Lesser Known War Movies

[fncceo]

Here is little know submarine movie made in 1957 that is rarely seen these days but is a fine movie. In WWII in the battle in the Atlantic, two equally able captains on opposing sides square off in a life-and-death game of tactical maneuvering. American Capt. Murrell (Robert Mitchum) helms the destroyer USS Haynes, while his Nazi counterpart, Von Stolberg (Curt Jurgens), commands a German U-boat. As both men follow their orders, they push their crews to greater lengths to achieve victory. Over the course of the intense battle, a respect develops among enemies.

It is an intense movie with an unexpected ending.

Rotten Tomatoes rates as 86% and best of all you can watch the complete movie for free by clicking the link below.

Made into a forgettable "Star Trek TOS" episode, "Balance of Terror"S01E14

Guest starring Mark Lenard, who also played Spock's Father in a different episode.

 

[Donald H]

Thats off topic

I think it's close enough to the topic to fit in. If you don't like it, don't belabour the point, because i'm not.
personally, I find the continuous fascination with war quite obnoxious and immature. I think it's appropriate to say that on this thread.

 

[fncceo]

I find the continuous fascination with war quite obnoxious and immature.

I don't think anyone would line up to by tickets to "Star Peace".

 

[fncceo]

"The Man Who Never Was" ... a 1956 British film telling the, nearly, true story of one of the most audacious hoaxes ever perpetrated by British Intelligence.

Easter Egg: The HMS Seraph P219, the submarine that appears in the film is the same submarine that participated in Operation Mincemeat. One of the very few British S-Class submarines to escape the scrap heap at the end of the war.

 

[Tommy Tainant]

The Sea Shall Not Have Them (1954) ⭐ 6.3 | Drama, War

1h 31m | Not Rated

www.imdb.com

This is available on Youtube. Its very exciting.
A plane is shot down in the North Sea with top secret plans on board. We follow the rescue operation as they race against time to pick up the survivors. great cast and real tension. Michael Redgrave is one of those actors that create a positive image of England.

 

[Tommy Tainant]

This is not a thread on movies like Saving Private Ryan, Full Metal Jacket, A Bridge Too Far (all excellent, but well known) but this is a thread on lesser known war films. As someone who has watched many war movies and has studied WWII, I can think of three that immediately come to mind as excellent, lesser known films, that are so well done that even someone not interested in WWII would probably like them.

When Trumpets Fade

Came out in 1998, same year as SPR., and is actually a better film, in my opinion.

When Trumpets Fade (TV Movie 1998) ⭐ 7.0 | Action, Drama, War

1h 35m | R

www.imdb.com

Saints and Soldiers

Proof that you don't need a huge budget to make an excellent film. I believe the director was Mormon and is based on the story of a Mormon sent to WWII. Not sure if based on a true story or not, but an excellent film regardless.

Saints and Soldiers (2003) ⭐ 6.7 | Action, Drama, War

1h 30m | PG-13

www.imdb.com

The Highest Honor

This film from the 80's is based on a true story of saboteurs , mainly Australian and British, captured by the Japanese. Powerful film.

The Highest Honor (TV Movie 1982) ⭐ 6.5 | Drama, War

2h 24m | R

www.imdb.com

I think there is a series of Saints and Soldiers films. Ive had the dvd for about a decade but still havent watched it yet.

 

[Tommy Tainant]

Black Book is a great film.I think it won an Oscar.

 

[Ringel05]

And:

 

[odanny]

Black Book is a great film.I think it won an Oscar.

I'll have to watch this, never heard of it.

 

[odanny]

Can't forget this classic, maybe the first Hollywood film about the Eastern Front, by legendary director Sam Pekinpah, starring James Coburn as Sgt. Steiner.

Cross of Iron (1977) ⭐ 7.4 | Drama, War

1h 59m | R

www.imdb.com

 

[Tommy Tainant]

And:

I watched Sailor of the King a few weeks ago. Its actually a remake of Fire over England a John Mills film from the 30s. Both of them are on youtube. I had never seen them before. the John Mills film was very sympathetic towards the Germans and shows them socialising in Valparaiso before the war.
There was very little sympathy in films made during or after the war. For obvious reasons.

 

[Tommy Tainant]

I'll have to watch this, never heard of it.

Its a great watch, i will dig it out when I get a moment.

There is also a French Film that I think has been reveiwed on here but I am buggered if I can remember what its called. It follows an Algerian troop fighting through Europe. It shows how they were treated like shit by the French Army and French society at the time. Its gripping stuff.

 

[Ringel05]

I think it's close enough to the topic to fit in. If you don't like it, don't belabour the point, because i'm not.
personally, I find the continuous fascination with war quite obnoxious and immature. I think it's appropriate to say that on this thread.

No, the thread is about movies not your personal demagoguery.

 

[Ringel05]

Its a great watch, i will dig it out when I get a moment.

There is also a French Film that I think has been reveiwed on here but I am buggered if I can remember what its called. It follows an Algerian troop fighting through Europe. It shows how they were treated like shit by the French Army and French society at the time. Its gripping stuff.

Seen it but also don't remember the title. It was pretty good.

 

[Ringel05]

 

[Donald H]

No, the thread is about movies not your personal demagoguery.

The thread is about war movies and the apparent fascination with the topic of war. This is my concern and thus my on-topic contribution.

I can ignore this thread if that's what most prefer?

 

[Ringel05]

The thread is about war movies and the apparent fascination with the topic of war. This is my concern and thus my on-topic contribution.

That's called self justification, ya might want to look it up.

 

[Ringel05]

 

[Donald H]

That's called self justification, ya might want to look it up.

I feel my contribution is justified but I'll leave the discussion if that's what the majority want. I've made my point and there's no use making it over again.

 

[Flopper]

I think it's close enough to the topic to fit in. If you don't like it, don't belabour the point, because i'm not.
personally, I find the continuous fascination with war quite obnoxious and immature. I think it's appropriate to say that on this thread.

I personally do not like to watch battle scenes but do enjoy books and movies about war, the motivations, planning, effect on non-combats, and changes that result from war. Wars are terrible but they change the course of human history being good some and bad for others.
For example, I found the movie Darkest Hour which followed Churchill's efforts to prepare England for a war that seemed to be unwinnable very interesting and inspiring. Also the movie, Best Years of Our Lives which traces the lives of soldier returning home from war was both entertaining and a glimpse of history that has been long forgotten.