSR and Nazi Germany.
- DirectorMel GibsonStarsMel GibsonSophie MarceauPatrick McGoohanScottish warrior William Wallace leads his countrymen in a rebellion to free his homeland from the tyranny of King Edward I of England.The film is hardly accurate, but does a good job of illustrating combat in this period. It goes a little overboard in the gore department, but not nearly as much as it does in turning William Wallace into a messianic figure. Take it with a grain of salt, but enjoy the many fine performances.
- DirectorAkira KurosawaStarsTatsuya NakadaiAkira TeraoJinpachi NezuIn Medieval Japan, an elderly warlord retires, handing over his empire to his three sons. However, he vastly underestimates how the new-found power will corrupt them and cause them to turn on each other...and him.Akira Kurosawa's last epic film, depicting medieval Japanese warfare on the grand scale. Watch the visuals of the mass of extras in the battle scenes and compare with the CGI trickery of the modern film. The eye knows the difference.
- DirectorKen HughesStarsRichard HarrisAlec GuinnessRobert MorleyPuritan statesman Oliver Cromwell leads England in a civil war against the absolutist and Catholic-sympathetic King Charles I.Another that is not strictly a war film, but it captures major elements of the English Civil War.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsRyan O'NealMarisa BerensonPatrick MageeAn Irish rogue wins the heart of a rich widow and assumes her dead husband's aristocratic position in 18th-century England.Kubrick's film revolves greatly around the Seven Years War and does a fine job of depicting the life of a soldier and the battles. However, it is slow as molasses and not one of Kubrick's more engaging films.
- DirectorMichael MannStarsDaniel Day-LewisMadeleine StoweRussell MeansThree trappers protect the daughters of a British Colonel in the midst of the French and Indian War.Set during the French and Indian War, the film depicts many elements of the frontier fighting, including the siege of a British fort. This one is far more accurate than previous film versions, as actual frontier experts were consulted and the actors put through training courses to teach them wilderness and fighting skills. The film does a fine job with the source material, thankfully cutting down on Cooper's long-winded tale.
- DirectorKing VidorJack ConwayW.S. Van DykeStarsSpencer TracyRobert YoungWalter BrennanLangdon Towne and Hunk Marriner join Major Rogers' Rangers as they wipe out an Indian village. They set out for Fort Wentworth, but when they arrive they find no soldiers and none of the supplies they expected.One part war film (frontier fighting) and one part exploration/survival drama. The film is a little too "Hollywood" and wasn't exactly cast with authenticity in mind. However, it captures the high points of the first part of the book and succeeds in being entertaining and engaging.
- DirectorJohn FordStarsClaudette ColbertHenry FondaEdna May OliverNewlyweds Gil and Lana Martin try to establish a farm in the Mohawk Valley but are menaced by Indians and Tories as the Revolutionary War begins.Henry Fonda stars in this adaptation of the novel of frontier fighting, set at the onset of the American Revolution. It's early Hollywood, so it isn't exactly played for accuracy. However, it has a fine cast and is worth watching.
- DirectorRobert HarmonStarsJeff DanielsRoger ReesSebastian RochéA dramatization of George Washington's perilous gamble of crossing the Delaware River and attacking the Hessian forces at Trenton.This cable movie depicts the Battle of Trenton, showcasing Washington's leadership, as well as the skill of his officers and men, as the carry out a surprise attack on the Hessian mercenaries. The battle was little more than a morale victory, as it gained no advantage and the ground was soon surrendered. however, it went a long way to showing that Washington could win a battle and built confidence in the fledgling Continental Army.
- StarsBarry BostwickPatty DukeDavid DukesThe early life and career of the American General and President through his participation in the Revolutionary War.This is mostly a biography of Washington, but it does showcase some of the fighting during the Revolution, including the Battle of Yorktown.
- DirectorHugh HudsonStarsAl PacinoDonald SutherlandNastassja KinskiA trapper and his young son get pulled into the American revolution early as unwilling participants and remain involved through to the end.Box office failure, shot in England. The film shows a trapper who is forced into fighting in the Revolution, but it is less than convincing. It was widely panned for its performances and for the casting of the very Italian Al Pacino as a frontier trapper.
- DirectorRoland EmmerichStarsMel GibsonHeath LedgerJoely RichardsonPeaceful farmer Benjamin Martin is driven to lead the Colonial Militia during the American Revolution when a sadistic British officer murders his son.This is beyond ridiculous, in terms of history. It sugarcoats slavery, gives a completely inaccurate depiction of Cornwallis, and perpetuates the image of Banastre Tarleton as a butcher. The character (with a slight name change) is played as a pulp villain. The film depicts several actions in the war, though it is mostly in the climax, where it gets in some history, as it recounts the Battle of the Cowpens. However, it leaves out Daniel Morgan and his sharpshooters, but gets the basic strategy of the battle correct.
- DirectorRobert GuenetteStarsJoe FlynnJan LeightonRichard MatthewsThis was a dramatization that recounted the Battle of Yorktown, and the end of fighting in the American Revolution. Good luck finding it.
- DirectorKing VidorStarsAudrey HepburnHenry FondaMel FerrerNapoleon's tumultuous relations with Russia, including his disastrous 1812 invasion, serve as the backdrop for the tangled personal lives of two aristocratic families.The film greatly condenses Tolstoy, but does showcase Napoleon's ill-fated invasion of Russia. Henry Fonda, Audrey Hepburn, and Mel Ferrer lead a terrific cast.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsKeith CarradineHarvey KeitelAlbert FinneyFrance, 1801. Due to a minor perceived slight, mild-mannered Lieutenant d'Hubert is forced into a duel with hot-headed irrational Lieutenant Feraud. The disagreement ultimately results in scores of duels spanning several years.Ridley Scott's first motion picture was derived from a Joseph Conrad short story. It features two officers of different Hussar (cavalry) regiments of Napoleon's armies. Harvey Keitel is Gabriel Feraud, of the 7th Hussars, who has mortally wounded the nephew of the Mayor of Stassbourg, in a duel. A General sends young Armand d"Hubert (Keith Carradine)to deliver orders placing him under arrest. d"Hubert encounters Feraud at the home of Madame De Leon, with whom Feraud is infatuated. Feraud takes offence at d"Hubert, as they are conversing in the street and challenges him to a duel. The pair end up fighting a series of duels across Napoleon's various campaigns, with the final encounter occurring after the "100 Days." Although no one seems to understand the basis of the duels, it becomes clear through watching the initial duel, it is probably sparked by jealousy on the part of Feraud, as Madame De Leon shows infatuation with the dashing young d'Hubert. Feraud rationalizes the encounters as defending the name of Napoleon, though this is just a front. d'Hubert wishes to avoid the duels, but never seems to truly escape. Very well done and beautifully shot by Scott. The story is a bit obtuse, but becomes clearer with rewatching. It walso gives a nice snapshot of Napoleon's campaigns.
- DirectorTom CleggStarsSean BeanAssumpta SernaBrian CoxIn the Peninsular War, a British sergeant is field promoted to a lieutenant in charge of a disrespectful rifle company.The Sharpe series is great for capturing the Peninsula Campaign, with the British and Spanish partisans against the forces of Napoleon. Richard Sharpe (Sean Bean) is a soldier raised from the ranks by the Duke of Wellington and made an officer. He leads the Chosen Men into battle. Author Bernard Cornwell did his homework and the series follows suit, thanks to expert advice from technical advisor and re-enactor Richard Moore. Sharpe is a member of the 95th Rifles (the Greenjackets), but eventually finds himself attached to (and later in command of) the South Essex Regiment. The series takes Sharpe from a sergeant (at the beginning of Sharpe's Rifles) through the Battle of Waterloo (where he is a Lt. Colonel, on the staff of the Prince of Orange (the Netherlands). The novels are a must for any fan of military fiction, and especially the Napoleonic period. If the tv series has a fault it's that the budget didn't allow for large numbers of extras for the battle sequences, so they don't quite have the scope they should. they do a decent job of hiding it, though.
- DirectorRaoul WalshStarsGregory PeckVirginia MayoRobert BeattyDuring the Napoleonic wars, a British Navy Captain has adventures in Central American waters.Gregory Peck stars as the hero of CS Forester's series of novels. Hornblower is a British naval officer who battles against Napoleon and his forces. The film is a nice bit of swashbuckling, though the later tv series better adapts the novels.
- DirectorAndrew GrieveStarsIoan GruffuddRobert LindsayDorian HealyHoratio Hornblower begins his naval career, but a deadly feud with a despicable mate is causing complications.The Horblower series, starring Ioan Gruffud, adapts the novels of CS Forester, about a young British naval officer, during the Napoleonic wars. Excellent stuff, with plenty of period detail and fine actors.
- DirectorPeter WeirStarsRussell CrowePaul BettanyBilly BoydDuring the Napoleonic Wars, a brash British captain pushes his ship and crew to their limits in pursuit of a formidable French war vessel around South America.This isn't entirely a naval war film, but it makes up the climax of the film. Adapted from the novels of Patrick O'Brian, who sails the same seas as CS Forester.
- DirectorAbel GanceStarsPierre MondyMartine CarolClaudia CardinaleAnother of Napoleon's adventures in this epic reconstruction of the battle of Austerlitz, where he had the greatest victory of his career, over the Russians.Epic French film about Napoleon's crowning as emperor and the Battle of Austerlitz.
- DirectorSergey BondarchukStarsRod SteigerChristopher PlummerOrson WellesFacing the decline of everything he has worked to obtain, conqueror Napoleon Bonaparte and his army confront the British at the Battle of Waterloo.Settle in for this one, because it demands patience. Starring Rod Steiger as Napoleon and Christopher Plummer as Wellington, this film begins with Napoleon's abdication and exile to Elba, soon followed by his return and the "100 Days." Steiger is electrifying as Napoleon, especially in scenes where he dictates a series of letters, which essentially consists of monologues to the camera. Plummer is a fine Wellington, but the character is played far more reserved than Napoleon. The battle scenes are filled with hundreds of extras (it was a joint European and Russian production) and it gives the battlefield scope. You see everything from the British cavalry charge to Napoleon sending in the Old Guard, to the final victory. It succeeds as both glorious and brutal.
- DirectorJohn WayneStarsJohn WayneRichard WidmarkLaurence HarveyIn 1836, a small band of soldiers sacrifice their lives in hopeless combat against a massive army in order to prevent a tyrant from smashing the new Republic of Texas.John Wayne's heroic fantasy about the Battle of the Alamo. It's fine if you want some grandiose actioner, with little depth. Otherwise, forget history and tactics.
- DirectorJohn Lee HancockStarsDennis QuaidBilly Bob ThorntonEmilio EchevarríaBased on the 1836 standoff between a group of Texan and Tejano men, led by Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, and Mexican dictator Santa Anna's forces at the Alamo in San Antonio Texas.Far more historically accurate, particularly the conditions of both the battle and the state of the soldiers on both sides. It didn't win over the critics, but got high marks from Roger Ebert for bringing the reality of things to the audience.
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsErrol FlynnOlivia de HavillandPatric KnowlesA major countermands orders and attacks to avenge a previous massacre of men, women, and children.Michael Curtiz, Errol Flynn, David Niven and Olivia Dehavilland bring this romantic account of the Battle of Balaclava, in the Crimean War, to the screen, complete with tripwires to knock down horse. This is a pure romantic epic, though the final charge is spectacular. Sadly, numerous horses were killed because of the use of tripwires, leading to legislation for animal protection on movie sets. The film is more inspired by Tennyson's poem than history.
- DirectorTony RichardsonStarsTrevor HowardVanessa RedgraveJohn GielgudIn 1854, during the Crimean War, poor planning leads to the British Light Brigade openly charging a Russian artillery position with tragic consequences.Far more accurate and critical film about the Battle of Balaclava, which focuses on the poor leadership of the British Army. Excellent cast, including director Tony Richardson's wife (Vaness Redgrave) and two daughters (Joely and Natasha Richardson).
- DirectorD.W. GriffithStarsLillian GishMae MarshHenry B. WalthallThe Stoneman family finds its friendship with the Camerons affected by the Civil War, both fighting in opposite armies. The development of the war in their lives plays through to Lincoln's assassination and the birth of the Ku Klux Klan.DW Griffith's epic film about the Civil War and Reconstruction is an odd little choice for the list. It's here because of the epically staged battle scenes, which were influential upon all future productions. However, its racist depiction of African-Americans and heroic portrayal of the KKK pretty much rub out anything of historical value in the film. Much like Triumph of the Will, the messages of the film outweigh the technical brilliance.
- DirectorJohn HustonStarsAudie MurphyBill MauldinDouglas DickTruncated adaptation of Stephen Crane's novel about a Civil War Union soldier who stuggles to find the courage to fight in the heat of battle.Audie Murphy stars in this fine adaptation of the Stephen Crane novella, though it is infamous for studio interference, who trimmed the film to 70 minutes and added a narration from James Whitmore, without the input of director John Huston. The film not only features Medal of Honor winner Murphy (most decorated US soldier of WW2); but also features cartoonist Bill Mauldin, creator of the famous Willie and Joe cartoons, of WW2.
- DirectorJohn FordStarsJohn WayneWilliam HoldenConstance TowersIn 1863, a Union outfit is sent behind Confederate lines in Mississippi to destroy enemy railroads but a captive southern belle and the unit's doctor cause frictions within ranks.John Ford's epic film about Grierson's Raid, to cut off rail lines, which ultimately influenced the Battle of Vicksburg. Of course, the Duke is the featured player and it's played larger than life, as only Ford and Wayne could.
- DirectorFrancis D. LyonStarsFess ParkerJeffrey HunterJeff YorkDuring the Civil War Union spy Andrews and his men volunteer to steal a Confederate train and drive it to Union territory while destroying the Confederate railway system along the way.Not exactly a classic, and not the greatest depiction of war; but, it is a sentimental favorite, as I saw this on the Wonderful World of Disney. The film depicts a Union clandestine operation to steal a Confederate train and bring it North, destroying communications and rail lines along the way. The film is typical Disney, and doesn't quite rise to the challenge, thanks to a rather bland cast. It has some exciting moments though. The film depicts Andrew's Raiders, most of whom were captured in the attempt.
- DirectorClyde BruckmanBuster KeatonStarsBuster KeatonMarion MackGlen CavenderAfter being rejected by the Confederate military, not realizing it was due to his crucial civilian role, an engineer must single-handedly recapture his beloved locomotive after it is seized by Union spies and return it through enemy lines.Buster Keaton's comedy also depicts the Andrews Raid, but with far more entertaining results and some classic cinematic gags.
- CreatorDouglas HeyesStarsKirstie AlleyGeorg Stanford BrownDavid CarradineTwo friends, one northern and one southern, struggle to maintain their friendship as events build towards the American Civil War.Tv miniseries, based on the novel by John Jakes. The Civil War is at the center of it. Much of the filming was done in Charleston, SC, which features heavily in tours of the city (take much of what some of the guides say with a grain of salt).
- DirectorEdward ZwickStarsMatthew BroderickDenzel WashingtonCary ElwesRobert Gould Shaw leads the U.S. Civil War's first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices from both his own Union Army, and the Confederates.Ed Zwick's epic depiction of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first all-Black formation in the US Army. The film shows the background of their leader, Capt. Robert Gould Shaw, and the formation of the unit. The film showcases the commitment and desire of the men, many runaway slaves, to bring the fight to the Confederacy. In truth, these men had the greatest justification to fight. An excellent cast and a great script made this a classic, which won Denzell Washington the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, with Morgan Freeman also nominated.
- DirectorRon MaxwellStarsTom BerengerMartin SheenStephen LangIn 1863, the Northern and Southern forces fight at Gettysburg in the decisive battle of the American Civil War.Epic depiction of the Battle of Gettysburg, based on the historical novel Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara. It was conceived as a mini-series for ABC, but the deal fell apart after Son of Morningstar proved a ratings failure. Turner Productions took up the film, aided by extensive aid from the National Park Service. Ted Turner even has a cameo in the film. Even then, it was still meant to be a mini-series on TNT, but Turner was impressed enough with the footage to try a theatrical release, through New Line Cinema (which he also owned). It was in extremely limited release and didn't prove a financial hit, until the home video release. The film clocks in at over 4 hours, which greatly affected its commercial theater viability. Anyway, it's about as detailed an account of the battle as you will find, cinematically. The cast is fine, though its tv origins meant the actor profiles were more modest, though it is filled with great character actors.
- DirectorJohn GrayStarsArmand AssanteDonald SutherlandAlex JenningsDuring the siege of Charleston of 1864, Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley becomes the first submersible to sink an enemy warship in wartime.Ted Turner also made this tv movie (for the TNT network), about the Confederate submersible. A mock-up of the ship was created for filming, based on drawings and photographs of the period. The film stars Armand Assante and Donald Sutherland and gives a complete account of both the building of the Hunley and its final fate. A few years after filming, the wreck of the Hunley was located and the ship was raised from the sea floor. It was then excavated in Charleston, SC, at a facillity on the old Naval base, next door to the old DESRON 4/DESRON 6 command building, where I worked, during my Navy days. During the excavation, the public could watch the work, via monitor, and tour exhibits, which included the mock-up created for this film.
- DirectorRon MaxwellStarsStephen LangRobert DuvallJeff DanielsThe rise and fall of confederate general Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, as he meets with military success against the Union from 1861 to 1863, when he is accidentally killed by his own soldiers.After the success of Gettysburg, Ted Turner followed up with this prequel, based on the novel by Jeff Shaara, which focuses on Stonewall Jackson and Joshua Chamberlain. The film had generally negative reviews and was a failure at the box office. Author Jeff Shaara was also not happy with the film.
- DirectorEdward ZwickStarsTom CruiseKen WatanabeBilly ConnollyNathan Algren, a US army veteran, is hired by the Japanese emperor to train his army in the modern warfare techniques. Nathan finds himself trapped in a struggle between two eras and two worlds.Ed Zwick directs this tale, inspired by the Satsuma Rebellion, in which samurai rebelled against the government and the influence of Western powers. Tom Cruise plays a mercenary hired to train Japanese soldiers, while Ken Watanabe is the influential samurai who changes Cruise's thinking. Much of the accuracy of the film has been called into question, though it is a fine piece of cinema.
- DirectorCy EndfieldStarsStanley BakerJack HawkinsUlla JacobssonOutnumbered British soldiers do battle with Zulu warriors at Rorke's Drift.Epic British film about the defense of Rorke's Drift. The film features Stanley Baker and Michael Caine as the officers leading a small garrison of British soldiers, as they fight off thousands of Zulu warriors. The film is considered an adventure classic, though it has been widely criticized in later years for its colonialism. The film was shot in Apartheid-era South Africa, with extreme restrictions on the integration of the African and white casts. Michael Caine was so angered by treatment of the African extras he refused to do another film in South Africa. Stanley Baker was so incensed by an incident, involving the treatment of some of the crew that he used his influence to remove a foreman, nearly ending the film production.
- StarsTom BerengerSam ElliottGary BuseyUndersecretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt resigns to form a volunteer militia unit called "The Rough Riders" to fight in the Spanish-American War.This tv movie depicts Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders, and the Battle of San Juan Hill. It was directed and re-written by John Milius, which means it's big on period detail and Milius' rather militaristic attitudes. Tom Berenger makes a great Roosevelt (a favorite of Milius, who also depicted Roosevelt in The Wind and the Lion).
- DirectorBruce BeresfordStarsEdward WoodwardJack ThompsonJohn WatersThree Australian lieutenants are court martialed for executing prisoners as a way of deflecting attention from war crimes committed by their superior officers.Bruce Beresford's excellent film about the court martial of Lt. Harry Morant. The film uses flashbacks to the events to give you a sense of the guerrilla fighting by the Boers and the Australian Bushveldt Carbineers response. meanwhile, it also depicts the less-than equal treatment of Australian soldiers by the British Army. It is generally believed that Morant and his co-defendants were used as scapegoats by the British, in an attempt to broker a peace, whitewashing British orders of reprisals and harsh tactics used against the Boer commandos. the film features outstanding performances from Edward Woodward, Bryan Brown, Lewis Fitz-Gerald, and Jack Thomspon as the defense counsel, who recognizes he is in a rigged fight, but still manages a stirring defense.
- DirectorNicholas RayGuy GreenAndrew MartonStarsCharlton HestonAva GardnerDavid NivenDuring the 1900 Boxer Rebellion, U.S. marine, Maj. Matt Lewis, along with British consul, Sir Arthur Robertson, develop a plan to keep the rebels at bay until an international military relief force can arrive.Charlton Heston stars in this dramatization of the siege of the foreign legation compound in Peking, during the Boxer Rebellion.
- DirectorTao HaiWei LiGuoqiang TangStarsJackie ChanWinston ChaoBingbing LiA historical drama based on the founding of the Republic of China when nationalist forces led by Sun Yat-sen overthrew the Qing Dynasty.Chinese film, made with the co-operation of the Chinese government, about the Chinese revolution under Sun-Yat Sen. Jackie Chan plays a serious role, as a key general leading troops on the side of the rebellion. It garnered negative reviews and low box office, but it is a decent film, and a departure for Jackie Chan.
- DirectorWilliam A. WellmanHarry d'Abbadie d'ArrastStarsClara BowCharles 'Buddy' RogersRichard ArlenTwo young men, one rich, one middle class, who are in love with the same woman, become fighter pilots in World War I.The original Best Picture Oscar winner, about two pilots in love with the same woman, though she is in love with just one of them. The film follows the trio before and during the war, climaxing with one pilot shot down behind German lines. He steals a plane to return to the Allied side but finds himself pursued by his friend, intent on revenge for what he believes is the death of his comrade.
- DirectorLewis MilestoneStarsLew AyresLouis WolheimJohn WrayA German youth eagerly enters World War I, but his enthusiasm wanes as he gets a firsthand view of the horror.Outstanding movie, based on one of the greatest anti-war novels ever written. Erich Maria Remarque had served in the trenches and was forever affected. he translated his experiences into his novel, focusing on young Paul, and idealistic student who sees his idealism erode as the war drags on and he loses comrades. The film version captures the spirit of the novel well, which features a realistic look of the life of a private soldier. Lew Ayers stars and does a fine job. This was one of Hollywood's first attempts at a realistic war film, and they capture the chaos of the trenches, as well as the general spirit of grime and doom. Anyone who wants to learn about WW1 and the life of a foot-soldier, or just wants to see a great war drama should view this film.
- DirectorChristian CarionStarsDiane KrugerBenno FürmannGuillaume CanetIn December 1914, an unofficial Christmas truce on the Western Front allows soldiers from opposing sides of the First World War to gain insight into each other's way of life.A bit of a departure, here. The film depicts the 1914 "Christmas Truce," where soldiers on the front ceased fighting and shared carols and fellowship, for one brief moment. The film is unabashedly sentimental, but it underscores how compelling this moment was amid the insanity that proceeded and would follow.
- DirectorStanley KubrickStarsKirk DouglasRalph MeekerAdolphe MenjouAfter a failed attack on a German position, a general orders three soldiers, chosen at random, court-martialed for cowardice and their commanding officer must defend them.Stanley Kubrick's epic tale of wartime insanity. After too many meaningless assaults that end in death, the troops refuse to move forward. The generals are incensed and demand blood. Three "volunteers" from each unit are chosen to be tried for cowardice. Kurt Douglas is their defender but it is a hopeless cause. Another stirring indictment of war as a concept.
- DirectorPeter WeirStarsMel GibsonMark LeeBill KerrTwo Australian sprinters face the brutal realities of war when they are sent to fight in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey during World War I.Peter Weir's tale of two Australian runners, who find themselves pulled into WW1, and the tragedy of Galipoli. We get a look at life before war, and the two leads joining the army, as they have no other prospects. They soon find themselves as part of the Australian contingent of the British forces, opposing the Ottoman Turks at Galipoli. It quickly becomes apparent that the assault is futile, but no one will stop it. Galipoli became a name etched in Australian history, akin the Alamo. Mel Gibson stars in one of his breakout roles.
- StarsAndrew ClarkePaul HoganJon BlakeThe lives of a dozen Australian soldiers who served in the ANZACs. Fighting first at Gallipoli in 1915, then on the Western Front for the remainder of WWI, it's the story of the hardships, camaraderie and casualties of war.Mini-series about the Australian and New Zealand troops who served with the British Army, in the Middle East and the Western Front. It focuses on a group of friends and their experiences during the war. Paul Hogan is the highest profile actor, but the cast is filled with great talent.
- DirectorDavid LeanStarsPeter O'TooleAlec GuinnessAnthony QuinnThe story of T.E. Lawrence, the English officer who successfully united and led the diverse, often warring, Arab tribes during World War I in order to fight the Turks.David Lean's epic tale of TE Lawrence, the British officer who was able to unite disparate Arab tribes into a fighting force, against the Turks. The film is legendary and is a must, both for its battle scenes and for the performance of Peter O'Toole, who tries to keep the legend grounded in a real man.
- DirectorSimon WincerStarsPeter PhelpsNick WatersJohn LarkingIn 1917 when the British forces are bogged down in front of the Turkish and German lines in Palestine they rely on the Australian light horse regiment to break the deadlock.Simon Wincer directs this tale of the Australian 4th Light Horse Brigade and the Battle of Beersheeba, in Palestine. The Australians launched a daring cavalry attack upon the guns defending the city, but the Turks are led to believe it is a diversionary attack and react too late. It was one of the more stunning victories of the war.
- DirectorCharles ChauvelStarsGrant TaylorBetty BryantChips RaffertyThree young Australians join the army at the beginning of World War I and are assigned to the Australian Light Horse cavalry, which is serving in Palestine. The three eventually take part in the attack during the Battle of Beersheba, which was the last cavalry charge in modern warfare.Earlier Australian film about the Light Horse, which was one of the most successful Australian films of the time. It was also a propaganda piece, used to aid recruitment in Australia. It is considered one of the first great films of Australian cinema.
- DirectorJulian JarroldStarsDavid JasonMaggie SmithWilliam AshFeature-length drama about the mystery of Sandringham Company, which disappeared in action at Gallipoli in 1915. Commanded by Captain Frank Beck (David Jason), their estate manager, the men advanced into battle, were enveloped in a strange mist, and never seen again.This tv movie tells the story of the Sandringham Company, a group from the King's estate and Sandringham House, who fought at Galipoli. The company suffered heavy losses and a story came about that they disappeared in a mist. The book that was the basis of the film put forward the idea that the survivors were executed by Turkish soldiers. This has been a source of controversy. The film is an excellent drama, starring David Jason, of Touch of Frost and Dangermouse fame.
- DirectorHoward HughesEdmund GouldingJames WhaleStarsBen LyonJames HallJean HarlowBrothers Monte and Ray leave Oxford to join the Royal Flying Corps. Ray loves Helen; Helen enjoys an affair with Monte; before they leave on their mission over Germany they find her in still another man's arms.Howard Hughes' epic tale of American pilots in WW1. The film was notorious for its long production and the deaths of several pilots, but it produced an epic with astounding footage, for the time.
- DirectorWilliam A. WellmanStarsTab HunterClint EastwoodEtchika ChoureauAmerican youth and flying ace flies for France in World War I, meets and loves a French girl and a prostitute.Somewhat slow-moving account of the American pilots serving with the French. Tab Hunter stars, but it is some of the contract players that the viewer should watch, as we see a young Clint Eastwood and Tom Laughlin (Billy Jack). Director William Wellman actually flew with the Escadrille.
- DirectorTony BillStarsJames FrancoJean RenoJennifer DeckerThe adventures of the Lafayette Escadrille, young Americans who volunteered for the French military before the U.S. entered World War I, and became the country's first fighter pilots.More recent attempt at depicting the Lafayette Escadrille, which suffers from a bad script and so-so peformances. What it does have are excellent visuals, though many are CGI, which shows. It wasn't a hit, but has had a life on home video and cable. James Franco stars.
- DirectorHoward HawksStarsRichard BarthelmessDouglas Fairbanks Jr.Neil HamiltonWorld War I ace Dick Courtney derides the leadership of his superior officer, but Courtney is soon promoted to squadron commander and learns harsh lessons about sending subordinates to their deaths.Howard Hawks film about British pilots, with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. Hawks himself had been a pilot and also appears in the film as a German pilot. The film won the Oscar for Best Story.
- DirectorEdmund GouldingStarsErrol FlynnBasil RathboneDavid NivenBritish flying aces in World War I contend with the harsh realities of war.Remake of the original British film, with Errol Flynn as the lead. The film reused footage from the Hawks' production.
- 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 stars as a foot soldier who finds his way out of the trenches by becoming a pilot. He soon finds himself the outsider, within a squadron of aristocrats. His obsession with gaining victories and earning the Blue Max alienates him even further from his comrades, including the closest he has to a friend, played by Jeremy Kemp. Ursula Andress is the wife of a general who wants Peppard for her plaything. The film climaxes with the "hero" pilot taking the controls of a new, experimental aircraft.
- DirectorRoger CormanStarsJohn Phillip LawDon StroudBarry PrimusThe story of Manfred von Richthofen, the German air ace during World War I and his struggle with the enemy aces and some jealous German officers.Roger Corman film that features John Phillip Law as the Red Baron, and Don Stroud as the Canadian pilot Brown. The film is typically low budget (a Corman standard) but features some excellent flying scenes, even if the acting is rather mediocre to serviceable. The film follows the official credit of giving Brown the kill, but most evidence points to the fatal bullet coming from fire from the ground. The film also places Goerring in the Flying Circus, under Richthofen; but, he did not join until after Richthofen's death.
- DirectorNikolai MüllerschönStarsMatthias SchweighöferLena HeadeyTil SchweigerGerman biopic loosely based on the World War I fighter ace Manfred Von Richthofen, nicknamed the Red Baron by friend and foe alike.German-produced film, but shot in English, presenting a biography of Manfred Von Richthofen, the Red Baron. It received widespread criticism for historical inaccuracy, especially in its portrayal of Richthofen as being reluctant to shoot at Allied pilots. It also creates a false comradeship between the Red Baron and Brown, the man credited with shooting him down. It is definitely colored by a retroactive viewpoint, which tries to redeem Von Richthofen for his involvement in killing so many pilots.
- DirectorJack GoldStarsMalcolm McDowellChristopher PlummerSimon WardIn World War I, the high casualty rate amongst the rookie pilots of the Royal Flying Corps puts an enormous strain on the survivors.British film, based on the play Journey's End. It features one week in the life of a Royal Air Corps squadron, where nerves are strained as casualties mount. This is an excellent portrayal of the huge loss of life and seeming futility of the fighting in WW1.
- DirectorEtienne PérierStarsMichael YorkElke SommerPeter CarstenIn 1915, frustrated with the German air-raids on London, British Intelligence sends Scots officer Geoffrey Richter-Douglas, who has German ancestry, to Germany, to find information about the latest German Zeppelin.Action/adventure film about a German airship that has been assigned to military intelligence. Michael York is a young Scottish officer, of mixed Anglo-German parentage, who is tasked to uncover intelligence about the new Zeppelin. He is set up to become a traitor and switch sides to the Germans, where he is reunited with the airship's designer and his wife (Elke Sommer). The wife doesn't trust York, but he is still invited along on the mission by the Germans. It turns out that the airship is not on a bombing mission, but is transporting a commando force in an attempt to steal British historical treasures from a castle vault in Scotland. The film is rather ludicrous, but gives a good depiction of airship operations.
- DirectorWilliam KeighleyStarsJames CagneyPat O'BrienGeorge BrentAlthough loudmouthed braggart Jerry Plunkett alienates his comrades and officers, Father Duffy, the regimental chaplain, has faith that he'll prove himself in the end.Classic film about the New York 69th Infantry Regiment, composed mainly of Irish Americans. James Cagney plays a misfit, whose bravado hides his fear, causing the deaths of other. Of course, this film was made on the eve of another war, so you can guess the outcome. Pat O'Brien pays Father Duffy, and William Donovan and Joyce Kilmer are also characters in the film.
- DirectorAlberto LattuadaStarsSuzy KendallKenneth MoreNigel GreenDuring the First World War, female German spy Fraulein Doktor and her team of saboteurs plan to kill Lord Kitchener, obtain the Allied defense plans, and steal the new French mustard-gas formula.More of a spy film than a war film, it features a German spy who uses her attributes to worm secrets out of the Allies, including the female inventor of a mustard gas. The film is noted for the chilling scene depicting the use of the gas. I caught part of it once, on cable, in college and it was mesmerizing. It is not available on home video, but is through a few streaming services.
- DirectorMario MonicelliStarsAlberto SordiVittorio GassmanBernard BlierThe Italian Army fought against the Austrians during World War I.Italian film which takes an ironic look at the fighting of Italian soldiers in WW1. The two leads are united in a lack of idealism and a desire to survive. The film is comedic in tone, but very realistic in the conditions and horrors of the war. It is thoroughly anti-war and a counter-point to previous Italian films about their part in the war. It was nominated for the Best Foreign Film Oscar.
- 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.Classic film about the exploits of Medal of Honor winner Alvin York. After a wild life, York became a devout pacifist. When he was inducted into the army, he was deeply conflicted and consulted with his commanding officer, who cited bible passages that seemed to support fighting, when necessary. York eventually decided that he would fight and soon found himself in France. The film captures both the wild drinking and brawling of the younger York (with some embellishment) and his spiritual awakening. Gary Cooper does a masterful job of showing the various sides of York and his struggle with his beliefs and the call of his country. York proves an invaluable leader, teaching the other men to shoot and providing a calm influence upon them. The film also depicts the action that won York the Medal of Honor, and the subsequent notoriety that followed, and his troubled reaction to it. This is an excellent film which, though greatly jazzed up, shows a man conflicted between not wanting to take a life and also wanting to do his duty. You can argue forever that he rationalized away his beliefs, but you also see that York made conscious decisions to preserve life when he could. The film was done in 1941, so it is a piece of propaganda, but it is a relatively fair look at Alvin York.
- DirectorRussell MulcahyStarsRicky SchroderPhil McKeeJamie HarrisFact-based war drama about an American battalion of over 500 men which gets trapped behind enemy lines in the Argonne Forest in October 1918 France during the closing weeks of World War I.Ricky Schroeder stars in this A&E movie, which recounts the story of a battalion of the 77th Infantry Division, which found itself cut off during an offensive, near the Argonne Forest. They hold out for days, growing low on food, medical supplies and ammunition. Their commander continues to refuse German requests for surrender. They held until the Allies finally broke through the German lines and rescued them. The film was directed by Highlander's Russell Mulcahy, who had previously worked for Australian television, editing footage from Vietnam, so he was at home with the subject.
- DirectorPeter R. HuntStarsLee MarvinRoger MooreBarbara ParkinsDuring World War I, a British aristocrat, an American entrepreneur, and the latter's attractive young daughter, set out to destroy a German battlecruiser, which is awaiting repairs in an inlet just off Zanzibar.Decidedly over-the-top British film which features an American colonel (Lee Marvin), who is poaching ivory in Tanganyika, drawing the attention of German colonial forces. Roger Moore is a British aristocrat who aids Marvin, and who falls in love with Marvin's daughter. After Moore's is killed by the German troops, Marvin and Moore team up to kill the leader of the Germans. They launch an attack on a German gunboat, which is undergoing repairs. The film is thoroughly unrealistic, but is still an engaging romp.
- DirectorRaoul WalshStarsVictor McLaglenEdmund LoweDolores Del RíoU.S. Marine sergeants Quirt and Flagg are inveterate romantic rivals on peacetime assignments in China and the Philippines. In 1917, W.W. I brings them to France, where Flagg, now a captain, takes up with flirtatious Charmaine, inn-keeper's daughter. Of course, Quirt has to arrive and spoil his fun. But the harsh realities of war and the threat of a shotgun marriage give the two men a common cause...Raoul Walsh directs this comedy/drama, starring Edmund Lowe and Victor McLaglen, about two Marines in love with the same woman.
- DirectorSergei EisensteinStarsAleksandr AntonovVladimir BarskiyGrigoriy AleksandrovIn the midst of the Russian Revolution of 1905, the crew of the battleship Potemkin mutiny against the brutal, tyrannical regime of the vessel's officers. The resulting street demonstration in Odessa brings on a police massacre.Sergei Eisenstein's epic propaganda film about the mutiny of the Battleship Potemkin, one of the sparks of the Russian Revolution. The Odessa Staircase attack is one of the iconic scenes in cinema history and has been swiped/homaged endlessly, including Brian DePalma's The Untouchables.
- DirectorJohn FordStarsJames CagneyCorinne CalvetDan DaileyThe wartime romantic misadventures of Captain Flagg, commander of a company of US Marines in 1918 France.James Cagney and Dan Daily star in this remake of the Walsh film, directed by John Ford.
- DirectorRobert WiseStarsSteve McQueenRichard AttenboroughRichard CrennaIn 1926, a U.S. Naval engineer gets assigned to a gunboat on a rescue mission in war-torn China.This film showcases a US gunboat, operating in China, during the 1920s. The climax of the film features an exciting battle between sailors and revolutionaries, with brutal hand-to-hand fighting.
- DirectorSam WoodStarsGary CooperIngrid BergmanAkim TamiroffDuring the Spanish Civil War, an American allied with the Republicans finds romance during a desperate mission to blow up a strategically important bridge.Adaptation of the Hemingway novel, set during the Spanish Civil War, with Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman.
- DirectorFred ZinnemannStarsGregory PeckAnthony QuinnOmar SharifFamous Spanish bandit Artiguez returns to his native Spanish village after 20 years in French exile, but Spanish cop Vinolas sets a trap for him.Another look at the Spanish Civil war, focusing on political refugees who fight a guerrilla war against Franco's forces. It wasn't a hit, though it has some fine moment.
- StarsSusan SarandonAnthony HopkinsBob HoskinsA compelling drama and documentary chronicling the life and death of Il Duce (Bob Hoskins), from his days as a terrorist, to his alliance with Hitler, to the betrayal of his son-in-law, and untimely demise.Excellent drama from HBO, starring Bob Hoskins as Benito Mussolini, chronicling a period from just before the outbreak of WWII, to his death, at the hands of Italian partisans. Hoskins is excellent.
- StarsRobert MitchumAli MacGrawJan-Michael VincentThe trials of the Henry and Jastrow families in the early years of World War II.Mini-series adaptation of the Herman Wouk novel, featuring Robert Mitchum as the patriarch of a naval family, and a naval attache in Berlin, in the buildup to the war. Mitchum predicts an invasion of Poland, which brings him to the attention of FDR, after the invasion comes to pass. The mini-series was scripted by Wouk and bears his stamp all over it. It proved highly successful and helps dramatize the events that preceded to full outbreak of war.
- StarsJoseph BottomsTovah FeldshuhRosemary HarrisThe saga of a Jewish family's struggle to survive the horror of Nazi Germany's systematic marginalization and extermination of their community.TV mini-series, based on the novel of the same name. The story focuses on the Weiss family, as they experience the rise of the Nazis and act as stand-ins for the millions who suffered. The cast is first rate, including Meryl Streep, James Woods, Fritz Weaver, Sam Wannamaker, Rosemary Harris, Michael Moriarty, Tom Bell, and David Warner. Not a war film, but an important reminder of what was at stake in this war.
- DirectorEdward DmytrykStarsMarlon BrandoMontgomery CliftDean MartinThe lives of three young men, a German and two Americans, during WWII.Excellent film which follows three men through the war. Marlon Brando is an idealistic German who ends up in the Wehrmacht, but finds his idealism diminished as time passes. Montgomery Clift is a Jewish-American, who fights prejudice at home, as much as the Germans abroad. Dean Martin is another American soldier who becomes friends with Clift. Very well done dramatic look at how war affected young men on both sides.
- DirectorPaul VerhoevenStarsRutger HauerJeroen KrabbéSusan PenhaligonDuring World War II, Dutch students join the resistance movement against the German occupation of the Netherlands.Paul Verhoeven directs this film, based on the book by Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema, a Dutch patriot who worked with the SOE, as a bomber pilot, and as an aid to Queen Wilhelmina. The film stars Rutger Hauer as a stand-in for Roelfzema, Erik Lanshof, and Jeroen Krabbe as Guus LeJeune, his close friend. It follows the pair, and their friends, from their student days at Leiden University, to the outbreak of the war. After the defeat of the Netherlands army, one of the group, Alex (who has a German mother), joins the Dutch SS, and goes of to fight on the Eastern Front. Another, Robby, passes messages on to the Allies, but is turned by the Germans, to protect his Jewish wife. Jan, a Jewish friend and athlete, tries to escape with Erik and Guus, but is caught by the Germans, tortured and executed. The film takes Erik through escape to England, working with the Dutch military intelligence and Underground, to flying for the RAF and eventual return to the Netherlands. This is probably Verhoeven's best film, with excellent performances from a great cast and well shot scenes.
- CreatorAnthony HorowitzStarsMichael KitchenHoneysuckle WeeksAnthony HowellAs WWII rages, DCS Foyle fights his own war on the home-front; investigating crime on the south coast of England. Later series, see the retired detective working as an MI5 agent in the aftermath of the war.Excellent British detective series, which begins not long after the British defeat in Norway. Chief Superintendent Foyle serves in a coastal area, where he investigates crimes ranging from murder to black marketing, aided by his sergeant (a veteran of Trondheim) and a female military driver. The series is not only a fine mystery series, it also serves as a document of wartime life, including the fear of a German invasion, the rescue of the survivors of Dunkirk, the opening stages of the Battle of Britain, British fascist groups, rationing, wartime romances, the arrival of US soldiers, intelligence gathering, secret technological developments, black marketeering and other elements of the war. Wonderful cast and first-rate writing.
- DirectorCharles FrendStarsJack HawkinsDonald SindenJohn StrattonThe World War II adventures of a British convoy escort ship and its officers.British film which depicts the war in the North Atlantic. Jack Hawkins stars, along with Stanley Baker, Denholm Elliot and Donald Sinden. The crew of a new corvette gain hard-won experience in fighting German U-boats, while protecting convoys.
- DirectorLeslie NormanStarsJohn MillsRichard AttenboroughBernard LeeA dramatization of the British Expeditionary Force's 1940 retreat to the beaches of France and the extraordinary seaborne evacuation that saved it from utter destruction by Nazi Germany.Popular British film about the rescue of British troops at Dunkirk. John Mills, Richard Attenborough and Bernard Lee star.
- DirectorMichael CurtizStarsJames CagneyDennis MorganBrenda MarshallInspired by Churchill's Dunkirk speech, brash, undisciplined bush pilot Brian MacLean and three friends enlist in the RCAF but are deemed too old to be fliers.James Cagney stars as a Canadian pilot who is deemed too old for combat, but becomes a flight instructor. During a mission to ferry aircraft from Canad to Britain, the squadron is attacked by German planes. Wartime film to remind American audiences that their Canadian neighbors had been fighting the war for 2 years.
- DirectorLewis GilbertStarsKenneth MoreMuriel PavlowLyndon BrookBiopic of RAF Group Captain Douglas Bader who, after having lost both legs, flew a British fighter plane during WWII.Kenneth Moore stars as legendary British pilot Douglas Bader, who lost his lower legs, as the result of a crash. Deskbound afterwards, he was able to get back in the air for WW2. His leadership and flying skills proved invaluable, and his courage and drive inspired his comrades. He was eventually shot down, but made several escape attempts, which landed him in Colditz. He was admired by friend and respected by foe. The film depicts his story well and was a huge hit in the UK.
- DirectorGuy HamiltonStarsMichael CaineTrevor HowardHarry AndrewsIn 1940, the British Royal Air Force fights a desperate battle to prevent the Luftwaffe from gaining air superiority over the English Channel as a prelude to a possible Axis invasion of the U.K.An all-star cast doesn't help elevate this film beyond the somewhat average and avoid cliches. It features some excellent aerial footage, and some fine performances, but it is too disjointed to be counted as one of the great epics.
- CreatorJohn HawkesworthJohn WhitneyStarsAnthony AndrewsMaurice RoëvesGeorge InnesThe series chronicles the exploits of the fictional Royal Engineer Tunnelling Company 97, which has been made a bomb disposal unit to deal with the thousands of unexploded bombs ("UXBs") in London during the Battle of Britain.British tv series about a bomb disposal unit, led by Anthony Andrews. Andrews is a young lieutenant who finds himself with little training and experience and tasked with defusing and removing unexploded bombs, after air raids. The series detailed the highly dangerous nature of the work, while also showcasing life in wartime Britain.
- DirectorTerence YoungStarsChristopher PlummerRomy SchneiderTrevor HowardDuring WW2, convicted bank robber Eddie Chapman becomes a triple agent working for both the British and the Germans.Christopher Plummer stars as a safecracker who finds himself imprisoned on one of the Channel Islands, just in time for the German invasion. He sets himself up as a turncoat, but is soon playing both sides against each other. Based on a true story.
- DirectorRaoul WalshStarsErrol FlynnRonald ReaganNancy ColemanWhen the crew of a downed British bomber escape from their Nazi captors with Top Secret intelligence, they make a desperate journey to get out of Germany alive.Swashbuckler of a war film, with Errol Flynn leading a bomber crew on a mission over Germany. The plane is shot down and the men captured, though they escape, with information about a secret Messerschmidt plant. They are pursued by Raymond Massey, as a German officer. The film is beyond ludicrous, but is rousing fun, as Flynn and his crew cross occupied territory, stopping along the way to destroy a munitions plant and steal a captured RAF bomber (which just happens to have a bomb load onboard). Ronald Reagan and Alan Hale Sr. also star.
- DirectorHenry HathawayStarsJames MasonCedric HardwickeJessica TandyThe story of the final years of the respected World War II German general, Erwin Rommel.James Mason pulls of a masterful performance as Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. The film shows the legendary commander as he goes from believer in Hitler to participant in an assassination plot. Very well done.
- DirectorRobert WiseStarsRichard BurtonJames MasonRobert NewtonRichard Burton plays a Scottish Army officer put in charge of a disparate band of ANZAC troops on the perimeter of Tobruk with the German Army doing their best to dislodge them.Companion film to The Desert Fox, which features Richard Burton as a British officer, leading fresh Australian troops. The suffer a heavy defeat and undertake commando raids to keep the Germans off-balance, while the British regroup their forces. James Mason reprises his role as Rommel, in a guest part.
- DirectorNoël CowardStarsNoël CowardJohn MillsBernard MilesThis "story of a ship", the British destroyer H.M.S. Torrin, is told in flashbacks by survivors as they cling to a life raft.Noel Coward directs and stars in this film, produced with assistance from the Ministry of Information, which focuses on a destroyer, which is commissioned in 1939, on the eve of war. It finds itself involved with the evacuation of Dunkirk and the fighting off of Crete. The film is legendary and a British favorite.