Like Dunkirk (2017), Christopher Nolan's latest movie about the evacuation of Allied soldiers who were cut off and surrounded by the German army from the beaches of Dunkirk (France) at the start of WWI, some of the most memorable battles captured on screen are based on true historic events.
Which of the following movies delivered the most epic depiction of a real historic field battle?
List: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls068567660/
Poll: http://www.imdb.com/poll/gAU97hOYNBY/
Vote also for: Greatest Naval Battle on Screen
(suggestions welcome - please only one movie for each major battle field)
Which of the following movies delivered the most epic depiction of a real historic field battle?
List: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls068567660/
Poll: http://www.imdb.com/poll/gAU97hOYNBY/
Vote also for: Greatest Naval Battle on Screen
(suggestions welcome - please only one movie for each major battle field)
Posted 3 years ago
"The Longest Day" - the allied invasion of Normandy in WWII
"Enemy At The Gates" the Battle of Stalingrad
"Midway" - the same battle.
"Battleground" (1949) the Battle of the Bulge, the seige of Bastogne 1944.
"The Bridge at Remagen" (1969)) the Battle of the same name in WW2.
"A Bridge Too Far" (1977))- Operation Market Garden 1944
"Zulu" -
"Enemy At The Gates" the Battle of Stalingrad
"Midway" - the same battle.
"Battleground" (1949) the Battle of the Bulge, the seige of Bastogne 1944.
"The Bridge at Remagen" (1969)) the Battle of the same name in WW2.
"A Bridge Too Far" (1977))- Operation Market Garden 1944
"Zulu" -
Thanks for the suggestions. I have uploaded a couple of images. They should be ready by tomorrow.
Zulu (1964) has been added.
Zulu (1964) has been added.
(Edited)
Great! And Damn it, if I had seen that navel one, I would have suggested "Midway" there too because it was an Air, Land and, Sea battle.
Also "Sink The Bismarck" too. But it is too late. The poll is live. I voted for "Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World".
Also "Sink The Bismarck" too. But it is too late. The poll is live. I voted for "Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World".
(Edited)
Battle of Stalingrad (Enemy at the Gates) has been added. Unfortunately, 2 images that I have uploaded were rejected for "lack of supporting evidence".
Just use what they have. It is extremely hard to submit a photo. That is why my lists look the way they do. I use their photos.
(Edited)
Dibyayan Chakravorty, Champion
rubyfruit76, Champion
Some great suggestions, Sara. Thanks. Gallipoli is a very nice one. I uploaded a picture, so it should be online tomorrow. Although the village massacre in Platoon is based on actual events, it's more an example of misconduct by soldiers than of a battle with the enemy. But your suggestion made me think of another great Vietnam movie which is based on an actual battle: Hamburger Hill (1987), so I added that one. Finally, Bridge on the River Kwai can also be considered as a great story during WWII, but it was not a real battle field.
rubyfruit76, Champion
Oh wow, I can't believe I forgot that about Platoon! Hamburger Hill is a great addition. 'Glad my memory of Gallipoli was accurate because it's nice to see that film in a poll -- I thought it was heartbreakingly beautiful and powerful. 'Good poll and very informative -- and informed.
I have narrowed my picks from the list to six possibles:
1. The Battle of Stirling Bridge(09/11/1297), from "Braveheart"(1995);
2. The Battle of Gettysburg(07/01-03/1863), from "Gettysburg"(1993);
3. D-Day, Battle of Normandy(06/06/1944), from "Saving Private Ryan"(1998);
4. The Battle of Iwo Jima(02 & 03/1945), from "Flags Of Our Fathers"(2006);
5. The Battle of Hue(02/1968), from "Full Metal Jacket"(1987); &
6. The Battle of Hamburger Hill(05/10-20/1969), from "Hamburger Hill"(1987)
I hope that my pick will be acceptable to everyone. In fact, I'd appreciate an honest critique of these picks from anyone who sees them.
1. The Battle of Stirling Bridge(09/11/1297), from "Braveheart"(1995);
2. The Battle of Gettysburg(07/01-03/1863), from "Gettysburg"(1993);
3. D-Day, Battle of Normandy(06/06/1944), from "Saving Private Ryan"(1998);
4. The Battle of Iwo Jima(02 & 03/1945), from "Flags Of Our Fathers"(2006);
5. The Battle of Hue(02/1968), from "Full Metal Jacket"(1987); &
6. The Battle of Hamburger Hill(05/10-20/1969), from "Hamburger Hill"(1987)
I hope that my pick will be acceptable to everyone. In fact, I'd appreciate an honest critique of these picks from anyone who sees them.
I like it that you picked 2 "older" battles as N° 1 and 2. It is clear that WWII and Vietnam are the most documented wars ever, and therefore provide the best source of information for film makers. For me, the realism in the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan
(1998) makes it one of the most shocking minutes in the history of film-making. Older battles on the other hand leave more space to the imagination and interpretation of the film producers and we will never know for sure if this is how it actually happened in reality. But it also gives you the opportunity to visualise something that we otherwise only know from our childhood history books and as a result such movies often deliver very interesting insights in certain historic events.
I'm glad that you approve of my choices, Leavey-2. Personally, I've always been an American Civil War and A Vietnam War buff myself. My dad was an Air Force engineer during the Vietnam War, and so that war always interested me. Of course, he doesn't like to talk about his experiences, and that's understandable. I think he mentioned that he was held as a P.O.W. for a short time then, and that's why I don't press him about it. And as for the Civil War, the reason I'm interested in it is because I was born and raised in the state of Kentucky, and even though the state didn't secede from the Union during that time, some Kentuckians did support the Confederacy, and some even fought for the Confederate army. My dad told me that some of his ancestors supported the Confederacy too. I, of course, wouldn't have because I was against slavery, and today I'm against racism, fascism, sexism and homophobia. But, I'm not here to talk to you about political views or anything like that, especially since I don't know what your views are, and I don't really care. It isn't relevant. We were discussing our favorite historic battle fields, right? Anyways, you're correct in that I'm also fascinated by the Scottish Highlanders' fight for independence from English rule. You see, I've been a fan of a movie and T.V. franchise called "Highlander". You've probably heard of it. It was about immortals fighting each other through out the centuries in a battle between good and evil for total dominance and ultimate power. Well, there were these two Scottish clansman, Connor and Duncan MacLeod, who became immortal a few years apart, but they've fought side-by-side and have been involved in all sorts of historical events, including the ones involving their native Scotland. And it was from watching the movies and the shows that got me interested in Scottish history and everything else, like the movie "Braveheart", with the infamous "Battle Of Stirling Bridge" and all that stuff. And of course, I'm also into W.W.2 stuff. In fact, I just recently watched the movie "Patton", with George C. Scott in the title role, on Cable-TV, and it was very enjoyable. So suffice it to say that I'm a real "History Buff". Of course, it shouldn't be a total surprise, on account of history was always my best subject in school. YUCK-YUCK-YUCK!
I got a few more. Two you are going to smack your head on because they come from one of the most famous novels of all time: "War and Peace" which has two major battles of the Napoleonic wars in Russia: the Battle of Austerlitz ( December 2, 1805 which was major victory for Neopoleon) and The Battle of Borodino (fought on September 7, 1812 and involving more than 250,000 troops and was a major turning point defeat of Napoleon in Russia). Any film version of WAP, especially the Russian made ones shows these two battles.
And of course The Alamo which has been filmed several times.
And of course The Alamo which has been filmed several times.
(Edited)
I have another but it is disqualified from being on this list because it was a made for tv mini series and not a theaterically released film. The seige of "Masada" http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081900/?... where 900 Jewish zealots held off 5000 Roman soldiers. How that one ended was for the record books because, in Roman's eyes, they earn their victory because even in defeat, the Jews managed to deny the Romans key elements of victory through the traditional PAC Romana. It was the Roman Empire's bitterest victory.
I am happy to include Masada
(1981)
in the list, but the problem seems to be finding a good image of the battle. There aren't many stills of this series circulating on the internet. I keep looking.
Their is a correction to my post. I meant to say "How that one ended was for the record books because, in the Roman's eyes, they didn't earn their victory because even in defeat, the Jews managed to deny the Romans key elements of victory through the traditional PAC Romana. "
'War and Peace' - Napoleonic Wars in Russia has been added.
Thanks
Jessica, Champion
" at the start of WWI"
I thought Dunkirk happened at the start of WWII.
I thought Dunkirk happened at the start of WWII.
This must be a typo. We're indeed talking about WWII here. Thanks for letting us know.
Dan Dassow, Champion
