# Best All-Time Military Movies -- Pre-Poll Data Gathering **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 26, 2015, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835 "2015-05-26T00:38:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![ralfy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ralfy/32/600_2.png) [@ralfy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralfy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/221 "2015-06-01T03:19:28Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Thanks, **ralfy** , for the list. Please see my comments below: > > * * * > > The Human Condition > The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (I) [The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (1959) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053114/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_9) (1959) > The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (II) [The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (1959) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053115/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_13) (1959) > The Human Condition III: A Soldier’s Prayer [The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer (1961) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055233/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_14) (1961) > > }}} Any particular one, or all of them? > > * * * > > The Burmese Harp > The Burmese Harp [The Burmese Harp (1956) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049012/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1956) > The Burmese Harp [The Burmese Harp (1985) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088810/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2) (1985) > > }}} Any particular one, or all of them? > > * * * > > Aliens (1986) > > #90 Today, 02:21 AM > DWMarch > > If Starship Troopers makes the cut, I think Aliens should be on the list too. > > }}} I’m choosing not to include sci-fi movies in this project in hopes somebody else will start such a thread for them. > > * * * > > Europa, Europa (1990) > Europa Europa [Europa Europa (1990) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099776/?ref_=nv_sr_3) (1990) \<\<\< already on the list \>\>\> > > #36 Today, 11:07 PM > bordelond > > What does the house think of Europa Europa? > > #37 Today, 11:10 PM > Zeldar > > Quote: > Originally Posted by bordelond View Post > What does the house think of Europa Europa? > > Looks like it ought to qualify to me: > [Europa Europa (1990) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099776/?ref_=nv_sr_3) > > * * * > > Ran (1985) > Ran Ran [Ran (1985) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089881/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1985) \<\<\< already on the list \>\>\> > > * * * > > $$$$$$$ I will be adding these: > > The Seven Samurai > Seven Samurai [Seven Samurai (1954) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047478/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3(1954)) > > Oro, Plata, Mata [Oro, Plata, Mata (1982) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086056/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1982) > Kagemusha [Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080979/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1980) > Fires on the Plain [Fires on the Plain (1959) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053121/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1959) > > The Battle on the River Plate > Pursuit of the Graf Spee “The Battle of the River Plate” (original title) [Pursuit of the Graf Spee (1956) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048990/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_2) (1956) > > War and Peace (Bondarchuk) > War and Peace “Voyna i mir” (original title) [War and Peace (1965) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063794/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4) (1966) For The Human Condition, the trilogy itself. For Burmese Harp, the older one. Also, Three Years Without God: > **[Three Years Without God (1976) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125537/reference)** > > Three Years Without God (1976) Reference View The Execution of Private Slovik The Ascent (1977) Soldier of Orange Die Brucke (1959) Army of Shadows (1969) I wanted to add Hope and Glory Rome, Open City Ashes and Diamonds A Man Escaped Au Revoir, Les Enfants The Sorrow and the Pity Burn! But I’m not sure if they are considered military movies. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/222 "2015-06-01T04:12:44Z")
> [@ralfy](#): > > Also, Three Years Without God: [Three Years Without God (1976) - Reference View - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125537/reference) > > The Execution of Private Slovik > The Ascent (1977) > Soldier of Orange > Die Brucke (1959) > Army of Shadows (1969) > > I wanted to add > > Hope and Glory > Rome, Open City > Ashes and Diamonds > A Man Escaped > Au Revoir, Les Enfants > The Sorrow and the Pity > Burn! > > But I’m not sure if they are considered military movies. Thanks so much, **ralfy** , and we’ll let voting determine relevance. The addition of these titles may assist War Movie buffs to locate some new things worth checking out. I’ll be adding these, either to the yet-to-be-posted decades, or to the “overflow file” which is growing! I had already added the The Burmese Harp [The Burmese Harp (1956) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049012/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1956) The Burmese Harp [The Burmese Harp (1985) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088810/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2) (1985) so I’ll leave them up. Again, voters can decide. ============================================== Tatlong taong walang Diyos aka “Three Years Without God” [Three Years Without God (1976) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125537/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1976) The Execution of Private Slovik \<\< already on the list \>\> The Ascent “Voskhozhdenie” (original title) [The Ascent (1977) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075404/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1977) Soldier of Orange “Soldaat van Oranje” (original title) [Soldier of Orange (1977) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076734/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1977) The Bridge “Die Brücke” (original title) [The Bridge (1959) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052654/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1959) The Army of Shadows “L’armée des ombres” (original title) [Army of Shadows (1969) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064040/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1969) Hope and Glory [Hope and Glory (1987) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093209/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1987) Rome, Open City “Roma città aperta” (original title) [Rome, Open City (1945) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038890/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1945) Ashes and Diamonds “Popiól i diament” (original title) [Ashes and Diamonds (1958) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052080/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1958) A Man Escaped “Un condamné à mort s’est échappé ou Le vent souffle où il veut” (original title) [A Man Escaped (1956) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049902/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1956) Au Revoir Les Enfants [Au Revoir les Enfants (1987) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092593/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1987) The Sorrow and the Pity \<\< already on the list \>\> Burn! “Queimada” (original title) [Burn! (1969) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064866/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1969) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/223 "2015-06-01T14:43:59Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Here’s the first of such updates: > > # ================================ The 300 Spartans [The 300 Spartans (1962) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055719/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1962) The Burmese Harp [The Burmese Harp (1956) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049012/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1956) The Burmese Harp [The Burmese Harp (1985) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088810/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2) (1985) Farewell to the King [Farewell to the King (1989) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097334/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1989) Fires on the Plain [Fires on the Plain (1959) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053121/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1959) The Human Comedy [The Human Comedy (1943) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036022/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1943) ++ The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (I) [The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (1959) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053114/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_9) (1959) The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (II) [The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (1959) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053115/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_13) (1959) The Human Condition III: A Soldier’s Prayer [The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer (1961) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055233/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_14) (1961) Kagemusha [Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080979/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1980) Oro, Plata, Mata [Oro, Plata, Mata (1982) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086056/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1982) Pursuit of the Graf Spee “The Battle of the River Plate” (original title) [Pursuit of the Graf Spee (1956) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048990/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_2) (1956) Seven Samurai [Seven Samurai (1954) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047478/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3) (1954) The Secret Invasion [The Secret Invasion (1964) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058561/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1964) Waterloo [Waterloo (1970) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066549/?ref_=nv_sr_2) (1970) ++ Wooden Crosses [Wooden Crosses (1932) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022787/?ref_=nm_knf_t2) (1932) ++ > > **++** These were added after the polls for those decades were already up. They will be dealt with at a later time, just how has yet to be determined. > > **This one was not added:** > > War and Peace “Voyna i mir” (original title) [War and Peace (1965) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063794/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4) (1966) \<\<\< Already on List \>\>\> > > ```auto > > &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& > Pre 1940 = 24 ++ > 1940s = 45 > 1950s = 55 > 1960s = 65 > 1970s = 25 ++ > 1980s = 38 > 1990s = 23 ++ > 2000s = 41 > > Total = 316 > &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& > > ``` > > ================================ Here’s an update of that information with a new decade count breakdown: # The 300 Spartans [The 300 Spartans (1962) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055719/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1962) The Army of Shadows “L’armée des ombres” (original title) [Army of Shadows (1969) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064040/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1969) The Ascent “Voskhozhdenie” (original title) [The Ascent (1977) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075404/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1977) ++ Ashes and Diamonds “Popiól i diament” (original title) [Ashes and Diamonds (1958) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052080/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1958) Au Revoir Les Enfants [Au Revoir les Enfants (1987) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092593/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1987) ++ The Bridge “Die Brücke” (original title) [The Bridge (1959) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052654/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1959) The Burmese Harp [The Burmese Harp (1956) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049012/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1956) The Burmese Harp [The Burmese Harp (1985) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088810/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2) (1985) ++ Burn! “Queimada” (original title) [Burn! (1969) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064866/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1969) Farewell to the King [Farewell to the King (1989) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097334/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1989) ++ Fires on the Plain [Fires on the Plain (1959) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053121/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1959) Hope and Glory [Hope and Glory (1987) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093209/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1987) ++ The Human Comedy [The Human Comedy (1943) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036022/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1943) The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (I) [The Human Condition I: No Greater Love (1959) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053114/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_9) (1959) The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (II) [The Human Condition II: Road to Eternity (1959) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053115/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_13) (1959) The Human Condition III: A Soldier’s Prayer [The Human Condition III: A Soldier's Prayer (1961) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0055233/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_14) (1961) Kagemusha [Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080979/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1980) ++ A Man Escaped “Un condamné à mort s’est échappé ou Le vent souffle où il veut” (original title) [A Man Escaped (1956) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049902/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1956) Napoleon [Napoleon (1927) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0018192/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1927) ++ The Odd Angry Shot [The Odd Angry Shot (1979) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079652/) (1979) ++ Oro, Plata, Mata [Oro, Plata, Mata (1982) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086056/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1982) Pursuit of the Graf Spee “The Battle of the River Plate” (original title) [Pursuit of the Graf Spee (1956) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048990/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_2) (1956) Rome, Open City “Roma città aperta” (original title) [Rome, Open City (1945) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038890/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1945) Seven Samurai [Seven Samurai (1954) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047478/?ref_=fn_al_tt_3)) (1954) The Secret Invasion [The Secret Invasion (1964) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058561/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1964) Soldier of Orange “Soldaat van Oranje” (original title) [Soldier of Orange (1977) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076734/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1977) ++ The Sound of Music [The Sound of Music (1965) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059742/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1965) Tatlong taong walang Diyos aka “Three Years Without God” [Three Years Without God (1976) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0125537/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1976) ++ Waterloo [Waterloo (1970) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066549/?ref_=nv_sr_2) (1970) ++ Wooden Crosses [Wooden Crosses (1932) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0022787/?ref_=nm_knf_t2) (1932) = 30 **++** These were added after the polls for those decades were already up. They will be dealt with at a later time, just how has yet to be determined. ========================================================================================== ```auto &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Pre 1940 = 25 ++ 1940s = 46 1950s = 58 1960s = 68 1970s = 29 ++ 1980s = 40 ++ 1990s = 23 ++ 2000s = 41 Total = 330 &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& ``` As you see, the next likely group to focus on (1940s) is still getting nominations, so I think I’ll give it another day before launching the poll. Before we get there, I’d like some feedback on whether to break the 50s and 60s groups into two sets each with, say, FIVE votes each, or whether to leave them complete and allow TEN votes each. Preferences? Other ideas? In case it’s not obvious, I’m wanting to save the 2000s for last. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/224 "2015-06-01T15:29:56Z")
OK, this is too late for the poll, as it’s from 1927 and almost certainly wouldn’t win anyway, but some people might be interested. [The Battles of Coronel and Falkland Islands](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0221007/) is a recreation of two 1914 WW1 naval battles, using real warships of the period, with crew and officers. I saw a restored print on the (big-ish) screen last year and was quite impressed, despite it being a fairly gung-ho and bending the truth a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/225 "2015-06-01T16:05:41Z")
> [@Meurglys](#): > > OK, this is too late for the poll, as it’s from 1927 and almost certainly wouldn’t win anyway, but some people might be interested. > [The Battles of Coronel and Falkland Islands](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0221007/) is a recreation of two 1914 WW1 naval battles, using real warships of the period, with crew and officers. I saw a restored print on the (big-ish) screen last year and was quite impressed, despite it being a fairly gung-ho and bending the truth a bit. I’ll be adding it in the next batch of updates The Battles of Coronel and Falkland Islands [The Battles of Coronel and Falkland Islands (1927) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0221007/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1927) Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/226 "2015-06-01T16:49:16Z")
I would suggest breaking the '40s into 1940–45 and 1946–49, i.e., wartime and postwar. The tone of many films changed drastically once the war ended. The '50s might be good to break up into pre-Korea, Korea, and post-Korea. You could do the same thing with Vietnam in the '60s. Antiwar films became big after 1967 or so. BTW, is \*\*\*PT 109 \*\*\* (Cliff Robertson as JFK, USN) on the list? I got to wondering if there were any movies of the British raid on St Nazaire. I found these: > **[Gift Horse (film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_Horse_(film))** > > Gift Horse (released in the United States as Glory at Sea) is a 1952 British black-and-white World War II drama film. It was produced by George Pitcher, directed by Compton Bennett, and stars Trevor Howard, Richard Attenborough, James Donald, and Sonny Tufts. > The film follows the story of the fictional ship HMS Ballantrae and her crew from the time they come together in 1940 until they go on a one-way mission to destroy a German-held dry dock in France. The title is a reference to the old pro... > **[Attack on the Iron Coast](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_the_Iron_Coast)** > > Attack on the Iron Coast is a 1967 DeLuxe Color Anglo-American Oakmont Productions international co-production war film directed by Paul Wendkos in the first of his five-picture contract with Mirisch Productions, and starring Lloyd Bridges, Andrew Keir, Sue Lloyd, Mark Eden and Maurice Denham. The film depicts an account of Allied Combined Operations Headquarters commandos executing a daring raid on the German-occupied French coast during the Second World War. The film is based on the commando And this made-for-TV documentary, which got good reviews: [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0996628/](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0996628/) (If made-for-TV documentaries are acceptable for the 2000s). Lloyd Bridges in _ **Attack on the Iron Coast** _ and made-for-TV films remind me of \*\*this one \*\*I watched way back in November '75: > **[Death Race (TV Movie 1973) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069953/)** > > Death Race: Directed by David Lowell Rich. With Lloyd Bridges, Roy Thinnes, Eric Braeden, Doug McClure. In the North African desert in World War II, a damaged American fighter plane that is unable to take off tries to evade and destroy a pursuing... Kind of a hokey flick (the “Panther” is a Sherman with an Afrika Korps paintjob), but the P-40s (\*real \*airplanes, not models or CGI) are awesome! I see it’s available uncut and without commercial interruption on YouTube… :o ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/227 "2015-06-01T17:07:19Z")
I could have sworn _30 Seconds Over Tokyo_ was mentioned somewhere in this thread but I don’t see it on the list. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/228 "2015-06-01T17:08:54Z")
I also enjoyed **this movie** (_ **Malèna** _) greatly: > **[Maléna (singer)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mal%C3%A8na)** > > Arpine Martoyan (Armenian: Արփինե Մարտոյան; born 10 January 2007), known professionally as Maléna (Armenian: Մալենա), is an Armenian singer and songwriter. She represented Armenia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2021 with the song "Qami Qami", and went on to win the competition, becoming the second Armenian entrant to win the Junior Eurovision Song Contest. > Born in Yerevan on 10 January 2007, Maléna was raised by her mother Anna Manucharyan, an actress. Together with her mother, she has ... ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/229 "2015-06-01T17:08:54Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > I could have sworn _30 Seconds Over Tokyo_ was mentioned somewhere in this thread but I don’t see it on the list. This is it: Thirty Seconds over Tokyo [Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037366/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1944) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/230 "2015-06-01T17:10:44Z")
> [@UncleRojelio](#): > > I could have sworn _30 Seconds Over Tokyo_ was mentioned somewhere in this thread but I don’t see it on the list. It’s under “T” for “Thirty.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/231 "2015-06-01T18:26:25Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I would suggest breaking the '40s into 1940–45 and 1946–49, i.e., wartime and postwar. The tone of many films changed drastically once the war ended. > > The '50s might be good to break up into pre-Korea, Korea, and post-Korea. > > You could do the same thing with Vietnam in the '60s. Antiwar films became big after 1967 or so. > > BTW, is \*\*\*PT 109 \*\*\* (Cliff Robertson as JFK, USN) on the list? > > I got to wondering if there were any movies of the British raid on St Nazaire. I found these: > > [Gift Horse (film) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_Horse_(film)) > > [Attack on the Iron Coast - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_the_Iron_Coast) > > And this made-for-TV documentary, which got good reviews: > > [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0996628/](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0996628/) > > (If made-for-TV documentaries are acceptable for the 2000s). > > Lloyd Bridges in _ **Attack on the Iron Coast** _ and made-for-TV films remind me of \*\*this one \*\*I watched way back in November '75: > > [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069953/](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069953/) > > Kind of a hokey flick (the “Panther” is a Sherman with an Afrika Korps paintjob), but the P-40s (\*real \*airplanes, not models or CGI) are awesome! I see it’s available uncut and without commercial interruption on YouTube… :o > [@terentii](#): > > I also enjoyed **this movie** (_ **Malèna** _) greatly: > > [Maléna (singer) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mal%C3%A8na) Your suggestions for a logical division of the 40s, 50s and 60s would be good if the numbers worked out – but they don’t. How about a 50% split of the decade instead? Or some other criteria? Here’s what I’m going to be adding: The Battles of Coronel and Falkland Islands [The Battles of Coronel and Falkland Islands (1927) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0221007/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1927) PT 109 [PT 109 (1963) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057393/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1963) Glory at Sea “Gift Horse” (original title) [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044658/?ref\_=fn\_al\_tt\_1](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044658/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1952) Attack on the Iron Coast [Attack on the Iron Coast (1968) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062688/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1968) Jeremy Clarkson: Greatest Raid of All Time [Jeremy Clarkson: Greatest Raid of All Time (TV Movie 2007) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0996628/?ref_=fn_al_tt_4) (2007) Death Race [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069953/?ref\_=fn\_al\_tt\_2](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0069953/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2) (1973) Malèna [Malena (2000) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0213847/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (2000) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/232 "2015-06-01T20:08:31Z")
On the theory that something is better than nothing, I’ve gone with: > **[Your favorite/best War Movies From the 1940s (A)](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758335)** > > For background check these threads: Best All-Time Military Movies – Pre-Poll Data Gathering 05-25-2015, 07:38 PM Your favorite/best War Movies Prior to 1940 05-27-2015, 10:18 PM http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758055 ... Your favorite/best War Movies From the 1940s (A) 06-01-2015, 02:55 PM Part B will be along later… ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/233 "2015-06-01T20:53:46Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > It’s under “T” for “Thirty.” 🙂 Time for new glasses I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/234 "2015-06-01T22:23:04Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > On the theory that something is better than nothing, I’ve gone with: > > [Your favorite/best War Movies From the 1940s (A) - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758335) > Your favorite/best War Movies From the 1940s (A) > 06-01-2015, 02:55 PM > > Part B will be along later… And here it is: > **[Your favorite/best War Movies From the 1940s (B)](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758352)** > > ============================================================== For background check these threads: Best All-Time Military Movies – Pre-Poll Data Gathering 05-25-2015, 07:38 PM Your favorite/best War Movies Prior to 1940 05-27-2015, 10:18 PM ... Your favorite/best War Movies From the 1940s (B) 06-01-2015, 05:11 PM ---
**Author:** ![Greekfreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@Greekfreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greekfreak)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/235 "2015-06-02T02:47:49Z")
Breaker Morant Gallipoli Patton Hamburger Hill Heartbreak Ridge (I know, I know… Grenada???) From Here To Eternity Platoon Full Metal Jacket ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/236 "2015-06-02T03:02:08Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > …BTW, is \*\*\*PT 109 \*\*\* (Cliff Robertson as JFK, USN) on the list?.. William Manchester wrote of an Alabama theater owner, no fan of the President’s, who was required by the studio to run the film but put up on the marquee, SEE HOW THE JAPS ALMOST GOT JFK. I’ll add _An Ungentlemanly Act_, a pretty good, somewhat sardonic look at the 1982 Argentine invasion of the Falklands: [An Ungentlemanly Act (TV Movie 1992) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134178/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/237 "2015-06-02T03:17:01Z")
> [@Greekfreak](#): > > Breaker Morant > Gallipoli > Patton > Hamburger Hill > Heartbreak Ridge (I know, I know… Grenada???) > From Here To Eternity > Platoon > Full Metal Jacket Good list. What did you have in mind for me to do with it? 🙂 These titles are already on the various lists for the decades involved, or else are to be on the “overflow” thread that will come later. > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > William Manchester wrote of an Alabama theater owner, no fan of the President’s, who was required by the studio to run the film but put up on the marquee, SEE HOW THE JAPS ALMOST GOT JFK. > > I’ll add _An Ungentlemanly Act_, a pretty good, somewhat sardonic look at the 1982 Argentine invasion of the Falklands: [An Ungentlemanly Act (TV Movie 1992) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134178/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) Adding this to the now-famous “overflow” area: An Ungentlemanly Act [An Ungentlemanly Act (TV Movie 1992) - IMDb](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0134178/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) (1992) ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/238 "2015-06-02T06:03:48Z")
New poll: > **[Your favorite/best War Movies From the 1950s (A)](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=758387)** > > ==================================================== For background check these threads: Best All-Time Military Movies – Pre-Poll Data Gathering 05-25-2015, 07:38 PM Your favorite/best War Movies Prior to 1940 05-27-2015, 10:18 PM Your... Your favorite/best War Movies From the 1950s (A) 06-02-2015, 12:49 AM Part B soon… ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/239 "2015-06-02T07:50:29Z")
More for the Overflow list: > **[Up Front (film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up_Front_(film))** > > Up Front is a 1951 American comedy film directed by Alexander Hall and starring Tom Ewell and David Wayne very loosely based on Bill Mauldin's World War II characters Willie and Joe. Mauldin repudiated it and refused his advising fee; he claimed never to have seen it. It takes place during the Italian Campaign of World War II. > > This film article about a 1950s comedy is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. > **[Back at the Front](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_at_the_Front)** > > Back at the Front (titled Willie and Joe in Tokyo in the UK) is a 1952 American comedy film directed by George Sherman and starring Tom Ewell, Harvey Lembeck and Mari Blanchard, very loosely based on the characters Willie and Joe by Bill Mauldin. It is a sequel to Up Front (1951). Mauldin repudiated both films, and refused his advising fee. > Willie (Ewell) and Joe (Lembeck) are two U.S. Army veterans of World War II who got through the war by Goldbricking. After returning to civilian life they ar... > **[Imitation General](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imitation_General)** > > Imitation General is a 1958 black-and-white comedy war film in CinemaScope, directed by George Marshall, produced by William B. Hawks, and starring Glenn Ford, Red Buttons, and Taina Elg. The film, distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, is based on a short story of the same name by William Chamberlain. > In the aftermath of a big battle during World War II, Americans Brigadier General Charles Lane, Master Sergeant Murphy "Murph" Savage, and Corporal Chan Derby are cut off behind enemy lines. The gene... > **[A Bell for Adano](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bell_for_Adano)** > > A Bell for Adano is a 1945 American war film directed by Henry King and starring John Hodiak and Gene Tierney. It was adapted from the 1944 novel of the same title by John Hersey, which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1945. In his review of the film for The New York Times, Bosley Crowther wrote, "... this easily vulnerable picture, which came to the Music Hall yesterday, is almost a perfect picturization of Mr. Hersey's book." > In addition to the Broadway play (Cort Theatre, (12/06/1944 - 1... > **[The Story of G.I. Joe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_G.I._Joe)** > > The Story of G.I. Joe, also credited in prints as Ernie Pyle's Story of G.I. Joe, is a 1945 American war film directed by William A. Wellman, starring Burgess Meredith and Robert Mitchum. The film was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Mitchum's only Oscar nomination which was for Best Supporting Actor. This was the film that established him as one of the world's biggest movie stars. > The story is a tribute to the American infantryman ("G.I. Joe") during World War II, told through the e... > **[Air Force (film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Force_(film))** > > Air Force is a 1943 American World War II aviation film directed by Howard Hawks and starring John Garfield, John Ridgely, Gig Young, Arthur Kennedy, and Harry Carey. The film was distributed by Warner Bros. and produced by Hal B. Wallis and Jack L. Warner. Conceived by then - Lieutenant General “Hap” Arnold (Commanding General of US Army Air Forces) in the aftermath of the Pearl Harbor attack, it was originally scheduled for release on December 7, 1942, on the first anniversary. It became imposs... > **[Bombardier (film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombardier_(film))** > > Bombardier is a 1943 film war drama about the training program for bombardiers of the United States Army Air Forces. The film stars Pat O'Brien and Randolph Scott. Bombardier was nominated for an Oscar in 1944 for the special effects used in the film. It was largely filmed at Kirtland Army Air Field, New Mexico, site of the first bombardier training school. > The film follows the training of six bombardier candidates, seen through the differences between the two USAAF pilots in charge of their t... When I was a teenager, I saw a flick about two GIs (the only survivors of their unit?) fighting off the Germans in a ruined Italian town. At the end of the movie, just as the relief forces arrive, the two stumble upon their own bodies among the rubble (i.e., they had been ghosts for almost the whole film). I haven’t been able to find this one so far. Does it ring a bell with anyone? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2015, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835/240 "2015-06-02T08:08:44Z")
This is another really, _really_ good one: > **[God Is My Co-Pilot (film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God_Is_My_Co-Pilot_(film))** > > God is My Co-Pilot is a 1945 American black-and-white biographical war film from Warner Bros. Pictures, produced by Robert Buckner, directed by Robert Florey, that stars Dennis Morgan and co-stars Dane Clark and Raymond Massey. The screenplay by Abem Finkel and Peter Milne is based on the 1943 autobiography of the same name by Robert Lee Scott Jr. (April 12, 1908 – February 27, 2006). It recounts Scott's service with the Flying Tigers and the United States Army Air Forces in China and Burma durin... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-all-time-military-movies-pre-poll-data-gathering/720835.md?page=13)