# Recommend me a series of movies about WWII **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [June 11, 2024, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721 "2024-06-11T02:06:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ulysses](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulysses/32/16083_2.png) [@Ulysses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulysses)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/1 "2024-06-11T02:06:38Z")
I will be travelling with my parents in Europe later this year. London and Paris followed by several other stops in Switzerland, Italy, and possibly Germany. My wife and I worked in Europe for several years and travelled extensively but this will be a once-in-a-lifetime trip for my retired parents, who are interested in WWII history. I’m working on sites to visit and may survey the Dope for recommendations later, but that’s not the topic of this thread. Recommend me a series of movies about WWII (focused on Europe). Feel free to include the obvious choices (Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, Darkest Hour, Dunkirk, The Imitation Game, Oppenheimer, etc.). We all have lots of time before the trip and multiple streaming subscriptions, so don’t hold back. What would you watch and in what order? ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/2 "2024-06-11T02:15:19Z")
My list of favorite WWII films in no particular order because I wouldn’t attempt to teach a history lesson with them: Twelve O’Clock High The Caine Mutiny The Enemy Below Das Boot Saving Private Ryan Schindler’s List Life Is Beautiful (not really a war movie, but I think it counts) Edit: The TV series “Danger UXB”, which I saw on Masterpiece Theatre when I was a kid. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/3 "2024-06-11T02:16:26Z")
_The Dam Busters_ A fascinating account of a true attempt to destroy a critical dam, using a new type of weapon. Influenced the attack on the Death Star in _Star Wars_. They keep thinking of doing a remake, but there’s a major issue – the name of a dog is too offensive, and the dog is important to the plot. ---
**Author:** ![Ulysses](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulysses/32/16083_2.png) [@Ulysses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulysses)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/4 "2024-06-11T02:17:59Z")
Thank you, both. Several of these are new to me and we’ll definitely check them out. Keep 'em coming. 🕶 ETA: @Q.Q.Switcheroo that’s a great suggestion, too. Haven’t seen that in forever and forgot about it. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/5 "2024-06-11T02:18:02Z")
Catch-22 ---
**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 11, 2024, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/6 "2024-06-11T02:19:45Z")
The dog’s name was already “Trigger” in the release I saw on TV as a wee lad, back around 1959. I found out it had been changed only many, many years later. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/7 "2024-06-11T02:20:10Z")
Battle of Britain Come and see Das Boot Downfall ---
**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 11, 2024, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/8 "2024-06-11T02:23:02Z")
_ **The Desert Rats** _ and _ **The Desert Fox** _, both of which have James Mason playing _Feldmarschall_ Erwin Rommel. A second vote for _ **Danger: UXB** _. _ **49th Parallel** _ (1941). A U-boat crew makes its way across Canada after being sunk offshore. ---
**Author:** ![Ulysses](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulysses/32/16083_2.png) [@Ulysses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulysses)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/9 "2024-06-11T02:25:24Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > A second vote for _ **Danger: UXB** _. Have never heard of this. Will definitely check it out. Thanks to you and @Llama_Llogophile both. > [@griffin1977](#): > > Downfall Have been meaning to watch this one as well. Thanks for the reminder! ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/10 "2024-06-11T02:25:32Z")
Sub-genre: children in WWII movies: Empire of the Sun (J. G. Ballard’s memoir of internment in China) Come and See (USSR kids forfeited childhood) The Tin Drum (Germany) Hope and Glory (kids in the Blitz) Little Boy (US: a bit twee, but didn’t deserve the condemnation it received) Grave of the Fireflies (Japan. If you can stand looking at the photo “Boy Standing by the Crematory,” you might make it through this movie). ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/11 "2024-06-11T02:26:42Z")
Do you want them to be accurate, entertaining or a bit of both? ---
**Author:** ![Ulysses](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulysses/32/16083_2.png) [@Ulysses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulysses)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/12 "2024-06-11T02:29:32Z")
Great question. All of the above. Inglorious Bastards is a personal favorite, for example, despite its creative liberties. We’ll have a great time discussing the films on extended train trips, to include their historical accuracy. ---
**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 11, 2024, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/13 "2024-06-11T02:30:37Z")
Not focused on Europe: _ **Destination Tokyo** _, _ **Thirty Seconds over Tokyo** _, and _ **The Purple Heart** _, all three about the Doolittle Raid in 1942. Watch them in this order. _ **Objective Burma** _. Errol Flynn leads a battalion of raiders behind Japanese lines. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/14 "2024-06-11T02:31:46Z")
Samuel Fuller’s. “The Big Red One.” Stars Lee Marvin as a grizzled sergeant leading a company of young soldiers in the First Army from North Africa to Italy to the Normandy Invasion to the Battle of the Bulge. Absolutely first rate!! ---
**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 11, 2024, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/15 "2024-06-11T02:41:54Z")
**NB:** There are at least two movies titled _ **Dunkirk** _. One made in 2017 and the other made in 1958. I greatly prefer the latter which stars John Mills, Richard Attenborough, and Bernard Lee. Attenborough played “Big X” Roger Bartlett in 1963’s _ **The Great Escape** _. It’s one of the best WWII movies ever made, despite certain liberties taken with the story. Before you see the movie, I recommend you read the book of the same name written by Paul Brickell, who was actually an inmate of Stalag Luft III during the war. ---
**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 11, 2024, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/16 "2024-06-11T02:52:59Z")
_ **Decision before Dawn** _, about a German soldier recruited to spy for the Allies in the last days of the Third Reich. _ **The Search** _. An American GI helps a Czech boy find his DP mother in postwar Europe. _ **The Big Lift** _, an accurate dramatization of the postwar Berlin Airlift. The latter two star four-time Oscar nominee Montgomery Clift. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/17 "2024-06-11T02:55:14Z")
Listed in order of year of release: _Went the Day Well?_ (1943) – Graham Greene story of German soldiers having a bad day pretending to be Brits so they can take over a strategically located small town. _Lifeboat_ (1944) – Survivors of a torpedoed ship share a lifeboat with the German U-boat commander who sank them. _Attack_ (1956) – WWII infantry Captain Eddie Albert is unfit for command, making Lt. Jack Palance mighty po’ed when there are consequences. _The Password is Courage_ (1962) – Lower budget _The Great Escape_ starring Dirk Bogarde as the (real-life) Sgt. Maj. Charles Coward. _The Vultures_ (1984) – _Kelly’s Heroes_ knock-off starring Jean-Paul Belmondo set in 1943 Tunisia. Memorable mostly for the scene in which a foreign legionnaire unwisely urinates on an exposed power cable. ---
**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 11, 2024, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/18 "2024-06-11T03:02:43Z")
_ **The Colditz Story** _ (1955). Allied POWs escape from a German castle converted to a high-security Luft Stalag. Also based on an account written by a former inmate, Pat Reid. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2024, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/19 "2024-06-11T03:10:31Z")
Not a movie, but Band Of Brothers deserves a mention. In my book a gold standard production of a unit’s experience leading up to D-Day and beyond. ---
**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 11, 2024, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721/20 "2024-06-11T03:11:44Z")
_ **The Man Who Never Was** _ (1956). A dramatization of _Operation Mincemeat_, the successful Allied deception campaign to mask the invasion of Sicily in 1943 by planting a corpse with classified documents off the coast of Spain. The scheme was so hush-hush that certain details remained secret until fairly recently. A second version of the story titled _ **Operation Mincemeat** _ was made in 2021 with Colin Firth. Again, I recommend you read the book of the same name, written by Ben MacIntyre, before seeing the movie. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-a-series-of-movies-about-wwii/1002721.md?page=2)