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?

[mountaineer]

Also, Stalag 17 and the Great Escape.

[mondoman]

Last thoughts. As we today bemoan "Hollywood", as exemplified by Michael Moore, Barbra Streisand, and countless others, it's almost hard to believe that not too long ago, there was time when the motion picture industry represented all that was good about this country.

Again, we are on the same wavelength. I tuned into Turner Classics several times this weekend, and came away with the same impression about how much this country has changed (IMO, mostly as a reaction to Vietnam, Watergate and Iraninian Hostage debacle). The thought occured to me, wouldn't it be an interesting contrast to compare one day's news coverage from 1944 from Time, NY Times, UPI vs. today?

5 Best:
Run Silent, Run Deep
A Bridge Too Far
The Longest Day
Saving Private Ryan
Band of Brothers

[doublecansiter]

My favorite WW2 films

Battleground
Twelve O'clock High (B-17's)
The Enemy Below
The Battle of Britian (Spitfires!)
Wake Island
Cross of Iron (Lee Marvin as a German?)

There is one other film called "Stand by for action"
that I can never seem to catch on the air. A Navy movie
about a 4-stack WW1 destroyer re-commissioned for service
in WW2. Walter Brennan(hope I spelled his name right)
was the old Chief and the Capt. was the same man who
was the Marine Officer in Wake Island.

Mike

[bert]

Everything you know about all the WW II classics is archaic, obsolete, blown away by the fantastic Tom Hanks and Richard Spielberg production called Band of Brothers.


Believe me, I'm a fan. I quiz my wife on upcoming lines in Tora Tora Tora, Midway and The Longest Day. She hates the game, but has seen them all so many times she knows.(which of the Strawberries finds the Fleet?)


Band of Brothers is truth. There is no propaganda either way. The DVD has Lt Winters in the flesh along with his noncoms and soldiers. Had the producers not done a good job, the comments by those actually there would not have been made. They would have not permitted their voices to be heard contributing to a lie.

There will be a day, not tomorrow, but I will rent them all, start at 8:00 am and watch the whole day......

[tubebender]

Stalag 17

That movie has great meaning to me as my Brother was German POW from 8/15/44 to the end of the war. His camp was forced to march about a hundred miles in the worst winter in Europe.

When I hear Lee Marvin's name I immediately think of THE DIRTY DOZEN

[relee]

Strawberry 5 or Scout #4?

[geege]

"Pearl" with Angie Dickenson and Robert Wagner (yum)

[relee]

General Scott is a fine American.

[bert]

very astute........

[jaugust]

"Where Eagles Dare (Haven't seen this one mentioned)"

See post #99

[rubofthebrush]

Carole Lombard(Clark Gable's wife) died in a plane crash while she was going nationwide selling war bonds.

Carole Lombard's last movie was "To Be or Not to Be" a hilarious movie about a troop of actors who foil the Germans with their thespian skills. Carole was a beautiful and talented woman and should be remembered for her sacrifice. She was returning to her husband -Clark Gable-when her plane went down. Thy just don't make men like him anymore. RIP Carole.

[mass55th]

My mother and I went to see "The Longest Day" when it first debuted. I liked the cast of stars, plus the German-speaking actors and the english translations at the bottom of the screen. Made it more realistic.

Up until Band of Brothers, it had been my favorite WWII movie. I'm watching Operation Burma at the moment. Recorded it from AMC yesterday. I love Errol Flynn.

[Miss Marple]

Thank you so much for taking the time to post the last lines of "Mrs. Miniver." That is one of the all-time inspiring speeches, and I especially liked "Onward Christian Soldiers" at the end.

[LisaMalia]

The Best Years of Our Lives is one of the great films of all time.

I agree, The Best Years of Our Lives is my favorite as well. That was back in the days when Hollywood respected America, and what it stands for. How times have changed.

[mass55th]

That's Objective, Burma!

[Lurking in Kansas]

1. A Bridge Too Far --One of my top 3 favorite WWII war movies also. I don’t believe it gets the respect it deserves. Obviously not the best WWII movie, but better than most. Of course not as good as the book, which was excellent. (As were all of Cornelius Ryan’s books. He is also my favorite WWII author. He was the BEST –bar none. That should be another thread!!)

2. Saving Private Ryan --most realistic combat movie ever

3. Das Boot (Directors cut/subtitled) --best submarine movie ever. I enjoy watching at night, no lights on in the house, and have the air-conditioning turned low, very cold.

4. Patton --George C. Scott is just great. The scenes giving speeches are most excellent. I consider this a movie about Patton; not a ‘war’ movie.

5. The Memphis Belle --Another of my favorites. Another overlooked WWII pic. A great cast. Matthew Modine, Sean Austin, very good. Deserves more respect. Great scenes of the air war –plus I’m a sucker for anything having B-17s in it.

6. Kelly’s Heroes --Funniest war movie ever. I think of it as a comedy set in WWII. Another movie I don’t consider a ‘war’ movie.

7. Stalag 17 --An excellent drama set in WWII.

8. Big Red One

[wideminded]

I didn't know until I saw "Best Years" again a few weeks ago, that the returning vet with the missing arms really was a returning vet with missing arms.

When I watched this film again with my son recently he kept asking me how they did such a realistic job depicting his missing hands, given the limits of 1940's movie technology, etc. I didn't tell him until the film ended.

[yarddog]

Another thing I recall about General Scott is he had driven down from Macon with his daughter who was probably in her 60's.

When they left, I noticed Scott got in the drivers seat of the Cadillac and drove off despite his age.

[rubofthebrush]

BATTLEGROUND BEST WW2 pic(the big one) of all time.

Also Guadalcanal Diary, Steel Helmet,The Big Red One,Air force,GI Joe.

[Hildy]

For the women: White Cliffs of Dover. Irene Dunne has a beautiful monologue about how the Yanks and the Brits come together for the good of mankind. Wonderful.