Memorial Day thread...What's your Favorite WW II war movie?

one man's opinion

[ken5050]

If you happen to turn your TV set on at any time this Memorial Day weekend, there's a strong probability you'll come across a World War II war movie..... the classic Hollywood genre. There are many of them, and, happily a lot of very good ones. So, on this weekend of remembrance, and the dedication of the WW II memorial, what's your favorite, or favorites, and why?

[Valin]

I took a quick look and while there are many fine movies. I choose 3, not in any order,
1 A Band Of Brothers
2 We Were Soldiers(..once and young)
3 Das Boot

Although there is a lot to be said for "The Enemy Below"

[BOOTSTICK]

Operation Burma, with Errol Flynn was on yesterday, I was impressed by it's hard hitting intesity for a 1940's film. I think some modern movie makers must have borrowed from this film. Other favotites include "Patton", "Das Boot", "Sands of Iwo Jima", and "In Harms way"

[gatorbait]

In no particular order,"In Harm's Way",very adult and a nice look at politics as well as war(hint you'll think of Zinni a few times)."Twelve O'Clock High" Wonderful study in comand and humanity."The Longest Day", for the bold attempt to encapsule the enormity of D-Day. "The Thin Red Line",though I despise Harrelson and Penn, the movie was both esoteric and disturbing, yet......
"A walk in the sun","To Hell and back" great studies in character and combat."Battleground" and "Band of Brothers"(Not John F'n Kerry's either). "Operation Petticoat" and "Run Silent,Run Deep" as well as "Task Force".

That's what I can think of at the moment. "Saving Private Ryan"is up there ,but I had a few problems with certain of the dialogue(No,"Earn it " was not part of that)

By the way,I hear Tom Hanks is thinking of doing Sledge's "With the Old Breed" for HBO.. If he can pull it off, ..well... It may replace "Sands of Iwo Jima" as the ultimate Marine Movie.

[Wiggins]

Guadalcanal Diary, Wake Island, Operation Pacific, Twelve O'clock High, 13 Rue Madeleine, Tora Tora Tora, God Is My Copilot, Air Force, The Green Berets. Most of the old ones are the best. Not too many new ones that I like.

[usslsm51]

Tora Tora. An excellent account of what happened at Pearl.

[TracyPA]

I just saw "Band of Brothers" on the History Channel and it was great. I have to get the DVD.

I don't know if this counts as a WWII war movie, but does anyone remember "The Search" with Montgomery Clift? It takes place in Germany 1945. A small boy, survivor of Auschwitz, is found by an American G.I. In the meantime the boy's mother is searching refugee centers looking for her son. I haven't seen it for years, but this was a very good movie.

[reg45]

In Harm's Way, The Caine Mutiny, Mr. Roberts

Obviously, like me, a navy fan. I would add They Were Expendable, The Enemy Below and Sink The Bismarck to the list.

[The Scourge of Yazid]

Definitely.

I just checked in after a brief respite; how many people have brought up foreign films?

One of my favorites was made by Sergei Eisenstein. It didn't directly relate to the problems of the Nazi invasion, but it served as a moral allegory meant to raise Russian spirits on the front.

I think it was called "Alexander Nevsky" if memory serves me correctly.

[The Scourge of Yazid]

That could be true, but my favorite Australian is Rachel Grififths.

All I can say about her is this.

Wow.

[The Scourge of Yazid]

Let me just add a few more, since I see that you all have done a pretty good job taking care of the rest of the epic films covering World War II.

The Harmonists,

Uprising,

and

Trial at Nuremberg.

I've never actually sat through the whole movie, but it's supposed to be a brilliant film.

[ken5050]

You must, absolutely, MUsT, visit the Memphis Belle memorial in the namesake city. It's awesome, and if you can go the same week as the bar-be-cue contest..even better..

[ken5050]

Just getting back..I'd forgotten about "Emily"..one of my favorites...and an outstanding score, and title song..and one of the few times Julie wasn't miss goody two-shoes

[ken5050]

I just rented "Charlotte Grey" on your say-so..If it sucks..you can send FR $3.50 in MY name...it's not like that god-awful film with Melanie Griffith and Michale Douglas, is it?

[ken5050]

any of you seen "Fat Man and Little Boy"..and the one that I forgot, and I'm surprsied no no mentioned, was "ASbove and Beyond" the story of Paul Tibbets and the A-bomb mission..

[dennisw]

That movie was a warning to the Germans not attack USSR. Why they should not attack.

________________________

Great quotes from Sergei Eisenstein's 1938 Flim Alexander Nevsky
Great Quotes from Sergei Eisenstein's 1938 Film "Alexander Nevsky" ... However, for us
earlier re-enactors I recommend Sergei Eisenstein's 1938 "Alexander Nevsky". ...
www.geocities.com/svenskildbiter/Miscellaneous/ alexandernevsky.html - 6k - Cached - Similar pages

[ken5050]

Another great film,a nd one of the first in color.."Death in the South Atlantic"..It hasn't been on, in years, why?...OTOH...sink the Bismark..not that good..

[The Scourge of Yazid]

Don't worry.

First of all, Melanie Griffith and Catherine Zeta-Jones's ossified, relic of a husband don't come anywhere near this picture.

I seriously doubt that you'll think this film "sucks." Even if you don't like Cate Blanchett-which is insane, if you ask me-the rest of the cast is amazing!

[Alouette]

VICTORY AT SEA
Windtalkers
Saving Private Ryan
Schindler's List
Bridge on the River Kwai
A Bridge Too Far

[ken5050]

I'll let you know tomorrow..

[ken5050]

Not Exodus?..It qualifies...BTW, ofnall URis's novels, the one I'd most wish they'd have filmed is Armageddon....and a special prayer this day for your son..