But let's not delve too deeply into a study of film. Rather, just opine as to which you like best, and why.
I'm going to list my five top choices. Not ranking them, because they're not comparable, yet ALL tell a their story well.
"Twelve O'Clock High". Great cast, great story on two levels. The broad effort to make daylight precision bombing effective, and the study of the effects of war, the cost, on human lives. And not ONE female in the entire cast, even as an extra. Remember the scene where the adjutant and the doc are caught after having returned from going along on a bombing raid? When threatened with a court martial for disobeying orders if they do it again, , the two culprits innocently ask if the prohibition extends to the chaplain also, because he's been going along as well, and last mission he shot down a German fighter...
Note: As great as the film is, if you can find a copy of the novel, which is long out of print, buy it and read it.. "They Were Expendable"..stirring portrayal of the PT boats in the South Pacific. Shows how the issue of the fall of Corregidor, and MacArthur's bug-out to Australia, was presented to the war-time American public.
"A Walk in the Sun"..a rarely seen ( don't know why) "slice of war" film about an American platoon tasked to capture an enemy farmhouse. The first of the "all-American" type war films, where each member of the unit is a different ethnic American stereotype, and, oh, that great title song..
" The Bridge on the River Kwai". On all levels, spectacular. The "Colonel Bogie" theme music. The depiction of the brutalization of the POWs by the Japanese is an interesting contrast to those pics coming out of the Iraqi prison today. And Alec Guiness' portrayal of the Brit officer's descent into madness, without judging him, is superb.
"30 seconds over Tokyo"..As wartime propagana, to rally an American homefront that had been receiving nothing but bad news for months, this was a superb effort. Worth watching alone for the unforgettable scene of the bomber diving under the Golden Gate bridge, against that superb theme music.
"The Battle of Britain" ..My choice of all the "docu-drama war films, far better, I think, than "The Longest Day", or "A bridge too Far"..because of the superb aerial photography.
"The Best Years of Our Lives". Nothing to be said, except that one could make the argument that it really isn't a "war" film, in the classic definition. It's a study of the effects of war, but the viewer's mind makes the connection. There are several superb scenes int he movie. The shot from the nose of the bomber, as it flies over thousands of now-grounded planes, is the first hint, though it wasn't intended that way, of what post-war America would become. And of course, the scene where Homer finally allows his fiance to help him remove his prostheses; it served to remind Americans that many who came back, came back far different than when then left.
Note: The movie is based on MacKinlay Kantor's novella "Glory for Me"..alas, long out of print, but if you can find it, well worth the read. Kantor is one of our finest American writers; sadly few today know who he is.
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.
All of the same movies everybody else likes...but I've seen them 10 times each day...so here are some great movies to rent this weekend that you might not have seen.
Europa-Europa
Stalingrad
The Best Years of Your Life
Shame (Bergman)
Dark Blue World
The Great Dictator (Chaplin is a commie but it's funny)
It Happened Here (hypothetical on Nazi UK)
"Tomorrow the World". Not one of the best, but not one to leave off any WWII movie list.
My favorite WWII movie.... "Kelly's Heroes". :)
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Battleground
- Actors: Van Johnson , Ricardo Montalban , John Hodiak , George Murphy , Marshall Thompson , Denise Darcel , Don Taylor , Richard Jaeckel , James Whitmore , James Arness , Scotty Beckett --Description for Battleground VHS
--"Dedicated to the battered bastards of Bastogne," this dramatic historic film directed by William Wellman tells the story of a U.S. Army division in the European theater near the end of World War II. In a last-ditch effort to turn the tide of the war, the Germans launch a final attack that became known as the Battle of the Bulge. George Murphy, who portrays Private Ernest J. "Pop" Stazak, leads a terrific cast that also includes John Hodiak, Ricardo Montalban, and James Whitmore. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards and won two: one for its tight, unpredictable screenplay and one for its evocative black-and-white cinematography.
Synopsis for Battleground VHS
--BATTLEGROUND is the detailed study of the drama within a fighting unit of men brought together by war and determination.
Release Info:
--B&W Film
--Year Released: 1949
--RunTime: 119.083333333333 Min.
--Release Language: English
MPAA Rating:
--Not Rated
Supported Sound Options:
--Stereo Sound
Contributors:
--Director: William Wellman
--Producer: Dore Schary
--Screenwriter: Robert Pirosh
--Cinematographer: Paul C. Vogel
--Editor: John D. Dunning
--Composer: Lennie Hayton
--Production Designer: Cedric Gibbons
--Production Designer: Hans Peters
--Special Effects: Peter Ballbusch
--Set Designer: Edwin B. Willis
--Makeup: Jack Dawn
In Harm's Way, The Caine Mutiny, Mr. Roberts.
"Operation Crossbow"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059549/
It stars George Peppard, Sophia Loren, Tom Courtenay, Anthony Quayle, and concerns Allied attempts to infiltrate the Nazi rocket program.
"Patton"
"Run Silent, Run Deep" I just like submarines.
I've enjoyed a lot of them but I think the ones I liked the best are. "To Hell and Back", "12 O'clock High", "Battle Cry", and "Wake Island".
"Von Ryan's Express" (stars Frank Sinatra as an American officer who leads a group of POWs to freedom via a train)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059885/
"The Counterfeit Traitor" (William Holden plays a businessman who is semi-blackmailed into spying for the Allies against the Nazis)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055871/
It beat out CASABLANCA, in my view, and that was hard to do!
I remember a submarine movie, "Run silent, run deep"
Mrs. Miniver. There is also a follow-up, sequel, to the Mrs. Miniver movie but I've forgotten the name.
And then too many others to name.
The Winds of War.
Herman Woulk's novel put on film.
It was more of a TV mini-series, but I remember back in the 80s when it came out, I stayed home every night watching it. I would get all teary eyed sometimes.
Patton
Band of Brothers mini series.
To Hell and Back, 1955. Audie Murphy, Marshall Thompson, Charles Drake, Jack Kelly, etc, etc.
Run Silent Run Deep, 1958. Clark Gable, Burt Lancaster, Jack Warden, Brad Dexter1, Don Rickles, etc, etc.
The Enemy Below, 1957. Robert Mitchum, Curd Jürgens, David Hedison, etc.
Halls of Montezuma, 1951. Richard Widmark, Jack Palance, Robert Wagner, Karl Malden, Neville Brand, etc.
Wake Island, 19422. Brian Donlevy, Robert Preston, Macdonald Carey, William Bendix, Rod Cameron, etc.
Torpedo Run, 1952. Glenn Ford3, Ernest Borgnine, Dean Jones, etc.
And NATURALLY --- Patton 1970, Sands of Iwo Jima 1949, The Longest Day 1962, and Midway 1976
1 - Brad Dexter is the '7th' in the Magnificent Seven, who nobody can never name.
2 - Although released in 1942, when Wake Island was being filmed nobody knew - or expected that there actually were or would be survivors as the japs were infamous for killing POWS. Therefore, in the movie everyone gets killed.
3 - Glenn Ford was at one time the 'fastest draw' in the USA. He won a quite a few quick draw contests and really knew how to ride a horse.