The 20 Best War Movies Based On True Stories (2024)

Summary

• Not all war movies are based on true stories; but those that are can increase the realism of the film and up the stakes.
• Accuracy is crucial in movies based on true stories, altering events only for narrative purposes.
• The best war movies based on true stories can be an important way to connect with history.

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War movies based on true stories are a popular genre for filmmakers who are interested in the action and intensity of battle as well as the stakes that come with being based on a real event. The best war movies are not necessarily based on true stories, and it’s an important distinction to make. Unless a war movie is set in a fantasy world like Warcraft or is a science fiction film like Starship Troopers, the film is likely set within a real world period, during an actual conflict that happened. However, this does not mean that the film is ‘based on a true story’.

So a film like Saving Private Ryan, while incredible, does not match the criteria as the story is fictional, despite the war itself being real. The characters and specific events (outside of the broader setting of the war) are fictional. Similarly, completely realistic depictions of military action are not totally necessary for a true war movie to be successful. What’s crucial is that the specifics of a historical event or person within a war are captured accurately, and the factual events are only altered to serve narrative purposes, not twisted to fit the thematic goals of the filmmaker. The best war movies based on true stories are accurate, illuminating, and express why these real stories are important.

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20 Testament Of Youth (2014)

A Poignant Look Into The Cost Of War

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Testament of Youth is a 2014 British war drama based on the First World War memoir of the same name by Vera Brittain, a British nurse and activist. Alicia Vikander plays Vera and Kit Harington plays Roland Leighton, a poet and soldier, and Vera’s love interest. When WWI begins, every man in Vera’s life goes off to fight and die, leaving her alone. She decides to become a nurse in the field to help her countrymen, but comes to learn that the Germans wounded in battle are no different from the men she knows.

It’s a moving and philosophical film that challenges the idea of evil and the wartime belief that the enemy is some monstrous, unknown being. Vikander’s acting perfectly portrays the anguish and resiliency of Vera, who lost two of her lovers and her brother in the fighting. A slow burning movie, Testament of Youth is beautifully shot and engaging from the beginning.

19 The Train (1964)

A Thrilling Chase To Stop The Nazis From Stealing French Art

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Watch on Amazon Prime VideoIn The Train, based on the non-fiction work Le front de l’art by French writer Rose Valland, Paul Labiche (Burt Lancaster), a real life French art dealer, is a French Resistance member during WWII. Throughout the war, the Nazis have been moving stolen art out of France to their homes in Germany. The Train refers to train No. 40,044, one of the last cargo locomotives to leave Germany after the liberation of Paris becomes imminent. Colonel Franz von Waldheim (Paul Scofield) is attempting to steal as much as he can, leaving Labiche to find a way to stop him.

It’s a thrilling story that not only features Lancaster in a classic, heroic movie star role, but also has a critical message about the importance of art, even in wartime. The film was nominated for Best Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen at the 38th Academy Awards and along with its impeccable script comes beautiful wide, long shots of France.

18 A Bridge Too Far (1977)

A Large Scale War Epic Unafraid To Show Allied Failure

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After D-Day, the Allied command made an attempt to enter the German heartland by way of the occupied Netherlands. A Bridge Too Far is the retelling of that failed mission. Based on the novel of the same name by historian Cornelius Ryan, A Bridge Too Far is the result of the combined efforts of some of the greatest talents working in Hollywood in the ’70s. Richard Attenborough directs, William Goldman writes, and Michael Caine, Sean Connery, James Caan, Gene Hackman, and Anthony Hopkins star.

A Bridge Too Far is one of the more historically accurate war movies, adhering closely to what happened when 35,000 British, American, and Independent Polish forces parachuted into Holland. It’s a massively staged film with some incredible sequences of men dropping en masse to the ground. It’s unusual in that it’s one of the early war films to show Allied failures in the war, not resorting to depicting them as heroic victors.

17 Kingdom Of Heaven (2005)

A Medieval Epic On A Scale That’s Rarely Seen

Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
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Adventure
Drama

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Director Ridley Scott Release Date May 6, 2005 Cast Martin Hanco*ck , Michael Sheen , Nathalie Cox , Eriq Ebouaney , Jouko Ahola , David Thewlis Runtime 144 Minutes

Ridley Scott’s 2004 epic war film, Kingdom of Heaven, tells a rarely seen tale about the Crusades, specifically in this case the Third Crusade and Balian of Ibelin’s (Orlando Bloom) fight to defend the Kingdom of Jerusalem from Ayyubid Sultan Saladin (Edward Norton). Long, brutal, and filled with the grimy and intense Scott filmmaking style, Kingdom of Heaven is a force that’s a full sensory experience.

The battle scenes are incredibly staged and the balance between the Crusader defenders and Ayyubid attackers is always carefully depicted. Each side has good reason for their actions, making the final confrontation a harrowing fight in which it’s hard to pick a true hero. Ridley Scott released a director’s cut of Kingdom of Heaven which dramatically improved the pacing and structure of the film and should be considered the definitive version of the movie.

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16 Carve Her Name With Pride (1958)

Virgina McKenna Makes Violet Szabo Jump Off The Screen

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Carve Her Name with Pride from director Lewis Gilbert tells the story of real-life Special Operations Executive agent Violette Szabo (Virginia McKenna) who was captured and executed while working undercover in Nazi-occupied France. Violette leaves her daughter and family in England to help with the war effort, and aids the French Resistance and their British liaison, Captain Tony Fraser (Paul Scofield). Despite some early successes, Violette is eventually captured, tortured, and killed, though she never provides any information to the Nazis.

Though McKenna looks nothing like the real Szabo, as Szabo was brunette, dark-eyed, and short; McKenna does an excellent job leading the picture, and exemplifying the heroic and human traits that made Szabo a successful spy. She’s resourceful, grief-stricken, constantly terrified, but defiant as well, and McKenna ensures all those emotions are on her face simultaneously.

15 Paths of Glory (1957)

Stanley Kubrick’s Slow Burning Anti-War Epic

Paths of Glory (1957)
Approved
War
Drama

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Director Stanley Kubrick Release Date December 25, 1957 Cast Kirk Douglas , Ralph Meeker , Adolphe Menjou , George Macready , Wayne Morris , Richard Anderson , Joe Turkel , Christiane Kubrick Runtime 88 Minutes

Stanley Kubrick’s war movie, or better, anti-war movie, Paths of Glory is a retelling of the Souain corporals affair from WWI. In the film, Colonel Dax (Kirk Douglas) is a French commanding officer whose soldiers refuse to obey a superior’s orders when the mission to go over the trench is plainly suicidal. Dax must defend the soldiers in court after they are accused of cowardice and threatened to be executed by firing squad for disobedience.

Paths of Glory is an intense, unnerving film that accuses the French Army and other militaries worldwide of unfairly disregarding the human soldier on the line. It’s grotesque and nauseating in its depiction of how sentences are passed and people are tried with little recourse in a court-martial. Controversial upon release, Paths of Glory has grown in estimation since, becoming an influential anti-war film that illuminates the dangers of middle-management in a bureaucracy.

14 The Tuskegee Airmen (1995)

A Moving And Inspiring Tale About The First All-Black Army Air Squadron

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A TV movie made for HBO, The Tuskegee Airmen, follows the exploits of the first Black combat pilots in the U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII. Focusing primarily on the intense training of the pilots, The Tuskegee Airmen stars Laurence Fishburne, Allen Payne, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Courtney B. Vance, and Andre Braugher as hopeful soldiers who have to contend with the rigors of bootcamp and their racist director of training Major Sherman Joy (Christopher McDonald).

The film earned a Best Actor Golden Globe nomination for Fishburne and 10 Emmy nominations, winning in three categories. It’s a heartfelt story with a touching chemistry between the five pilots at the center. Even some clichéd war dialogue is not enough to detract from the talented actors. By the time the pilots make it to Italy, the audience has been taken on a literal soaring and emotional journey as the soldiers face hate, politics, and danger to help the war effort.

13 Gettysburg (1993)

The Consummate Civil War Epic For History Buffs

Gettysburg
PG
Drama
History
War

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Released in 1993, Gettysburg is a historical war drama film that adapts the novelThe Killer Angelsby Michael Shaara, written and directed by Ronald F. Maxwell. The film chronicles the titular battle during the Civil War, exploring both sides’ strategies and intimate character stories as soldiers prepare for one of the bloodiest battles in American history.

Director Ronald F. Maxwell Release Date October 8, 1993 Cast Tom Berenger , Jeff Daniels , Martin Sheen , Kevin Conway , C. Thomas Howell , Richard Jordan , James Lancaster , Stephen Lang , Sam Elliott , Maxwell Caulfield Runtime 254 Minutes Budget $20 Million

At over four hours long, Gettysburg can take a few viewings to get all the way through, but for anyone even a little interested in the American Civil War, it’s a must-watch. Though there are certainly some changes from Gettysburg to the real events of the battle, it’s for the most part, a day-to-day retelling of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. The film starts with the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia moving into Pennsylvania and ends with General Lee (Martin Sheen) agreeing to withdraw back south.

Though only set over the course of three days, it’s an explosive and thrilling story, filled with sadness, loss, and a lot of heroism, with many sequences pulled straight from history. Despite the runtime and subject, even those not interested in history will find something to enjoy in one of the few movies set on the battle. Starring Tom Berenger, Stephen Lang, George Lazenby, Jeff Daniels, Sam Elliott, and thousands of actors, Gettysburg brings the country-defining fight to life.

12 Jarhead (2005)

A Realistic Look At The Drudgery Of Modern Warfare

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Jarhead
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The first trailer of Jarhead told a much different story than what actually ended up being presented in the Persian Gulf War movie based on the memoir by U.S. marine Anthony Swofford. The trailer’s use of Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks” and scenes of Jake Gyllenhaal and Jamie Foxx swaggering around exploding desert hills indicated the film would be a rollicking, action-packed, sarcastic thrillride. In the movie, Swofford does not fire his rifle one single time outside of training.

Gyllenhaal is mesmerizing as a soldier on the brink and Peter Sarsgaard is even better as Corporal Alan Troy, a soldier who’s sadly aware that he’s already past it.

Jarhead is a psychological look at the boredom and drudgery of modern warfare. Everywhere the marines go, the battles have already been won. To fill their time instead, they drink copiously, fight each other, and slowly get broken down, unsure of what they are doing in this foreign country. Gyllenhaal is mesmerizing as a soldier on the brink and Peter Sarsgaard is even better as Corporal Alan Troy, a soldier who’s sadly aware that he’s already past it.

11 El Cid (1961)

Spain’s National Hero Is Put On The Big Screen

El Cid (1961)
NR
Action
Drama
History
Romance
War

El Cid (1961) is a historical epic directed by Anthony Mann, starring Charlton Heston as the legendary Spanish hero Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar. The film portrays his struggle to unite Spain against the Moorish invaders. With Sophia Loren as his love interest, the narrative explores the themes of honor, loyalty, and heroism amidst the backdrop of medieval Spain.

Director Anthony Mann Release Date October 24, 1961 Cast Charlton Heston , Sophia Loren , Raf Vallone , Geneviève Page , John Fraser Runtime 182 Minutes Budget 6250000

Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, El Cid (an Arabic honorific meaning “The Lord”), is one of Spain’s most celebrated national heros and the quintessential medieval knight. Charlton Heston plays the Spaniard in the 1961 biopic El Cid, which covers the warrior’s life as he fights for both Spanish and Moorish causes, whichever he deems most noble, gaining allies and loyal followers along the way. There are plenty of moments of unintentional comedy, with Heston not always the most handy with a sword, and many lines of bombastic dialogue, but El Cid is epic pomp and circ*mstance in the vein of Ben-Hur.

The scenery and composition is incredible and beautiful and the battle sequences are massive and well choreographed. While El Cid may be baroque and self-important, when it’s at its best, it’s breathtaking. The movie earned three Academy Award nominations and Martin Scorsese himself declared the film, via the LA Times, “one of the greatest epic films ever made“.

El Cid is not available to stream, rent, or buy digitally.

10 The Great Escape (1963)

The Ultimate Prison Escape Adventure

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The Great Escape
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The Great Escape is the retelling of the mass escape of British prisoners from the Nazi POW camp Stalag Luft III in March 1944. There are many dramatic licenses taken with The Great Escape, like the addition of American soldiers as key figures, but the film still generally tracks the events well enough. In the film, British Captain Ramsey (James Donald) and RAF Squadron Leader Roger Bartlett (Richard Attenborough) begin making plans for a large scale escape from the camp, which involves digging tunnels, and hiding their plans through a well-orchestrated and totally enjoyable series of minor plots and schemes.

The Great Escape omits the contributions of Canadian forces also present at the camp who were crucial to digging the tunnels, via CanadaAtWar.

The movie was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture and an Academy Award for Film Editing. It’s a classic of wartime action movies and an incredibly fun watch despite the grimmer aspects of the finale. Its influences can be found in numerous films from Chicken Run to the works of Quentin Tarantino, including Reservoir Dogs and Inglorious Basterds.

9 Letters From Iwo Jima (2006)

Clint Eastwood’s Haunting Look At The Pacific War Through The Eyes Of The Japanese

Letters from Iwo Jima
R
Drama
Action
Adventure

Director Clint Eastwood Release Date February 2, 2007 Cast Ken Watanabe , Kazunari Ninomiya , Tsuyoshi Ihara , Ryo Kase , Shido Nakamura , Hiroshi Watanabe , Takumi Bando , Yuki Matsuzaki Runtime 141 Minutes

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Leave it to Clint Eastwood to find the time and energy to film two Academy Award-nominated movies at the same time. Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima were both released in 2006 and tell the story of the invasion of the Japanese island from the point of view of the Americans in Flags and the Japanese in Letters. Ken Watanabe stars as General Tadamichi Kuribayashi, the highest ranking officer on Iwo Jima during the invasion, tasked with defending the island to the last man, no matter the cost.

The story comes from the novel “Gyokusai sōshikikan” no etegami (“Picture letters from the Commander in Chief”) by Kuribayashi before he died, relaying his account of the invasion. Letters from Iwo Jima was nominated for four Academy Awards, winning for Best Sound Editing and won Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes. It’s a moving and haunting tale from a perspective rarely seen by English-speaking audiences.

8 Zulu (1964)

An Epic War Drama Far Ahead Of Its Time

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Watch on TubiZulu is based on the Battle of Rorke’s Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, which, as the name suggests, was fought between British colonizing forces and Zulu tribesmen. The film depicts the long battle between 4000 Zulu soldiers who attack a heavily fortified encampment of 200 Welsh defenders. It is a brutal battle with gore and violence approaching the most harrowing modern war films and Michael Caine’s portrayal of Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead rocketed him into stardom.

The film is a product of its time in many ways. The Zulu warriors eventually concede their attack on the British and salute their bravery, which slightly undermines some of the anti-imperialistic messaging the rest of the movie has. However, the fact a 1964 film even had an anti-imperialist bent was unusual. It’s a white-knuckled and exhilarating two hours of warfare that has inspired many films, such as Gladiator.

7 Glory (1989)

A Moving And Heroic Drama About The First All-Black Regiment In The Civil War

Glory (1989)
R
Biography
Drama
History
War

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Based on documented events, Glory is a historical war-drama film by director Edward Zwick and tells the story of the first all-black infantry regiment in the Civil War. Being led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, comprised entirely of volunteers, fight to protect their nation and people while facing discrimination from all sides.

Director Edward Zwick Release Date December 15, 1989 Cast Matthew Broderick , Denzel Washington , Morgan Freeman , Cary Elwes , Andre Braugher Runtime 122 Minutes Budget $18 Million

Denzel Washington won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar and a Golden Globe for his performance as Private Silas Trip in Glory, based on the true story of one of the Union Army’s earliest Black regiments in the American Civil War. Along with Washington’s accolades, the film earned four more Oscar nominations, winning in two technical categories; and it received four more Golden Globe nominations, including in the Best Picture category.

Morgan Freeman, Matthew Broderick, and Cary Elwes also star. The film depicts the formation of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment and the racist roadblocks they encountered from the same country they volunteered to defend. Glory could have been heavy-handed but is instead a rousing look at resilience, anger, and honor that never strays into becoming something smaltzy, thanks in part to James Horner’s soaring score.

6 Come And See (1985)

A Horrifying Anti-War Film That’s Difficult But Important To Watch

Come And See (1985)
NR
Drama
War

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Come and See is a 1985 Soviet war drama directed by Elem Klimov. The film follows a young Belarusian boy named Flyora as he witnesses and experiences the horrors of World War II. Through his eyes, viewers are exposed to the brutal realities of war and its devastating impact on humanity. Renowned for its stark portrayal of violence and suffering, the film is considered a powerful anti-war statement.

Director Elem Klimov Release Date October 17, 1985 Cast Aleksei Kravchenko , Olga Mironova , Liubomiras Laucevicius , Vladas Bagdonas , Jüri Lumiste Runtime 142 Minutes

Come and See was hugely controversial when it came out due exclusively to the brutality that’s present on screen. But that’s the point. Through the eyes of a young boy, Flyora/Florian Gaishun (Aleksei Kravchenko), the violence and massacres inflicted on Belarusians by the Nazis during WWII are presented in unflinching close-up. The Soviet Belarusian film is based primarily on the infamous Nazi Dirlewanger Brigade and the Khatyn massacre. Come and See is unrelenting, exhausting, and necessary.

The term “anti-war film” is a paradoxical one, and there’s an argument to be made that there is no such thing.

The term “anti-war film” is a paradoxical one, and there’s an argument to be made that there is no such thing. By putting war on screen, it immediately becomes an object of fascination, for better or worse. Come and See is neither thrilling, exciting, nor fascinating. It’s either the anti-war movie that’s the exception that proves the rule or an example that indicates anti-war films can be possible if the filmmakers are willing to be completely honest about the atrocities people inflict on one another.

5 Dunkirk (2017)

A Gorgeous, Heart-Pounding, Thriller From A Modern Master

Dunkirk
PG-13
History
Drama
Action

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This epic tale of World War II tells the story of soldiers from Belgium, Britain, Canada and France, who are surrounded by the German army, and the dangerous operation that evacuated and saved the lives of thousands.

Director Christopher Nolan Release Date July 21, 2017 Cast Kenneth Branagh , Aneurin Barnard , Mark Rylance , Tom Hardy , James D’Arcy , Jack Lowden , Cillian Murphy , Harry Styles , Fionn Whitehead , Barry Keoghan Runtime 106 minutes Budget $82.5–150 million

Christopher Nolan’s 10th movie, Dunkirk, is a dedication to the director’s birth country of England. The film follows one hour, one day, and one week, overlapping and criss-crossing as only Nolan can do, obsessed with the idea of time as he is, during the Dunkirk evacuation in WWII. The movie begins with a caption stating that the “enemy” has driven the British and French to the sea where they await unlikely rescue. On a pamplet dropped by the Nazi enemy, a huge red outline surrounding a tiny white dot in the center sets the stakes.

That’s the only vision of the enemy Dunkirk allows until the final moments of the film when two blurry Nazis approach from afar to apprehend the crashed, but victorious, pilot, Farrier (Tom Hardy). Bullets, bombs, and torpedoes are everywhere but never is the German soldier who fired them shown. Dunkirk isn’t about defeating the enemy, it’s about escaping with the resilience of an entire country. It’s not heroic, but it’s human and more moving for it. With eight Oscar nominations and three wins, Dunkirk enshrined Nolan as an acclaimed director.

4 Black Hawk Down (2001)

One Of The Most Realistic Depictions Of Modern Warfare

Black Hawk Down
R
War
Drama
History

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Black Hawk Down recounts the harrowing true story of a U.S. military mission gone awry in Somalia. Tasked with capturing a warlord, elite soldiers find themselves in a fierce battle against Somali militia forces.

Director Ridley Scott Release Date January 18, 2002 Cast Jason Isaacs , Eric Bana , Josh Hartnett , Ewan McGregor , Tom Sizemore , Tom Hardy , Hugh Dancy , Orlando Bloom Runtime 144 minutes Budget $92 million

Black Hawk Down, based on the novel of the same name by journalist Mark Bowden, is Ridley Scott’s modern epic about the Battle of Mogadishu, an ill-fated “military action” taken on by the US Army in 1993 during the Somali Civil War. The film follows the 75th Ranger Regiment (highly trained foot soldiers), Delta Force operators (special forces), and flight crews of the 160th SOAR (helicopters or, Black Hawks) as they enter Mogadishu in the hopes of capturing self-proclaimed ruler Mohamed Farrah Aidid.

What happened instead was a massive military disaster that included two downed Black Hawk Helicopters, 84 US soldiers wounded, and 18 killed, along with hundreds of dead Somalians, some belligerents and some simply caught in the crossfire. Almost from the moment the film starts, it’s clear that U.S. command is not organized enough for the attack and the film, while a thrilling and intense escape movie, is also a blistering indictment on the state of the modern American military apparatus.

3 Sergeant York (1941)

The Quintessential American War Film

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Watch on Amazon Prime VideoSergeant Alvin York was a real soldier who fought in World War I and earned the Medal of Honor for his heroics in capturing 132 prisoners during the Meuse–Argonne offensive in France in 1918. 23 years later, Gary Cooper played the decorated soldier in Sergeant York, a retelling of Alvin’s heroics on the battlefield. York is a conscientious objector at the outset of the movie, but becomes a hero on the battlefield when his superiors are killed and the men look to him.

York is a modern American hero, almost mythical in stature, and this movie centers him like a superhero, but Cooper keeps the character grounded and humble, making it not feel as jingoistic as it may have otherwise. Sergeant York was nominated for 11 Oscars and won for Best Actor and Best Film Editing. It’s also been entered into the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

2 The Battle Of Algiers (1966)

A Frighteningly Realistic And Inspiring Foreign Language War Epic

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The Battle of Algiers
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The Battle of Algiers is an Italian-Algerian joint production directed by Gillo Pontecorvo, based on actions undertaken by rebels during the Algerian War (1954–1962) against the French government in North Africa. Filmed in the style of the master of neo-realism Roberto Rossellini, which is like a newsreel, there are parts of The Battle of Algiers that are almost indistinguishable from real life. The film centers on revolutionary fighter Ali La Pointe (Brahim Hadjadj) as he fights with guerrillas to free Algeria from the rule of France.

Ennio Morricone helped score the film and Pontecorvo used non-professional actors, some of whom were revolutionaries themselves like Saadi Yacef, to give the film authenticity. The influence of The Battle of Algiers can be found in Kubrick movies, Nolan films, and in any project that’s attempted to capture the real feeling of being on the ground during a revolution. It’s frequently ranked near the top of Best Movie polls, via BFI, and is an epic, uncompromising masterpiece.

1 Lawrence Of Arabia (1962)

An Epic, War Time Drama That’s Influenced Every Director Who Has Seen It

Lawrence of Arabia
PG
War
Biography
Adventure
History
Drama

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The 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia is a historical movie based on the life of a real-life British officer who played a key role in the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Starring Peter O’Toole, Alec Guinness, and Anthony Quinn, the Oscar-winning film displays the man’s disillusionment with war and its politics.

Director David Lean Release Date December 11, 1962 Cast Alec Guinness , Omar Sharif , Peter O’Toole , Jack Hawkins , Anthony Quinn Runtime 228 minutes Budget $15 million

Lawrence of Arabia is based on the life of British commander T. E. Lawrence who fought in Ottoman provinces during WWI. The film earned 10 Academy Award nominations and won seven of them, including for Best Picture and Best Director. It also went six for eight at the Golden Globes, again winning Best Motion Picture. The film has also been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the U.S. Library of Congress. If the question ever comes up regarding favorite movies, answering, “Lawrence of Arabia” is a safe pick.

It’s epically filmed, Peter O’Toole is perfectly cast as Lawrence, and it’s awe-inspiring in its cinematography, acting, story, and scope. As a movie from the sixties, issues of whitewashing Arab characters are persistent and grating. Omar Sharif as Sherif Ali ibn el Kharish is one of the only Middle Eastern actors even cast in the film. However, it’s impossible to deny the war movies’ influence and shots like Indiana Jones riding across sandy deserts or a Sandworm coming out of the ground in Dune would not be possible without it.

Source: https://www.thanhphotre.edu.vn
Category: Entertainment