Posted on 10/25/2018 1:45:21 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
World War I was one of the major events that shook mankind. Originated in Europe, the war lasted from July, 1914 to November, 1918. Filmmakers across the globe have tried to capture the essence of the events that changed the world forever.
As First World War marks a century, here are 5 films that delved deep into what happened among the warring nations and how it affected the humanity at large.
Paths of Glory
The film starring Kirk Douglas as Colonel Dax is a narration of a soldier’s dilemma while motivating others for a bloody war. Douglas plays the commanding officer of French soldiers who decide to discontinue a suicidal attack. He later tries to shield them against the charge of cowardice during court-martial.
A Very Long Engagement
A lot many love stories would have succumbed to death in the first World War. A Very Long Engagement is about a young woman's frantic search for her fiancé who might have been killed during the war. The film got two Academy nominations at Oscars for best art direction and best cinematography.
War Horse
Set before and during World War I, War House is the journey of Joey, a horse raised by a teenager Albert. Later the horse is bought by the British Army leading him to come across a number of individuals and owners in the region of Europe. In the process, he experiences the tragedies of the war around him.
The Red Baron
Released in 2008, The Red Baron is an action film about the World War I fighter pilot Manfred von Richthofen, popularly known as 'Red Baron'. He is considered the master of the war with 80 air combat victories.
The Spy in Black
Showing the life of a spy in World War 1, a German U-boat commander is ordered to lead a mission to attack the British Fleet. She disguised herself as a local schoolteacher who equips crucial information connecting with a disgraced Royal Navy officer. How the information is passed and the captain losing his life is a tale of suspense.
Wow! Gave me chills. Will search to see if it will screen here in L.A.
I’ll second for the Lighthorsemen.
The Grand Illusion
Flyboys (2006)
Aces High (1976)
Lafayette Escadrille (1958)
Zeppelin (1971)
The Fighting 69th (1940)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
IMHO it was the best ending in the history of television.
J’Accuse I saw at one of the repertory houses. All long gone.
“Oh, there’s a nasty splinter on that ladder, sir! A bloke could hurt himself on that!”
WWI Military Vehicle Convoy (Dorset - August, 2018).
Check out that Model T with the Vickers gun on the back - that must be where the ragheads with Toyota pickups got the idea.
https://deadline.com/2018/10/peter-jackson-wwi-movie-they-shall-not-grow-old-1202484472/
Peter Jackson’s ‘They Shall Not Grow Old’.
Made $731,000 on just 247 theatres for one night so they’re looking for a US distributor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdmAfsm18tA
I think that was what they were using a forensic lip reader for to see what they were actually saying.
With the incomparable Ursula Andress!
They’re free on Prime. Skip series 1, it’s the weakest. And since each series is a different time period and not technically related the only thing you miss is the 2 or 3 actually good jokes. Series 2 is probably my favorite, Miranda Richeradson as Queenie just kills me. I can make solid arguments that 3 (finally getting Hugh Laurie on full time to work with Stephen Fry) and 4 are better. But I love Queenie.
The first part of Doctor Zhivago which talked about Evgraf, Dr. Zhivago’s half-brother infiltrating the Russian Army on behalf of the Bolsheviks, in order to encourage mutiny in the ranks.
Flyboys.
There is one I watched a few months ago that is pretty good, based on a true story:
“Fraulein Doktor”
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064350/?ref_=nv_sr_5
Yeah. A very well stuck landing.
That is one of my absolute favorites, I saw that as a kid back in the 1960’s and it is a great picture. Peppard actually learned to fly for that movie.
The final episode on that was brutal and pretty much true.
I used to think of her as Ursula Undress.
Some of them are quite good and stand up well to Wings, All Quiet on the Western Front, and other Hollywood pictures of the era.
You can also see contemporary French or films about the war - A Very Long Engagement, Life and Nothing But, Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas).
Then there are creepy ones like Frantz and The White Ribbon (which isn't a war film but is set in 1914 is supposed to have some symbolic connection with the war).
Jules and Jim is another period picture that makes reference to the war.
Gallipoli is also worth seeing.
A personal favorite: the musical Oh, What a Lovely War.
It was supposed to be scathingly anti-war, but the surviving veterans of the war loved to hear the old songs once again.
Anzac Nurses was a good Australian TV series set in the war years.
Britain has The Crimson Field with a similar setting and themes.
Johnny Got His Gun.
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