Posted on 07/30/2012 7:53:45 PM PDT by TurboZamboni
Without question, more movies have been made about World War II than any other, but before World War II there was World War I, and some of the best — if not the best — war films ever made were inspired by that conflict. Most movies about the Great War incorporate strong anti-war messages, and to be fair, I can think of few other conflicts (except perhaps the Crimean War or the Thirty Years War) in which this attitude is more appropriate.
You’ll see this thread running through almost every one of my picks — it’s just the way it is. With the exception of movies made as propaganda during WWI and WWII, a good hunk of the First World War films were turned out in the 1920s and ’30s, when the nations of the world were licking their wounds and realizing what a grim, useless affair the whole mess really had been. World War I also proved to be an excellent analogy for Vietnam, so a number of First World War movies were also produced during that period. Anyway, without further ado, here are my particular favorites (and some runners-up) in chronological order.
(Excerpt) Read more at gunsandammo.com ...
Definitely Gallipoli.
For TV Series about WWI, I would suggest “Blackadder Goes Forth.” Generally a comedy, but one of the most poignant endings ever.
Best song about WWI, “1916” by Motorhead.
One of my favorites: “What Price Glory,” with James Cagney
and Dan Daily and a very young Robert Wagner. Good supporting cast. A remake of a 1920’s silent movie with the same name.
Paths Of Glory - based on a true story ...
Oh! what a lovely war. 1969
Paths of glory. 1950 something.
Hells Angels. 1930 something.
Paschendaele 2000 something.
Blue Max
Thanks for posting this. I’ve been reading WW1 books for years and have a keen interest in it ever since I got a book about it from my grandfather.
And for a ripping good tv series,how about “Wings” from about the mid seventies.Captain Triggers was my favourite.
Lawrence of Arabia.
I guess technically, you could include “Doctor Zhivago”, since a significant portion dealt with Russia’s role in WWI before the Bolsheviks took over.
Sgt York.
Flyboys
“All quiet on the western front”....the final scene where the soldier reaches for the butterfly always stayed with me..
Blackadde Goes Forth is excellent 6 episodes with one of the best endings ever.
I would add The Dawn Patrol (1936) with Errol Flynn & David Niven. Also excellent is Anzacs, an Australian mini-series with Paul Hogan before he made it big with Crocadile Dundee.
Ahh Lemmy.
LOL
I liked the original “All quiet on the Western Front.”
Mine too!
I think the list is spot on. Has the important ones in there
Lost Battalion is excellent and based on a true event.
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