100 Great War Movies: The Real History behind the Films

by Robert J. Niemi

Overview

This book serves as a fascinating guide to 100 war films from 1930 to the present. Readers interested in war movies will learn surprising anecdotes about these films and will have all their questions about the films' historical accuracy answered.

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798765130995
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	08/22/2024
Pages:	392
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Robert Niemi, PhD, is professor of English and American Studies at St. Michael's College, Colchester, VT. He is author of several books including Robert Altman: Hollywood Maverick.

Table of Contents

Introduction
All Quiet on the Western Front (1930)
American Sniper (2014)
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Army of Shadows [French: L'armée des ombres] (1969)
Attack! (1956)
Ballad of a Soldier [Russian: Ballada o soldate] (1959)
Battle of Algiers, The [Italian: La battaglia di Algeri] (1966)
Battleground (1949)
Beasts of No Nation (2015)
Beneath Hill 60 (2010)
Big Red One, The (1980; restored version, 2004)
Black Hawk Down (2001)
Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
Braveheart (1995)
Breaker Morant (1980)
Bridge, The [German: Die Brücke] (1959)
Bridge on the River Kwai, The (1957)
Bridge Too Far, A (1977)
Casualties of War (1989)
Come and See [Russian: Idi i smotri] (1985)
Courage Under Fire (1996)
Cross of Iron (1977)
Cruel Sea, The (1953)
Dam Busters, The (1955)
Das Boot [The Boat] (1981)
Dawn Patrol, The [aka Flight Commander] (1930; remade 1938)
Deer Hunter, The (1978)
Defiance (2008)
Downfall [German: Der Untergang] (2004)
Dunkirk (2017)
84 Charlie MoPic [aka 84C MoPic] (1989)
Empire of the Sun (1987)
Enemy at the Gates (2001)
Europa Europa [German title: Hitlerjunge Salomon] (1990)
Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
From Here to Eternity (1953)
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Fury (2014)
Gallipoli (1981)
Gettysburg (1993)
Glory (1989)
Grand Illusion [French: La grande illusion] (1937)
Great Escape, The (1963)
Guadalcanal Diary (1943)
Guns of Navarone, The (1961)
Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
Hamburger Hill (1987)
Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957)
Hell in the Pacific (1968)
Hope and Glory (1987)
Hurt Locker, The (2008)
Ice Cold in Alex (1958)
In Which We Serve (1942)
Ivan's Childhood [Russian: Ivanovo detstvo] (1962)
Jarhead (2005)
Johnny Got His Gun (1971)
Kagemusha [The Shadow Warrior] (1980)
Kanal (1957)
Killing Fields, The (1984)
King Rat (1965)
Land and Freedom [Spanish: Tierra y libertad] (1995)
Last of the Mohicans, The (1992)
Last Samurai, The (2003)
Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Letters from Iwo Jima [Japanese: Iojima kara no tegami] (2006)
Lone Survivor (2013)
Longest Day, The (1962)
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003)
Men in War (1957)
Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence [Japanese: Senjo no meri Kurisumasu] (1983)
Midnight Clear, A (1992)
Paths of Glory (1957)
Patton (1970)
Pianist, The (2002)
Platoon (1986)
Pork Chop Hill (1959)
Ran (1985)
Sahara (1943)
Sand Pebbles, The (1966)
Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Schindler's List (1993)
Sergeant York (1941)
Slaughterhouse-Five (1972)
Soldier of Orange [Dutch: Soldaat van Oranje] (1977)
Stalag 17 (1953)
Stalingrad (1993)
Steel Helmet, The (1951)
Story of G.I. Joe, The (1945)
They Were Expendable (1945)
Thin Red Line, The (1998)
Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)
317th Platoon, The [French: La 317ème section] (1965)
Three Kings (1999)
To Hell and Back (1955)
Twelve O'Clock High (1949)
Walk in the Sun, A (1945)
We Were Soldiers (2002)
Winter War, The [Finnish: Talvisota] (1989)
Zulu (1964)
Bibliography
Index
About the Author

Editorial Reviews

By examining the historical context of the wars depicted, this volume effectively analyzes the films, describes their creation, and provides a wide sampling of the genre. VERDICT Highly recommended for film studies students and enthusiasts of the war genre.” —Library Jourbanal

“Niemi writes clearly and very authoritatively, particularly in his comparisons of films and the historical facts. History, war, and film buffs in public libraries will appreciate his expertise.” —Booklist

“This work should be considered by public libraries that serve cinephiles, as this book not only serves as reference but also provides much fodder for spirited discussion as to the merits of the respective films. Academic libraries supporting film media or history programs would also benefit from acquiring this work.” —ARBAonline

“Concise and informative. . . . Recommended.” —Choice

From the Publisher

07/01/2018
The war film has been a popular genre in the United States since the early 20th century, with many superb examples. In this guide, Niemi (English & American studies, St. Michael's Coll.) compiles 100 artistically accomplished, politically subversive movies, made between 1930 and the present, that center on conflicts ranging from 13th-century Scottish Wars of Independence to the 21st-century Afghanistan War. Organized alphabetically by title, the entries feature informative anecdotes, describe the critical reception, and answer questions about historical accuracy. Readers learn how the early era of war films often functioned as propaganda or recruitment vehicles, whereas in more recent decades there has been a focus on machismo by glorifying the horrors of battle. By examining the historical context of the wars depicted, this volume effectively analyzes the films, describes their creation, and provides a wide sampling of the genre. VERDICT Highly recommended for film studies students and enthusiasts of the war genre.—Gary Medina, El Camino Coll., Torrance, CA

Library Journal