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 ...
A Farewell to Arms (1957) set on the Italian/Austrian front, to which the US contributed pilots and ambulances (and one unit which only engaged in combat just before Austria surrendered).
What Price Glory? (1952) with James Cagney.
The 1979 version of All Quiet on the Western Front with Richard Thomas and the late Ernest Borgnine was excellent.
Shout at the Devil with Lee Marvin and Roger Moore.
I bet you would like one of my favorite movies, “The Southerner” by Jean Renoir, it is the conservatives choice over The Grapes of Wrath.
It is free at youtube.
I didn’t write but the lyrics are very close to my original song that was done 15 years before that was put out.
A lady friend in Missouri and now this? Now I have two reasons to visit!
In response to non-WW1 movies,”Breaker Morant” is a must see.Set at the end of the Boer War in 1902,a true story similar to Paths of Glory.Edward Woodward is fabulous as Harry Morant.
I was the very stupidest of wars, and our involvement in it even stupider-er.
I enjoyed the Blue Max, but stay away from 2008's "The Red Baron" unless you like science fiction/fantasy.
"Paths of Glory" was another good one.
If you're into aviation, as I am, then "Hell's Angels" is a must. Real pilots, real planes, not that CGI crap from "Fly Boys".
Gents, I cannot claim credit. That gag dates back to Bennett Cerf in the 1940s. (But I like it...heh heh heh)
Yes.
Holy frijole, an honest man! I remember Bennett Cerf and he had many great lines. In fact there were plenty of great humorists in that era and they elicited uproarious laughs without ever going “blue.”
“Sounds like Emile Zola’s Germinal.”
Yes, that is ringing a bell!
“The Southerner” by Jean Renoir, it is the conservatives choice over The Grapes of Wrath.”
That does sound right up my alley, Renoir is great, look at his heritage, I will do my best to watch that.
What is the wacky, crazy movie, beauty and the beast? I think that was ahead of its time.
Not a movie, but a quite clever summary of WWI:
WWI - A Short Synopsis
Germany, Austria and Italy are stood together in the middle of the bar-room, when Serbia bumps into Austria, and spills Austria’s pint.
Austria demands Serbia buy it a complete new suit, because there are splashes on its trouser leg.
Germany expresses its support for Austria’s point of view.
Britain recommends that everyone calm down a bit.
Serbia points out that it can’t afford a whole suit, but offers to pay for cleaning Austria’s trousers.
Russia and Serbia look at Austria.
Austria asks Serbia who it’s looking at.
Russia suggests that Austria should leave its little brother alone.
Austria inquires as to whose army will assist Russia in compelling it to do so.
Germany appeals to Britain that France has been looking at it, and that this is sufficiently out of order that Britain should not intervene.
Britain replies that France can look at who it wants to, that Britain is looking at Germany too, and what is Germany going to do about it?
Germany tells Russia to stop looking at Austria, or Germany will render Russia incapable of such action.
Britain and France ask Germany whether it’s looking at Belgium.
Turkey and Germany go off into a corner and whisper. When they come back, Turkey makes a show of not looking at anyone.
Germany rolls up its sleeves, looks at France, and punches Belgium.
France and Britain punch Germany. Austria punches Russia. Germany punches Britain and France with one hand and Russia with the other.
Russia throws a punch at Germany, but misses and nearly falls over. Japan calls over from the other side of the room that it’s on Britain’s side, but stays there. Italy surprises everyone by punching Austria.
Australia punches Turkey, and gets punched back. There are no hard feelings, because Britain made Australia do it.
France gets thrown through a plate glass window, but gets back up and carries on fighting. Russia gets thrown through another one, gets knocked out, suffers brain damage, and wakes up with a complete personality change.
Italy throws a punch at Austria and misses, but Austria falls over anyway. Italy raises both fists in the air and runs round the room chanting.
America waits till Germany is about to fall over, then walks over, waves a fist at Germany while Britain knocks it out, then pretends it won the fight all by itself.
By now all the chairs are broken, and the big mirror over the bar is shattered. Britain, France and America agree that Germany threw the first punch, so the whole thing is Germany’s fault. While Germany is still unconscious, they go through its pockets, steal its wallet, and buy drinks for all their friends.
>>Spielberg ruined War Horse. If you ever get a chance to see the play, which is touring all over the world, don’t miss it. Packs quite a punch and turned me into a WWI junkie!<<
I’ll be sure to look for it. Thanks Miss Marmelstein!
Hey!!!Now THAT is GOOD!!!
Thanks for your thoughts.
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