Objective Burma
Battleground
Patton
The Great Escape
The Cruel Sea

Hmmm...I might include Tora ! Tora ! Tora!

Bridge On The River Kwai

Longest Day
To Hell and Back
Kelly's Heroes
Guns of Navarone
Dirty Dozen

The Great Escape
The Guns of Navarone
Patton
Operation pacific (long story, old favorite)
U-571

I would consider for inclusion Sink the Bismark.
...and another movie about a submarine spying mission to Tokyo that has been more-or-less remade once or twice since under other titles... I forget the orignal title. Das Boot is a German submarine movie that ranks up there, too, and unusual because it's a GERMAN movie! LOL

I think there were at least 20 WWII movies better than Patton. That was almost as much a modern Hollyweird hatchet job as it was a WWII movie. Ranks up there with Oliver Stone's repeated sh*ty attempts to re-write history. Just my opinion;YMMV.

Twelve O'Clock High
Band of Brothers (series)
Run Silent, Run Deep
Schindler's List
Empire of the Sun
Das Boot

And it's almost cliché to add it, but I will anyway because it's still a great flick...

Saving Private Ryan

They Were Expendable

Sink the Bismarck

The Enemy Below

From Hell to Eternity (not from Here to Eternity which is itself a formidable picture but not strictly a WW II picture)

The Thin Red Line (Malick)


Of course one regrets leaving out To Hell and Back, Guadalcanal Diary, Run Silent Run Deep, A Bridge too Far, Europa Europa and many others.

But not Das Boot which I find a cloying piece of maudlin revisionist German self-pity, much like the despicable movie Stalingrad, in which the perpetrators of the war seek to portray themselves as it's innocent victims, the German myth of "clean hands". Downfall is a much more honest German look at things and come to think of it probably belongs right up there with the best pictures about the war.

Bridge On The River Kwai

My 10 year old daughter and I just watched that. We both loved it.

John

My list would be:
A Bridge Too Far
In Harm's Way
Twelve O'Clock High
The Cruel Sea
Der Untergang (The Downfall)

I'm gonna name a few missed, and that I also think were great.. most all old WWII movies are great to me..

The Fighting Seabees
Sands of Iwo Jima
Midway
Saving Private Ryan
Catch-22

Wham---Yeah, In Harm's Way is terrific, one of Wayne's best non Ford or Hawks portrayals. And the romance between Wayne and Neal is SO well done, like real adults.

Ole Preminger made some pretty good pictures.

Another good Navy picture is The Gallant Hours in which Cagney portrays Halsey during the Guadalcanal campaign when the Japanese Navy was giving ours a very hard fight and we suffered the worst naval defeats in our history. The picture was directed by Robert Montgomery who fought in the Navy during the war.

Montgomery also did some fill-in directing on They Were Expendable after Ford took a header off a camera crane.

OH.. I really liked McHale's Navy too..

Bridges at Toko Ri, ,,The Hunters,,Patton,,The Caine Mutiny,,,Saving Private Ryan

"Mrs. Miniver" and "The Best Years of Our Lives" are worth mentioning.

I liked 'Enemy at the Gates.' 'Memphis Belle' is also a great one.

Kelly's Heroes is one of my all time favorite movies in general. (props to terra1:thmbsp:)

Not WWII, but war-ish type movies I really like are 'Lord of War' and 'Shooter.'

Bridges at Toko Ri, ,,The Hunters,,Patton,,The Caine Mutiny,,,Saving Private Ryan
Sorry ,,the first two are Korean Conflict so switch to Stalag 17,,and the War Lover

and "The Best Years of Our Lives" are worth mentioning.


"we'll have to work, get kicked around....."


http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh92/Irishtom29/movie003.jpg

http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh92/Irishtom29/movie1.jpg

A Bridge Too Far
In Harm's Way
Das Boot
Battleground
Battle of Britain
Enemy at the Gates
Memphis Belle
Battle of the Bulge
El Alamein

.... pick any five, all superb!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/33/Battleground.jpg
Battleground
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battleground_(1949_film))


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/60/Big_red_one_post.jpg
The Big Red One (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Red_One)


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3d/Stalingrad_film.jpg/410px-Stalingrad_film.jpg
Stalingrad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalingrad_(film))


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a3/Das_boot_ver1.jpg

Das Boot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Das_Boot_(film))


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e7/Bridge_too_far_movieposter.jpg/241px-Bridge_too_far_movieposter.jpg
A Bridge Too Far (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bridge_Too_Far_(1977_film))


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/60/141659.1010.A.jpg
The Longest Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Longest_Day_(film))


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c7/Great_escape.jpg
The Great Escape (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Escape_%28film%29)




HONORABLE MENTION: If for no other reason than to see a real PzK VI Tiger and a real M4 Sherman side by side.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/83/Kelly%27s_Heroes_movie.jpg/388px-Kelly%27s_Heroes_movie.jpg
Kelly's Heros (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly's_Heroes)

I think that Mister Roberts and Where Eagles Dare also need to be mentioned. (It's got Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood kicking Nazi butt)

Ya know pmsummer.. after seeing all your vinyl listening posts, and then seeing your post here for movies, I believe you are the one person who honestly reads Playboy for the pictures :D

Couple that weren't mentioned.

Murphy's War
Dirty Dozen

Couple more Sahara,,The Big Red One

Five best I've seen without vacuuming out my brain are:

A Wing and a Prayer

Dawn Patrol

Apocalypse Now

The Deer Hunter

Young Lions

nice artwork

The Caine Mutiny "Ahhh, the Strawberries." (BTW, WTF is flash cream? Only war movie I've seen this in)

Enemy Below "He is the Devil, Heimi!"

Bridge over the River Kwai "What have I done?"

Saving Private Ryan "Well, maybe not the captain, but the rest of us got mothers."

The Longest Day "Yeah, our blood, his guts"

1. The Train
2. Patton
3. Kelly's Heroes
4. The Dirty Dozen
5. The Longest Day

The Caine Mutiny "Ahhh, the Strawberries." (BTW, WTF is flash cream? Only war movie I've seen this in)

Enemy Below "He is the Devil, Heimi!"

Bridge over the River Kwai "What have I done?"

Saving Private Ryan "Well, maybe not the captain, but the rest of us got mothers."

The Longest Day "Yeah, our blood, his guts"

Flash cream was to prevent flash burns on exposed skin when the main batteries opened fire.
"Yeah..Our blood, his guts" was actually from 'Patton'

"The Guns of Navarone"...still my all-time fave.
"The Great Escape"...just might be a tie for first here.
"Von Ryan's Express"...funny no one's mentioned this one...Good Sinatra flick,
"The Dirty Dozen"...the prototype for all the other "gang" war flicks.
"Casablanca"..."Round up the usual suspects!"

Das Boot: great movie; the best, it induces claustrophobia
Memphis belle: watch this many times; it is the air Das Boot
Saving Private Ryan: disembarkment was so damn real
A Brridge Too Far
The Longest Day: poignant in black and white

Sink the Bismark: Very accurate, even had real footage of the actual battle.
The Train: nice call AnalogDigit!
To Hell and Back: Audie Murphy bio-pic
Attack!: Eddie Albert and Jack Palance are great in this!
Hell is for Heroes: Maybe Steve McQueen's best role

Hell is for Heroes: Maybe Steve McQueen's best role
McQueen at his best. I saw this one many years ago and was impressed by McQueen.

To Hell and Back: Audie Murphy bio-pic

Hell is for Heroes: Maybe Steve McQueen's best role

Two excellent choices.

Five best I've seen without vacuuming out my brain are:

A Wing and a Prayer

Dawn Patrol

Apocalypse Now

The Deer Hunter

Young Lions
the young Lions,excellent,,,but Deer Hunter,and Apocalypse Now are Vietnam Era

the young Lions,excellent,,,but Deer Hunter,and Apocalypse Now are Vietnam Era

Dawn Patrol... WWI.

There was a foreign made WWII film (maybe from Italy..?) starring Bo Svenson and Fred "The Hammer" Williamson about some condemned GI criminals who escaped and ended up attacking a German train. It was released under several names including "Deadly Mission", "GI Bro", and "Inglorious Bastards". Anyone ever seen it? It was on HBO in the early 80's and ends when the Americans blow up the train using the V-2 it was carrying. It wasn't a very good movie but it was kind of entertaining.

:thumbsdn::nono::nono:Ooopppss!!!!! Probably pays give the heading more than a quick glance.

Midway
Midway
Midway
Midway
oh and MIDWAY.

Navy guy here of course.

30 Seconds Over Toyko,,,Battle Cry ,,Tarawa Beachead

Midway
Midway
Midway
Midway
oh and MIDWAY.

Navy guy here of course.
I'm a former squid too..(Avionics Tech), but Midway was a better story than a film! It WAS pretty accurate in the battle plans and details, but too much of the acting was sub-par.

There was a foreign made WWII film (maybe from Italy..?) starring Bo Svenson and Fred "The Hammer" Williamson about some condemned GI criminals who escaped and ended up attacking a German train. It was released under several names including "Deadly Mission", "GI Bro", and "Inglorious Bastards". Anyone ever seen it? It was on HBO in the early 80's and ends when the Americans blow up the train using the V-2 it was carrying. It wasn't a very good movie but it was kind of entertaining.

With Fred in it; most definitely could not be good.

Shindler's List
Empire of the Sun
In Harms Way
Midway
Mr. Roberts

Honorable Mention although could be substituted for the other five:

Kelly's Heroes
Bridge on the River Kwai
Das Boot
The Best Years of Our Lives
Battle of the Bulge
Saving Private Ryan (oops, that's an extra!)

With Fred in it; most definitely could not be good.
AW C'mon!!!! He played a cigar-chomping, grinning wise guy who shoots up some Nazis!! What's not to like???!!!

Flash cream was to prevent flash burns on exposed skin when the main batteries opened fire.
"Yeah..Our blood, his guts" was actually from 'Patton'
Ooops! I got John Wayne and George C. Scott mixed up again.:D

The Bridge Over River Kwaii
Das Boot
Dam Busters
The one with Glen Ford as submarine commander,,,he sinks the ship he thinks his wife/kids are on...(I never remember the name).
The Empire of The Sun (Spielberg)

In Harm's Way- love the Duke
Patton-love Geo. C.Scott
Full Metal Jacket- love Lee Ermy
Kelly's Heros- gotta love Clint
Saving Private Ryan- love the gritty look of the D-day landing

McQueen at his best. I saw this one many years ago and was impressed by McQueen.

Steve McQueen Rules! :thmbsp: I forgot to mention the Great Escape!! :yes:

The Bridge Over River Kwaii
Das Boot
Dam Busters
The one with Glen Ford as submarine commander,,,he sinks the ship he thinks his wife/kids are on...(I never remember the name).
The Empire of The Sun (Spielberg) The movie is Torpedo Run

... WTF is flash cream? Only war movie I've seen this in...

It's sunscreen to protect against the muzzle flash from naval artillery. I think in this case it is used to emphasize Queeg's "careful" nature and "by the book" methods as nearly no one bothered with it and it seems really silly when you consider the small flash from the 3"/50 armament the Caine would likely have mounted. It might also protect from explosions of incoming rounds, but I always thought it was to protect from burns caused by the ship's own guns.

Wham---Yeah, In Harm's Way is terrific, one of Wayne's best non Ford or Hawks portrayals. And the romance between Wayne and Neal is SO well done, like real adults.

Ole Preminger made some pretty good pictures.

Another good Navy picture is The Gallant Hours in which Cagney portrays Halsey during the Guadalcanal campaign when the Japanese Navy was giving ours a very hard fight and we suffered the worst naval defeats in our history. The picture was directed by Robert Montgomery who fought in the Navy during the war.

Montgomery also did some fill-in directing on They Were Expendable after Ford took a header off a camera crane.
I caught the last few minutes of "The Gallant Hours" a day or two ago. I have never seen it all, but from what little I saw, it looked like a great picture of Halsey as a real human being, rather than strictly a historical figure.

The Pianist is all I can think to add for consideration

I second the nomination of Downfall, one of the best movies I've seen period

Under the Flag of the Rising Sun, a '72 Japanese film, is also interesting, though I wouldn't try to watch it on a full stomach

Hell is for Heroes
The War Lover
The Purple Heart
A Wing and A Prayer
Fighter Squadron
God is My Co-Pilot
Air Force
Destination Tokyo
The Enemy Below
Attack
A Walk in the Sun
Bataan

"(BTW, WTF is flash cream? Only war movie I've seen this in)"

After the battle of Savo Island the American Navy realized that burns were a huge amount of the wounds suffered and went on a purge of flammable items on warships. American sailors also had to wear trousers and long sleeves to protect against burns and suffered far fewer burns than British sailors who were allowed shorts and T-shirts in hot weather.

Kelly's Heroes - They actually used real Tiger tanks.
Task Force - Some early history of carriers is introduced.
They were expendable - I love PT Boats.
The Mortal Storm - Not a War movie, but based on a book written in the late 30s. It tells of the rise of the Nazi party. Movie was released in 1940.

And the best war movie to date:


Band of Brothers. When you can devote 10 hours to telling a true story, it does not get any better than this.

Not mentioned was Sahara (1943) with Humphrey Bogart. A dozen Allied soldiers led by tank commander Sgt. Gunn, played by Bogart hold off and eventually gain the surrender of an entire thirsty Nazi company at a water hole in the North African desert.

"A little bit of cheese, a little onion....."

Great WW2 Films:

"Das Boot". Superb "daily-grind" from the German perspective; incredible filmmaking and one of the top 5 ever.

"The Burmese Harp". Poetic and horrifying meditation on how low man can sink. Great examination from the Japanese perspective with some absolutely heartbreaking moments.

"The Best Years of our Lives". One of my all-time favorite American films. The first one to really look at what happens when "they come home".

"The Dam Busters". Great English film about the invention of the 'bouncing bombs' to use against the German dams. Veddy British, in the best sense.

"Downfall". Bruno Ganz gives what must be the definitive portrayal of Hitler in film history.


Unclassifiable:

"Men Behind the Sun". Ghastly, rather poorly shot film about Japanese medical/chemical experiments in Manchuria by Unit 731. Important for telling this true story, but is mostly exploitation and very rough stuff indeed.
The most amazing thing is that the camp commander wound up working at Ft. Detrich in MD. after the war.


Fun, unrealistic WW2 films:

"Where Eagles Dare". Tremendous cast and tremendous suspense.

'The Dirty Dozen". Same as "Eagles"

CC.

With Richard Widmark's passing today I'm reminded of "Halls of Montezuma". Not an especially great film, but as usual he was the best part.

With Richard Widmark's passing today I'm reminded of "Halls of Montezuma". Not an especially great film, but as usual he was the best part.

I dunno, I thought Richard Boone was.



"But the fly in the buttermilk is there AIN'T no armies in Texas!"

Not being a huge fan of westerns, I remember him mostly from "The Last Dinosaur", a really bad made for tv flick that was a least fun to think about.

Go For Broke-great story about the Japanese American soldier fighting in Europe

Battleground-one vet told me that this is one of the best representations of what they went thru

The Longest Day-great cast and great all around movie

Stalag 17-great cast and story

Saving Private Ryan-the first 20 minutes will still make me dizzy watching it

special note-Band of Brothers-one of the best stories to come from the small screen

and on the lighter side I have to say

Father Goose-still makes me laugh out loud--"filthy beast and goody 2 shoes"

I Was a Male War Bride-great back and forth between Gary Grant and Ann Sheridan

I tried to list up-thread films that were first and foremost RELATIVELY accurate historically, with good story lines, acting, and directing.

But I believe I forgot one, that may have erred in its "historicity", but achieved a truthfulness and accuracy that can't be denied.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cb/How_I_Won_the_War_DVD_cover.jpg
How I Won The War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_I_Won_the_War)

U-571
The Guns of Navarone
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Battle of the Bulge
Patton

Midway
From Here to Eternity
Pearl Harbor
12 O'Clock High
Sands of Iwo Jima

Battle Of Brittan is one of my favorite WW2 movies

Gohan

Up Periscope. Tab Hunter starred. I saw it when I was nine years old and had war dreams since! Curt

In no particular order

Band of Brothers
The Great Escape
Untergang
Bridge on the Rive Kwai
Das Boot
Europa Europa (not very popular in the states as far as I know but definitely worth looking up)

I also feel like the only person who doesn't like Saving Private Ryan. The opening scene is a fine example of cinematography for sure, but the rest of the movie just seems so corny to me

In no particular order

Band of Brothers
The Great Escape
Untergang
Bridge on the Rive Kwai
Das Boot
Europa Europa (not very popular in the states as far as I know but definitely worth looking up)

I also feel like the only person who doesn't like Saving Private Ryan. The opening scene is a fine example of cinematography for sure, but the rest of the movie just seems so corny to me

I liked Europa Europa, and enjoyed it more as an adventure film than as a war movie. Great story.

Reading the posts here reminderd me of some great films - my favourites are -in no particular order.

Sorry can't hold it to 5 !
Battle of Britain (showed just how close a shave it really was)
Ice Cold in Alex
Cruel Sea
Battle of the Bulge
Midway
The Dambusters
Longest Day (Epic film, Epic actors)
Sink the Bismarck (my absolute personal favourite)
Memphis Belle (really captured the gut wrenching fear those brave airmen must have felt)

Also liked
Twelve O'Clock High
Mr Roberts
Kellys Heroes

Cross of Iron

This is the bestest ever.

I like Cross of Iron too. Sam Peckinpaugh film with James Coburn from the 70's. The book, by Willi Heinrich is really good also.

Letters From Iwo Jima
Saving Private Ryan
Sink the Bismark
Das Boot

everytime a topic like this one comes along, I have to say that I am waiting for good kick ass modern war movie...something like Red Dawn (Yawn) could have been.....

something like Tom Clancy's book, Red Dawn...where we duke it out in Greenland!!

Saving Private Ryan
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Battle Of The Bulge
Patton
Midway

The African Queen, in it's own odd way, is a WWII movie also. Not exactly blood n guts battalion grit, but endearing none the less.

Saving Private Ryan
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Battle Of The Bulge
Patton
Midway

The African Queen, in it's own odd way, is a WWII movie also. Not exactly blood n guts battalion grit, but endearing none the less.

The African Queen is a fantastic war flick, with Humphrey Bogart cast against type resulting in an Oscar-winning performance for best actor. But the movie setting is in German East Africa during World War I.

Ones that stick out in my mind
Corvette K-225: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035757/
The Enemy Below: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050356/
Das Boot

Reading the posts here reminderd me of some great films - my favourites are -in no particular order.

Sorry can't hold it to 5 !
Battle of Britain (showed just how close a shave it really was)
Ice Cold in Alex
Battle of the Bulge
Midway
The Dambusters
Longest Day (Epic film, Epic actors)
Sink the Bismarck (my absolute personal favourite)
Memphis Belle (really captured the gut wrenching fear those brave airmen must have felt)

Also liked
Twelve O'Clock High
Mr Roberts
Kellys Heroes

First I am noting "Ice Cold In Alex"

The African Queen is a fantastic war flick, with Humphrey Bogart cast against type resulting in an Oscar-winning performance for best actor. But the movie setting is in German East Africa during World War I.

You're absolutely correct. Damn, my bad.

Most of my favorites have been named several time by various people. I'd like to offer up something slightly different; a documentary. My all time favorite WWII documentary was "Victory at Sea". It's quite different but every bit as good as Ken Burns. To make things sweeter, I just happened to stumble across a 3 DVD set of all 26 or so episodes in my local Walmart dump bin. It set me back a grand total of $5.00. I am both happy and lucky.

These probably already showed up,but:
The Great Escape
The Sorrow and the Pity(documentary about the Nazi Occupation of France)
Au Revoir,Enfants
Schndlers List
Das Boot

I gotta add three more now:
Fires on the Plain
Grave of the Fireflies(Japanese animated film)One of the finest films Ive ever seen,period.
Hell in the Pacific
Jimmy

Tough to pick only 5! (Many other favorites already mentioned.)

1) Battle of Britain (if for no other reason than the Spanish AF Bf-109 & He-111's)

2) Catch 22 (ensemble cast)

3) Guns of Navarone (ensemble cast, restored print)

4) Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (Robert Mitchum)

5) Too Late the Hero (Michael Caine, Cliff Robertson)

Honorable Mention

Lifeboat

To End All Wars

Von Ryan's Express

Where Eagles Dare

Has anyone mentioned 'Patton' yet? Saw it in a movie theatre 5 years ago. Brand new print. It should be seen in no other way.

oh yes, Von Ryan's Express.....Frank Sinatra does a great job there!!

Ones that stick out in my mind
Corvette K-225: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035757/
The Enemy Below: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050356/
Das Boot

Go to the IMDB website on Corvette K-225 and see how many stars from movies and television you can find in the supporting cast. A free cardboard box to the first person to recognize 1. a mouseketeer 2. a registered nurse 3. an Oscar winner 4. a convicted marijuana user 5. relative through marriage to a legitimate WWII hero.

The movies--they just carry me away . . . somewhere.

Ones that stick out in my mind
Corvette K-225: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035757/
The Enemy Below: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050356/
Das Boot

Go to the IMDB website on Corvette K-225 and see how many stars from movies and television you can find in the supporting cast. A free cardboard box to the first person to recognize 1. a mouseketeer 2. a registered nurse 3. an Oscar winner 4. a convicted marijuana user 5. relative through marriage to a legitimate WWII hero.

The movies--they just carry me away . . . somewhere.

Most of my favorites have been named several time by various people. I'd like to offer up something slightly different; a documentary. My all time favorite WWII documentary was "Victory at Sea". It's quite different but every bit as good as Ken Burns. To make things sweeter, I just happened to stumble across a 3 DVD set of all 26 or so episodes in my local Walmart dump bin. It set me back a grand total of $5.00. I am both happy and lucky.

I'm going to look for that, thanks. Now that you mention documentaries I have the World at War on dvd (and it was NOT $5). It's a series from the UK made in the early 70's, have watched it a couple times all the way through at least. Tons of footage and great interviews with participants/survivors, there were so many alive back then. It has been the definitive wwII educational piece for me. I remember as I watched it over the course of a week or so as a still pretty young person being very caught up in the immediacy of the footage and stories and reevaluating my own priorities and point of view, very eye-opening stuff. It's must see programming as far as I'm concerned.

A few more:
Flags Of Our Fathers
A Midnight Clear

Most of my favorites have been named several time by various people. I'd like to offer up something slightly different; a documentary. My all time favorite WWII documentary was "Victory at Sea". It's quite different but every bit as good as Ken Burns. To make things sweeter, I just happened to stumble across a 3 DVD set of all 26 or so episodes in my local Walmart dump bin. It set me back a grand total of $5.00. I am both happy and lucky.

I found that at Wal-Mart as well, but it cost me a whole $7.00. Dammit!

A Midnight Clear

I've heard about this film off & on over the years and always forget to look for it.

I need to track it down.

I've heard about this film off & on over the years and always forget to look for it.

I need to track it down.

It has a a pretty strong cast: Ethan Hawke, Gary Sinise, Kevin Dillon, Peter Berg, Arye Gross, Frank Whaley and John C. McGinley.

Peter Berg

OT -

I never paid much attention to him when he was on Chicago Hope.

Having just watched "The Kingdom", I stand corrected on his talent.

Cross of Iron

This is the bestest ever.

I can't believe it took 5 pages of this thread for someone to mention Cross of Iron!

Cross of Iron
Longest Day
Midway
A Bridge too Far
Tora Tora Tora
Casablanca

That's six!

Some may not consider it a "war" movie but it is about conquest and military, and that would be;

"The Man that Would be King"