Welcome to my love of old war movies
There's not much to say I guess, I think the title says it all. This page is all about movies I've been watching since I was a kid, from the serious explorations of war, to the classic boys own type adventure flicks. I'll update and keep adding whenever I have time. Hope you enjoy.
And if you're interested in an exploration of the real thing, don't forget to check out my blog
World War 2: Air War
And my new page on Sci-Fi movies
And if you're interested in an exploration of the real thing, don't forget to check out my blog
World War 2: Air War
And my new page on Sci-Fi movies
Das Boot (1981)
Based on the novel by Lothar G. Buchheim
The version I love most is the full full version, almost 5 hours long. There are two other versions you may be more familiar with, the original theatre and the director's cut. And which may be more suitable for the casual viewer. They're all the same film, just with more or less scenes in them.This is the German-made story of a U-boat war patrol during WW2, through the eyes of a green war correspondent. And it's brilliant. Almost the entire film takes place inside the submarine and you can't help but be drawn in to the tense claustrophobia this creates. And the acting is first class from the entire cast, so good in fact that when watching with the English dubbing I feel you lose nothing of the quality. Some people claim the only way to enjoy this film is with the subtitles, but I disagree.
I could go on and on about technical qualities or how the film made me feel this and that, but I'm not a long-winded movie critic who gets off on trying to convince you I know anything and everything about movies. I'm just a regular guy who thinks this film is great and if you don't already own it, you most certainly should.
On Amazon:
Das Boot - The Original Uncut Version
Das Boot - The Director's Cut
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
Based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque
Here we're with the Germans again, this time in WW1 and in the trenches - and the film is actually American.One of the all time classics, this film follows the experiences of a young German as he and his entire school class rush off to join the army for adventure and glory in the opening days of the war. Of course what he finds is death and horror in the trenches, as he watches his friends die one by one throughout the war.
For it's day, this film was quite explicit in it's depiction of conflict and this - along with solid, non-showy acting from the entire cast - is what helps it to remain as a viable study of war and it's effects on the individual even today. To keep it simple, as I like to do, it's filled with a certain, effective sadness throughout.
By the time this film finishes, you should feel great empathy, not just for the characters, but for every person who has ever had to lay down their life for someone else's fight.
On Amazon:
All Quiet on the Western Front (Universal Cinema Classics)
Where Eagles Dare (1968)
Written by Alistair Maclean (the master of adventure war stories), this movie is one of the best of it's type.What more do you need than Clint Eastwood and Richard Burton, as cool as anything, running around in the snow, and in a mountaintop castle, blowing up everything in sight. Not to mention taking out half the German army, while receiving just a scratch or two themselves. And all through, the story takes more than a few twists, just to keep you guessing.
It's all quite daft and over the top, of course, but that's exactly the way I like it.
On Amazon:
Where Eagles Dare
The Hill (1965)
This film is more drama than outright war, but it has a war setting so I'll include it.It stars Sean Connery and Harry Andrews, among others, and is set in a British military prison in North Africa during WW2. The film revolves around a massive mound of sand called 'the hill' (no surprise there) a construction built by prisoners solely for the purpose of extra punishment as they are forced to march up and down it in full kit. Connery heads a small group of newly-arrived prisoners who soon begin to suffer under the brutal and massively excessive control of the Sergeant in charge of their cell.
And let me tell you, this film is TENSE from beginning to end. The sense of desperate anger and stubborn pride is brilliantly conveyed by the script and the entire cast. In fact, I can say without hesitation that in a long career of many more well known movies, this early film is by far one of Connery's absolute best.
On Amazon:
The Hill
Great Stuff on Amazon
The World at War (30th Anniversary Edition)
Best documentary surmising the entire war ever made.
Amazon Price: $74.49 (as of 11/30/2009) 
U-Boat War
Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)
BBC History of World War II
Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)
Kelly's Heroes (1970)
Clint Eastwood again, along with Donald Sutherland, Telly Savalas and a whole raft of others you'll recognise.This film is a comedy about a collection of misfit US soldiers who decide to steal a shipment of Nazi gold... several miles behind the enemy lines in France. With such a great cast and setup, this movie promises to deliver and does. Sutherland is the highlight, with his bohemian, out of it tank commander character stealing every scene he's in. You can't help but laugh when he first describes how he and his men occasionally like to shoot shells filled with paint because it makes "pretty pictures."
And he gets better from there, as their small little heist quickly escalates into a full blown accidental offensive.
So, like I say, you should get more than a few laughs out of this one, and a nice little "lighter side" approach to what is normally a serious subject.
On Amazon:
Kelly's Heroes
Battleground (1949)
I must admit this film was a bit of a surprise the first time I watched it. Being from 1949 and having Van Johnson and Ricardo Montalban in the cast, I was expecting the usual corny and flag waving type of film. What I found was actually an excellent portrayal of a squad of US 101st airborne soldiers fighting in Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge.There were none of the big hero type moments, or bungling Germans, just a good, solid tale of a group of men, trying to survive in war. If you're after a good wartime drama, don't miss this one.
On Amazon:
Battleground
Great Stuff on Amazon
Star Wars Trilogy
Amazon Price: $26.99 (as of 11/30/2009)
Charlie Wilson's War (Widescreen)
Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 11/30/2009)
Zulu (1964)
Taking a break from the world wars, we come to the British effort against the Zulus. More specifically, a rousing account of the Battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879, where a little over 120 British and colonial soldiers were besieged for two days by approximately 4000 Zulu warriors.With great costumes, fantastic music, real Zulus and locations in South Africa, this film is grand to see. And I've already told you the setting, so obviously there's drama aplenty.
And it's all solidly led by Stanley Baker and Michael Caine (in his first credited film role) as the commanding officers.
This one's a true classic and I don't think you'll find too many people to disagree.
On Amazon:
Zulu
Zulu Dawn (1979)
Since we're on the subject, Zulu Dawn is a prequel of sorts, to Zulu. Set in the same period, this film is an all-star affair depicting the battle of Isandlwana, where the British got their arses kicked. This fight actually took place a few miles away from Rorke's Drift and earlier the same day.The film builds well, with many characters enjoying their grand adventure to put down the natives, ignoring the caution of more wary colleagues. And then once the battle starts everything happens at a rapid pace, which is exciting and at the same time excellently conveys a feeling of total hopelessness.
It's one of those movies where you can't help but picture yourself standing there with one rifle and 30000 Zulus charging at you, and wonder what you'd do.
On Amazon:
Zulu Dawn
The Battle Of Britain (1969)
This one is a pretty straight forward recount of the great air battle and features so many stars that I'd be here all week naming them. Here the filmmakers rely more on the drama of the actual events, as opposed to something dreamed up by a writer and I feel it always worked well.There were a few of these films back in the day, like The Longest Day and A Bridge Too Far (both of which I'll review soon enough) and they're a particular favourite of mine.
And The Battle of Britain is no exception, not least because of the chance to see authentic aircraft being thrown around the skies. Although a lack of airworthy Hurricane fighters at the time sees the Spitfire over represented on the British side. In actual fact, during the real battle there were far more Hurricanes than Spitfires. Anyway, if you want to see me blabbing on about that, just go to my blog. The point I'm making is that you just can't see footage like this anymore, these days it's all horrible CGI.
On Amazon:
Battle of Britain (Collector's Edition)
Great Stuff on Amazon
The Civil War - A Film by Ken Burns
Amazon Price: $50.99 (as of 11/30/2009)
The War - A Film By Ken Burns and Lynn Novick
Amazon Price: $50.99 (as of 11/30/2009)
The Eagle Has Landed (1976)
Based on the novel by Jack Higgins
Another for the adventure-type category, with a small unit of German paratroops (led by Michael Caine) dropped into southern England to kidnap or kill Winston Churchill and aided by an Irish spy (Donald Sutherland).A rollicking good story with plenty of intrigue and action, and even an appearance by Larry Hagman as an inept US Army Colonel - good old Larry. Robert Duvall pops up as a German too.
If these types of films are your thing and/or you've read the novel then you won't be disappointed.
On Amazon:
The Eagle Has Landed
Flying Tigers (1942)
Ok, this one is a classic propaganda flick from WW2 but actually isn't that bad, and it stars John Wayne so that's always good.It's about the small group of US airmen who volunteered to fly for the Chinese against the Japanese invaders before the US actually entered the war.
There's plenty of corny to be had, but not nearly as much as you might expect. And the special effects are quite impressive for the day too.
Aside from the inaccuracy of claiming the Americans were in combat before Pearl Harbour (they were training at that stage, but hadn't seen actual combat) it's pretty good all round.
On Amazon:
Flying Tigers
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)
Based on the novel by Pierre Boulle
This movie is a tricky one. It is widely acclaimed by fans and critics - and myself - as a great film, but when it came out the veterans of the real bridge and of Japanese imprisonment during WW2 absolutely hated it.The reason I think is that the two main characters of the defiant British Colonel (Alec Guiness) and the Japanese Colonel (Sessue Hayakawa) were loosely based on real people yet they and the events of the film were not particularly accurate to what happened. However, I think the veterans merely interpreted the film incorrectly. This is not a historical retelling, or an attempt at seriously showing the harsh reality of war.
While it is without doubt brilliantly dramatic, this film falls somewhere in between the serious and the adventurous style. And so long as you can accept that, it is indeed worthy of being tagged a classic.
The basic premise, since I almost forgot, is the story of a battle of wills that ensues between a newly arrived British colonel and his Japanese captor, over the building of a railway bridge across the Kwai river. And the escape of a single American sailor who nearly dies in the attempt and is then asked to go back and destroy the bridge.
On Amazon:
The Bridge on the River Kwai (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Great Stuff on Amazon
National Archives WWII: In Color
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 11/30/2009)
World War II The German Front (DVD)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)
The Cruel Sea (1953)
Stars Jack Hawkins as the commander of the Compass Rose, a Royal Navy Corvette during WW2 (a corvette was a small escort vessel for the convoys). It's a slow moving film about the officers and men of the ship and their private and professional lives.There is action, but it never reaches too high a state, focusing more on the gradual wearing down of people in war. And for that it begins by showing the enthusiasm of all involved in the early days then proceeds to create an increasing and very effective feeling of melancholy as the film goes along, yet it never dips into depressing.
Yes I like it a lot (wouldn't have bothered putting it up here if I didn't) and I will always recommend it to an enthusiast, but it is perhaps not a film for those who like to see lots of things exploding.
On Amazon:
The Cruel Sea
The Longest Day (1962)
Based on the book by Cornelius Ryan.
Well if you're any kind of enthusiast for war films I probably don't have to say too much about this one. Chock full of stars and action, The Longest Day is a lavish production about the allied invasion of Normandy in WW2, but it is probably just a little too gung-ho.I like it for sure, but it also skips from character to character and star to star in an effort to include a broad range of participants. And this tends to robs it of personal involvement. Despite the fact that all the characters are representative of real people from the invasion.
A definite must-have, highly entertaining, but don't expect to care too much about the people you're watching.
On Amazon:
The Longest Day (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Tunes of Glory (1960)
Now, calling this a war film is a bit of a stretch. Technically it's set sometime after the war, at the headquarters of a Scottish army regiment.But stretch or not, I have to include this film, because I consider it one of my all time favourites, not just in the war category.
Alec Guinness plays an officer who was put in charge of his battalion during WW2, when the original commander was killed. Popular with the officers and men, he remained in acting command right up until the beginning of the movie. Now he has just been informed, after hoping for a permanent appointment, that he is to be replaced by a new Colonel, played by John Mills.
Naturally the change does not go down well and the new Colonel is subjected to a cold and difficult arrival, lead by Guinness. The tension and resentment between the two leads is brilliantly played (how could it not, with two such outstanding actors) and builds to a genuinely tragic and sad ending.
I first saw this film some years ago and by the time it was over I was amazed that I had never heard of it before. It was that good.
On Amazon:
Tunes of Glory - Criterion Collection
World War 2: Air War
My blog.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byTora! Tora! Tora! (1970)
Another of the true events films, this time telling the tale of the build-up and attack on Pearl Harbour by the Japanese in 1941.The production values on this movie are outstanding, with great attention to detail and a even a few almost-full-size battleship mock ups (well portions of ships) to add realism.
There are interesting scenes with the Japanese planning the attack, played by real Japanese, speaking Japanese.
And even though the Japanese aircraft are really conversions of US models, it's still great to see them flying in mass formation for the battle scene.
The one thing that strikes me most about this film, however, is the steady build of tension and excitement, even though you know what's going to happen in the end (or you should) it still manages to be quite gripping, as the Americans slowly begin to realise something's wrong, but are running out of time to put it all together.
On Amazon:
Tora! Tora! Tora! (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
The Sands Of Iwo Jima (1949)
John Wayne again, and in one of his best roles, as Sergeant Stryker, a tough US Marine Corp veteran who takes on a group of new recruits and leads them into battle, first on Tarawa then on Iwo Jima itself.There's a bit of the old Gung-ho thing going on here, but not enough to ruin what is really a pretty good movie. Quality production, solid acting and a nice sideline of conflict between main characters lift this one well above the usual dross.
And as an interesting aside, the three surviving flag raisers from the real battle on Mt Suribachi play themselves during the re-enacted scene for the film, and the flag they raise is also the same one from the island.
On Amazon:
Sands of Iwo Jima
The Dirty Dozen (1967)
Ahhh Lee Marvin, this is one cool guy and one of my favourite actors.In this he plays a US Army Major put in charge of 12 military convicts with the task of training them for a suicide mission to kill German generals on the eve of the allied invasion of Normandy. Naturally, being convicts (many sentenced to hang) this isn't easy, but it makes for one of the great secret mission/adventure type war films.
The early part of the film follows the training, where they fight each other, the major, and other units, with some amusing moments thrown in at just the right points. After that it's the mission itself, which manages to be suspenseful and exciting, with well-filmed action sequences.
I doubt you'll be disappointed with this one, but word of advice, stay away from the awful sequels.
On Amazon:
The Dirty Dozen (Two-Disc Special Edition)
Great Stuff on eBay
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The Great Escape (1963)
Based on the book by Paul Brickhill
Another of the star-studded classics. Based on a true story of the attempted mass breakout by allied prisoners from their German POW camp. Yet, although it is based on real events, it is treated probably a bit more lightly than you might expect - although not inaccurately - especially if you're used to the heavy going of some modern war films.With such a great cast (I can't be bothered naming them past Steve McQueen and Richard Attenborough) the acting is of course quite excellent. And although it clocks in at almost three hours long the story is kept moving very well, without that eyelid-drooping feeling of stagnation that can set in with longer films.
So if you're after a true-ish film with high intrigue and action, but without any excessive moralisation this one's for you.
On Amazon:
The Great Escape (2-Disc Collector's Set)
The Guns of Navarone (1961)
Based on the novel by Alistair Maclean.
War adventure at its best. This film can't be beaten for the genre. There's action aplenty as a small team of specialists is assembled at the last minute to destroy two great guns so that Royal Navy destroyers can pass by on a rescue mission. And of course the team, led by the always fantastic Gregory Peck, has to sneak through an island filled to the brim with Nazis, not to mention a traitor in their midst.Peck is backed up by the considerable talent of Anthony Quinn, David Niven and others so you know you can rely on great acting. And the director keeps things moving along nicely, which is good, because this is not a short film.
This one is not to be missed, I assure you.
On Amazon:
The Guns of Navarone (Collector's Edition)
Patton (1970)
George C. Scott at his best as General George S. Patton, one of the United States' best commanders of WW2.The film gives an interesting view of Patton's active duty during the war, including his aggressive attitude to the enemy and to his own colleagues. And while there is some insight into what drove him - including his belief that he was a reincarnated warrior from ancient times - there probably could have been a bit more.
All in all though, this film is well worth the time to watch.
On Amazon:
Patton (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Great Stuff on Amazon
Heroes of World War II Hosted by Walter Cronkite
Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)
World War II: The Epic Battles
Amazon Price: $35.99 (as of 11/30/2009)
Gallipoli (1981)
Starring Mel Gibson before he became such a dick, Gallipoli is the tale of two young Australian athletes who decide to join the army during World War One.This is a very well respected film down under and deservedly so. The feeling of the day is well captured with the scenes of young men rushing off for their big adventure in war and the quiet condescension for those who are reluctant to follow the crowd (in this case Gibson). And the harsh realities are equally well-shown, when the two men reach the Gallipoli beach head itself - which is extremely well-reproduced with an Aussie beach as substitute.
The potential futures of the two main characters, shown early on, make the ending of this film all the more tragic and really punches home the anti-war message without overdoing it.
And be prepared for a much stronger Aussie accent than you might be used to hearing from Gibson.
On Amazon:
Gallipoli
Von Ryan's Express (1965)
Based on the novel by David Westheimer
Frank Sinatra puts in a decent performance as an American pilot captured in Italy and sent to a POW camp filled mostly with British soldiers. He clashes immediately with the officers, but ends up having to lead them as they take over the train transporting them to Germany and make a break for the Swiss frontier.Where The Great Escape was based on a true story and at least showed some of what really happened (with a bit of extra fanciful stuff thrown in) this one is total fiction and even more into the adventure realm because of it.
It's quite fun, with plenty of action and, of course, totally inept Germans, who can't even stop a train on a fixed railroad line. A nice Sunday afternoon flick.
On Amazon:
Von Ryan's Express
The Dam Busters (1955)
A stirring retelling of the famous bouncing bomb raid against German dams during WW2. Michael Redgrave does a fine job as the inventor of the bombs Barnes Wallace, as he tries to first come up with the idea, then make it work and convince the RAF that it works. Joining him is Richard Todd as Guy Gibson, the man who builds and leads the squadron that carries out the attack.There are some excellent aerial scenes with the Lancaster bombers - fortunately there were still enough in flying condition to perform in the film - and the effects, while old, are still enjoyable. And I like that the film successfully keeps the human element of the story, rather than resorting to a drab, overly factual telling.
A fine classic that I'm sure will outshine the intended remake from the over-rated Peter Jackson and his team.
On Amazon:
The Dam Busters
Great Stuff on Amazon
The First World War - The Complete Series
Amazon Price: $36.99 (as of 11/30/2009)
The War of the World: A New History of the 20th Century
Amazon Price: $22.49 (as of 11/30/2009)
A Bridge Too Far (1977)
Another of the star-studded epics. This one about the Allied attempt to outflank the Germans by going through Holland with a massive airborne invasion in 1944 and ending World War 2 quickly.The cast is far too large and famous to name, but most of them live up to their reps in this rendering of the true story. Though quite long, the film is well paced and well rounded and you can get quite caught up in the gut-wrenching tragedy of the operation as it comes so close to succeeding. And although it is told mainly through the eyes of the generals, as most of them were in the thick of the fighting, you are never far from the action and the personal enduring of all the soldiers.
On Amazon:
A Bridge Too Far (Collector's Edition)
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- reganwis reganwis Mar 15, 2009 @ 4:37 pm | in reply to Frosty
- I think you mean The Last Flight of Noah's Ark, with Elliott Gould as the pilot of an old B-29 that crashes while flying a bunch of animals and they bump into a couple of Japanese soldiers who have been stranded on the island and don't know WW2 is long over.
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- Frosty Frosty Mar 8, 2009 @ 12:34 am
- I remember a movie as a kid with a ww2 plane and pilot. they crashed and had to turn the plane into a boat. Know it?
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- prabath prabath Dec 24, 2008 @ 10:55 pm
- i also want to know the name of the movie that rod was talking about
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- reganwis reganwis Dec 1, 2008 @ 4:04 pm | in reply to JoeC
- Sorry, don't think I know that one.
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- JoeC JoeC Nov 30, 2008 @ 12:20 pm
- Looking for an old film about Russia or maybe Krimian War ? All I can remember is a line in the movie when the woman kept saying , " will we ever get to go to Moscow?" saw it in college a million years ago.
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- reganwis reganwis Nov 27, 2008 @ 3:38 am | in reply to Rod
- Actually, it may be Sahara, starring Humphrey Bogart. Check it out on the imdb site and see if that's the one you remember.
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- reganwis reganwis Nov 27, 2008 @ 3:25 am | in reply to Rod
- Hmmm, no I don't think I know that one.
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- Rod Rod Nov 24, 2008 @ 5:14 am
- I remember watching a war movie when i was a kid - a small group of English soldiers lost in the desert they found a buried tank in the sand which they dug up and got working. The movies was built up on the relationships of these soldiers and their survival - they travelled through the desert in this tank to they found a road and were rescued. It left an impression and i don't even know the name. Does it ring any bell for you
by reganwis
I burst forth into the world in a shower of mucus and other gross gloop in November of 1976, in Auckland, New Zealand. I'm a bit of a geek and I'm fin... (more)
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