An obscure one, but don't miss it if you spot it in the video store or on cable: The Dam Busters. I also never get tired of Von Ryan's Express. It's cornball, but you've got to love the great performances--and those trains. Another I like is The Devil's Brigade. Hoods from the US team up with teddibly professional Canucks. And speaking of Canucks, how about 49th Parallel? Made in '41, it concerns a German U-Boat crew stranded in Newfoundland when Canada was at war but the US wasn't. Propaganda, sure, but intelligent filmmaking and a great story.
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What are your favorite WW II movies?
- Thread starter trane fan
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Stalingrad, think the same lads made Das Boot?
Real gritty portrayal of the Russian campaign from the ordinary German Infantry point of view.Not seen it in an age but can remember scenes where they took boots from the dead to keep from freezing.
Big Red One or Hell In The Pacific? Both with Lee Marvin,he kicked ass!
Thin Red Line,nice Cinematography!
The Ninth Configuration, not a war film per se,or a WWII movie, but set in an asylum for vets trying to decide who was copping out and who was actually a section 8.Stacey Keachs finest movie,though American History X and The Long Riders deserve a mention!
Also, Ninth Configuration features,in my opinion, one of the most realistic (for a movie) and enjoyable fight scenes ever.Old School Combatives from a guy supposed to be a combat veteran in the movie,only R. Lee Hermey does it better, in "The Boys Of Company C"
Real gritty portrayal of the Russian campaign from the ordinary German Infantry point of view.Not seen it in an age but can remember scenes where they took boots from the dead to keep from freezing.
Big Red One or Hell In The Pacific? Both with Lee Marvin,he kicked ass!
Thin Red Line,nice Cinematography!
The Ninth Configuration, not a war film per se,or a WWII movie, but set in an asylum for vets trying to decide who was copping out and who was actually a section 8.Stacey Keachs finest movie,though American History X and The Long Riders deserve a mention!
Also, Ninth Configuration features,in my opinion, one of the most realistic (for a movie) and enjoyable fight scenes ever.Old School Combatives from a guy supposed to be a combat veteran in the movie,only R. Lee Hermey does it better, in "The Boys Of Company C"
I hate when The Longest Day is on b/c I can't leave the house. I must watch it to the end ever time.
This thread got me thinking about a great film I saw quite a long time ago (90s) on HBO but I have no idea what the title is. Basically the film is set toward the end of WWII in the winter at Christmas time. Americans and Germans both want nothing to do with attacking b/c the war is nearly over. I remember someting about a frozen body and also at the end after there is some sort of agreement b/w the two sides not to attack but something goes wrong. The film had a great feel of tension.
Anyone remember the name based on my hazy description?
Sam
This thread got me thinking about a great film I saw quite a long time ago (90s) on HBO but I have no idea what the title is. Basically the film is set toward the end of WWII in the winter at Christmas time. Americans and Germans both want nothing to do with attacking b/c the war is nearly over. I remember someting about a frozen body and also at the end after there is some sort of agreement b/w the two sides not to attack but something goes wrong. The film had a great feel of tension.
Anyone remember the name based on my hazy description?
Sam
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Musashi, The Ninth Configuration is a neat little film. Very deep, with great performances from Keach and Scott Wilson, too. There were some pretty comic moments also in that film regarding the sometimes wild behavior of the 'inmates.'
Did anyone mention 'We Were Soldiers' with Mel Gibson. It was a great story, very well filmed and acted, and at times harrowing, about one of the first (if not the first) American involved battles of Vietnam. It kept me entranced for the duration of the movie.
Love 'Sink The Bismark' and 'Twelve O'Clock High' as well as 'The Guns of Navarone.' All great classic WWII movies. How 'bout 'Bridge on the River Kwai' with Alec Guiness? And, like about everyone else here, I have to say 'Saving Private Ryan' is one of the very best. When Hanks and his men are in the landing craft on the way to the beach I could actually feel their fear. Excellent directing and acting in that movie. Truly amazing. 'Saving Private Ryan' is the only movie I've ever seen more than once at the theatre. As a matter of fact I saw it three times in two weeks.
Did anyone mention 'We Were Soldiers' with Mel Gibson. It was a great story, very well filmed and acted, and at times harrowing, about one of the first (if not the first) American involved battles of Vietnam. It kept me entranced for the duration of the movie.
Love 'Sink The Bismark' and 'Twelve O'Clock High' as well as 'The Guns of Navarone.' All great classic WWII movies. How 'bout 'Bridge on the River Kwai' with Alec Guiness? And, like about everyone else here, I have to say 'Saving Private Ryan' is one of the very best. When Hanks and his men are in the landing craft on the way to the beach I could actually feel their fear. Excellent directing and acting in that movie. Truly amazing. 'Saving Private Ryan' is the only movie I've ever seen more than once at the theatre. As a matter of fact I saw it three times in two weeks.
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Bridge on the river Kwai
In harms way
The longest day
The Battle of britian
Stalag 17
Empire of the sun
Enemy at the gates
Murphy's war
Kelly's Heroes
Fat man and little boy
Judgement at Nuremburg
In harms way
The longest day
The Battle of britian
Stalag 17
Empire of the sun
Enemy at the gates
Murphy's war
Kelly's Heroes
Fat man and little boy
Judgement at Nuremburg
While not a war movie per se, has anyone seen a GREAT but little-known movie called Taking Sides? It's a true story and it takes place in Ally-occupied Germany at the close of the European theater when Hitler was defeated. Harvey Keitel plays an American lieutenant responsible for indicting non-military Nazi enablers. The superb Stellan Skarsgard plays a German composer who is assumed of supporting the Nazis, although there is much evidence to suggest the opposite.
The story and writing are great, but it is worth watching alone for Skarsgard's perfect performance. He might be the best actor alive.
The story and writing are great, but it is worth watching alone for Skarsgard's perfect performance. He might be the best actor alive.
mwerner said:
Das Boot would be my favorite too (the infantry movies always seemed a bit far-fetched although SPR and EatG were watchable).
As for computer games, I used to play Silent Service II, Das Boot and Aces of the Deep some 10+ years ago or so. AoD was by far the best of these IMHO. I never played any of the newer sims - is this SH III any good ? Is it WW2-era sim or something more modern (I never liked modern submarine simulations) ?
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Kelly's Heroes - great fun. The Tiger looks a bit odd as it's really a Cromwell.
The Dambusters - Barnes-Wallace plays himself.
Battle of Britain - 1968 haircuts jar but good film.
Ice-cold in Alex - Not much action but lots of drama.
Dunkirk - Magnificent film about the heroism of ordinary people and the folly of war.
A Bridge too far - Monty's big mistake.
The Malta Story - Alec Guinness in a tale of stoicism.
Reach for the Sky - Kenneth More plays Douglas Bader.
The First of the Few - David Niven and Leslie Howard in a film about R. J. Mitchell, the designer of the Spitfire. Not really about the war.
edited to add: Schindler's list.
Andrew.
The Dambusters - Barnes-Wallace plays himself.
Battle of Britain - 1968 haircuts jar but good film.
Ice-cold in Alex - Not much action but lots of drama.
Dunkirk - Magnificent film about the heroism of ordinary people and the folly of war.
A Bridge too far - Monty's big mistake.
The Malta Story - Alec Guinness in a tale of stoicism.
Reach for the Sky - Kenneth More plays Douglas Bader.
The First of the Few - David Niven and Leslie Howard in a film about R. J. Mitchell, the designer of the Spitfire. Not really about the war.
edited to add: Schindler's list.
Andrew.
Kelly's Heroes - 'Always with those negative waves' (oddball played by Donald Sutherland) Has to be my favourite, great fun to watch over and over again
Battle of Britain - 'A nasty little shack filled with dead flies' (Michael Caine's comment on the new squadron base) one of the best 'recreation' style movies with the largest collection of operational (at the time) WW2 British and German planes.
Others of Note:
Where Eagles Dare
Das Boot
633 Squadron
The Great Escape
Von Ryan's Express
The Bridge on the River Kwai
The Sea Wolves (The last charge of the Calcutta Light Horse, actually about ex british soldiers hijacking german vessels in a neutral port)
Probably more but I can't think of them right now
Ferreter
Battle of Britain - 'A nasty little shack filled with dead flies' (Michael Caine's comment on the new squadron base) one of the best 'recreation' style movies with the largest collection of operational (at the time) WW2 British and German planes.
Others of Note:
Where Eagles Dare
Das Boot
633 Squadron
The Great Escape
Von Ryan's Express
The Bridge on the River Kwai
The Sea Wolves (The last charge of the Calcutta Light Horse, actually about ex british soldiers hijacking german vessels in a neutral port)
Probably more but I can't think of them right now
Ferreter
Some of my favorites:
Saving Private Ryan (simply the very best WWII movie ever).
Attack Force Z
Final Countdown (really a mix of Sci-Fi and WWII, but a great movie).
Midnight Clear.
Schindler's List.
Battle of the Bulge.
Eye of the Needle (great suspense/spy movie).
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence.
Force 10 From Navarone.
Empire of the Sun.
The Band of Brothers series is great too.
Allen.
Saving Private Ryan (simply the very best WWII movie ever).
Attack Force Z
Final Countdown (really a mix of Sci-Fi and WWII, but a great movie).
Midnight Clear.
Schindler's List.
Battle of the Bulge.
Eye of the Needle (great suspense/spy movie).
Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence.
Force 10 From Navarone.
Empire of the Sun.
The Band of Brothers series is great too.
Allen.
bandaidman
Basic Member
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"where eagles dare" is my favorite. totally unrealistic but great music and cinematography
bridge too far
saving private ryan (1st and last 3rd..middle drags)
longest day
midway
battle of britain
cross of iron (shows the confusion/horror of combat)
das boot
battle of the bulge
great escape
honorable mention non-movie "band of brothers"
bridge too far
saving private ryan (1st and last 3rd..middle drags)
longest day
midway
battle of britain
cross of iron (shows the confusion/horror of combat)
das boot
battle of the bulge
great escape
honorable mention non-movie "band of brothers"
Faramir:
Silent Hunter III is the newest version of this series, it's strictly U-boat-Atlantic campaign.
So far, I'm still in the Naval Academy, learning how to navigate, and fire torpedoes.
If you set the difficulty level on "High", you have to do all this stuff yourself; including advanced navigation and computing firing solutions for torpedo attacks. You also have to identify enemy craft using a book, just like the real thing.
Or, you can notch it down a bit and have your navigator plot a course....hehe.
Looks great, but I'm betting it will be a time-burner. Fortunately, there's a 32X time compression available, so you won't spend two weeks sailing the Atlantic to your patrol area!
Silent Hunter III is the newest version of this series, it's strictly U-boat-Atlantic campaign.
So far, I'm still in the Naval Academy, learning how to navigate, and fire torpedoes.
If you set the difficulty level on "High", you have to do all this stuff yourself; including advanced navigation and computing firing solutions for torpedo attacks. You also have to identify enemy craft using a book, just like the real thing.
Or, you can notch it down a bit and have your navigator plot a course....hehe.
Looks great, but I'm betting it will be a time-burner. Fortunately, there's a 32X time compression available, so you won't spend two weeks sailing the Atlantic to your patrol area!
mwerner said:
Don't want to hijack the topic but this sounds so intriguing, I'll try to find this thingin local stores
Aces of the Deep also had time compression (up to 4096 if I'm ot mistaken) and it helped alot during tedious journey across the Atlantic. Torpedos were "automagic",depending on firing angle and speed of the target of course (hits into side of a freighter sailing in straight line were easy but hits against destroyers coming toward you at full speed inzig-zag were extremely hard, even when firing full spread). This game sounds so intriguing, I've been longing for a good WW2-era game for ages now (last decent one was the very first Panzer General, again some 10 years back).That sounds like Midnight Clear, which I've mentioned above. Great movie, and a very effective sense of tension as you mentioned.
Thanks.
I have a couple of other WWII films in my head, but can't remember the names. Anyone?
The first one, a German submarine crew 'invades' North America. The film is about the crew travelling accross Canada, trying to aviod detection.
The second film takes place in occupied France in WWII. The occupying officer of a small town has affairs with several local women. The women are shaved and sent away. It's just an OK film, but interesting.
Anyone seen Fire on the Plains? One of the best WWII films I've ever seen. It's a Japanese film that takes place on a Pacific island as the Americans are invading. The story is about a soldier who has malaria - he can't fight so his troop doesn't want him, and he isn't wounded so the field hospital won't take him either. In much of the film, he's deathly ill and trying to avoid capture by the Americans. Excellent film, made in the '50s I believe - B&W.
-Bob
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A.W.U.K. said:
Nope, Russian T-34's done up to look like tigers. From what I understand, the same tanks were used in saving private ryan.
Bob W said:
Got this one, Bob.
49th Parallel. One of my favorites. Sorry I can't help with the others.
Also thought of Mrs. Miniver. Another great story plus great acting (Greer Garson, Walter Pidgeon) equals great WWII flick. One to watch with the lady in your life. Trust me, she won't be put off. It's about relationships.
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- Feb 7, 2004
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Das Boot and Schindler's List immediately come to mind. Two of my favorites.
Victory at Sea is top of my list, even though it is not technically a move.
Thinking of the great WWII battleships, one summer I worked as a "tour guide" on the Wilmington. Here are a few interesting facts about it:
> On board during the day there is usually only one worker on the ship, the "tour guide", that is not in a prison work program.
> The 'gators have been conditioned over the years to swim up to the side of the ship whenever someone repeatedly rattles the safety barriers (any part that rattles) on the starbord side.
> There are lots of well known places where standing and looking up provides an unobstructed view of someone going up or down the stairs directly above so it would be a good idea to have you wife and daughters wear clothes accordingly.
> Veterans who served on the ship are not uncommon and usually wear hats identifying themselves. Most are happy to talk about what happened while they were serving on it so just ask a question or two.
> If that ship is not haunted then nothing is.
Chris
Victory at Sea is top of my list, even though it is not technically a move.
Thinking of the great WWII battleships, one summer I worked as a "tour guide" on the Wilmington. Here are a few interesting facts about it:
> On board during the day there is usually only one worker on the ship, the "tour guide", that is not in a prison work program.
> The 'gators have been conditioned over the years to swim up to the side of the ship whenever someone repeatedly rattles the safety barriers (any part that rattles) on the starbord side.
> There are lots of well known places where standing and looking up provides an unobstructed view of someone going up or down the stairs directly above so it would be a good idea to have you wife and daughters wear clothes accordingly.
> Veterans who served on the ship are not uncommon and usually wear hats identifying themselves. Most are happy to talk about what happened while they were serving on it so just ask a question or two.
> If that ship is not haunted then nothing is.
Chris
- Joined
- Nov 17, 2004
- Messages
- 14,031
Strangely enough at the local Goodwill there was a copy of "run silent" cd's
for like 2 dollars.
There was a film that envolved spies in England and when they tried to bug
out their patrol boat was grounded. forget the name (of course).
Windtalkers was alright, No one mentioned Casablanca. My personal favorite
line from Kelly's Hereos was " maybe we can cut a deal with him, maybe he
is a republican" Priceless.
The Great escape was good to, Steve Mcqueen caught in the barbed wire
was classic. And the Errol Flynn flick were he had a unit in Burma and was
collecting dog tags was alright as well.(I want to say Merrils Maruaders but
I don't think that is correct).
for like 2 dollars.
There was a film that envolved spies in England and when they tried to bug
out their patrol boat was grounded. forget the name (of course).
Windtalkers was alright, No one mentioned Casablanca. My personal favorite
line from Kelly's Hereos was " maybe we can cut a deal with him, maybe he
is a republican" Priceless.
The Great escape was good to, Steve Mcqueen caught in the barbed wire
was classic. And the Errol Flynn flick were he had a unit in Burma and was
collecting dog tags was alright as well.(I want to say Merrils Maruaders but
I don't think that is correct).