Even as Americans mark the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the American Civil War, the presence of thousands of veterans compels students of history and culture to also remember those who fought in more recent wars.
Films Created About World War II
For those interested in World War II's impact on American service members, family members, and overall culture, a variety of movies offer a way to glimpse the hardships faced by the war front and the home front, while also creating a new appreciation for those who served.
Starring screen legends such as Spencer Tracy, John Wayne, Myrna Loy, Gregory Peck and Burt Lancaster, these films often showcase Hollywood's Golden Era of filmmaking with a combination of passion and wit, which makes even difficult themes easier to watch while simultaneously humanizing the characters.
Movies About World War II in Europe
For many modern audiences, the most prominent landscape in World War II seems to be the battles raging over France and Germany in addition to the constant raids over British airspace.
For those who want to see movies about this aspect of the war, Flying Tigers, 12 O’Clock High, The Longest Day, and The Guns of Navarone mark a great place to start. Filled with aviation adventure or the mind-numbing survival skills required by trench warfare, these battles focus on the Nazis quickly spreading across centrual Europe and the Allies desperately trying to stop their advance.
POW Movies
While the issue of prisoners of war (POW) gained prominence during the Vietnam War, there were internment camps in Europe, Asia and the United States during World War II. Stalag 17 and The Great Escape both occur in German POW camps and reveal insight into the conditions of these prisoner of war camps in Germany.
The Pacific Theatre in Movies
While the Pacific Theatre often seems secondary in conversations about World War II, the proliferation of films about the war fought throughout Asia addresses this lapse. The Allies fought Japan for dominance in the Phillipines and several other islands which dot Asia, often in harsh jungle warfare conditions or in difficult flying missions. Some movies which address this are Bridge Over the River Kwai, Midway, 30 Seconds Over Tokyo, From Here to Eternity, and Sands of Iwo Jima.
In addition to the movies about general compositions of soldiers and sailors are specific biopics of two generals whose reputations become more remarkable after viewing the films, Patton and MacArthur. In each of these, the filmmakers recount the amazing professional stories and personal challenges of these much-lauded generals while including several of their famous quotes and controversial decisions.
For those who aren't sure about beginning their foray into World War II with classic older films, there are several popular movies and miniseries which unflinchingly portray the battles and camaraderie found throughout the war. Some of these include Saving Private Ryan, The Band of Brothers, and The Pacific.
Life on the Homefront
While most films concentrate on what happened during the war, one especially remarkable film tackled what happened after the war ended while still examining the war's effects on the characters.
The Best Years of Our Lives, the moving 1946 Oscar Winner, movingly depicts the return of three servicemen from different branches and their attempt to reintegrate back into civilian life, especially with the families who have learned to make do without them.
Although filled with Hollywood stars, the movie also stars a young man who lost his own hands during the war, adding poignancy and realism to his own search for a place where people pay him no notice instead of staring at him with pity.
Using Film to Remember History
Movies can be a great, easily accessible way to learn about both major and lesser-known events in history, hopefully spurring additional research with visits to history museums and forays into reading some of the great non-fiction books detailing World War II and the people who lived through it.
Bonnye Good - Bonnye Busbice Good received an Editor's Choice award for her article on Your Historic Home's Interior Design Secrets and has also written ...
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