1940s
War movies from the 1940’s
Gung Ho! (1943)
Have you ever seen those old Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck cartoons where somebody holds up a flag with a picture of a screw and a baseball (screwball!) or an ear of corn (corny!) in response to somebody? Well, I’m gonna hold up the corn flag for this film. I’m sure the creators of Gung... »
Flying Tigers (1942)
1942’s Flying Tigers pays homage to the group of American volunteers who risked their lives to help the Chinese under Japanese occupation before World War II. John Wayne stars as Capt. Jim Gordon, in a role (although not the same character) he would play several more times in his career, such as in Flying Leathernecks,... »
Bombardier (1943)
In the same vein as the thoroughly enjoyable Air Force and the dreadful Wake Island comes the light-hearted yet still deadly serious Bombardier. It’s basically a War Department-sponsored (with real Air Corps Brass no less!) bit of propaganda which follows the development of the first group of precision high altitude “bombardiers” through to the... »
A Walk in the Sun (1945)
Man, I can honestly say I’ve just seen the most bleak, dark, depressing, demoralizing… and downright dull war movie I’ve seen to date…. A Walk in the Sun follows a squad of soldiers as they land on a beach in Italy, and proceed to an occupied farmhouse in a quest to blow up a bridge. ... »
Wake Island (1942)
Two words: Um. Yeah. Two more words: Don’t bother. Look, I’m all for classic war movies, and Wake Island just ain’t one of ‘em. Now, I understand the need for a little artistic license, especially in the name of much-needed (and wanted) wartime propaganda flicks. I’m not against that. But there’s... »
Sergeant York (1941)
Before the movie-generating events of World War II, there was “the big one” and the heroes that emerged from it. “Sergeant York” explores the events surrounding one of the most legendary heroes of the war, one Alvin C. York, masterfully played by Gary Cooper. Once you get past the first oh, hour or so,... »
The Sands of Iwo Jima (1949)
It’s John Wayne for cryin out loud! The Duke! How can you not enjoy this! Seriously, “The Sands of Iwo Jima” takes us to that hell-hole of an island in the Pacific, and the steps along the way. Sergeant John Stryker (John Wayne) is the seasoned and gruff company Sgt. who takes his... »
To The Shores Of Tripoli (1942)
OK, So maybe “To The Shores of Tripoli” isn’t so much a “war movie” as a “wartime movie”, but I think it still fits the bill…. It’s the journey of one Chris Winters (John Payne) who joins the Marines in chase of a dame, one Mary Carter (Maureen O’Hara), who it seems is also... »
New on DVD 5/8
There are probably more (and if I find them I’ll edit this post!) but here are a pair of "double feature" DVD’s from Republic starring the Duke. The Fighting Seabees/Wake of the Red Witch (1949) THE FIGHTING SEABEES – All-American hero John Wayne takes a crew of construction workers and turns them into one of WWII’s... »
The Great Dictator (1940)
Man, all I can say about this one is this. Excellent stuff. This gem from 1940 pits master comedian Charlie Chaplin absolutely tearing apart the European dictatorships of the time. Before the US even got involved. You’ll find yourself in a mix of laughing hysterically and just in jaw-dropping disbelief at some... »
