Top 10 Military Movies

http://wmbriggs.com/blog/2008/11/26/top-10-military-movies/ ^ | William Briggs

[Mariner]

Twelve O’Clock High

The ultimate leadership study.

Striking contrast between effective and ineffective leadership.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

... Lee Marvin, who had the distinction of being in both the movie and the event.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

I liked “Paths of Glory”, no one else seems to.

[Red_Devil 232]

Marvin was not on Iwo Jima. He was on Saipan where he got wounded in the Buttocks.

Also Marvin was not in the movie "Sands of Iwo Jima" which was made in 1950. Marvin's first film was "Your In The Navy Now" (1951).

[word_warrior_bob]

Just watched 12 O Clock High on DVD a few nights ago.

[word_warrior_bob]

No “The Longest Day”?

[Tallguy]

I’d nominate “Winds of War” with Robert Mitchum in the mini-series catagory. Though that didn’t have a whole lot of combat in it, but then some of these other movies don’t either.

[fortheDeclaration]

what about the patriot? that scene where he ambushes the british soldiers with his two sons is intense and braveheart as well

Yes, Braveheart is definitely a classic.

The Patriot has some good scenes in it, but is uneven.

[pfflier]

It is a movie. It was a very early R. Lee Ermy appearance. It is closest to my recollections of reality.

The documentry was based on a Time magazine story about "Charley Company" and a reunion.

[mattstat]

I’m just 44. Not quite foggie-hood yet...but I can see it in the distance.

[Alberta's Child]

Thanks for the info. I just did some online research and learned that the documentary I remembered was called "The World of Charlie Company."

It was a remarkable piece at the time because one part of it included what was basically a mutiny by Charlie Company against their commanding officer.

[starlifter]

Could not agree more. One of the funniest films ever, yet did a great job demonstrating the dedication of SAC crews flying a tough mission.

[freemike]

Yes! That’s the movie! Glad you knew the title. Now I can look for it on ebay! It was a great movie.

[Pelagius of Asturias]

What I got out of Twelve O’clock High was that it was about the pressure of command and how a leader cannot be friends with the men he sends into combat. Davenport’s failure was that he could no longer lead his friends. General Savage had that distance, but the presssure still caused his collapse.

What this movie lacked was some truth. High losses were talked about, but in an indirect way. In 1943, Eighth Air Force’s losses were so high that no air crew had a mathematical chance of surviving. In 1949, the military still would not admit that a bomber crew’s tour of duty in 1943 was a suicide mission.