Favourite War Movies

[jollyjacktar]

Thanks for the clarification daft, I have no first hand knowledge of the place or times so have to take what's out there at face value so to speak.  I do suppose that on the whole, however, most films have a certain percentage BS as they need to be entertaining for the masses and are after all, not documentaries. 

 

[Blackadder1916]

One of my favourites that doesn't often show up on TV is "Guns At Batasi".  Best RSM character on film.  After not being available online for many years, just found it on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9PV-smPTds

 

[FSTO]

One of my favourites that doesn't often show up on TV is "Guns At Batasi".  Best RSM character on film.  After not being available online for many years, just found it on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9PV-smPTds

I have watched this movie a couple of times. Very well done.

 

[Rifleman62]

The Voice

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Brittain

Ronald Brittain, MBE (2 September 1899 – 9 January 1981) was a well-known Regimental Sergeant Major (R.S.M.) in the British Army. The Warrant Officer Class 1, who was reported on widely in the newspapers of the day, featured in several British military training films during the Second World War. He was said to have possibly the loudest voice in the British Army. On retiring from the army in the 1950s, R.S.M. Brittain's fame enabled him to enjoy a career in advertising, voice-over work and acting, playing characters that resembled an archetypal Sergeant Major.

Brittain was born in Gordon Terrace, Aigburth Vale, Liverpool, Lancashire, the son of a gardener. After leaving school, he worked in a local butcher's shop until 1917, when he enlisted in the King's (Liverpool) Regiment during the First World War. He transferred into the South Wales Borderers, where his imposing height of six feet three inches soon saw him promoted. Eventually Brittain transferred to the Coldstream Guards.

He was attached to the training staff at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst where he became well known for his parade ground bellow. Known to the cadets as "The Voice", he was credited as the originator of that phrase so beloved of sergeant majors: "You 'orrible little man!". It was said he could reduce gentleman cadets — many of them foreign princes and titled sons of the aristocracy — to trembling wrecks.

In his later years, he was assigned the position of Regimental Sergeant Major of the Guards Depot, one of the most senior non-commissioned appointments in the British Army. He also served at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, where it was estimated that around 40,000 officer cadets passed through his parade ground.

In 1954 Brittain retired from the army after 37 years service (20 years as an RSM); he was well-above the normal retirement age for service personnel. After a spell as a salesman for an outsized clothing outfitters, he acted in films and plays. He also lent his legendary voice to a number of radio and television advertisements. Still an imposing figure in old age, Brittain was a popular presence at public functions and a member of the Society of Toastmasters.

They Were Not Divided (1950) Regimental Sergeant Major  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgmD54_-Qgc
You Lucky People (1955) Appearing as himself
Carrington V.C. (1955) Sergeant Major
Alfred Marks Time (1956) Performer
The Criminal (1960) Kitchen warder
The Missing Note (1961) Commissionaire
The Inspector MP Sergeant
The Amorous Prawn (1962) Sergeant Major
55 Days at Peking (1963) Sergeant Major
The Spy with a Cold Nose (1966) Commissionaire
Casino Royale (1967) Sergeant Major

Selected Clips Of Brittain: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Ronald+Brittain

They Were Not Divided (1950)   (Good Movie)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Were_Not_Divided
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIlQ7AvjUFs

 

[mariomike]

Watched Stalag 17 the other night. Hadn't seen it in years. Still one of my favorite war films. It's about American sergeants in a German POW camp.

So many great little scenes. During mail call, one guy gets about five letters. Of course, everyone is envious as some got none at all. But, the fact is, they are from a finance company about to repossess his Plymouth!

Others from the folks back home complaining about the rationing. Rather ironic considering these guys are in a POW camp.

They have temporary use of a secret radio. But, the news is depressing as the Germans are counter-attacking at the  Battle of the Bulge. It looks like the war is going to last forever.
They figure even if they escape, they will be sent to the war in the Pacific.

Another guy gets a letter from his wife, "I believe it. My wife says, "Darling, you won't believe it, but I found the most adorable baby on our doorstep and I've decided to keep it for our very own. Now you won't believe it, but it's got exactly my eyes and nose." Why does she keep saying I won't believe it? I believe it! I believe it. 

He was obviously an intelligent man. Probably a defence mechanism to keep from cracking up.

 

[my72jeep]

Watched Stalag 17 the other night. Hadn't seen it in years. Still one of my favorite war films. It's about American sergeants in a German POW camp.


Another guy gets a letter from his wife, "I believe it. My wife says, "Darling, you won't believe it, but I found the most adorable baby on our doorstep and I've decided to keep it for our very own. Now you won't believe it, but it's got exactly my eyes and nose." Why does she keep saying I won't believe it? I believe it! I believe it. 

He was obviously an intelligent man. Probably a defence mechanism to keep from cracking up.

That story line is explored in the longest day by 2 brits eating in the rain.

 

[daftandbarmy]

That story line is explored in the longest day by 2 brits eating in the rain.

Here's the full movie for 'When Trumpets Fade' on YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFd3NhcPzJA

I like the parts where they are terrified on patrol all the time. Very 'infantry'

 

[mariomike]

Here's the full movie for 'When Trumpets Fade' on YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFd3NhcPzJA

Thank-you for the link. I watched it. Had a much higher body count than Stalag 17 ( three were shot ). On the other hand, Stalag 17 won Best Actor, and was nominated for the Best Director Oscar, and Best Supporting Actor.

I also enjoyed "Yanks". It's about a Mess Sergeant stationed in England prior to D-Day.

A good companion is "Welcome to Britain". An official 1943 US Army training film for newly arrived World War 2 American soldiers, informing them of British ways.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyYSBBE1DFw

 

[daftandbarmy]

This looks good.... but not if you're a brand new 2Lt in the Infantry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUilqE2bT_o

 

[Blackadder1916]

This is a somewhat seasonal selection for a "war movie" and granted the criteria for putting it in that category is flexible.  Having seen it again this year, a holiday tradition that's recurred fifty or sixty times since I first saw it as a youngster, it's still as enjoyable now as it was then.  And for those who don't think of "White Christmas" as having a military theme, just watch and listen to these three numbers from the movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCYGDi0OlpU

https://youtu.be/4DC7FDsVPhU

https://youtu.be/i4c6AwTrUcg

 

[mariomike]

And for those who don't think of "White Christmas" as having a military theme, just watch and listen to these three numbers from the movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCYGDi0OlpU

https://youtu.be/4DC7FDsVPhU

https://youtu.be/i4c6AwTrUcg

Towards the end of his life, Bing Crosby's nephew asked him privately about the most difficult thing he ever had to do during his entertainment career.

He didn’t have to think about it. He said in December, 1944, they did an outdoor show in northern France. At the end of the show, he had to stand there and sing ‘White Christmas’ with 100,000 G.I.’s in tears without breaking down himself.

“Of course, a lot of those boys were killed in the Battle of the Bulge a few days later.”

 

[FJAG]

Got Tora, Tora, Tora and Midway DVDs for XMas. These rival Die Hard as our favorite holidays watching.

:cheers:

 

[daftandbarmy]

A cheerful little film, set in the snowy parts of Eastern Europe, to make you grateful that you didn't transgress one of the three unwritten rules, as defined in the Princess Bride 

Stalingrad (1993) English Subtitles 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfk178n80CU

 

[FJAG]

A cheerful little film, set in the snowy parts of Eastern Europe, to make you grateful that you didn't transgress one of the three unwritten rules, as defined in the Princess Bride 

Stalingrad (1993) English Subtitles 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yfk178n80CU

Even less cheerful but in the same vein - Part 1 of Die Brücke (1959). The other eight parts are linked with Part 1. To make you feel grateful that as a fourteen/fifteen-year old you weren't tasked to defend a worthless little bridge for the Fatherland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLr37hhxReo&list=PLUd6T86XDXM-Z91wRdb7ZLXV3xrQCHxPp&index=1

:cheers:

 

[expwor]

For those with Netflix a couple
One requires a Big Bag of Popcorn...it runs almost 4 hours long

It's Lawrence Of Arabia

And a couple documentaries that may be of interest

Apache Warrior

and

Spitfire

Enjoy.
And if you're like me you'll likely have to spend another four hours re watching Lawrence Of Arabia...think I may have missed a part or two LOL
Tom

 

[Weinie]

expwor,

Thx for the recommendations.

Just watched Apache Warrior.

I thought the Warthog was a beast. Seeing the damage done to the Apaches by SA and AAA fire, and their ability to keep flying, was eye opening. Great documentary. Gonna do Spitfire next. 

 

[mariomike]

Nightmare on the Red Ball Run - made for TV

Saw it when I was 12 years old. Claude Akins was a tyrannical Transportation sergeant. So obsessed with On Time Performance that his drivers were falling asleep behind the wheel trying to stay on schedule.

Highlight was when Claude took on a German half-track head-on with his deuce-and-a-half!

The next day I decided to apply for the RCASC, soon as I came of age.

 

[gryphonv]

My favorite war movie has always been The Bridge on the River Kwai.

I think the story is amazing, and how the events culminate in the end really gives a unique perspective. Not to mention the core of the actors in it did an amazing job as well.

 

[kkwd]

My favorite war movie has always been The Bridge on the River Kwai.

I think the story is amazing, and how the events culminate in the end really gives a unique perspective. Not to mention the core of the actors in it did an amazing job as well.

That came on local TV many times when we only had 2 channels. Problem was it was always at midnight and I just couldn't stay awake for all of it. Now I can't get to sleep, figures. 

 

[Blackadder1916]

Nightmare on the Red Ball Run - made for TV

Saw it when I was 12 years old. Claude Akins was a tyrannical Transportation sergeant. So obsessed with On Time Performance that his drivers were falling asleep behind the wheel trying to stay on schedule.

Highlight was when Claude took on a German half-track head-on with his deuce-and-a-half!

The next day I decided to apply for the RCASC, soon as I came of age.

It was an episode of COMBAT!.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=27&v=88mdwEobZ_I&feature=emb_logo