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susquesus
Mad Hermit of the North Woods
USA
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 Posted - January 15 2005 : 6:01:23 PM
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Poll Question:
I know that there are far too many to list, and a lot that are unlisted are first class- but, of the below listed films, which is your favorite? After you've voted for one tell me which other films that you would have listed. Also, any favorite stars- Wayne, Fonda, Hanks, Mitchum? In addition, any votes for LEAST favorite WW2 films?(i.e. Pearl Harbor)
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Two Kettles
Colonial Settler
USA
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 Posted - January 16 2005 : 4:48:55 PM
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I voted for PATTON, but my real favorite (not on your list) is A BRIDGE TOO FAR. For sheer entertainment, it's probably THE DEVIL'S BRIGADE.
Two Kettles |
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susquesus
Mad Hermit of the North Woods
USA
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Posted - January 17 2005 : 11:35:55 PM
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| I had to go with "Saving Private Ryan" for sheer realism and emotional impact. Wayne would have to be my favorite actor-even though he never served in the military himself- he was great in "Sands of Iwo Jima". Other favorites include Gregory Peck in "Twelve O'clock High", Burgess Meredith in "Story of GI Joe", Henry Fonda in "The Battle of the Bulge", Tom Hanks in "Saving Private Ryan", and Donald Sutherland in "Kelly's Heroes". Least favorite would have to be "Pearl Harbor" - what a colossal waste of a budget, special effects, and subject matter. |
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Bookworm
Colonial Militia
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Posted - January 18 2005 : 07:07:15 AM
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| I voted for "Saving Private Ryan" for the same reasons, Susquesus, and I also agree with you about "Pearl Harbor." When they finally got around to the attack on Pearl Harbor, the sequence was well done, but not worth slogging through the surrounding movie for! "Enemy at the Gates" might be my second favorite -- makes you feel you're right there in the middle of the battle for Stalingrad, and a very bleak place it is. I just watched another good one, "The Enemy Below" with Robert Mitchum and Kurt Jurgens -- better than that other WWII submarine movie, "Run Silent, Run Deep," I thought. |
Bookworm
"I've gotten so fascinated with the eighteenth century, I'm going to stay there." -- David McCullough
"Nothing to it, brother." -- Barack Obama |
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
USA
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Posted - January 18 2005 : 08:41:21 AM
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Boy, Sus, I sure do agree with you on your assessment of Pearl Harbor! What a piece of cr........ er......... poor movie-making that was!
I voted for Bridge on the River Kwai. Wonderful movie, great theme song, and it has the great, elegant Alec Guinness and a fierce Sessue Hayakawa in it.
I can remember seeing it in the theater when it was first released, and later watching it on TV with my Dad. |
"It is more deeply stirring to my blood than any imaginings could possibly have been." |
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susquesus
Mad Hermit of the North Woods
USA
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Posted - January 18 2005 : 2:56:43 PM
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I just watched another good one, "The Enemy Below" with Robert Mitchum and Kurt Jurgens -- better than that other WWII submarine movie, "Run Silent, Run Deep," I thought.
-Bookworm
I just watched this one, too. Turner Classic Movies? I enjoyed it quite a bit. Is "Run Silent, Run Deep" the Clark Gable one where he faces off against a Japanese destroyer? If so I did enjoy that one but agree that "The Enemy Below" was a bit better. I've also never watched "Das Boot", is it as good as it's cracked up to be? |
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Doc M
Great Quack Healer of the Frontier
USA
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Posted - January 18 2005 : 4:08:51 PM
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My favorite is not on this list -- it's a little-known Claudette
Colbart movie that came out in 1950 called Three Came Home. It's
based on a true story of a women who spent many years in a Japanese
prison camp. I remember seeing it several times on TV when I was a
young pipsqueak and it fascinated me. It featured a terrific performance by Sessue Hayakawa as the prison camp commander. Unlike
most WWII movies in that time period, it didn't dismiss the Japanese
as mindles, inhuman "Japs."
Doc M |
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Stephanie
Gathering Sachemess
USA
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Posted - January 18 2005 : 5:16:41 PM
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Doc M I thought you were going to say the Claudette Colbert movie "Since you Went Away." WOW what a great WWII movie, all from the point of view from the homefront, too. I'll have to see if I can find the one you mentioned. I guess we ladies have a different view of war movies?
If you haven't seen "Since you went away" and if you like Claudette, you should check it out!
Stephanie |
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Doc M
Great Quack Healer of the Frontier
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Posted - January 18 2005 : 6:02:08 PM
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Steph, I do like that one as well. And my all-time favorite one which
finally bubbled up to the top of my brain is "The Best Years of Our
Lives" which I guess is not strictly a WWII movie, but still...close
enough.
Doc M |
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susquesus
Mad Hermit of the North Woods
USA
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 Posted - January 18 2005 : 6:14:53 PM
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Steph, I do like that one as well. And my all-time favorite one which
finally bubbled up to the top of my brain is "The Best Years of Our
Lives" which I guess is not strictly a WWII movie, but still...close
enough.
Doc M
I loved "The Best Years of our Lives" as well. It was a tough one to watch, especially the story of the fellow that had lost his hands. It's hard for us to imagine what a war like that can do to all levels of a society. It also makes us realize how tough it's going to be for many of our young men returning from Iraq to reintegrate into society, the physically wounded as well as the mentally wounded. |
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CT•Ranger
Colonial Militia
USA
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Posted - January 18 2005 : 9:40:23 PM
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I voted for Das Boot, after being in a few WWII subs, I think this film does the best job portraying what life was like in such a confined little sardine can. There's no way I could've done it. Being on a sub was probably the toughest job of the war. Some guys couldn't take it. My Grandfather was on a cruiser during WWII, once when he was in port, a sub officer shot himself rather than go back to sea.
Another favorite of mine is "The Thin Red Line," one of my all time favorite films ever, more for its incredible artistic value than as history. |
YMHS,
Connecticut•Ranger
Thomas Thacher
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Wilderness Woman
Watcher of the Wood
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Posted - January 19 2005 : 12:39:35 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Doc M
My favorite is not on this list -- it's a little-known Claudette Colbart movie that came out in 1950 called Three Came Home. It's based on a true story of a women who spent many years in a Japanese prison camp.
Doc, if you haven't seen "Paradise Road", I highly recommend it. Made several years ago and starring a stellar female cast (indluding Glenn Close), it addresses this same type of incident. Excellent movie!
I hope I can see the one you mentioned sometime. |
"It is more deeply stirring to my blood than any imaginings could possibly have been." |
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Seamus
Guardian of Heaven's Gate
USA
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Posted - January 19 2005 : 2:17:22 PM
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| Anybody ever see "The Young Lions" with Marlon Brando? It's a good one! |
Life's journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting
'...holy sh*t ...what a ride!'
~~Mavis Leyrer, Seattle
Seamus
~~Aim small, hit the b*****d right between the eyes!~~ |
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Christina
Deerslayer
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Posted - January 19 2005 : 2:26:14 PM
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I voted for "Saving Private Ryan" for the sheer emotional impact that had on me, but my favorite two aren't on the list. Those would be "Midway," an excellent cinematic account of that pivotal Pacific battle, and "Tora! Tora! Tora!" which is an excellent cinematic account of what REALLY happened at Pearl Harbor, as opposed to the drivel that the most recent "Pearl Harbor" was.
My father was a Marine stationed in the Pacific (and actually in the invasion of Okinawa) and he also is something of an armchair expert on Pacific military history. I first watched both films with him and since then have watched them over and over again. I tend to go with "If Dad thinks it's accurate, I'm cool with that." And both of these films tell the story and stand the test of time. |
See this face? This is the face of a woman on the edge.
Whoopi Goldberg, "Jumping Jack Flash"
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Seamus
Guardian of Heaven's Gate
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Posted - January 19 2005 : 2:26:26 PM
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Here's a review I found, for those who don't know about "The Young Lions"...also starring Montgomery Clift and Dean Martin.....
"The Young Lions" is a lengthy war epic that focuses not on battles, but on the people that have been forced to fight them. The theme of war as an evil, destructive and pointless force is well-developed, and the quality of the script and story more than compensates for minor problems.
"The Young Lions" tells the story of three soldiers. Marlon Brando plays a German lieutenant whose growing disillusionment with war and the German cause parallels the decline of the Axis war machine. Montgomery Clift plays a Jewish private who must overcome harassment from his fellow soldiers. Dean Martin plays a Broadway entertainer who is racked with guilt for trying to avoid fighting in the front lines.
Dean Martin has the weakest character. He is clearly in his late thirties, but feels so guilty over not serving in the trenches that he falls to drinking and abuse of his girlfriend. Martin doesn't seem comfortable, looking as if he'd rather be somewhere else.
Clift effectively underplays his character. Clift usually landed good roles due to his box office appeal, and his judgement of scripts. He never tied himself to a studio with a long term contract, enabling him to take only the roles that he wanted.
Clift's character has great similarity to the soldier that he played in "From Here to Eternity" (1953), his most successful film. Both characters are soldiers in World War II, both have romances, both become boxers. Both characters desert their units, and have jerks for commanding officers (that eventually get their comeuppance).
However, "The Young Lions" doesn't rip off "From Here to Eternity" so much as improve it. It is true, though, that Clift's desertion here is not adequately explained. Also, perhaps he is made too much of a hero when rescuing his fellow soldiers (and former tormentors).
Brando has the best role. His German accent isn't quite right, but he nails his character perfectly. Torn between duty and revulsion of his actions, he soon has the unhappy look of a condemned man.
"The Young Lions" is well directed. There's not a scene wasted, and although lengthy, the film never drags. The Germans are portrayed as men reluctantly following an evil cause, rather than as murderous stereotypes. The script and cinematography is also excellent. |
Life's journey is not to
arrive at the grave safely
in a well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways,
totally worn out, shouting
'...holy sh*t ...what a ride!'
~~Mavis Leyrer, Seattle
Seamus
~~Aim small, hit the b*****d right between the eyes!~~ |
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Bookworm
Colonial Militia
USA
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Posted - January 19 2005 : 6:53:10 PM
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| Some excellent recommendations here -- I'll have to rent "The Young Lions." Susquesus, I guess CT Ranger answered your question about "Das Boot." I haven't seen it yet, but have heard it's the greatest sub movie ever. I rented "Run Silent, Run Deep" (yep, it's the one with Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster) and "The Enemy Below" recently because I love "The Hunt for Red October" and "Crimson Tide" ("K-19" is pretty good, too) and decided to see some of the older sub movies. Lots of shared themes in this category (opposing captains trying to anticipate each other's next moves, conflict between captain and XO and/or entire crew, need to sacrifice a few to save the many, nerve-wracking dive to crush depth, etc.), but it seems like the story of men on a dangerous mission trapped in an undersea container never fails to produce good drama. |
Bookworm
"I've gotten so fascinated with the eighteenth century, I'm going to stay there." -- David McCullough
"Nothing to it, brother." -- Barack Obama |
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marty
Lost in the Wilderness
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Posted - February 02 2005 : 9:32:51 PM
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| kellys heros,,theres a good wwll flick... |
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Kate
Ariel's Cabin Caretaker, Retired
United Kingdom
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Posted - February 02 2005 : 10:00:35 PM
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Like Two Kettles, one of my MOST FAVOURITE WWII movies has to be 'A Bridge Too Far'.
But a movie that really stirs my emotions and works at my tear ducts HAS GOT TO BE 'A Town Like Alice'. It's got the 'man's inhumanity to man' during the characters’ captivity, the women's killer 'trek to nowhere' and it dealt with a tragic side of that war – a foe who just wanted to be at home with HIS family too, instead of being part of the Japanese war machine.
Of course, I can’t help loving this film, having wandered the streets of the ghost town in Australia where the final scenes of this film were done!! I’ve stood in the ‘Air Terminal’ (actually the Silverton Post Office!  ) where Helen and Joe are finally reunited!! 
Ladies, if you haven’t seen it, I’m sure you’d enjoy it! But a warning – keep that tissue box handy!
Least favourite? Hmmmm… a few but I definitely didn’t have much time for ‘Pearl Harbor’. |
Kate
"Cuimhnich air na daoine o'n d'thainig thu." (Remember the people from whom you came.)
~ Celtic Wisdom
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Bookworm
Colonial Militia
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Posted - February 03 2005 : 08:03:19 AM
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Here are a few more that we've enjoyed recently:
"The Battle of Britain," made in 1969 or thereabouts -- excellent story about the RAF in the early days of the war, with a great cast that includes Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier. My husband, who knows about such things, was very impressed with the authenticity of it.
"Sink the Bismarck," also several decades old, starring Kenneth More and Dana Wynter, about the nerve-wracking effort of the British navy to find and destroy Germany's largest battleship. (Husband also approved of this one, although at one point he exclaimed "they didn't use Hurricanes there!" or something to that effect.)
"MacArthur" starring Gregory Peck, who does an excellent job portraying the general from the Philippines through Korea. We both thought this was well done, though husband disagreed with some interpretations of MacArthur's actions. |
Bookworm
"I've gotten so fascinated with the eighteenth century, I'm going to stay there." -- David McCullough
"Nothing to it, brother." -- Barack Obama |
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Doc M
Great Quack Healer of the Frontier
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Posted - February 03 2005 : 10:54:09 AM
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Oh, yes Kate!! I LOVED A Town Like Alice!! Bryan Brown ---
hummina hummina! Mommy buy me dat! What a great story
as well! The book is also excellent -- in fact, I've enjoyed all
of Nevil Shute's books. (He wrote On The Beach as well.)
Well, thanks to the various movie threads I now have a pile of
dvds to watch over the next few weeks. Keep 'em coming, Susquesus!!
Doc M |
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SgtMunro
Soldier of the King
USA
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Posted - February 04 2005 : 9:10:04 PM
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I would have to stand by 'The Longest Day', as the all-time great WW2 flick. It managed to weave together the multiple operations going on, in-concert, on that very important day(s). 'Saving Private Ryan' would be in my top-10, if only for the fact that the 'first person' view of combat was as real as I remembered it (A first for Hollywood).
Your Most Humble Servant,
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Capt. Thos. Graham's Coy.
42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foote
(The Black Sheep of the Black Watch)
"Nemo Me Impune Lacessit"
-Or-
"Recruit locally, fight globally." |
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chasis_22
Colonial Settler
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Posted - March 22 2005 : 6:03:59 PM
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| I voted for Schindler's List. I love movies involving the Holocaust. I was most impressed with the dramatic change Schindler made. Going from a man that shot a jew because he had a limb missing and wasn't a valuable worker to a man that was loved by all the jews he had saved. I cried when they all took their gold fillings and stuff out so they can have a gold watch or something made for him. Very heart wrentching. |
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helloyamada
Lost in the Wilderness
Japan
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Posted - August 30 2005 : 1:17:37 PM
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SANDS OF IWO JIMA is good.
The story is easy to understand and many battle scenes are fully realistic.
I learned in English class that the plural form of 'sand' is not 'sands,' but, for example, 'two grains of sand.' Why SANDS?
Even if the film was dramatized, why guys came to blows by only Cards? Why they got married in so hurry?
However, many bombs look much more powerful than recent films. I can imagine that many American people at that time enjoy this film.
Anyway, I guess USS IWO JIMA, famous as a recovery ship for Apollo 13 astronauts, was named after the battle.
Is it a common sense to fold the flag with the blue side being shown to us people? I wish the scene were in color.
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Monadnock Guide
Council of Elders
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Posted - August 30 2005 : 2:19:32 PM
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| English can be a very difficult language at times. Two grains of sand, (instead of sands) becomes descriptive - much like the Japanese/Chinese languages I believe. Do you have a word for wine? Or is it alcohol with grapes? (Descriptive) |
you can keep "The Change" |
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Obediah
Mohicanland Statesman
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 Posted - August 16 2006 : 3:45:43 PM
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I voted for "Enemy at the Gates." The opening sequences (crossing the Volga & attacking Red Square) are so intense, perhaps more than the D-Day sequence in SPR. And speaking of SPR, after watching it, I totally lost interest in TLD.
But my all time favorite WWII "movie" is Band of Brothers. Nothing compares to it; it makes SPR look dull.
As for my least favorite: "Patton." It's just booooring. |
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Hawkeye_Joe
Colonial Militia
USA
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Posted - December 29 2007 : 6:45:02 PM
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I had to vote for "Story of GI Joe"... this is possibly one of the most accurate depiction of what the US soldier had to endure during the Italian campaign. If you look at the cartoons of Bill Mauldin and the GI's in GI Joe you will see that William Wellman "Got it right".
"Band of Brothers", and the "Longest Day", are awesome movies..."A Walk in the Sun" should also be on the list....SPR is great..one you did not mention was "Battleground"...also on the top of my list... But do yourself a favor and watch Ernie Pyle's "Story of GI Joe"...it's nearly perfect..... |
HAWK
"The scum of every nation gravitates to the frontier."
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lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."
Benjamin Franklin 1759
The existence of flamethrowers is proof that someone, somewhere, said to himself, "I want to set those people over there on fire, but I don't feel like walking over there to do it."
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Favorite World War 2 Film
