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What World War II films do you consider "essential" viewing?
Posted on 5/14/15 at 9:59 am
Posted on 5/14/15 at 9:59 am
There are a handful of films I regard as essential viewing in order to understand the conflict from a cinematic perspective.
The Best Years of Our Lives
Sands of Iwo Jima
12 O'Clock High
Stalag 17
Bridge on the River Kwai
Sink the Bismarck
The Great Escape
The Longest Day
The Dirty Dozen
Battle of Britain
Patton
Tora! Tora! Tora!
A Bridge Too Far
The Big Red One
Das Boot
Empire of the Sun
Schindler's List
Stalingrad
Saving Private Ryan
The Thin Red Line
The Pianist
Downfall
Flags of Our Fathers/Letters From Iwo Jima
The Best Years of Our Lives
Sands of Iwo Jima
12 O'Clock High
Stalag 17
Bridge on the River Kwai
Sink the Bismarck
The Great Escape
The Longest Day
The Dirty Dozen
Battle of Britain
Patton
Tora! Tora! Tora!
A Bridge Too Far
The Big Red One
Das Boot
Empire of the Sun
Schindler's List
Stalingrad
Saving Private Ryan
The Thin Red Line
The Pianist
Downfall
Flags of Our Fathers/Letters From Iwo Jima
This post was edited on 5/14/15 at 8:18 pm
47
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:00 am to RollTide1987
Patton, Patton, a thousand times Patton
One of my 10 favorite movies of all time and my dad's favorite movie.
One of my 10 favorite movies of all time and my dad's favorite movie.
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:01 am to RollTide1987
Das Boot needs to be on that list.
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:02 am to RollTide1987
I would definitely add Midway.
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:02 am to RollTide1987
First drop that drivel, Thin Red Line was not accurate to Guadalcanal at all.
Add:
Letters from Iwo Jima
Flags of Our Fathers
Best Years of Our Lives
Das Boot
Fury
Add:
Letters from Iwo Jima
Flags of Our Fathers
Best Years of Our Lives
Das Boot
Fury
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:07 am to RollTide1987
Downfall
Flags of Our Fathers
Letters From Iwo Jima
Schindler's List
Saving Private Ryan
My top 5 WWII list in no order.
Flags of Our Fathers
Letters From Iwo Jima
Schindler's List
Saving Private Ryan
My top 5 WWII list in no order.
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:18 am to RollTide1987
Where eagles Dare 
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:18 am to RollTide1987
Not a movie but Band of Brothers is #1
Downfall is a fantastic movie
Downfall is a fantastic movie
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:21 am to RollTide1987
Good list. Add Band of Brothers.
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:21 am to RollTide1987
The Great Escape & To End All Wars need to be added
I'd remove Flags of Our Fathers. Really isn't that good of a film.
I'd remove Flags of Our Fathers. Really isn't that good of a film.
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:30 am to RollTide1987
Well everyone knows I love noir so I'll recommend a few non-Hitchcock WWII noir thrillers.
Hangmen Also Die!
The Small Back Room
Man Hunt
Ministry of Fear
Green for Danger
And one of my favorite WWII movies that doesn't really have any battle scenes in it.
A Matter of Life and Death
Hangmen Also Die!
The Small Back Room
Man Hunt
Ministry of Fear
Green for Danger
And one of my favorite WWII movies that doesn't really have any battle scenes in it.
A Matter of Life and Death
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:30 am to RollTide1987
quote:
in order to understand the conflict from a cinematic perspective
Sorry ... I missed this part.
Never mind.
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:30 am to RollTide1987
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:45 am to RollTide1987
I don't know if it is 'essential,' but Solider of Orange directed by Verhoeven is a fantastic Dutch WW2 film.
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:47 am to RollTide1987
I know people don't seem to care much for the Pacific relative to BoB but I think it did a good job of making war not seem "glamorous"
I wish there were some better films about the epic battles / war the Soviets and the Germans were having on the Eastern front.
I wish there were some better films about the epic battles / war the Soviets and the Germans were having on the Eastern front.
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:51 am to RollTide1987
quote:
RollTide1987
I agree with all of the films you listed, and Patton is probably my second favorite film, overall, so I agree with that endorsement, highly.
At a minimum, though, I think you should add:
12 O'Clock High (the definitive USAF war film)
The Best Years of Our Lives (from a critical standpoint, as good as any film there is on the war, possibly excepting Patton, Schindler and SPR)
Judgment at Nuremberg (also one of the best courtroom dramas in film history - giving you 2 for 1)
When Trumpets Fade (excellent, underrated modern infantry platoon/squad level film)
Sands of Iwo Jima (the Duke was in The Longest Day - the Duke WAS Sands of Iwo Jima)
I'm struggling for a definitive film on the bomb, and I guess it would be Fat Man and Little Boy (1989) - it cannot be omitted from an essential list.
Not a film, but Band of Brothers would be highly recommended.
Non-fictional material abounds and much of it is good, but "essential" would be British television's World at War, that ran from 1973 to 1974. Of similar importance is U.S. television's Victory at Sea series, 1952-1953.
(ETA: Mrs. Midnight's favorite war film is Kelly's Heroes - so honorable mention to that, and to What Did You Do in the War Daddy? and Catch-22)
This post was edited on 5/14/15 at 10:55 am
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:55 am to RollTide1987
The Pianist
Posted on 5/14/15 at 10:59 am to RollTide1987
Besides the one's mentioned. A Walk In The Sun, and Battleground are a couple of my favorite ones.
Posted on 5/14/15 at 11:09 am to RollTide1987
The Thin Red Line.
People need to understand the greatness that is Terrence Malick
People need to understand the greatness that is Terrence Malick
Posted on 5/14/15 at 11:18 am to RollTide1987
Patton
The Longest Day
Tora Tora Tora
Midway
Saving Private Ryan
Memphis Belle
A League of Their Own
The Longest Day
Tora Tora Tora
Midway
Saving Private Ryan
Memphis Belle
A League of Their Own
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