Posted on 11/24/2009 3:17:38 PM PST by Artemis Webb
My 16 year old son loves World War II documentaries so I'm looking for those or movies on DVD. Suggestions?
And definitely “The Gathering Storm”. Albert Finney WAS Churchill.
I’d go with the older movies, not the newer ones or ‘documentaries’....they are so biased these days and over the last few years.
“The Longest Day” is a great movie about D-Day.
“The Longest Day”, “The Great Raid”, “Tora, Tora, Tora”,”The Enemy Below”, “Enemy at the Gates”, “12 O’Clock High.
What was great about The Gathering Storm is how it showed how much resistance Winston faced from within his own party in standing up to Hitler in those wilderness years.
"Some" other Hollywood movies, while entertaining, are not exactly accurate. Not gonna name titles 'cause you might enjoy them anyway. Just sayin'.
I saw an Aussie-made movie called "The Highest Honor" that is worth a look too if you can find it, although I would rate it "R" for one particular scene.
There was an obscure title made in 1969 that included Yul Bryner called "The Battle of Neretva" that showed on cable a few years ago that I thought was interesting too.
Anything made during the war that starred John Wayne is good, particularly "The Sands of Iwo Jima" and "The Flying Tigers".
Hey... someone could start a WWII movie ping list...
What was that mini-series that starred Meryl Streep and James Woods? Was it “Holocaust”? That was good, too.
For classic movies, I’d add “Mrs. Miniver,” an excellent propaganda movie that showed the courage of a British family. Terrific acting especially from Greer Garson who later became an American citizen and was approached by the Republican Party to run for Congress.
You’ve got me on that one. I think Meryl Streep was in a movie titled “Sophie’s Choice” that was about the brutality and sadism of the nazi bastards running the camps, but it wasn’t a miniseries.
David Lean’s “The Bridge Over the River Kwai”, and for perspective on events leading up to WWII “Dr. Zhivago” and “Lawrence of Arabia”.
"Where Eagles Dare"
"Guns of Navarone"
"Kelley's Heroes"
"Heroes of Telemark" (don't know if it is on DVD though)
"Von Ryan's Express
"Patton" (of course)
And beting that I'm a Texas A&M Aggie: "We've Never Been Licked."
TAMU... beat the HELL outta tu!
THE BEST!
Gun Digest
“The League of Grateful Sons” DVD
Tells the stories of fathers and sons who went back to Iwo Jima for the sixtieth anniversary of the bloody battle. Filmed by Vision Forum. More projects by Vision Forum under “Faith of our Fathers”. I highly recommend Vision Forum for any parent who is interested in historical materials for both sons and daughters.
Prewar gunboat diplomacy:The Sand Pebbles with Richard Crenna,The War Lover,The Longest Day,Tora,Tora,Tora.Midway,VonRyans Express,Where Eagles Dare,Battle of Britian and all the John Wayne war movies.Its a start, I guess.
Just googled it. Holocaust was a 9 and 1/2 hour miniseries from 1978. Won 8 emmy awards and 2 golden globes. It was really good. It went from Kristallnacht all the way to the end of the war with a very compelling storyline and characters.
Other good ones:
Band of Brothers
Tora! Tora! Tora!
The World At War
Schindler's List
A Bridge Too Far
Patton
To Hell and Back
Saints and Soldiers
Off the Top Of My Head:
They Were Expendable: Squadron of PT boats and their exploits during the fall of the Philippines. One of the best and most under rated WWII films.
In Which We Serve: British destroyer and its crew from before the Battle Of Britain through its being sunk during the Battle for Crete. Ship's commander is based on Lord Mountbatten. Great exposition of the British Class System.
Battleground: 101st Airborne during the Battle Of The Bulge.
James Whitmore shines as the squad's top kick.
Patton: Enough said.
Sahara: Humphrey Bogart commands a tank and leads of group of Allied soldiers against Germany's Afrika Corps where water becomes a weapon.
Dam Busters: Excellent documentary style film about the RAF’s bombing of Germany's Ruhr dams.
12 O'clock High: Gregory Peck trains, leads and commands a squadron of B-17s. Dean Stockwell shines as Peck's Executive Officer.
Objective, Burma!: Tyrone Power leads a group of infantry commandoes against the Japanese in preparation of Orde Wingate’s invasion.
Jack.
Just remembered “Escape from Sobibor”.
—UPRISING—
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.