The Best War Movies
A cinematic salute for Veterans Day.
Lists and rankings are one of America’s favorite pastimes. We are suckers for “best” lists and “top ten” lists—and it doesn’t even matter that we know they’re completely subjective.
Really, what difference does it make if it’s a New York Times reviewer or some schlub in a queso-stained T-shirt sitting in his living room? We’ll eyeball anyone’s list and make our own judgments. Does working for a “reputable” publication somehow make your taste more important than anyone else’s?
With that snarky preamble out of the way, and with Veterans Day coming up, let’s talk about war movies.
I grew up on them. My dad was a career military man and he never missed a chance to watch them. Although he was all Air Force through and through, I still recall him getting excited about “a submarine picture.” War flicks are in my blood.
So, since my opinion is just as valid as anyone’s, here are my Top Ten War Movies. Starting with:
#10: Hacksaw Ridge
Based on a true story, and also based on a documentary from 2004 called The Conscientious Objector, Hacksaw Ridge is unique in that the bravery on display is not from a soldier packing a gun, but rather packing a medic’s bag. Desmond Doss, a pacifist who refuses to fight—but who insists on being part of the war effort—ends up saving the lives of 75 men during one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific during World War II. He was eventually awarded the Medal of Honor. It’s a brilliant film.
#9: Patton
Not much to say about this Academy Award-winning biopic of America’s blood-and-guts commander during World War II. George Patton managed to piss off his bosses—all the way up to Dwight Eisenhower himself—while at the same time inspiring his troops and the people back home. Seems like a role George C. Scott was born to play.
#8: Run Silent, Run Deep
One of my dad’s “submarine pictures,” and second only to a classic German film about a U-boat (which we’ll cover later). It’s the story of a sub commander who is obsessed with avenging the tragic loss of one of his earlier commands. The film was promoted as a sort of homage to Moby Dick, only instead of a white whale, this captain is after the Japanese ship that is terrorizing the American fleet.
Plus, the star power is phenomenal: Clark Gable and Burt Lancaster out front, and the film debut of comedian Don Rickles.
#7: Kelly’s Heroes
There aren’t a lot of war comedies out there. But some, like MASH and this choice, stand out. The Kelly in this movie is a former officer demoted to private and played cooly by Clint Eastwood. He leads a ragtag team of misfits—including Don Rickles again!—behind enemy lines. No, not for a military maneuver; they’re out to rob a bank that’s storing 14,000 gold bars.
Perhaps the oddest component of the movie is the character, Oddball, played by the legendary Donald Sutherland, who just passed this year. Sure, it’s anachronistic, because he’s basically playing a 1960s hippie in the 1940s—but just go with it. And don’t hit him with those negative waves.
#6: Saving Private Ryan
Clearly a masterpiece, the thing that stands out to me and to a lot of people is the long, opening scene set during the beach landings of D-Day in 1944. It’s perhaps the most realistic—and gut-wrenching—war reenactment I’ve ever seen. I’m not usually squeamish, but some of this was just hard to watch. Knowing it really happened only added to the heaviness.
The film turned 25 last year and it certainly holds up.
#5: The Dirty Dozen
This is one from my childhood. Even as a kid, I recognized what a major badass Lee Marvin was, and he is perfect in this role. He plays a somewhat-disgraced Army major who must lead 12 convicted felons behind enemy lines on a mission that seems nearly impossible. Again, an all-star cast really shines, including Charles Bronson, football star Jim Brown, and Telly Savalas, who plays an absolute freak named Maggot.
Much of the film simply highlights their training, but once the actual mission gets underway, it is a tension-filled delight.
#4: Das Boot
A German production—it translates to “The Boat”—that earned high praise not only for its action and terrific acting, but for showing what life was really like for ordinary people who served their country. In this case, we see World War II from the viewpoint of a German U-boat crew on patrol in the Atlantic Ocean. The realism is coupled with a dynamite script and an overwhelming sense of duty and loyalty, no matter on which side you served. The author of the book upon which it’s based was unhappy that the film didn’t reflect his anti-war theme, but there’s no denying the movie is captivating.
#3: The Great Escape
Damn, talk about an all-star cast. This 1963 classic managed to bring together some of the hottest film stars from both sides of the pond. The movie, loosely based on a true story, depicts the mass escape of more than 200 Allied soldiers from a prisoner of war camp during World War II.
This was one of the performances that lifted Steve McQueen to superstar status, and his motorcycle exploits—that’s really him riding—are thrilling.
#2: The Bridge on the River Kwai
Another masterpiece, and one that delves deeply into the psychology of duty and honor among soldiers. Hundreds of captured British soldiers are forced by the Japanese to build an important bridge across a massive river in Thailand. So the question becomes: Should they build a shitty bridge, or, as a testament to the fortitude and honor of the British soldier, should they build the best bridge they can?
An interesting note: The novel upon which the movie was based was written by French writer Pierre Boulle, whose other smash hit was “Planet of the Apes.”
#1: Where Eagles Dare
Sorry, some of the other films on this list may have garnered more awards—I don’t think this one picked up any awards—but it’s one of the best popcorn movies you can watch. Classic British star Richard Burton told his agent he wanted to try his hand as an action star, and boy, did it pay off. He and Clint Eastwood lead a small commando team behind enemy lines to rescue an American general before the Germans can make him reveal the plans of the D-Day invasion. While some find the plot too complicated, I can’t get enough of it. I’ll watch this movie about once a year.
Side notes: The writer of the novel, Alistair MacLean, penned several beloved war films, including The Guns of Navarone and Ice Station Zebra. And the director of Where Eagles Dare, Brian Hutton, was at the helm of another film on my list, Kelly’s Heroes.
There you go. Yes, I’m aware that ALL of my top ten war movies are set during World War II. And yes, I acknowledge that many of the critics’ favorites from other eras—Platoon, Apocalypse Now, 1917, and more—dip into other conflicts.
But, as good as they are, I just like my ten better.
A salute from Big Fat Words to everyone who is serving—our has served—our country.
Bonus content:
If you’re looking for a great book set during WWII, there obviously are several huge bestsellers to choose from. In the last few years I’ve enjoyed Unbroken, The Alice Network, and of course the classic The Book Thief.
If you’d like to find a sleeper, one that didn’t get nearly the acclaim it should have, I recommend City of Thieves. The author, David Benioff, is generally more well-known for being the co-creator of the TV series Game of Thrones.
But I absolutely loved his coming-of-age tale set during the brutal Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in WW2. You can find it at all your favorite online retailers.
I won’t make a penny from that, nor from any purchase you might make around the ten films. But if you got enjoyment out of this long post and you’d like to buy me a hot tea or a beer right here, I wouldn’t turn that down. 😀
Dom Testa writes fiction and non-fiction, and reads between 30 and 40 books a year. And he’s finally started wearing reading glasses, which partly sucks and partly makes him feel distinguished.