100 Great War Movies: The Real History Behind the Films

Description

This cinematic guide to war movies spans 800 years in its analysis of films from those set in the 13th century Scottish Wars of Independence (Braveheart) to those taking place during the 21st-century war in Afghanistan (Lone Survivor). World War II has produced the largest number of war movies and continues to spawn recently released films such as Dunkirk. This book explores those, but also examines films set during such conflicts as the Napoleonic Wars, the American Civil War, World War I, the Vietnam War, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The book is organized alphabetically by film title, making it easy to navigate. Each entry is divided into five sections: Background (a brief discussion of the film's genesis and financing); Production (information about how, where, and when the film was shot); Synopsis (a detailed plot summary); Reception (how the film did in terms of box office, awards, and reviews) and "Reel History vs. Real History" (a brief analysis of the film's historical accuracy). This book is ideal for readers looking to get a vivid behind-the-scenes look at the greatest war movies ever made. Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)......Page 16 American Sniper (2014)......Page 19 Apocalypse Now (1979)......Page 22 Army of Shadows [French: L’armée des ombres] (1969)......Page 26 Attack! (1956)......Page 28 Ballad of a Soldier [Russian: Ballada o soldate] (1959)......Page 32 Battle of Algiers, The [Italian: La battaglia di Algeri] (1966)......Page 34 Battleground (1949)......Page 38 Beasts of No Nation (2015)......Page 40 Beneath Hill 60 (2010)......Page 43 Big Red One, The (1980; restored version, 2004)......Page 45 Black Hawk Down (2001)......Page 49 Born on the Fourth of July (1989)......Page 51 Braveheart (1995)......Page 54 Breaker Morant (1980)......Page 58 Bridge, The [German: Die Brücke] (1959)......Page 61 Bridge on the River Kwai, The (1957)......Page 64 Bridge Too Far, A (1977)......Page 69 Casualties of War (1989)......Page 73 Come and See [Russian: Idi i smotri] (1985)......Page 76 Courage Under Fire (1996)......Page 78 Cross of Iron (1977)......Page 81 Cruel Sea, The (1953)......Page 84 Dam Busters, The (1955)......Page 87 Das Boot [The Boat] (1981)......Page 89 Dawn Patrol, The [aka Flight Commander] (1930; remade 1938)......Page 93 Deer Hunter, The (1978)......Page 96 Defiance (2008)......Page 101 Downfall [German: Der Untergang] (2004)......Page 103 Dunkirk (2017)......Page 107 84 Charlie MoPic [aka 84C MoPic] (1989)......Page 113 Empire of the Sun (1987)......Page 116 Enemy at the Gates (2001)......Page 119 Europa Europa [German title: Hitlerjunge Salomon] (1990)......Page 122 Flags of Our Fathers (2006)......Page 126 From Here to Eternity (1953)......Page 129 Full Metal Jacket (1987)......Page 134 Fury (2014)......Page 137 Gallipoli (1981)......Page 141 Gettysburg (1993)......Page 144 Glory (1989)......Page 148 Grand Illusion [French: La grande illusion] (1937)......Page 151 Great Escape, The (1963)......Page 155 Guadalcanal Diary (1943)......Page 159 Guns of Navarone, The (1961)......Page 162 Hacksaw Ridge (2016)......Page 166 Hamburger Hill (1987)......Page 169 Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957)......Page 172 Hell in the Pacific (1968)......Page 174 Hope and Glory (1987)......Page 176 Hurt Locker, The (2008)......Page 178 Ice Cold in Alex (1958)......Page 183 In Which We Serve (1942)......Page 186 Ivan’s Childhood [Russian: Ivanovo detstvo] (1962)......Page 189 Jarhead (2005)......Page 192 Johnny Got His Gun (1971)......Page 195 Kagemusha [The Shadow Warrior] (1980)......Page 199 Kanał (1957)......Page 202 Killing Fields, The (1984)......Page 205 King Rat (1965)......Page 209 Land and Freedom [Spanish: Tierra y libertad] (1995)......Page 212 Last of the Mohicans, The (1992)......Page 215 Last Samurai, The (2003)......Page 219 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)......Page 223 Letters from Iwo Jima [Japanese: Iojima kara no tegami] (2006)......Page 229 Lone Survivor (2013)......Page 232 Longest Day, The (1962)......Page 236 Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)......Page 241 Men in War (1957)......Page 244 Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence [Japanese: Senjō no merī Kurisumasu] (1983)......Page 246 Midnight Clear, A (1992)......Page 249 Paths of Glory (1957)......Page 253 Patton (1970)......Page 256 Pianist, The (2002)......Page 262 Platoon (1986)......Page 265 Pork Chop Hill (1959)......Page 270 Ran (1985)......Page 273 Sahara (1943)......Page 277 Sand Pebbles, The (1966)......Page 280 Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)......Page 284 Saving Private Ryan (1998)......Page 286 Schindler’s List (1993)......Page 292 Sergeant York (1941)......Page 298 Slaughterhouse-Five (1972)......Page 302 Soldier of Orange [Dutch: Soldaat van Oranje] (1977)......Page 306 Stalag 17 (1953)......Page 309 Stalingrad (1993)......Page 314 Steel Helmet, The (1951)......Page 317 Story of G.I. Joe, The (1945)......Page 319 They Were Expendable (1945)......Page 323 Thin Red Line, The (1998)......Page 326 Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)......Page 330 317th Platoon, The [French: La 317ème section] (1965)......Page 333 Three Kings (1999)......Page 336 To Hell and Back (1955)......Page 339 Twelve O’Clock High (1949)......Page 341 Walk in the Sun, A (1945)......Page 346 We Were Soldiers (2002)......Page 348 Winter War, The [Finnish: Talvisota] (1989)......Page 351 Zulu (1964)......Page 355 Bibliography......Page 360 Index......Page 372 About the Author......Page 390