There are a lot of movies made on war but below are 10 of the greatest war movies of all time. Enjoy the article and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
1. Casablanca – 1942 – Michael Curtiz – WWII in Morocco
Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Peter Lore became our WWII heroes who might as well have won the war all by themselves. Ingrid and Humphrey play star crossed lovers who help her husband escape into free Europe while they remain behind with the Nazis and Vichys. Love among the savages as the world shakes.
2. Schindler’s List – 1993 – Steve Spielberg – WWII Germany
A film that garnered the top awards around the world and left all who viewed it with a hole in their hearts. The film describes the efforts of a survivor of German Concentration Camps to locate any other survivors on a list he has of co-prisoners during the holocaust. Despite the awards and merit, it is not for the sensitive person who could be tormented deeply by the plot and events. It stands as an outstanding war movie, one of the best war movies of all time.
3. Sophie’s Choice – 1982 – Alan J. Pakula – WWII Poland
This is an unusually dark vehicle for Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline, although everyone realizes both certainly have the chops for it. The story is woven througohout the film as two boarders befriend Meryl Streep’s character and attempt to know what makes her tick, what hidden mystery clouds her. At the climax of the movie when it is revealed in all of its anguish, the men receive far more than they had expected and Meryl’s character is even more raw than they had known. It draws a candidly bizarre picture of the everyday person and sacrifices that seem impossible when remembered after peace has come.
4. The Bridge On The River Kwai – 1957 – David Lean – WWII POW Camp
This film enjoys a Memorial Day rerun annually as an outstanding favorite of veterans of our foreign wars. The war torn jungle scenery where the ill fated bridge is being built with POW labor is as lovely as the enemy is cruel and diabolitical. William Holden stands superb as the hero and Alec Guiness as the Australian officer in charge of the Allied prisoners is a sadly honorable and triumphant hero, as well. This film permits veterans to remember with honor and pride without a melt down. That merits its place on best war movies of all time.
5. Apocalypse Now – 1979 – Franics Ford Coppola – Vietnam
This film was as black and brutal as the hearts of men who grandiose war. Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper turned in earthshakingly real performances, and Sheen even sustained a heart attack during filming. No one could view this without being shaken to the core. Most of all, one could not escape the reality that was Vietnam, and the tragic truth that some of the men who survived it physically still have not returned mentally.
6. The Deer Hunter – Michael Cimino – 1979 – Vietnam
This film was made just after the conclusion of the most bitterly argued-against-and-for war of our history. It is also considered the only war we ever lost. The brutality of The Deer Hunter covers Robert de Niro, Christopher Walken and John Savage. Caught by the Cong in what they realized was probably the end of their lives, they thought of their American homes and friends and the war acts they had seen and committed. They were forced to play Russian Roulette by their captors. This was made even more intense and appreciated by the fact the Vietnam war was America’s own Russian Roulette.
7. Dr. Zhivago – 1965 – David MacLean – Bolshevik Revolution
This film was lengthy by the 1960 standards and many were surprised upon exiting theaters that there was no snow blanketing the ground. Julie Christie and Omar Sharif with Geraldine Chaplin were perfection in their roles of people caught between duty, honor, love and a war seemingly without end. It may always stand alone as an epic war torn love story without match among the best war movies of all time.
8. Gone With The Wind – 1936 – David O. Seznick – Civil War in South
Acclaimed the world over and winner of ten Academy Awards! No matter what other grandiose features Selznick directed, this one stands as a solitaire diamond. Everyone seemed perfect for their parts: Clark Gable, Vivian Leigh, Olivia deHavilland and Hattie Mc Daniels. Criticized for historical rewriting and a glorification of beastial slavery, Gone With The Wind nonetheless has been credited for instrumenting changes in how African Americans are shown in Hollywood, and in 1989, Gone with the Wind was selected to be preserved by the National Film Registry. A star in the crown of best war movies of all time!
9. Where Eagles Dare – 1966, Allistair MacLean- WWII
Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood starred in this WWII film in the French Alps. Filmed when WWII films were dying, MacLean stepped into the ring and directed this war movie showing everyone how it should be done. The artillery and mahem scenes were beyond anything seen before. The climactic fight to the death scene on top of a ski lift still remains in the minds of every viewer.
10. Napoléon -1927, Directed by Abel Gance — Napoleonic wars
This was Gance’s conception of a tremendous silent movie aspiration. He wanted to created and direct six features telling the story of Napoleon’s unbelievably historical lifetime. The movie in restoration are over 5 hours long. Gance made a biopic that was earth shaking with wildly camera swings that mimic terror and confusion of war and death. It played in scattered fashion over three screens! This could be CinemaScope 25 years ahead of time! Napoleon was redone, cut, nearly lost until Francis Ford Coppola rescued it in 1980, and it triumphed once more. This film represents cinema genius, and from the initial birth of it all. Its historical mark merits one of the best war movies of all time.
