Poll: favorite World War II movie

[Angel Eyes]

Given the discussion about Fury, I thought it would be interesting to find out which World War II flicks are preferred by the hive mind.  You can pick a maximum of 3.  

If your favorite is not listed, please select "Other" and post the title.   Please keep it to movies (no TV series) and WW2 oriented.

Feel free to expound on your choices.  Which is your favorite and why?

[HankB]

Lot of good ones there . . . but you missed a few contenders:

Run silent, run deep

Sink the Bismark!

Stalag 17

Wake Island

The Guns of Navarone

Catch-22

[Angel Eyes]

You're right.  There are so many WW2 flicks I couldn't keep track of them all.

[French G.]

Guns of Navarone would have gotten a vote. I picked Letters from Iwo Jima, a masterpiece that outstripped it's companion movie. A Bridge too Far gets watched here a few times a year as well. SPR is kinda passe now in the modern film era,but think back to seeing it in the theatre for the first time. No preceding films really prepared you for the opening sequence.

[Ben]

From the list, I picked Bridge on the River Kwai, Das Boot, and Saving Private Ryan.  Of the others, some were close contenders (like Letters From Iwo Jima), some  I watched so long ago I can't remember, and some I've never seen.

Stalag 17 would definitely be in my top 5.

[Phantom Warrior]

Guns of Navarone would have gotten a vote. I picked Letters from Iwo Jima, a masterpiece that outstripped it's companion movie. A Bridge too Far gets watched here a few times a year as well. SPR is kinda passe now in the modern film era,but think back to seeing it in the theatre for the first time. No preceding films really prepared you for the opening sequence.

This film got one of my votes.  Scenes like that are why I hold WWII vets in very high regard.  Also, just a great movie overall.  I feel like some of the earlier movies lacked the technology and story telling ability to really be appreciated.

Hank B
"Guns of Navarone" was a movie?  I read the book years ago and love it.  I'm intrigued...
"Catch 22" was a movie?  Was it as awful as the book?

OP
I'm gonna be that guy.  But I feel like you can't mention WWII without talking about "Band of Brothers."  I _know_ you said movies only.  But for a story about WWII, citizen soldiers, ground combat, and being an Infantryman it is hard to surpass this mini-series.

[RoadKingLarry]

So many good ones.

Operation Pacific
Operation Petticoat
Destination Tokyo
1941
U571

And pretty much any of John Wayne's WWII movies.

[Angel Eyes]

Poll has been updated with the following titles added:

Run silent, run deep
Sink the Bismark!
Stalag 17
Wake Island
The Guns of Navarone
Catch-22
Operation Pacific
Operation Petticoat
Destination Tokyo
1941
U571

Does anyone want the poll reset?

[dm1333]

Guns of Navarone would have gotten a vote. I picked Letters from Iwo Jima, a masterpiece that outstripped it's companion movie. A Bridge too Far gets watched here a few times a year as well. SPR is kinda passe now in the modern film era,but think back to seeing it in the theatre for the first time. No preceding films really prepared you for the opening sequence.

That and Band of Brothers when they take out the German 88's in Normandy.

[just Warren]

There's another Kelly's Heroes fan here I see.

[MechAg94]

I liked some of the comedies and movies like Kelly's Heroes, but I wasn't sure I would rank them at the top.  I figured the top spots go to movies that portrayed actual events.  The Longest Day, Midway, and Patton were my choices.  There are many good movies on that list. 

[zxcvbob]

"We've Never Been Licked" (1943) didn't make the list?     It's an awful movie, but it has a special place in my heart as an Aggie.

[freakazoid]

You could add The Eagle Has Landed to the list.
Haven't seen a lot of these movies, and a lot I have seen but it's been so long I don't remember them to well.

[Scout26]

I went with Saving Private Ryan, Untergang, and "Other".  The others being Schindler's List, Band of Brothers and My Way.*

While I have enjoyed just about every movie on the list.  I went with the ones that tried to show the actual horrors and hell of combat.



If you haven't seen of heard of My Way  it is a Korean language movie (with subtitles) about the story of Yang Kyoungjong.  A Korean pressed into service by the Japanese, captured by the Soviets.  Pressed into service with the Red Army after Barbaroosa, captured by the Germans, pressed into service by the Germans, sent to France to work on the Atlantic Wall and captured by the Americans on D-Day.  Outstanding movie (and rather long !!)

[agricola]

Downfall, Stalingrad (1998) and Sink the Bismarck for me.

I didn't vote for The Longest Day because I think the level of detail put into it, and the use of many actual participants, probably raises it out of the "film" category into something else.

[K Frame]

Casablanca.

Hands down.

Yes, the war is only peripherally mentioned, but still.

Hands down.

[wmenorr67]

Went with Memphis Belle; Tora, Tora, Tora; and Patton.

No real reason for any of them because I really couldn't think of just three.  Patton because of the way he had good things to say about the 45th Inf Div.  Memphis Belle because you have to admire the bomber jocks, and then Tora, Tora, Tora since it gives insight into one of the defining moments that drug the US into WWII.

[K Frame]

Oh, and the best, very best, movie about World War II's aftermath?

The Best Years of our Lives.


And, for war movies, I'd through a serious honorable mention in there for Mrs. Miniver.

[230RN]

Of the ones I've seen,

The Battle of Britain
Very detailed and realistic flying scenes using very good R/C planes where necessary.  Tension of flying in "do or die" situation of GB.  Background struggle to obtain or modify real planes to produce the movie.  In some cases motorcycle engines were used to merely rotate the props for taxiing scenes!

The Longest Day
Good detail.

Memphis Belle
Kind of a conglomeration of "stories" from different aircraft and raids, but the ballsey decision to "go around" for another try at the target stuck in my head.  Also, the tension of that 25th mission.

Tora! Tora! Tora!
Same comment as for "The Longest Day," but in the Pacific.

Four choices with a tie between Tora and Day, so I flipped a coin to choose Tora because that was what got us formally involved in the war.

Not on the list, but honorable mentions for The Train, which showed the often unsung heroism of La Résistance in France, and The Wackiest Ship In the Army, which although touted as a comedy, involved wood, canvas, and ancient engines, and was halfway based on a true story.  Mostly, though, because it gave a sidewise nod to the coast watchers in the Pacific theatre.  The "underground" operatives in the war in both theatres are rarely appreciated, though lives were given and limbs were lost outside the formal military operations.

There were some on the list I would like to see, but still haven't.

Terry, 230RN

[Perd Hapley]

What, no White Christmas?

(kidding)


I'll not vote, since I've only seen about three of those films. Two more nominations, though:

The Great Escape
The Eagle Has Landed

[MikeB]

What, no White Christmas?

(kidding)


I'll not vote, since I've only seen about three of those films. Two more nominations, though:

The Great Escape
The Eagle Has Landed

Yes. How could those two be missed?

[Angel Eyes]

The Great Escape
The Eagle Has Landed

Added.

[Jocassee]

It's been a while since I've seen The Eagle has Landed, but I remember being totally caught up in it as a lad. Time for a rewatch.

[230RN]

What, no White Christmas?

(kidding)

Or South Pacific.  

(kidding)

Me, too.

[HankB]

So many good ones.

 . . .
1941
 . . .

Must be a fan of Wild Bill Kelso.