In pursuit of the ultimate DVD collection, I'd like to continue the favorite movie thread with war movies. A few minor guidelines -

Can be TV, cable, or film based
Up to 5 main, 5 honorable mention

Here's my top 5 in no particular order-

"Hell In The Pacific" (Lee Marvin, Toshiro Mifune)
"Fix Bayonets" (Richard Basehart)
"Mash" (Donald Sutherland, Elliot Gould)
Catch-22 (Alan Arkin, ensemble cast)
"Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison" (Robert Mitchum)

Runners-up

"Das Boot"
"Band of Brothers"
"Enemy at the Gate" (Jude Law)
"Stalingrad" (German production)
"Murphy's War (Peter O'Toole)

We've pradickly worn out the VHS copy we have of "Midway".

I would have to put up several:
1. Stalag 17
2. In Harms Way
3. The Dirty Dozen
4. Kelly's Hero's
5. Patton
6. Tora Tora Tora
7. Bridge Over the River Kwai
8. Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

OK - that was more than a couple!!

Dave

Saving Private Ryan
All Quite on the Western Front (original)
Patton
Longest Day
Dirty Dozen
Rat Patrol, and Blacksheep for tv shows

All Quite on the Western Front


I like the made for TV version from the 70's with Richard Thomas although the original is compelling. If you are a reader, get the book. Written in 1927, it reads as if written yesterday. It is truly fantastic.

I would have to put up several:
1. Stalag 17
2. In Harms Way
3. The Dirty Dozen
4. Kelly's Hero's
5. Patton
6. Tora Tora Tora
7. Bridge Over the River Kwai
8. Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

OK - that was more than a couple!!

Dave

Agreed with the above plus adding Full Metal Jacket... :yes:

Scott

1. The Dirty Dozen
2. Where Eagels Dare
3. Midway
4. Patton

I love the smell of napalm in the morning.

Some John Wayne:
The Longest Day
Sands Of Iwo Jima
They Were Expendable
Back To Bataan
And of course,
The Green Berets

Here's one no one mentioned: King Rat, a b/w film starring George Segal as a slick hustler from the Bronx in a Japanese POW camp. Came out in the late 50s or very early 60s. Very good flick.

I have to throw my vote for Full Metal Jacket as well. Loved it.

"The Enemy Below". Great U-boat flick. :yes:
Does anyone remember "The World At War" miniseries about WWII? Beautifully done documentary.
Tom

Anybody remember "The Big Red One" ? pretty good flick w/Lee Marvin.-Sandy G.

In no particular order

Das Boot
Patton
Tora Tora Tora
Midway
A Bridge Too Far
The Beast


Tora Tora Tora deserves special mention - the movie seems ahead of its time in its relatively neutral examination of the December 7th attack on Pearl Harbor and the events/mistakes/miscalculations that lead up to it. And the Japanese are portrayed with surprising respect and dignity for an early 70's movie. The recent "Pearl Harbor" cannot hold a candle to Tora Tora Tora.

Also, the soundtrack was remastered on the DVD into Dolby Digital 5.1 with THX enhancements and sounds fabulous, even in plain Dolby Digital. Now that I have a pre-amp with THX decoding, I'll have to watch again - at "THX Reference Level" ;)

My top 5:

"Bridge On The River Kwai" (1957)
"Saving Prvt. Ryan"(1997)
"Band Of Brothers" (HBO series) (2001)
"Go Tell The Spartans" (1978)
"Das Boot" (The Boat) (1982)

Runners up:

"The Longest Day" (1962)
"Air Force" (194?)
"The Red Badge Of Courage" (John Houston version, 195?)
"30 Seconds Over Tokyo" (194?)
"The Bridges At Toko Ri" (year??)

Russ

Anybody remember "The Big Red One" ? pretty good flick w/Lee Marvin.-Sandy G.

Yes indeed Sandy! Great underrated WW2 film. :thmbsp: I loved it although its not in my top ten. The writer & directer, Sam Fuller...based the movie on some of his personal experiences during that war....in Eroupe.


Russ

I always liked:

"Guadalcanal Diary" 1943
"Run Silent, Run Deep" 1958
"All Quiet on the Western Front" 1930
"The Boys from Company C" 1978

The one that sticks in my mind is "The Train" from 1964.

An incredibly tense film about the resistance trying to keep a trainload of stolen art from being sent to Nazi Germany.

from the IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059825/#comment

"Burt Lancaster is Labiche, a French station manager who becomes entangled in efforts to prevent German Colonel Von Waldheim (Scofield) from shipping hundreds of classic pieces of artwork out of Paris before the Allies re-take the city."

I've seen so many repeats of my favorite war movies that none of them have any special appeal to me anymore. But the ones that I liked the first time I saw them:

1.Cross of Iron
2. Saving Privat Ryan
3. The Lost Battalion
4. Stalingrad
5. Tobruk

Ovenmaster, I think the World at War series was a great series. However I like the Unkown War series better if you ever get a chance to see them. You'll learn things about the WWII that isn't commonly known. Example one show if I remember correctly. The allies had cracked the German code machine 'Enigma'. And Montgomery knew ahead of time, Rommel's plans. So he was able to counter his attacks. Rommel was so frustrated by this he thought he had a spy within his organization. He never thought that their codes had been cracked since they figured their code machine to be unbreakable.
Lots of other interesting stuff about the war in that series.

3. The Lost Battalion

I was quite surprised by "Lost Battalion". Whodathunk Ricky Schroeder could pull it off? Evidently it is a fair recounting of the actual events too. Sadly Schroeder's character (Maj. Whittlesey) comitted suicide a few years after the war ended. Evidently broken over what happened to his men under friendly fire.

Another good WWI offering is "Once an Eagle" with Sam Elliot. It was a miniseries in the mid-70's and spans both WWI & WWII.

For fans of warbirds, "Battle of Britain" is superb. It was filmed primarily in Spain. After WWII, Spain built German pattern ME-109's & HE-111's well into the 50's and both of which were used in the real Battle of Britain. IIRC, the real issue for the film crew was tracking down enough Spitfires & Hurricanes to use in the big scenes.

Dr. Strangelove
The Caine Mutiny
Mister Roberts
Patton
Paths of Glory
The Americanization of Emily
Casablanca

"Why We Fight" is so pertinent to current foreign affairs issues and is a great piece of politically incorrect filmaking. Can you imagine Hollywood making a war movie about Iraq with a boys' chorus singing "Onward Christian Soldiers"?

The ones that always made my hair stand up were the Cold War nuclear movies since I was acutely aware that I was the target. "Fail Safe" was scary as was "The Morning After".

Loved "Dr. Strangelove" -

"There will be no fighting in the war room!"

For a real WWII heartbreaker, "Mrs. Miniver"

For a Civil War movie, "Glory."

"Rough Riders" was interesting for a Ted Turner cable movie.

"Enemy at the Gates" with Jude Law and Ed Harris. WWI in Russia about snipers. Its the beginning that is strange. The Russians have plenty of "volunteers" but limited weapons. They send them into battle in pairs with only one rifle between them and a few rounds of ammo. When one is shot the other picks up the rifle and keeps shooting. Also if anyone tries to retreat they are shot their commanders! Only one direction, forward.

Impossible to name only 5. There were 5 on tv every Sunday when I was a kid.

Air Force
God is My Co-Pilot
Fighter Squadron
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo
The Purple Heart
A Wing and A Prayer
Guadalcanal Diary
Back to Bataan
Attack
A Walk in the Sun
Heaven Knows Mr. Allison
Run Silent, Run Deep
Destination Tokyo

Then there's

The Great Escape
The Guns of Navarone
The Bridge on the River Kwai
The Longest Day
The Eiger Sanction
Hell is for Heroes
Midway
A Bridge Too Far
The Battle of the Bulge
Pork Chop Hill
Patton
Sink the Bismarck
The Enemy Below
The Bedford Incident

Television shows were all about Sgt. Saunders and Gen. Frank Savage.

No love here for Sergeant York, I see.

Anyone mention the "Dirty Dozen" or "The Guns of Narvarone?"

Yes, they did.

I'm not the first one to tell you that freakin' gas has got you 1/2 hour, maybe 45 minutes behind the power curve am I?

Uh, did I mention "King Rat" and "the Dirty Dozen?" :smoke:

No love here for Sergeant York, I see.I just saw that movie for the first time a few months ago. Very very good!!

Saving Private Ryan is almost a cliché because of its popularity, but still one of the best.

Patton

Midway

Das Boot

Guadalcanal Diary has a sad footnote:Marine Corps Capt. Marion Carl, a multi-ace (18.5 air victories), makes an appearance as a Marine Corps pilot. Capt. Carl wears his baseball cap with the bill pointed skyward and makes the comment, "Don't look now, fellas, but a truck of gas just came on the field." Capt. Carl was a survivor of the Battle of Midway and the air campaign for Guadalcanal in 1942. He was awarded 2 Navy Crosses for his actions at Midway and Guadalcanal. Sadly, on June 28, 1998, he was murdered in his Oregon home by a home intruder.

T.A., great list!

Check out " Saints and Soidiers" fairly new excellent war flick based on a true story during the Battle of the Bulge. Won a bunch of awards. One of the very best I have every seen.

Sorry it's " Saints and Soldiers" excellent war flick.

TAE GUK GI a (Korean release 2005)- BATTLE OF BRITIAN - SAVING PVT. RYAN- BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI- THE STORY OF GI JOE (BURGESS MERIDETH)-WE WERE SOLDIERS-APOCALYPSE NOW-THE DOGS OF WAR-DEER HUNTER-GETTYSBURG-DAS BOOT-BLACK HAWK DOWN-LOST BATTALION-ScHLINDERS LIST-THE PIANIST(TRUE STORY)-HAMBURGERHILL-AND SO MANY MORE

Das Boot letter box in German with subtitles. I took two years of German in high skool, years ago, only pulled a C both years, but I'm always amazed at how well I understand the dialog. The subtitles almost seem to disappear.

I'm a sucker for pretty much any submarine movie. I must be agoraphobic. Love those tight warm humid little closed-in stanky dark spaces ; )

King Rat was great. They never show it though.

Let's slip back to the Napoleonic Wars:

"Master and Commander"

Great 5.1 sound effects.

They showed King Rat on one of the satillite movie channels maybe 6 months ago. But like a dope, I didn't tape it.

King Rat was adapted from a very good book by James Clavell,of "Shogun" fame.Lotsa good books to read in that list of movies.David

Most of my faves have already been listed:
Band of Brothers
Apocalypse Now
Full Metal Jacket
Patton
Das Boot
Lost Battalion
Lawrence of Arabia-a personal favorite
World at War-I have the DVD boxed set, its outstanding!!!

I haven't seen the Red Badge of Courage, I saw a doc on Huston and the film 75?minutes was originally much longer until studio butchered it. Sad considering the uncut original (which is gone forever) was considered a masterpiece by those who saw it(or such was my impression).

Also love some Japanese films
Kurosawa-Ran & Kagemusha
Under the Flag of the Rising Sun--Fukasaku--just watched last night, over the top in places & difficult to watch in spots, the way a war film should be

Would Failsafe count? I like that show a lot.

I know it wasn't the entire focus of the film, but the battle scenes in Braveheart were awesome. Ditto on Gladiator.

When PBS had Matinee at the Bijou, they ran the original documentary about Memphis Belle's last mission. That was great.

1. Kelly's Heroes
2. Patton
3. All Quiet on the Western Front (original version)
4. Dr. Strangelove
5. We were Soldiers

Honorable

6. Tora, Tora, Tora
7 Apocalypse Now
8. MASH
9. Dirty Dozen
10 (tie) Saving Private Ryan / U-571

Doc Strangelove
1941
MASH
Slaughterhouse 5
Starship Troopers

I tend to like the ones with the more explicit anti-war message:


Paths of Glory

Johnny Got His Gun

Born on the Fourth of July

Platoon

Dr. Strangelove

Die Brücke (the bridge)
Full Metal Jacket
The Great Escape
The Young Lions
Dr. Strangelove

My Top 5 war films:

"A walk In The Sun" Dana Andrews,Richard Conti,Etc. 1945
"To Hell and Back" Audie Murphy 1955
"Porkchop Hill" Gregory Peck, 1959
"Here To Eternity" Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Cliff, 1953
"Saving Private Ryan" Tom Hanks 1998
There are too many more to choose from...

John.

King Rat was adapted from a very good book by James Clavell,of "Shogun" fame.Lotsa good books to read in that list of movies.David

I've probably read that book four or five times. Excellent. Clavell puts you right there.

Hi,
"King Rat" is available on DVD if you do an ebay search.

John.

Not yet mentioned - Twelve O'clock High, Gregory Peck - '49.
(Back when I went to the movies).

Ron.

Not yet mentioned - Twelve O'clock High, Gregory Peck - '49.
(Back when I went to the movies).

Ron.

Oh yes forgot about THAT one! :thmbsp: But then, I've a soft spot in my heart for B-17's!


Russ

when was the last time you watched "The Longest Day?" epic........

Bataan (1943): Japan has just invaded the Phillipines and the US Army attempts a desperate defence. Thirteen men are chosen to blow up a bridge on the Bataan peninsula and keep the Japanese from rebuilding it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035664/maindetails

Guns at Batasi (1962): It's a splendid character study of a British Army Regimental Sergeant Major set in an absorbing - and rather accurately prophetic - plot of a post-colonial African revolution.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058166/

Immortal Sergeant (1943): Out on patrol in the war-time desert a Canadian corporal reminisces about the woman he has left behind in London and ponders whether she will fall for the charms of his rival in love. At the same time he worries about how he would get on with his outfit if his crack sergeant was not there to guide him. Circumstances combine to give answers to both questions.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036037/

The War Lover (1962):Buzz Rickson is a dare-devil World War II bomber pilot with a death wish. Failing at everything not involving flying, Rickson lives for the most dangerous missions. His crew lives with this aspect of his personality only because they know he always brings them back alive.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056676/

Bravo Two Zero (1999):This is the true story of the most highly decorated British patrol since the Boer war: an eight man SAS team inserted behind Iraqi lines during the Gulf War in January 1991. Their mission was to take out the scud missiles which Saddam Hussein was using to terrorize his enemies, as well as to sever strategic communication lines between Baghdad and North West Iraq. This top secret mission was called "Bravo Two Zero" and it was commanded by Sergeant Andy McNab. Of the eight who went out, only five returned. Dropped into "scud alley" carrying 210-pound packs, McNab and his men soon found themselves surrounded by Saddam's army. Their radios didn't work; the weather was brutally cold. And they had been spotted. For the SAS, the Bravo Two Zero patrol has always been seen with mixed feelings. On one hand, its most famous ever action is a tale of remarkable endurance and heroism; on the other hand, only one of the eight-man patrol managed to escape death or capture (as told in The One That Got Away by Chris Ryan.)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120617/maindetails

The Sand Pebbles (1966): Engineer Jake Holman arrives aboard the gunboat U.S.S. San Pablo, assigned to patrol a tributary of the Yangtze in the middle of exploited and revolution-torn 1926 China. His iconoclasm and cynical nature soon clash with the "rice-bowl" system which runs the ship and the uneasy sybiosis between Chinese and foreigner on the river. Hostility towards the gunboat's presence reaches a climax when the boat must crash through a river-boom and rescue missionaries upriver at China Light Mission.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060934/


Other Favorites that were already mentioned:
The Train
Pork Chop Hill
Hamburger Hill
Action in the North Atlantic
Air Force


Almost al of these films are now on DVD! :thmbsp:

My recommendations would have to include;

1. Memphis Belle
2. The Great Escape
3. Hell in the Pacific
4. The Battle of Britain
5. Tora Tora Tora

I would have to put up several:
1. Stalag 17
2. In Harms Way
3. The Dirty Dozen
4. Kelly's Hero's
5. Patton
6. Tora Tora Tora
7. Bridge Over the River Kwai
8. Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

OK - that was more than a couple!!

Dave


Boy...that saved me alot of typin!!...lol :banana:

Schindler's List

These are rarely shown on TV. Some are not available on VHS or tape.

When Trumpets Fade (1998)
In WWII Western Germany, Private David Manning (Ron Eldard) reluctantly leaves behind a mortally wounded fellow soldier and searches for survivors from his platoon, only to learn from commanding officer Captain Pritchett that they have all been killed in action. Despite requesting a discharge on the grounds of mental disability, Manning is promoted to sergeant and assigned to lead a new platoon of young inductees.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0135706/


Decision Before Dawn (1951)
WWII is entering its last phase: Germany is in ruins, but does not yield. The US army lacks crucial knowledge about the German units operating on the opposite side of the Rhine, and decides to send two German prisoners to gather information. The scheme is risky: the Gestapo retains a terribly efficient network to identify and capture spies and deserters. Moreover, it is not clear that "Tiger", who does not mind any dirty work as long as the price is right, and war-weary "Happy", who might be easily betrayed by his feelings, are dependable agents. After Tiger and another American agent are successfully infiltrated, Happy is parachuted in Bavaria. His duty: find out the whereabouts of a powerful German armored unit moving towards the western front.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043459/


The Victors (1963)
Some short tales about the inhumanity of war, in front of the history of WWII, showing that the individum always looses.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057652/


Attack and Retreat (1965)
Chronicle of the unheralded and unsuccessful invasion of the Soviet Union by the Italian army during World War II

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059323/


Story of G.I. Joe (1945)
War correspondent Ernie Pyle joins Company C, 18th Infantry as this American army unit fights its way across North Africa in World War II. He comes to know the soldiers and finds much human interest material for his readers back in the States. Later, he catches up with the unit in Italy and accompanies it through the battles of San Vittorio and Cassino. He learns from its commanding officer, Lt. (later Capt.) Bill Walker of the loneliness of command, and from the individual G.I.'s of the human capacity to survive drudgery, discomfort, and the terror of combat.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038120/

Limited to movies about WW II infrantrymen... no boats, POW camps, planes, or subs. And in no order.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/56/A_Bridge_Too_Far_DVD.jpg/200px-A_Bridge_Too_Far_DVD.jpg
A Bridge Too Far (Operation Market Garden...Monty's Folly that could have won the war 6 months early, but probably prolonged it by three)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a5/TheLongestDay.png/200px-TheLongestDay.png
The Longest Day (D-Day)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ac/Saving_Private_Ryan_poster.jpg/200px-Saving_Private_Ryan_poster.jpg
Saving Private Ryan (D-Day and following)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/83/Kelly%27s_Heroes_movie.jpg/200px-Kelly%27s_Heroes_movie.jpg
Kelly's Heroes (Comedy, but one of the VERY few films where you'll see the difference between a Tiger Mk I and a Sherman M4-A3...which was a joke in itself)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3d/Stalingrad_film.jpg/200px-Stalingrad_film.jpg
Stalingrad (German film)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/33/Battleground.jpg/180px-Battleground.jpg
Battleground (Battle of the Bulge: remarkable film considering that it was filmed so close to the war's end)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/ae/The_Thin_Red_Line_Poster.jpg/200px-The_Thin_Red_Line_Poster.jpg
The Thin Red Line (Guadacanal..the most beautiful war movie, if that's possible)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/bb/Poster.jpeg/200px-Poster.jpeg
Band of Brothers (The 101st from Normandy to Austria)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cb/How_I_Won_the_War_DVD_cover.jpg/200px-How_I_Won_the_War_DVD_cover.jpg
How I Won the War (Richard Lester directs John Lennon. Not a pro-war film.)

(There are so many others, but these leap out at me for not having any real weaknesses in acting, direction, score, or cinematography.

I tend to like the ones with the more explicit anti-war message:


Paths of Glory

Johnny Got His Gun

Born on the Fourth of July

Platoon

Dr. Strangelove
Paths of Glory is one of the best movies I've ever seen.
Ed

Lots of great films here, but the one with most brutal battle scenes I've seen is "The Messenger, The Story of Joan of Arc"; sort of "Saving Private Ryan" meets "Braveheart".

I'm also partial to "Von Ryan's Express" with Sinatra; I always wind up watching that one when I stumble across it.

There was a sorta hokey one starring Jimmy Stewart in the late 1950s about the then-new B-52...I've caught pieces parts of it over the years, never have seen the whole thing end-to-end...It was in color, too, which was kinda unusual then...Anybody ever seen "7 Days in May ?"

There was a sorta hokey one starring Jimmy Stewart in the late 1950s about the then-new B-52...I've caught pieces parts of it over the years, never have seen the whole thing end-to-end...It was in color, too, which was kinda unusual then...Anybody ever seen "7 Days in May ?"

Strategic Air Command (1955) :yes:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048667/

Star Wars?!

Ok how about Murphy's War with Peter O'Toole.
Galipoli
Das Boot
Patton
Great Escape
The Dirty Dozen
Kelly's Hereos
Enemy at the Gates
Bridge on the River Kwai
Green Berets
Hunt for Red October
Mephis Belle
Saving Private Ryan
Deer Hunter
The original War of the Worlds

Shoot I liked them all.

Thanks for the thread. Definately added some to my list of must sees. For me personally Full Metal Jacket is untouchable. My dad served in Vietnam and in his opinion this was the best movie done on the war that this country would love to forget. It may seem strange to you but watching that movie makes me feel like I understand him more.
I know that sounded unmanly and I don't care. flamesuit is on.

Any war movie that has "Surfin' Bird" innit has GOT to be good.....

Never been much of a war flick fan. I always suspected that the Holleywood renditions Vs a grunt's reality were probably worlds apart, but no combat experiance here to base that opinion on.

So with that said I would vote

Patton George Scott is a great actor

Dr. Strangelove black humor and satire at it's best

Tora Tora Tora Well just an OK flick, but it was filmed in Hawaii while I was serving in the Air Force and I even worked as an extra for a few days. Hey $35 a day was big buck in those days for a single GI :thmbsp:

Lefty

The Longest Day is a special favorite of mine since my Dad was in the 29th Division and landed on Omaha Beach during the longest day.

You guys keep mentioning SAC and I'm gonna cry. From 1978 through 1992 I flew for SAC. Then they disbanded the command and handed us (the tankers) over to AMC (MAC) and our lives changed immeasurably for the worst. To this day we are miserable. Curtis E. is probably spinning in his grave.

I haven't seen the movie for a long time, but I remember Jimmy Stewart crashing a B-36 in Strategic Air Command, not one of the Bongo-52's.

Hey Blownsi,

Take your flame suit off. What you posted was pretty manly the way I see it.

Always heard that Gen. LeMay is/was regarded with an almost deity-like reverence amongst those who served under him. He could be a real bastard, but he made sure every man under him had whatever he needed to do his job, whether it was a grunt cleaning latrines or his chief-of-staff. He instilled a level of professionalism in his men that's seldom been equalled.

Fiery boy. If one crewmember screwed up, the ENTIRE CREW got busted one rank. Do good? The ENTIRE CREW got promoted. It was his insistence on tight bomber formations during daylight raids that busted the air over Europe wide open. Naturally, the eventual design of fighters that could escort the bombers all the way to Germany and back (P-51's) was a big deal, but it was his tactics that were the real reason.

There are no individuals like General LeMay in service today.

U-571
Master and Commander
Patton
Behind Enemy Lines
Enemy At The Gates
Saving Private Ryan

Lets see, Ten to Chi to (Heaven & Earth), which is set during the wars in feudal Japan during the 16th century.

Thirteen Days, although I'm not sure if the Cuban Missle Crisis is really a war, perhaps an almost war flick.

Plus a lot of films that have already been mentioned.

Fiery boy. If one crewmember screwed up, the ENTIRE CREW got busted one rank. Do good? The ENTIRE CREW got promoted. It was his insistence on tight bomber formations during daylight raids that busted the air over Europe wide open. Naturally, the eventual design of fighters that could escort the bombers all the way to Germany and back (P-51's) was a big deal, but it was his tactics that were the real reason.

There are no individuals like General LeMay in service today.

Father was as a tailgunner on a B-24 in the 8th during WWII and later I served in SAC, after Lemay, but SAC did treat everyone with respect and purpose for a dreadful mission that thankfully didn't come to pass :thmbsp:

Lefty

This damn thread started me on a war movie film festival. Watched "Enemy at the Gates" and "The Thin Red Line" over the past two nights. Bit of an emotional drain.

"Enemy" is set at Stalingrad, and while pretty good, becomes a little to mano a mano with its sniper duel among the total destruction. The opening scenes of Russian cannon fodder (er, soldiers) being brought to the front in locked railroad cars, ferried across the Volga under fire, and fed directly into the slaughterhouse (one rifle for every two soldiers, shot by your own officiers if you tried to retreat) that was Stalingrad were worth the rest of the movie. If anything sums up the total insanity of war, it's these opening sequences.

"The Thin Red Line" has moved right to the top of my list of greatest war movies ever. Set at Guadalcanal, it's range from dreamy to terrifying to reflective to intellectual to senseless is simply astounding, as the US Army tries to take that hill from entrenched Japanese (who are treated like real people rather than mindless Samurai-charging automatons). The director, Terrence Malick, uses voiceovers to get inside the heads of his many characters. If you think war is in anyway glorious, or heroic, or anything but a totally senseless waste of humans, nature, and resources, watch this movie. It depicts war in all its aspects, terrifying, visceral, bloody, boring, dreamy, heroic, debilitating, and at its crux the most insane and senseless of all of humanity's mass activities. A great film.

Lot of excellent recommendations here! Hard to pick favorite war movies, but two that haven't been mentioned are "Seven Samurai" and "We Were Soldiers Once". Have to have watched Seven Samurai 20 times, Kurosawa is such a master.

David

Gotta chime in regarding "The Guns of Navarone". I was OBSESSED with that one when it came out. Only one theatre in the small town where I grew up...new releases got a 3 day run. A couple buddies and I saw the 1st and 2nd showings of "Guns" for its entire run....then went out and attempted to re-enact the film. Typical kids.
"The Great Escape" still resides near the top of my list...not much combat here, but Steve McQueen ruled.
Don't think I've seen "Von Ryan's Express" mentioned...maybe I missed it in amongst all the posts. Again...not much in the way of combat...but a thouroughly enjoyable flick nonetheless.
And...what was the one where Laurel and Hardy enlisted in the Foreign Legion?

Paths of Glory. Generals mess up and cover their asses by selecting 3 soldiers for execution.