The War Film
"The coming of the Second World War renewed interest in the war film and brought on a new film genre, the World War II combat film. Variations of film narratives about war had existed since the beginning of the American film industry. But in the midst of World War II Hollywood set out on a war film binge, making dozens of tales of Americans fighting in the air, on land, and in the sea. While the method of fighting may have differed, the basic narrative pattern was similar: a group of men from different backgrounds are brought together and in the heat of battle these men grow close, united against the onslaught of the enemy. In the end, a decisive battle is fought, and the Allied forces triumph once again. As would be the case with any new genre, this one added a complete new set of icons: the jeep, the combat helmet, the P-41 fighter plane. . . Bataan can now be recognized as the seminal work. it is the story of a hastily assembled group of volunteers who bravely attempt to hold off an overwhelming Japanese force. These fighting men, representing the American melting pot, soon grow into a cohesive fighting group and use common strengths to win for the common good. The audience knew the story (the holding of the Bataan peninsula so that Allied forces could regroup and return to recapture the Philippines), and flocked to the film. The formula for the combat film was thus established, and the genre thrived and continued well after the end of the war." (Gomery chapter 7)
WWII Films:
- Battle of San Pietro documentary film 1944 by John Huston was both poetic and gritty.
- Bridge on the River Kwai was a British film 1957 by David Lean
- Das Boot was a German film 1981 by Wolfgang Petersen
- Flying Tigers was a Republic Pictures feature film 1942 with John Wayne as a Chennault-like leader.
- Memphis Belle documentary film 1944 by William Wyler
- Mrs. Miniver MGM feature film 1942 was propaganda for the home front: "The vicar then ends the movie with a powerful monologue that is to motivate and comfort the villagers. "War is not only fought by soldiers, War is fought all of the people . . . " "War effects cities, villages, factories, homes . . ." and what keeps everyone to keep on fighting is the "love of freedom". This monologue proved to be so powerful that President Franklin Roosevelt ordered it to be reprinted onto leaflets and dropped over occupied Europe." (Renee Yeh)
- Negro Soldier 1944 film by Frank Capra told a history and race lesson
- Patton 1970 film screenplay was written by Francis Ford Coppola who would later make Apocalypse Now
- Pearl Harbor films
- Saving Private Ryan film 1998 by Spielberg was realistic but not as truthful as the Cornelius Ryan films
- This Is the Army morale film 1943 from the Irving Berlin play
- Why We Fight propaganda films by Frank Capra 1942-1945
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