It’s Veteran’s Day today – the day we remember and honor soldiers and sailors that serve and have served in the military in defense of the United States of America and other countries.
I thought it would be appropriate to put together a list of classic war movies to commemorate the holiday…
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This is by no means a complete list, just some of my favorites and those that came to mind – feel free to add your favorites and nudge my memory over any obvious ones I may have forgotten in the comments below.
Casablanca (1942) – Humphrey Bogart & Ingrid Bergman, a classic if there ever was one: Set in unoccupied Africa during the early days of World War II, an American expatriate meets a former lover, with unforeseen complications – and woe unto anyone who thinks of doing a remake of this film!
Flying Tigers (1942) – John Wayne leads a band of American Mercenaries called upon by China to help fight the Japanese two years before Pearl Harbour.
Midway (1976) – All star “real men” cast: Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, James Coburn and Robert Mitchum in dramatization of the battle that turned out to be the turning point of the Pacific Theatre of World War II.
Sands of Iwo Jima (1949) – John Wayne stars in this version of the battle of Iwo Jima.
The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) – William Holden and Alec Guiness (yes, Obi-Wan) in a story about a British colonel who co-operates with the Japanese to oversee his men’s construction of a railway bridge for their captors – while oblivious to a plan by the Allies to destroy it.
The Caine Mutiny (1954) – Humphrey Bogart in an unusual role as a US Naval captain who shows signs of mental instability that jeopardizes his ship, causing his first officer to relieve him of command and face court martial for mutiny.
The Dirty Dozen (1967) – This AWESOME fictional story of a US Army Major is assigned a dozen convicted murderers to train and lead them into a mass assassination mission of German officers in World War II stars Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, George Kennedy, Telly Savalas and other fantastic actors.
Flying Leathernecks (1951) – John Wayne leads “The Wildcats” squadron into the historic WWII battle of Guadalcanal.
From Here to Eternity (1953) – Another star-studded classic with Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed and Frank Sinatra. A private is cruelly punished for not boxing on his unit’s team, while his captain’s wife and second in command are falling in love.
The Great Escape (1963) – Another “must see” WWII film. It stars Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence and James Coburn as members of several hundred Allied POWs who plan a mass escape from a German POW camp.
Mister Roberts (1955) – Henry Fonda was brilliant in this film starring alongside James Cagney and a very funny Jack Lemmon won an Oscar for his role in this WWII semi-comedy.
Patton (1970) – Probably the crown jewel of George C. Scott’s acting career where he portrays the most famous U.S. General, ever. The film earned 7 Oscars including Best Actor, Best Director and Best Picture (back in the day when the Oscars actually meant something).
Stalag 17 (1953) -Directed by Billy Wilder and starring William Holden, Otto Preminger, Robert Strauss and Peter Graves. When two escaping American World War II prisoners are killed, the German POW camp barracks black marketeer, J.J. Sefton, is suspected of being an informer.
Where Eagles Dare (1968) – Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood as allied agents who stage a daring raid on a castle where the Nazis are holding an American General prisoner… but that’s not all that’s really going on.
Run Silent, Run Deep (1958) – Directed by Robert Wise, starring Clark Gable, Burt Lancaster, Jack Warden and Don Rickles (yes, THAT Don Rickles) about a U.S. sub commander, obsessed with sinking a certain Japanese ship, butts heads with his first officer and crew.
The Guns of Navarone (1961) – Gregory Peck, David Niven and Anthony Quinn: A British team is sent to cross occupied Greek territory and destroy the massive German gun emplacement that commands a key sea channel.
Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970) – A dramatization of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the series of American blunders that allowed it to happen.
What are your favorites? What do you think should be on this list?
Thanks to IMDB.com for help in researching and synopses.
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67 Comments
nice batch of classics!
Even though its not really a movie, the “Band of Brothers” mini-series was spectacular…
“Kellys Heroes” was a classic, also “Full Metal Jacket”.
Might we add:
Saving Private Ryan,
Enemy At the Gates,
Dirty Dozen
and
Sink the Bismarck
The Longest Day
I’m glad that you have where eagles dare with Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood. A classic and while it had good action i really made you keep guessing what was going on. Great Escape another great, along with Patton (George C. Scott is one of my favorite actors). But I think I have some to add:
The Blue Maxx
Battle of the Bulge
The Devils Brigade
The Purple Heart
Bombardier
The Tuskegee Airmen
Ditto for the “The Longest Day”. I watched it with my dad once, himself a veteran from Korea.
So many to pick from and a lot of my favorites are already mentioned, but I’ll throw a few more out there for consideration….
Vietnam:
Platoon
Hamburger Hill
We Were Soldiers
Korea:
Pork Chop Hill
The Bridges at Toko-Ri
WW II:
A Brdige Too Far
Battle of Britain
Sahara
They Were Expendable
In Harm’s Way
and a special shout out to that TV series that tried their best to show that war is infrequently good guys vs bad guys:
Combat
WW I:
Gallipoli
The Lighthorsemen
Sergeant York
The Big Red One is another good one.
Im partial to The Great Escape as I think its one of the greatest movies ever made!
Chuck
Great list of films, but that is not Lauren Bacall in Casablanca. It is Ingrid Bergman.
@Kayla
Doh! Thanks for the correction – fixed.
Vic
Loved Dirty Dozen but as 790 said, Band of Brothers as a whole is my favourite I’d say.
The Great Raid was made recently and is a very realistic WWII film.
I used to love watching “Rat Patrol” at 3am when I was a kid.
Also “Black Hawk Down” and of course prob my favorite dark war film, “Apocalypse Now”
US Soldiers are the best in the world!!!!!!!!!!!!
Another modern classic would be Saints and Soldiers.
I believe that the best film made about WWII is “To Hell and Back” starring America’s most decorated soldier, Audie Murphy.
Loved most of those mentioned here.
Also would rate Glory and Waterloo, oh, and Zulu.
Will throw in some foreign ones too, like Kagemusha and Das Boot.
Also the Cross of Iron.
But again, love those mentioned, especially Kelly’s Heroes.
Thanks, guys – great stuff. Oh and of course over at Digg at least ONE person had to say this list was “too pro-American.”
Vic
Dude, Patton won *7* Oscars, not 17. It was nominated for 10. The most any film has won is 11.
First time. Love Screen Rant. I will add “Paths of Glory” with Kirk Douglas and director by you know who Stanley Kubrick. It’s a bone crushing examination of the horrors of trench warfare and my favorite all time war film (although Glory is a close second)
@Flyboy
Hmm… thanks, I must have misread IMDB.
Fixed.
Vic
Paths of Glory is fantastic. Love the ending, with the worst and best of ‘men’ being shown.
Pro american – well considering the US makes the best movies in many genres then not surprising those dominate, although many made by the US are far from pro american.
Also, have to add that Band of Brothers is being shown over here on the BBC every night and it is just as good as I remember it.
Ohh, I love me some Rat Patrol! Thanks for bringing that up! Included here somehow should be what SHOULD be required watching in schools across the nation – a much longer than a 2+hour movie “Band of Brothers” DVD or now BluRay set that is just simply put some of the best television ever made in human history.
A great list that helps me make some more great purchase add-ons to my movie collection.
Cheers!
I agree on Band Of Brothers. It was one of those films that still sticks with me and that says a lot. The acting was stupendous and still leaves me with tears. It’s amazing any of them made it out alive. Don’t forget the documentary they made about the real life vets. It was a major tear fest for me.
how about The Battle of Britian
633 squadron
fighter squadron
a walk in the sun
story of gi joe
battleground
Missing from your list: John Ford’s They Were Expendable (Robert Montgomery, John Wayne ) Twelve O’clock hgih (Gregory Peck) and The Longest Day (Thoguh not as impressive–or bloody–as Saving Private Ryan are all among the best war films ever made
To whoever said this article is too American, “hey d-bag Screen Rant is an American website!”
Too American,,, wtf!
Digg “regulars” are notoriously Left/Liberal/Atheist for the vast majority.
Vic
Hmm yeah Vic well the power of the US Military is the only thing holding this planet together,,, like it or not,,, liberal digg scum!
This blog is about films that honor the veterans that fought in our wars. It is NOT an immature school yard brawl where we see how many five year old insults such as “atheist/left/liberal, etc. ” we can toss at each other. We dishonor those who fought when we fail to respect the country they fought it. Please cease these comments and respect the blog.
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