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Memorial Day thread...What's your Favorite WW II war movie?
one man's opinion

Posted on 05/30/2004 4:15:31 AM PDT by ken5050

If you happen to turn your TV set on at any time this Memorial Day weekend, there's a strong probability you'll come across a World War II war movie..... the classic Hollywood genre. There are many of them, and, happily a lot of very good ones. So, on this weekend of remembrance, and the dedication of the WW II memorial, what's your favorite, or favorites, and why?


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: movies; turass
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To: ken5050
Patton and Mrs. Miniver.
21 posted on 05/30/2004 4:36:14 AM PDT by mewzilla
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To: ken5050

Definitely TORA TORA TORA. I went with my mom to see it and for some reason I never forgot that movie. I will never forget the words "We have awakened a sleeping giant!"


22 posted on 05/30/2004 4:37:34 AM PDT by areafiftyone (Democrats = the hamster is dead but the wheel is still spinning)
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To: ken5050

Operation Petticoat, Father Goose and The Wackiest Ship in the Army


23 posted on 05/30/2004 4:37:39 AM PDT by SolitaryMan
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To: ken5050

Saving Private Ryan and Blackhawk Down.

Both movies made me cry numerous times.


24 posted on 05/30/2004 4:37:45 AM PDT by Rays_Dad
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To: ItsonlikeDonkeyKong

Unforgiven makes the grade only because it starred the Master.


25 posted on 05/30/2004 4:38:21 AM PDT by somemoreequalthanothers
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To: ken5050

"The Great Escape" - great cast, great story, Steve McQueen
"A Bridge Too Far" - So tantalizing close to victory, but so far from success - great cast
"Flying Leathernecks" - Marines, John Wayne


26 posted on 05/30/2004 4:38:25 AM PDT by Gillsie
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To: mewzilla

"Mrs. Miniver" is a great film. I didn't thnk of it i that context, but it belongs,along with the "Best Years of our lives".. off to church..catch up with you later...


27 posted on 05/30/2004 4:39:26 AM PDT by ken5050 (Ann Coulter needs to have children ASAP to propagate her genes.....any volunteers?)
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To: ken5050

WWll movies are the greatest for me. I have many favorites but I guess #1 would have to be "The Battle of the Bulge". Honestly, I could, and do, watch WWll movies all day long. Today will be no exception.


28 posted on 05/30/2004 4:39:33 AM PDT by mrtysmm
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To: ken5050
The Best Years of Our Lives is one of the great films of all time. There are many good parts in this film but I especially liked the scenes of everyday America that the three protagonists witness from their taxi after arriving in their home town. The musical score by Hugo Friedhofer (which won one of the 8 Academy Awards), makes a great contribution to the effect of this film. This definitely should count as a WWII movie.

On a side note my family used to know the actor who plays the son to Frederic March. He later became a very successful art dealer and is about 1000% gay.

29 posted on 05/30/2004 4:40:01 AM PDT by wideminded
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To: Skooz
Yeah, "Kelly's Heroes" is definitely one of the classics.

I know this would probably be more appropriate for a Veteran's Day thread, but I just thought I'd mention one of the best films ever directed by Stanley Kubrick:

Paths of Glory.

30 posted on 05/30/2004 4:40:27 AM PDT by The Scourge of Yazid ("I caughts a rheumatism a chancin' on the snow. I killed me seven yankees, I'd like to kill some mo')
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To: SolitaryMan

What..you forgot "McHales' Navy joins the Air Force?"


31 posted on 05/30/2004 4:40:58 AM PDT by ken5050 (Ann Coulter needs to have children ASAP to propagate her genes.....any volunteers?)
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To: wideminded

The score is wonderful..it blends in..doesn't overwhelm the film, there's no one "SONG" or theme, as is the usual custom..BTW..take my suggestion, if you can find the book, read it..


32 posted on 05/30/2004 4:43:04 AM PDT by ken5050 (Ann Coulter needs to have children ASAP to propagate her genes.....any volunteers?)
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To: ken5050

Easy...Band of Brothers.


33 posted on 05/30/2004 4:44:09 AM PDT by Jon Alvarez
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To: ken5050
And Frances Joins the WACs :)
34 posted on 05/30/2004 4:44:16 AM PDT by mewzilla
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To: ken5050; mewzilla
I agree on "Mrs. Miniver." I didn't see that movie until about 5 years ago, and I was really moved by the sacrifices the English made, and their efforts to keep normal life going in the face of the Blitz. Such a movie could not be made today, with its emphasis on sacrifice and faith.

I also like Kelly's Heroes, although I don't really consider it a WWII movie. The attitude of the film is very 70's...no patriotism but everyone in it for the gold. Still, watching Carroll O'Connor listen to the advance on the radio, thinking that they are gung-ho fighters rather than looking for the gold, is one of the funniest scenes ever filmed. "Did you hear that?! They've even got the damned grave-diggers on board!"

35 posted on 05/30/2004 4:44:26 AM PDT by Miss Marple
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To: somemoreequalthanothers
I don't know. I thought it was a pretty good flick, especially the unconventional plot-line.

By the way, Gene Hackman is one of my favorite actors. I don't know how anyone can compare him to that putz Dustin Hoffman. For me, there's simply no basis for comparison.

36 posted on 05/30/2004 4:44:32 AM PDT by The Scourge of Yazid ("I caughts a rheumatism a chancin' on the snow. I killed me seven yankees, I'd like to kill some mo')
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To: theDentist

"Bridge on the River Kwai, The Great Escape, Patton, The Longest Day, Saving Private Ryan, Midway, Tora Tora Tora..."

And the list goes on and on.....
I could picture a long weekend with snacks and these movies.....paradise!


37 posted on 05/30/2004 4:45:17 AM PDT by mrtysmm
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To: Gillsie
I never really cared for "A Bridge Too Far" because I saw the movie almost immediately reading the book, which is an almost guaranteed recipe for disliking any movie.

If you ever get a chance to read the book, I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is one of the best books written about the war.

38 posted on 05/30/2004 4:46:43 AM PDT by Skooz (My Biography: Psalm 40:1-3)
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To: ken5050
Just for comical relief, my favorite is Kelly's Heroes

Kelly is a former platoon leader who was busted down in rank, because the objective he was ordered to take, a hill, resulted in the lives of allied troops already holding the hill. He did as he was ordered, but had to take the fall for someoneelse's mistake.

The film is irreverant toward military ideals, but captures the truth and reality of fighting forces and the games that go on behind the lines, in the same vein of Joseph Heller's - Catch 22, the book, not the movie.

The cast is a great lineup -

Clint Eastwood .... Pvt. Kelly

Telly Savalas .... Master Sgt. Big Joe

Don Rickles .... Staff Sgt. Crapgame

Carroll O'Connor .... Major General Colt

Donald Sutherland .... Sgt. Oddball, Tank Commander

Gavin MacLeod .... Moriarty, Tank crewman

Hal Buckley .... Captain Maitland

Here is just one line.

Big Joe: [shouting to the captured German Colonel] Look! We're not worried about the German army, we've got the troubles on our own. To the right General Patton, to the left the British Army, to the rear our own goddamn artillery, and besides all that it's raining.

39 posted on 05/30/2004 4:48:41 AM PDT by Dustoff45 (Before you pray, you can do nothing; after you pray, you can do everything.)
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To: ken5050

Maybe too "arty" for some but for me: "The Thin Red Line"


40 posted on 05/30/2004 4:51:22 AM PDT by weegie
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