Second World War Movies

Man Erg wrote: Regeneration (WWI) A film based of the book by Pat Barker which tells the story of Seigfried Sassoon's experiences during the first World War.It is centered around the victims (Sassoon being one himself) of gassing and shell-shock and the attitude in which the military 'brass' and doctors viewed these people as cowards and ultimately,traitors.

Doh! (number 2) - again, how could I forget that one...?

Tapfret wrote: I am more facinated by WWI and it saddens me that there are not more movies on the subject. The only one I saw was Galipoli, and only 20 minutes of the movie were actually set in Gallipoli. Yawn.

Depends what you're looking for in a "war" film - only about half an hour of 'The Deer Hunter' was set in the field in Vietnam, but that didn't stop it from being one of the best movies made about that conflict.

Gog/Magog wrote: The Dam Busters, I hope the remake isn't too Hollywoodized!

Peter Jackson's apparently at the helm so at least it should be watchable; incidentally, I've not seen the original for quite a while, but is it true the aircraft used in the movie weren't actually Avro Lancasters...?

Memphis Belle - it's not going to win any awards but it's a good movie IMO.  A true story.

andu wrote: I think the pace of events on the field, during a typical WWI battle, is just too boring for us modern film goers, Jim, so no director or studio would want to get involved in such a project. There's no fancy war technique, no "commando" missions, no planes and tanks... Therefor all the films on WWI have a strong psychological content, more than action and explosions.

A Canterbury Tale is an overlooked gem.

It's about a crime that is set in a village used by RAF pilots during WWII.

One of the earliest shots in the film is awesome.

It starts with pilgrims in the middle-ages making their way on a pilgrimage to see the tomb of Thomas A'Beckett.

During their journey,a falcon is let loose.The camera pans upwards as the bird flies into the sky,becoming a minute dot in the distance. The dot then becomes larger,coming closer and closer

The falcon 'becomes a Spitfire fighter plane' and the pilgrims have become soldiers en route to the south coast of England.

ABSOLUTELY BREATH-TAKING!

Basically,it's a WWII crime mystery more than a war film.

Produced and directed by Powell and Pressburger.

What a better recommendation does one need?

http://www.powell-pressburger.org/Reviews/44_ACT/TheBook/EditionII.html

Edited by Man Erg - September 07 2007 at 18:58

Aahh, it's got Jonathan Pryce. Must be great. Thanks, Lee.

I think the pace of events on the field, during a typical WWI battle, is just too boring for us modern film goers, Jim, so no director or studio would want to get involved in such a project. There's no fancy war technique, no "commando" missions, no planes and tanks... Therefor all the films on WWI have a strong psychological content, more than action and explosions.
However, there was an excellent film I saw on TV a couple of years ago, about WWI, which had all the elements that make WWII films so enjoyable. Unfortunately I can't remember the film's name or any of the actors, so I have no clue how to find it. It was about an American platoon which gets lost in some great German (or French?) forests (therefore they can not be spotted by their own air reconnaissance force), and end up in the middle of the German front, near some beautiful castle. The film is the story of the way they heroically resist until rescued. Anyone remember that storyline? It's a modern film, from the 2000s.

andu wrote: @ Jim:Kubrick's "Paths of Glory", of course http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050825/Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056172/Ciulei's "Pădurea spânzuraţilor" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058439/Peter Weir's "Gallipoli" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082432/I'll think of some more, these were the first to come into mind.

Cheers Andu - how could I have forgotten Gallipoli? (Doh!)

You would have thought the sheer insanity of trench warfare would have appealed to a modern film-maker, but they only seem interested in WWII.

Jim Garten wrote: TheProgtologist wrote: Band of Brothers is EXCELLENT.I have the boxed set DVD's and never get tired of watching them. You know, that's something I think about occasionally - why is it I get 'pleasure' from watching and re-watching movies such as SPR, Schindlers List, BoB, The Pianist, The Black Book & so on... these are all in their own way brutal films... I hope I enjoy them for their inner sense of the survival of hope & overcoming adversity, not the vicarious thrill of the (admittedly well done and, yes, exciting) battle scenes

@ Jim:

Kubrick's "Paths of Glory", of course http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050825/
Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056172/
Ciulei's "Pădurea spânzuraţilor" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058439/
Peter Weir's "Gallipoli" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082432/

I'll think of some more, these were the first to come into mind.