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

one man's opinion

[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?

[ChuckShick]

Stalag 17

[The Scourge of Yazid]

Try to snag a copy of "Charlotte Gray" if you get the chance. That's one of the best 'spy' movies set during WWII, in this case, in occupied France.

The main character is an English translator who decides to volunteer for service after her boyfriend from the RAF is shot down and taken as a POW by the German army.

Cate Blanchett stars as the title character. Great actress! Plus, she's absolutely one of the most gorgeous Englishwomen I've ever seen.

[Bringbackthedraft]

"Band of Brothers" has to rank way up there. But if we are just going with the 1940's black and whites then don't miss "Hitler Dead or Alive" with Ward Bond.(OK you know I'm Kidding.) Of course there is also that movie with Ward Bond and Ronald Reagan where their plane crashes and they work their way through enemy territory destroying most of Germany to get back to their base. And what would those WWII movies be without Conrad Veit, Helmut Dantine and Richard Loo?

[yarddog]

I agree with those who say "Patton".

Although your question was about WWII movies, I would add that "Sgt. York" was the best war movie of all time. "All Quiet on the Western Front" was also good.

[somemoreequalthanothers]

That's actually what I didn't like, Hackman playing the sadistic goon. He's done that in a few films.

[mizzmouse]

Schindler's list.

[The Scourge of Yazid]

I haven't actually watched it, but that cable movie about the Tuskegee Airman was supposed to be a really great film.

Personally, I think that we would be here forever if we were to list all of the noteworthy films which focused on WWII and it's attendant horrors; POW camps, civilian deaths, the Holocaust, etc.

I'm not sure if this was ever made into a feature film-it probably was, but I've never seen it-but

The Moon Is Down

was a fantastic novel, and a great piece of political, wartime propaganda!

[BonnieJ]

Guns Of Navarone - Americanization of Emily - The Big Red One - From Hell To Victory = Saving Private Ryan

[SolitaryMan]

Sorry, I didn't know it had to be a serious movie, in that case Operation Pacific, Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers.

[mathluv]

The Great Escape with Steve McQueen, The Dirty Dozen with Lee Marvin, and Operation Petticoat with Cary Grant - and anything with John Wayne.

[Michael81Dus]

One of the WW2-movies I like is

Das Boot

[lainde]

--Try to snag a copy of "Charlotte Gray" if you get the chance---

I'm glad you reminded me...I need to see that movie! I became a HUGE Blanchett fan after her magnificent performance in Elizabeth.

[rudy45]

"The Gallant Hours" (starred James Cagney as Admiral Halsey)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053849/

[rbmillerjr]

All of the same movies everybody else likes...but I've seen them 10 times each day...so here are some great movies to rent this weekend that you might not have seen.

Europa-Europa
Stalingrad
The Best Years of Your Life
Shame (Bergman)
Dark Blue World
The Great Dictator (Chaplin is a commie but it's funny)
It Happened Here (hypothetical on Nazi UK)

[Napoleon Solo]

"Tomorrow the World". Not one of the best, but not one to leave off any WWII movie list.

[kjam22]

My favorite WWII movie.... "Kelly's Heroes". :)

[Freee-dame]

bump

[The Scourge of Yazid]

I agree.

If we're going to start listing movies that focused just on American servicemen, I think we would be remiss in not including,

The Deer Hunter.

Just the finale of that movie was worth sitting through the other three hours; plus, it was Christopher Walken's breakout role!

I know the war was actually peripheral to the main plot, which really focuses on the maturation of a group of young men living in Pittsburgh, but I still think it was one of the best "war" movies of the 20th Century.

[larryjohnson]

--- 
Battleground

- Actors: Van Johnson , Ricardo Montalban , John Hodiak , George Murphy , Marshall Thompson , Denise Darcel , Don Taylor , Richard Jaeckel , James Whitmore , James Arness , Scotty Beckett --Description for Battleground VHS
--"Dedicated to the battered bastards of Bastogne," this dramatic historic film directed by William Wellman tells the story of a U.S. Army division in the European theater near the end of World War II. In a last-ditch effort to turn the tide of the war, the Germans launch a final attack that became known as the Battle of the Bulge. George Murphy, who portrays Private Ernest J. "Pop" Stazak, leads a terrific cast that also includes John Hodiak, Ricardo Montalban, and James Whitmore. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards and won two: one for its tight, unpredictable screenplay and one for its evocative black-and-white cinematography.
Synopsis for Battleground VHS
--BATTLEGROUND is the detailed study of the drama within a fighting unit of men brought together by war and determination.
Release Info:
--B&W Film
--Year Released: 1949
--RunTime: 119.083333333333 Min.
--Release Language: English
MPAA Rating:
--Not Rated
Supported Sound Options:
--Stereo Sound
Contributors:
--Director: William Wellman
--Producer: Dore Schary
--Screenwriter: Robert Pirosh
--Cinematographer: Paul C. Vogel
--Editor: John D. Dunning
--Composer: Lennie Hayton
--Production Designer: Cedric Gibbons
--Production Designer: Hans Peters
--Special Effects: Peter Ballbusch
--Set Designer: Edwin B. Willis
--Makeup: Jack Dawn

[rudy45]

"The Moon is Down" WAS made into a movie:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036170/

It starred (Sir) Cedric Hardwicke as Colonel Lanser.

But unfortunately it is apparently unavailable either on VHS or DVD.