Posted on 05/30/2004 4:15:31 AM PDT by 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?
Definitely TORA TORA TORA. I went with my mom to see it and for some reason I never forgot that movie. I will never forget the words "We have awakened a sleeping giant!"
Operation Petticoat, Father Goose and The Wackiest Ship in the Army
Saving Private Ryan and Blackhawk Down.
Both movies made me cry numerous times.
Unforgiven makes the grade only because it starred the Master.
"The Great Escape" - great cast, great story, Steve McQueen
"A Bridge Too Far" - So tantalizing close to victory, but so far from success - great cast
"Flying Leathernecks" - Marines, John Wayne
"Mrs. Miniver" is a great film. I didn't thnk of it i that context, but it belongs,along with the "Best Years of our lives".. off to church..catch up with you later...
WWll movies are the greatest for me. I have many favorites but I guess #1 would have to be "The Battle of the Bulge". Honestly, I could, and do, watch WWll movies all day long. Today will be no exception.
On a side note my family used to know the actor who plays the son to Frederic March. He later became a very successful art dealer and is about 1000% gay.
I know this would probably be more appropriate for a Veteran's Day thread, but I just thought I'd mention one of the best films ever directed by Stanley Kubrick:
Paths of Glory.
What..you forgot "McHales' Navy joins the Air Force?"
The score is wonderful..it blends in..doesn't overwhelm the film, there's no one "SONG" or theme, as is the usual custom..BTW..take my suggestion, if you can find the book, read it..
Easy...Band of Brothers.
I also like Kelly's Heroes, although I don't really consider it a WWII movie. The attitude of the film is very 70's...no patriotism but everyone in it for the gold. Still, watching Carroll O'Connor listen to the advance on the radio, thinking that they are gung-ho fighters rather than looking for the gold, is one of the funniest scenes ever filmed. "Did you hear that?! They've even got the damned grave-diggers on board!"
By the way, Gene Hackman is one of my favorite actors. I don't know how anyone can compare him to that putz Dustin Hoffman. For me, there's simply no basis for comparison.
"Bridge on the River Kwai, The Great Escape, Patton, The Longest Day, Saving Private Ryan, Midway, Tora Tora Tora..."
And the list goes on and on.....
I could picture a long weekend with snacks and these movies.....paradise!
If you ever get a chance to read the book, I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is one of the best books written about the war.
Kelly is a former platoon leader who was busted down in rank, because the objective he was ordered to take, a hill, resulted in the lives of allied troops already holding the hill. He did as he was ordered, but had to take the fall for someoneelse's mistake.
The film is irreverant toward military ideals, but captures the truth and reality of fighting forces and the games that go on behind the lines, in the same vein of Joseph Heller's - Catch 22, the book, not the movie.
The cast is a great lineup -
Clint Eastwood .... Pvt. Kelly
Telly Savalas .... Master Sgt. Big Joe
Don Rickles .... Staff Sgt. Crapgame
Carroll O'Connor .... Major General Colt
Donald Sutherland .... Sgt. Oddball, Tank Commander
Gavin MacLeod .... Moriarty, Tank crewman
Hal Buckley .... Captain Maitland
Here is just one line.
Big Joe: [shouting to the captured German Colonel] Look! We're not worried about the German army, we've got the troubles on our own. To the right General Patton, to the left the British Army, to the rear our own goddamn artillery, and besides all that it's raining.
Maybe too "arty" for some but for me: "The Thin Red Line"
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