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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| The 10 Greatest War Movies Ever Made |
| 2010-03-31 |
| Posted by:Chuck Simmins |
| #54 For what it's worth, I worked with Earl Denton who commanded Love Company at Pork Chop Hill. He got the Silver Star and Purple Heart for it. When they made the movie, he was asked if they could use his name in the movie. Earl went through Army channels to get approval. By the time he got an answer, the movie people had made up a name for Earl's character. It turns out the other guys just said go for it and Earl was the only one left out of the movie. |
| Posted by: rwv 2010-03-31 23:20 |
| #53 Not much to add. However, 12 O'Clock High is one of the classics. It described the culture and set the standard for Strategic Air Command for at least two generations. We were still using the pre-mission brief template 30 years later for ARCLIGHT, even down to the map at the front of the room that no one could read. And in spite of what the Left would have you believe, VietNam was a lot closer to We Were Soldiers than it was to Platoon or Apocalypse Now. |
| Posted by: rwv 2010-03-31 23:16 |
| #52 Stalingrad (produced by the same crew that made Das Boot) Black Hawk Down Red Dawn We Were Soldiers |
| Posted by: djh_usmc 2010-03-31 22:31 |
| #51 F Troop McHale's Navy. Sorry- resetting my cookie. |
| Posted by: Grunter 2010-03-31 22:21 |
| #50 The Caine Mutiny (another novel by Herman Wouk) had an outstanding cast led by Humphrey Bogart. |
| Posted by: Gomez Threter7450 2010-03-31 19:08 |
| #49 300. |
| Posted by: Beldar Threreling9726 2010-03-31 18:40 |
| #48 No Great Escape or Escape from Colditz to go with Bridge on the River Kwai? |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2010-03-31 18:35 |
| #47 'The Gallant Hours' Produced and directed by Robert Montgomery LtCmd USN (ret) |
| Posted by: Cheaderhead 2010-03-31 18:30 |
| #46 I enjoyed the book, "All quiet on the Western Front", but I never saw the movie. There was a movie made about Bastogne (B&W, with Ricardo Montalban - probably his first movie role) that was excellent. Haven't watched many movies in the last 30 years, but "Tora, Tora, Tora" was great. My son-in-law was one of the extras in War and Remembrance. Leon Uris' "Battle Cry" was made into a fairly good war movie. I'm far more into books than movies - they're not so noisy. That's a major factor when you have hyperacusis. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2010-03-31 17:40 |
| #45 I always liked "The Dam Busters" ....heard there was a remake being done |
| Posted by: classer 2010-03-31 17:34 |
| #44 You need to check out the HBO miniseries "Generation Kill" |
| Posted by: Aussie Mike 2010-03-31 17:29 |
| #43 What about "United 93"? Is that a war movie? I can never watch it because I want to crank up the Enola Gay by the time I get through, but it was a pretty solid effort. |
| Posted by: Matt 2010-03-31 16:29 |
| #42 I'm kind of fond of Gung Ho! myself. |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2010-03-31 16:25 |
| #41 Rewatched two recently... A Bridge Too Far A Very Long Engagement (French, WWI) |
| Posted by: Gomez Threter7450 2010-03-31 15:31 |
| #40 Watch these two WW-1 movies to compare and contrast: Sergeant York (1941).....the Good Face of War, and Paths of Glory (1957)....the Bad Face... |
| Posted by: magpie 2010-03-31 15:20 |
| #39 Glad someone mentioned "The Cruel Sea." Snorkers? Good-oh! Also 12 o'clock High. Actually, we used in a management training class illustrating Blanchard's S-1 through 4 management styles. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2010-03-31 15:08 |
| #38 I wish they would make a Band of Brothers/Pacific type for WW1. The things those guys went thru are unimaginable. |
| Posted by: Yosemite Sam 2010-03-31 15:04 |
| #37 It pains me to think that no one brought up "Lawrence of Arabia". The topic of the movie may be haram around this site, however, the movie is truly an excellent one that can be enjoyed thoroughly, right up there with the GREATEST WAR MOVIES - "The Longest Day" and "Patton". 'nuff said. |
| Posted by: GoldenShellBack 2010-03-31 14:50 |
| #36 "Alexander Nevsky" seen as a poiticized forecast for the upcoming "The Great Patriotic War". The "battle on the ice" scene is fantastic; the Germanic invaders are downright frightening; and the musical score is a classic in ts own right. |
| Posted by: borgboy 2010-03-31 14:48 |
| #35 Talvisota, if only for the fact that it's one of the few movies ever made about the Winter War, Finns vs. Russians. Finland spent a lot of money on the movie at the time, and it shows. Great battle scenes against the hordes of Russian invaders. |
| Posted by: gromky 2010-03-31 12:52 |
| #34 Michael Yon mentioned (via tweet / facebook) a few days ago that Hurt Locker wasn't that good - only realism was the sound. And that the title was being used as an insult by marines. I'm going to have to checkout 'The Gallant Hours' now... If you played the movie for a crowd of 20 year old Obamalytes today, it would be completely inaaccessible to them. "The Enterprise has been damaged? Dude, Scotty can fix it." Scotty? don't you mean Wesley? |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2010-03-31 12:25 |
| #33 My List: Patton Band of Bothers In Harm's Way Sands of Iwo Jima Platoon FMJ Das Boot Enemy At The Gate Glory We Were Soldiers Memphis Belle |
| Posted by: Hellfish 2010-03-31 12:23 |
| #32 Defiance. The Hurt Locker La Femme Nikita |
| Posted by: Richelieu 2010-03-31 12:20 |
| #31 A sentimental favorite of mine is "The Gallant Hours", with Cagney as Admiral Halsey at Guadalcanal, from 1960. It would be the hands-down winner of a sub-category called "War Movies That Have No Combat Scenes And In Which The Hero Is A Paunchy Middle-Aged Man." The movie assumes that everyone in the audience knows who Halsey is, what happened at Guadalcanal to a fair level of detail, and why making a movie about both is a real good thing to do. It's also worth watching just for the opening credits, here. If you played the movie for a crowd of 20 year old Obamalytes today, it would be completely inaaccessible to them. "The Enterprise has been damaged? Dude, Scotty can fix it." |
| Posted by: Matt 2010-03-31 12:04 |
| #30 Lost Battalion is excellent. Defiance with Daniel Craig is also rather good. For a Vietnam film off the beaten path, i suggest The Odd Angry Shot |
| Posted by: abu do you love 2010-03-31 12:00 |
| #29 Barry Lyndon (battle of Minden) Barbarians at the Gate (re. Stalingrad) Henry V, with Kenneth Branagh Ballad of a Soldier (Soviet film re. WWII) Napoleon War and Peace (Bondarchuk, Russian, 1968) Culloden (BBC documentary) |
| Posted by: lex 2010-03-31 11:40 |
| #28 Don't forget Hamburger Hill Best movie about the Vietnam War. |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2010-03-31 11:28 |
| #27 To Anon4201 If my memory is any good the kriegspiel was set up because the German thought they were safe that day since their meteorological services had predicted the storm was going to last at least 2 days more and would prevent the Allies from landing. Same thing for Rommel returning home for his wife's birthday. |
| Posted by: JFM 2010-03-31 11:24 |
| #26 One of my favs 633 Squadron. |
| Posted by: Secret Asian Man 2010-03-31 11:23 |
| #25 The Malta Story In Which We Serve The Cruel Sea |
| Posted by: Canuckistan sniper 2010-03-31 11:11 |
| #24 Since the list is for Memorial Day (US day with US wars) I suggest: ---other than first and last action scene, a lazy movie propped by decent actors who tended to be loony in real life ----I like this movie, relly do. I just think We Were Soldiers is a better movie. ----The list is for Memorial Day; Entebbe is just unfortunately not withing the author's own list criteria. It (Entebbe) should be included in the any war any time best listing along with, if I could throw a couple more out there and I'll try to get out the box a little just for fun: *The Lost Battalion *Gods and Generals, if can we lump it with Gettysburg? *Sparticus *Seven Samurai *Bang Rajan *Tae Guk Gi (ok story well executed) *Henry V (Olivier, excellent stage use, tennis balls?!) *Battle of Britain *Lord of the Rings *Prince Caspian I get the feeling that if someone were to make an accurate Iraq/Afghan movie, it would seem so far fetched nobody would believe it. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2010-03-31 11:10 |
| #23 That's a great list. Taking Chance was a fantastic movie. I'd add Black Hawk Down and The Enemy Below. RE: D-Day. I thought it wasn't the storm, but the fact they had Military exercises or a summit planned in Paris or Munich. I think the storm may have kept them from returning. |
| Posted by: Anon4021 2010-03-31 11:05 |
| #22 the inclusion of Taking Chance is awesome. If you can watch that without tearing up, you have no heart. If you can watch it without feeling pride in our nation's military, you have no soul. Kevin Bacon was perfect, and the dignity shown is a credit to the military and the filmmakers |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-03-31 10:56 |
| #21 "We were soldiers" Any of the movies from Samuel Fuller. Raoul Walsh's "Objective Burma" Midway and "The Longest Day" for their historical accuracy (An intriguing question: What would have hapenned without the storm who made the German generals leave their stations?) "Saving Private Ryan" (for the feeling of powerlessness at Omaha Beach. If possible visit it so you get a first hand impression of fish in a barrel when you look at the hills, more exactly dead cliffs). "The battle of Britain" Not a great movie but to remember those so few so many ow so much. John Ford's "Lost patrol" "La 317eme section": A French section in Indochina surrounded by the Vietminh tries to reach friendly lines. Its author was at Dien Bien Phu |
| Posted by: JFM 2010-03-31 10:56 |
| #20 no We Were Soldiers? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2010-03-31 10:48 |
| #19 Glory. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2010-03-31 09:59 |
| #18 The Greatest War Movie Never Made - Iraq (subtitled) We the Willing, Led by the Unknown, doing the impossible for the Ungrateful* [*Rantburgers et al excluded] |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2010-03-31 09:36 |
| #17 Forgot: Das Boot Letter from Iwo Jima Flags of our Fathers |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2010-03-31 09:35 |
| #16 Zulu Dawn (just to add another) Enemy at the gate (and another) |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2010-03-31 09:31 |
| #15 1. Apocalypse Now 2. The Deer Hunter 3. Saving Private Ryan 4. The Great Escape 5. Platoon 6. The Bridge on the River Kwai 7. Patton 8. The Young Lions 9. The Longest Day 10. King Rat |
| Posted by: tipper 2010-03-31 09:13 |
| #14 The list Chuck cites is a good one. We could all substitute some of our own preferences, but any list that includes 'Taking Chance' has credibility. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2010-03-31 08:02 |
| #13 The Green Berets. |
| Posted by: Tholush the Prolific3678 2010-03-31 06:48 |
| #12 Dr Strangelove |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2010-03-31 05:58 |
| #11 Kelly's Heroes |
| Posted by: Bunyip 2010-03-31 03:21 |
| #10 * MEN IN WAR [Korea]. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-03-31 02:32 |
| #9 OOOOOPPSIES, forgot * COMMAND DECISION * CATCH-22 * INTO THE WILD BLUE * M*A*S*H [Korea = Vietnam] * WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN [Korea] * ZERO HOUR [Korea] * RETREAT, HELL! [Korea] * FAHRENHOLT 451 [fuzzy on this one]??? Methinks TOM HANKS should do his next project, post-THE PACIFIC, on the KOREAN WAR whose sorely lacking in films, etc. compared to all others, + perhaps also USAF, USN IN VIETNAM ee title "ROLLING THUNDER/ARC LIGHT"??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-03-31 02:31 |
| #8 D *** NG IT, I KNEW IT, OWG SOCIALISM NOW, WILY GEEZERY OLE' SANTA IS WHOM TIGER, CHUCKY SHEEN, + JESSE JAMES, ETC, LEARNED THEIR PORN STAR WAYS! As for WAR FLICKS, whatzabout the rankings for * ACTION IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC * AIR FORCE * MEMPHIS BELLE * BOYS IN COMPANY C * GO TELL THE SPARTANS * THE FIGHTING SEABEES * FIRE BASE GLORIA * BACK TO BATAAN * THE DEEP SIX * OPERATION: BURMA * THEY WERE EXPENDABLE * IN HARM'S WAY * NAKED AND THE DEAD * THE THIN RED LINE * BEACH RED * WINDS OF WAR [TV Mini-series]. And others??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2010-03-31 02:21 |
| #7 Hell, you could even throw in: Zulu & Breaker Morant |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2010-03-31 01:18 |
| #6 Gettysburg Patton Full Metal Jacket Cross of Iron Battle of Britain Run Silent, Run Deep Torpedo Alley The Bridge at Toko-Ri BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI The Great Escape Sands Of Iwo Jima Platoon None but the Brave Hell is for Heroes To Hell and Back Guns of Navarone Anzio |
| Posted by: Broadhead6 2010-03-31 01:17 |
| #5 Attack |
| Posted by: Steve White 2010-03-31 00:55 |
| #4 The Winds of War War and Remembrance (Technically a mini-series from the novels of Herman Wouk, but excellent documentation of the Holocaust and the Battle of Midway). |
| Posted by: Gomez Threter7450 2010-03-31 00:42 |
| #3 Das Boot Twelve O'Clock High Patton |
| Posted by: DoDo 2010-03-31 00:27 |
| #2 They Were Expendable, starring Robert Montgomery and John Wayne. |
| Posted by: Eric Jablow 2010-03-31 00:21 |
| #1 Left Out: Pork Chop Hill The Blue Max Enemy at the Gates The Horse Soliders Tears of the Sun Stalingrad (German film ) |
| Posted by: badanov 2010-03-31 00:09 |