Remember when World War II movies were popular? Here are two of my favorites: The Dirty Dozen from 1967 and Kelly’s Heroes from 1970. WWII movies began to vanish in the 1970s and were pretty much extinct by the 1980s.
Kelly’s Heroes features Clint Eastwood and a band of misfits who go behind enemy lines to steal Nazi gold. The Dirty Dozen has Lee Marvin in charge of criminals who “volunteer” for a suicide mission. Watching Marvin whip a group of losers into a fighting unit lights up the screen!
Are you a fan of World War II movies? What’s your favorite? GRADE: A (for both)
I’m sure I’ve seen both, but my memory of them is sufficiently hazy that it’s likely it was back when they originally appeared. In fact, I’m sure I saw “Kelly’s Heroes” only because I would have seen anything with Clint Eastwood in 1970 which, come to think of it, is still true 50 years later. Neither is really among my favorite WW2 movies. I’ll go with “The Great Escape” and “Saving Private Ryan”. I honestly can’t remember the last new WW2 movie I saw.
Michael, World War II movies seems to be a vanishing genre. I saw both KELLY’S HEROES and THE DIRTY DOZEN when they first showed up at my local theater. I think I paid a $1 for a ticket.
GO TELL THE SPARTANS, one of the first anti-Vietnam War movies. BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWAI if I had to pick a real war movie. PATHS OF GLORY too.
Patti, I saw BRIDGE OVER THE RIVER KWAI at a Drive-In movie theater (remember them?). We only have one Drive-In movie theater left in Western New York. The guy has adapted to the coronavirus pandemic by offering his Drive-In to host High School Graduations (but the cars have to stay 6 feet apart).
But he said WWII movies. PATHS OF GLORY is WWI, of course, and as you pointed out, GO TELL THE SPARTANS is Vietnam.
Both are great movies but for me there is no contest. THE DIRTY DOZEN — Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, John Cassavetes, Jim Brown, Richard Jaeckle, George Kennedy, Savalas, Trini Lopez, Ralph Meeker, Robert Ryan, Donald Sutherland, AND Clint Walker! Plus a screenplay by Nunnally Johnson! Movie theaters were made for this. This one ties with THE GREAT ESCAPE as the best war flick from that era.
(I have heard comments from those with the double X chromosome that you HAVE to be male to truly appreciate both flicks.)
Jerry, I suspect you’re right about double X chromosomes and WWII movies. Your point about movies like these being best seen on the Big Screen is right on the money! I have THE GREAT ESCAPE around here somewhere. I’ll have to dig it out and watch it again.
It’s like watching a recorded sports event: I can enjoy it if I don’t know who wins.
Dan, I suspect your favorite NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys, are getting ready for the 2020 season just like the Buffalo Bills are. But, I think the NFL is going to be playing their games in empty stadiums for the first part of the season.
Definitely THE GREAT ESCAPE. Also THE GUNS OF NAVARONE.
Jeff, don’t forget WHERE EAGLES DARE!
I liked them both. Kelly’s heroes was one of my favorite movies for a long time, and it’s held up. I loved the humor in it. I think I’d put bridge on the river kwai right up there with dirty dozen.
When I was in Thailand, we took a journey to the River Kwai cemetery. It was a very poignant experience. As I recall we had to go there via canoe. I even tear up now thinking of it.
The one movie I watched and couldn’t again because it gave me nightmares was Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence with David Bowie. I was impressed with his acting.
Maggie, David Bowie was an incredible talent. I still listen to his music. And Bowie’s acting is very underrated especially in The Man Who Fell to Earth.
I also like THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES about the soldiers coming home. Jackie is a big fan of Raoul Walsh’s DESPERATE JOURNEY, with Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan, Arthur Kennedy, and Alan Hale taking on Nazi Raymond Massey.
Jeff, and let’s not forget CASABLANCA.
The last two ww2 movies I saw were Inglorious Bastards and Fury. Both with Brad Pitt. I love The Dirty Dozen . Kelly’s Heroes not so much. My favorite ww2 movies would include Bridge Over the River Kwai. The Great Escape, Saving Private Ryan and Hell in the Pacific. The two Clint Eastwood directed about ten years ago were also good.
Steve, I must confess I’ve never seen HELL IN THE PACIFIC. I’ll have to track down a copy. Thanks for the recommendation!
I’m gonna have to say ditto to jeff’s picks. I loved anything with Errol Flynn in it. How could I forget Casablanca.
Maggie, I have a box set of Errol Flynn DVDs around here somewhere. Time to go hunting for them…
I doubt it will be there but he was in a movie where he was a wealthy businessman who (IIRC) wrote mysteries under a pseudonym and kept it a secret from all but his chauffeur/major domo. It might be footsteps in the dark. I saw it maybe a year ago on TCM
Maggie, I love TCM!
Seen both of these, both pretty good. I tend to like the John Wayne WWII movies.
Rick, I like the John Wayne WWII movies, too, especially THEY WERE EXPENDABLE and Sands of Iwo Jima !
So you know, I still have to fill out my name and all EVERY TIME I comment.
Rick, I’ve queried WORDPRESS on this problem, but have received no response yet. I’ll send another query.
Jeff and others mention Casablanca. While it occurs during wartime, I don’t consider it a “war movie” as there is no fighting in it. Perhaps too fine a distinction?
Rick, there are Nazis in CASABLANCA and war scenes of Paris. I think all that qualifies CASABLANCA as a WWII movie.
I didn’t like Kelly’s Heroes that much but The Dirty Dozen was great! If you want to see a really good WWII movie I suggest Battleground, Bataan, or Sahara! As for there being no WWII movies since the eighties or seventies, BUSHWA! A bunch of them were named already and just recently there were Dunkirk and Flags of Our Fathers, and the one about the c.o. who got the MoH and Midway! There are others but I can’t think of the titles! Okay, most of them stunk, but they tried!
Bob, I agree with you that most of the WWII films made after the Sixties lacked something.