1940s
War movies from the 1940’s
Battleground (1949)
The Battle of the Bulge, December 1944. Movies have tried and failed (the aptly named but poorly executed Battle of the Bulge) and succeeded (Band of Brothers, countless others)…. But few manage to combine the two into a wildly excellent, yet kind of disappointing picture such as Battleground. What do I mean? Well, let’s get... »
Destination Tokyo (1943)
Yeah, sometimes you just have to kick back, and take in the classics for what they are. That is to say, undeniable products of their time. 1943’s Destination Tokyo is definitely one of those films. I’d go as far as saying that Destination Tokyo is one of the prime examples of your typical US wartime... »
Reader’s Digest WWII in the Pacific
Reader’s Digest WWII in the Pacific Tomorrow brings the release of the Reader’s Digest WWII in the Pacific 6-DVD box set from Questar. I was fortunate enough to have an early glimpse at this, and I’m glad I did… but…. The set comes in a fairly attractive package, the black/white with gold accents is a nice... »
The Purple Heart (1944)
The Purple Heart is of course the medal given to servicemen wounded in the line of duty. The movie of the same name, really doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the medal. At least not what I could tell. What it is, though is a perfect example of a World War II “propaganda”... »
Dive Bomber (1941)
Call me a sucker for some good old-fashioned old-time military aviation, but 1941’s Dive Bomber is a superb and often overlooked gem of a movie. I can’t say it any other way. It’s full of that pre-Pearl Harbor optimism and enthusiasm, with just enough bite and bitterness to even it all out. Not to mention... »
They Were Expendable (1945)
From landmark director John Ford comes the classic They Were Expendable, starring none other than John Wayne as Lt. “Rusty” Ryan. One of the cool things about WWII movies is that there’s just so many of them, and as such, they had to drill down and focus on particular units or what-have-you in order... »
Guadalcanal Diary (1943)
Guadalcanal Diary is just one of those pictures you know they made with good intentions. The problem is that it was just too early to be making a picture like this. 1943 saw the start of the Pacific campaign in WWII, and if they’d only known what they were up against, I’m not sure... »
The Fighting 69th (1940)
Alright, let me just start by saying that I’m not a big fan of James Cagney, and I’m not really sure why. Maybe its just because every role I’ve seen him in has just been either flat and uninteresting, or just downright annoying. Like his portrayal of the misfit Private Plunkett in 1940’s The... »
The Long Voyage Home (1940)
Ah, the merchant marines, the unsung heroes of WWII. Putting their lives at risk on the open waters of the North Atlantic to deliver much needed supplies to Allied forces in Europe. The Long Voyage Home follows the crew of the Glencairn in just one of these voyages. And what a misfit, motley... »
The Fighting Sullivans (1944)
The Fighting Sullivans documents the tragic loss of the five Sullivan brothers, who died while serving together on the USS Juneau in the Solomon Islands. This story served as an inspiration for Saving Private Ryan, and it is as relevant and painful a story today as it was then. Although the film itself is... »
