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All
Quiet on the Western Front (DVD)
All
Quiet on the Western Front (VHS) , by Lewis Milestone, 1930. With Lew
Ayres. One of the Golden Age's great overrated films, All Quiet gives a very
Americanized view of the German war machine, and an inaccurately pacifist one
at that. The portrayal of a group of strong young Germans in 1914 engaging in a
waffling "why are we here" discussion is questionable at best. The German Army
of this period had 100 years of straight victories behind it, and the regiments
that marched into Belgium and France were utterly confident of another victory.
In any case, the strict discipline of the units would have made any type of
talk considered to be defeatist an astronomical rarity so early in the war. In
these respects and many others, the movie falls gravely short of reality. It is
a modestly good anti-war film, but one that is unconvincing because it fails to
accurately portray its subject.
Battleship
Potemkin (DVD)
Battleship
Potemkin (VHS), by Sergei Eisenstein, 1925.
The
Blue Max (VHS), by John Guillermin 1966.
Dawn
Patrol (VHS), by Edmund Goulding, 1938.
Four
Horsemen of the Apocalypse (VHS), by Rex Ingram, 1921. With Rudolph
Valentino. Masterful silent film piece.
Gallipoli (DVD)
Gallipoli (VHS), with Mel Gibson. A tragic story of three
Australian friends who experience the 1915 Gallipoli invasion during World War
One. Features some of the most convincing depictions of the terror of going
"over the top" ever filmed, with its portrayal of the attack at "The Nek" on
the heights above the landing zone. Viewers should keep in mind that this
assault was really exceptional in its wastefulness. In many, many other cases,
the Australian, British and New Zealand troops not only made it to the Turkish
trenches, but often fought their way through several defense lines. Still, 50%
casualties were common, and so the shocking reality stands true.
Grand
Illusion (DVD)
Grand
Illusion (VHS), by Jean Renoir, 1937.
Lawrence of Arabia (DVD)
Lawrence of Arabia (VHS), by David Lean, 1962. With Peter
O'toole and Alec Guiness. Chronicles the rise of a British officer from
obscurity to leader of the Arab revolt against the Turkish Empire during World
War One. Shot in 70mm Panavision on location in central Arabia, the movie is a
pleasure to watch over and over again. As happens sometimes, there are a few
minor technical errors which are interesting to look for. For example, take a
look at the machine guns being used by the movie's Turkish Army troops. They
are American made Browning machine guns which did not exist until long after
World War One. The real-life Turks used old Maxim and Hotchkiss machine guns
which were larger and clumsier than the modern Brownings shown on film. The
story itself displays a number of colonially presumptuous attitudes, but
considering the subject that's not entirely out of place. And it does attempt
to show some of the many prejudices of the time in an appropriately critical
light.
The
Lighthorsemen (VHS), by Simon Wincer, 1987.
Paths
of Glory (DVD), by Stanley Kubrik, 1957. With Kirk Douglas. Kubrik's
fact-based World War One film which brought such severe criticism from French
"authorities." By today's standards its portrayal of war is presented in a
sanitary manner, and the ambivilant ending rather weakens what points the movie
makes. Viewers should also keep in mind that by mid-war, the anticipated loss
(killed and wounded, not just killed) of half of one's men would not come as
much of a shock to a French colonel, unlike what is shown in the movie.
Sergeant
York (VHS), by Howard Hawks, 1941. With Gary Cooper.
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Lawrence of Arabia
Finally, this classic is available on
DVD, now at Amazon.com! |
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WORLD WAR I