Favorite WWII Film

[Adrian II]

My pick: A Bridge Too Far

OK, but for what reason? Many of these threads are mere lists of titles, let's get beyond that. Maybe it's just me, but I think it's more interesting to hear peoples' views on movies than a couple titles.

Oops... of course I mean ONE!! One title, not a couple!..

Phewww...

[Beirut]

Maybe it's just me, but I think it's more interesting to hear peoples' views on movies than a couple titles.

The Longest Day

It's got John Wayne. It presents a reasonable historic truth. It's BIG movie with a cast of millions. It's got John Wayne AND Henry Fonda. The actions scenes are great, the personalities are great too. It's got John wayne And Henry Fonda AND Sean Connery AND Richard Burton (who gave a great though short performance as the downed RAF flyer baked on morphine with his leg open like a zipper from the knee to the crotch. Hoping the medics get to him before the morphione wears off. Ouch.).

The Longest Day leaves you with the impression that you are really watching a great event unfold. The story is big, the scope is big, the movie is big. And the scene with the German soldier screaming at his superior officer over the phone is an absolute riot! I found the movie didn't leave me wanting more. You felt like you were getting the whole story.

Good music too. "Da-da-da-dummmm"

Oh, and it's got John Wayne.

Medic - "You're ankle is broken sir."

John Wayne - "Well put my boot back on and lace it up. Tight!"

[Adrian II]

Oh, and it's got John Wayne.

Medic - "You're ankle is broken sir."

John Wayne - "Well put my boot back on and lace it up. Tight!"

And proceeds to lead his unit from a wheel-barrow, I know. And it's got Robert Wagner in it going: 'I wonder what bitte, bitte means?' But it's entertainment, more than anything else. It didn't leave me with the sense that I understood the event better than before watching it. In fact, the movie pays off only if you already know a lot about the episode from reading Cornelius Ryan or whatever.

[Redleg]

Well Beruit summed up The Longest Day - I will have to submit a review of my second favorite WW2 film.

Enemy at the Gate

The best part of the movie is the beginning 15-20 minutes where it shows the mass confusion of the Soviet Army and the lets throw men at the problem until the enemy is broken or we are destroyed. The first opening shots show the true horror and glory of war at the same time. The rest of the movie is not as good as those first open shots - but it does a decent job of showing the confusion, and determinaion of the Soviet Defense of Stalingrad.

[Hurin_Rules]

Enemy at the Gate

The best part of the movie is the beginning 15-20 minutes where it shows the mass confusion of the Soviet Army and the lets throw men at the problem until the enemy is broken or we are destroyed. The first opening shots show the true horror and glory of war at the same time. The rest of the movie is not as good as those first open shots - but it does a decent job of showing the confusion, and determinaion of the Soviet Defense of Stalingrad.

I have to disagree with you there Redleg. While the opening scene was surely captivating, it gave the impression that the entire Red Army was a leaderless herd of untrained sheep. We saw the Comissars (communists, and therefore evil), but we didn't see the NCO's. Where were the officers of this horde? Where were the sergeants and lieutenants (or the Soviet equivalents)? Is it really accurate to show the soldiers not even having guns (small arms were not a big problem in the Soviet Army, if I remember correctly, especially not in a city with as many guns lying around as Stalingrad). Was it common for the soviets to put a machine gun behind their own troops and mow them down when they retreated?

I just found it very unbelievable. If it was really like that, one wonders how in the world these buffoons defeated the Nazis.

[Templar Knight]

A bridge too far

[Nelson]

Very tough to choose.

But I'm no rule breaker. I will exhibit discipline!

Saving Private Ryan

[Pindar]

OK, but for what reason? Many of these threads are mere lists of titles, let's get beyond that. Maybe it's just me, but I think it's more interesting to hear peoples' views on movies than a couple titles.

Most films focus on the plight of the individual soldier and rightly so. Perhaps one of the best in this regard is "Das Boot". Even so, I also like fare where the larger picture is presented: "A Bridge too Far" does this in all its vain glorious majesty. I also like its historicity and the film's shear story telling: from the general, to the combat soldier, to the civilian caught betwixt and between.

Oops... of course I mean ONE!! One title, not a couple!..

Phewww...

Good man.

[Redleg]

I have to disagree with you there Redleg. While the opening scene was surely captivating, it gave the impression that the entire Red Army was a leaderless herd of untrained sheep. We saw the Comissars (communists, and therefore evil), but we didn't see the NCO's. Where were the officers of this horde? Where were the sergeants and lieutenants (or the Soviet equivalents)? Is it really accurate to show the soldiers not even having guns (small arms were not a big problem in the Soviet Army, if I remember correctly, especially not in a city with as many guns lying around as Stalingrad). Was it common for the soviets to put a machine gun behind their own troops and mow them down when they retreated?

I just found it very unbelievable. If it was really like that, one wonders how in the world these buffoons defeated the Nazis.

I didn't say I found it believable - I once again found it demonstrated the mass confusion of the Soviet Army and the lets throw men at the problem until the enemy is broken or we are destroyed. The first opening shots show the true horror and glory of war at the same time.

The defense of Stalingrad in the histories I have read was intially a chaotic defense where Stalin ordered troops into the area to defend the city at all costs. I think the movie did a decent job of representing this. That it snub the comissars is to be expected - since well they were using your term "evil".
The movie shows very well the heroic effort of the Soviet Army in stopping and then defeating the Germans at Stalingrad. However in 1941 much of the Red Army was a bunch of leaderless sheep because Stalin "purged" the Army in the 1930's.

No war movie is realistic - the closest that I have ever seen to being realistic is The Cross of Iron and that is because it shows the individual intensity of some soldiers.

[t1master]

where eagles dare

i liked the mountain setting and all the gunfights in the castle.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

Das Boot for me. I purchased it recently, after playing Silent Hunter III and getting a bit of a thing for U-Boats, and it's absolutely brilliant.

[PanzerJaeger]

Is it really accurate to show the soldiers not even having guns (small arms were not a big problem in the Soviet Army, if I remember correctly, especially not in a city with as many guns lying around as Stalingrad). Was it common for the soviets to put a machine gun behind their own troops and mow them down when they retreated?

Both of those were true of the Red Army.

Now i dont know how frequently they were without guns, but i know it happened.

Executing those who retreated was quite common though.

You do have a point about the NCOs. They would not have been led by commissars.

I liked the character development in Enemy at the Gates. Although the sniper battle was fictionalized a lot, Ed Harris and Jude Law played very believable parts until the end when Eddy felt it neccessary to walk around in the open - something a sniper of his supposed experience wouldnt have done.

[Hurin_Rules]

I didn't say I found it believable...
No war movie is realistic - the closest that I have ever seen to being realistic is The Cross of Iron and that is because it shows the individual intensity of some soldiers.

Heh, if you'll note, that was my choice for best WWII movie in that thread.

However in 1941 much of the Red Army was a bunch of leaderless sheep because Stalin "purged" the Army in the 1930's.

Granted, the higher officers suffered from the purge, but even given that, the troops filtering into Stalingrad would have had NCOs leading them; there do not appear to be any in the movie, beyond the odd traffic cop herding the hordes in the direction of the front. That, I think, is unrealistic.

[Redleg]

Heh, if you'll note, that was my choice for best WWII movie in that thread.



Granted, the higher officers suffered from the purge, but even given that, the troops filtering into Stalingrad would have had NCOs leading them; there do not appear to be any in the movie, beyond the odd traffic cop herding the hordes in the direction of the front. That, I think, is unrealistic.

THere was a lot more then that, that was unrealistic. But like Saving Private Ryan The opening scenes show a lot of the brutal reality of war

[ShadesPanther]

Longest Day
Is just a great film with great actors and it also shows the German side which was a nice touch to make it seem more realistic. It is better in Black and white as it seems like a documentary with someone there recording it.

next would be Band of Brothers (if it counted )

[DemonArchangel]

Not a movie, but a TV show.

Band of Brothers.

[TheSilverKnight]

The Longest Day

It's got John Wayne. It presents a reasonable historic truth. It's BIG movie with a cast of millions. It's got John Wayne AND Henry Fonda. The actions scenes are great, the personalities are great too. It's got John wayne And Henry Fonda AND Sean Connery AND Richard Burton (who gave a great though short performance as the downed RAF flyer baked on morphine with his leg open like a zipper from the knee to the crotch. Hoping the medics get to him before the morphione wears off. Ouch.).

The Longest Day leaves you with the impression that you are really watching a great event unfold. The story is big, the scope is big, the movie is big. And the scene with the German soldier screaming at his superior officer over the phone is an absolute riot! I found the movie didn't leave me wanting more. You felt like you were getting the whole story.

Good music too. "Da-da-da-dummmm"

Oh, and it's got John Wayne.

Medic - "You're ankle is broken sir."

John Wayne - "Well put my boot back on and lace it up. Tight!"

Longest Day for me as well. Reasons cited above...
Why do Beirut and I think alike?

and did I mention John Wayne rocks?

[hrvojej]

Thin Red Line (I'm surprised that nobody mentioned it yet). I liked the intense psychological drama portrayed in the film.

The Battle on Sutyeska (old Yugoslav movie, with Richard Burton as Tito )

[PanzerJaeger]

^Everyone had blue eyes in that movie.. after a while it really distracted me.

[Tachikaze]

How I Won the War

John Lennon let the water out to make it lighter.

[Fragony]

Der Untergang. Not only is it the best movie about hitler, but it also creates a very believable 1945 Berlin. I didn't think it would shock me so much to see a human Hitler, brilliant.

[InsaneApache]

For me its the 'Eagle has landed' (coz I fancy the bird in it) I pissed myself when 'JR' got shot right between the eyes by the sour faced old bitch.

Like the German officer said (Caine) ..

"Unfortunatley Otto, this officer appears to know what he's doing....it looks like we shall be taking up permanent residence"

classic

[Ayachuco]

The Dirty Dozen which takes place in Nazi France or that new film on Tojo.

[Idomeneas]

Cross of Iron definately the best character based film.

[Byzantine Prince]

The Dirty Dozen which takes place in Nazi France or that new film on Tojo.

Quintin Tarantino's new film is gonna be pretty similar to the Dirty Dozen but he's gonna his own flare and vision to it. I can't wait for that.

[bmolsson]

Why does movies have to be realistic ?? Don't we have documentaries for that ??

[King Ragnar]

Guns of Navarone anyone heard of it?

[t1master]

i haven't seen guns, but i do have force ten from navarone, with indiana jones in it, that movie has great mountian scenery too.

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Guns of Navarone anyone heard of it?

The Guns of Navarone

Released: 1961
Director: J. Lee Thompson
Staring: Gregory Peck, David Niven, Anthony Quinn, Stanley Baker, James Darren

This rousing, explosive 1961 WWII adventure, based on Alistair MacLean's thrilling novel, turns the war thriller into a deadly caper film. Gregory Peck heads a star-studded cast charged with a near impossible mission: destroy a pair of German guns nestled in a protective cave on the strategic Mediterranean island of Navarone, from where they can control a vital sea passage.

As world famous mountain climber turned British army Captain Mallory, Peck leads a guerrilla force composed of the humanistic explosives expert, Miller (David Niven), the ruthless Greek patriot with a grudge, Stavros (Anthony Quinn), veteran special forces soldier Brown (Stanley Baker), and the cool, quiet young marksman Pappadimos (James Darren). This disparate collection of classic types must overcome internal conflicts, enemy attacks, betrayal, and capture to complete their mission.

Director J. Lee Thompson sets a driving pace for this exciting (if familiar) military operation, a succession of close calls, pitched battles, and last-minute escapes as our heroes infiltrate the garrisoned town with the help of resistance leader Maria (Irene Papas) and plot their entry into the heavily guarded mountain fort. Carl Foreman's screenplay embraces MacLean's role call of clichés and delivers them with style, creating one of the liveliest mixes of espionage, combat, and good old-fashioned military derring-do put on film. In 1978, the sequel Force 10 from Navarone was released, but MacLean fans will prefer to check out the action-packed thriller Where Eagles Dare. © Amazon.com

Nope never heard of it

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

Wah! Only one!?! This is madness, I tell you, madness!

Erm.

So many good ones!

Overall favorite...

The Great Escape. Yeah, yeah, yeah its not the typical squad-blows-up-stuff or anything, but it's about WW2 and it is (I think) my favorite movie of all time. A great soundtrack, nevermind the great story and occassionally very funny moments.

German officer: "Cooler, ten days."
Steve McQueen, as Captain Hilts: "It's Captain Hilts."
Officer: "Cooler. Twenty days."


A lot of really good ones have already been mentioned, and all the ones that I've seen are pretty high up there. Curse you Pindar! Making us choose!