Have You Seen Any Of These Classics?
At first glance, you might think that The Great War didn’t produce as many films as the the more famous conflict of the 1930s and 40s. But after reading this list, you’re bound to add some of these incredible films to your watchlist.
All Quiet On The Western Front
The 1930 Best Picture winner basically set the template for the sound combat film, with countless directors citing it as an influence. It’s probably the biggest achievement of director Lewis Milestone.
Lewis Milestone, Universal Pictures., Wikimedia Commons
All Quiet On The Western Front
This 2022 adaptation of the timeless story went back to Erich Maria Remarque’s original book, presenting a more faithful German-language telling. Oscars were showered on the film’s myriad technical achievements.
Amusement Park Films, All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
Legends Of The Fall
A classic male weepie, this 1994 period melodrama is perhaps to date the film best known for cementing Brad Pitt as a major heartthrob. Some people are fond of John Toll’s cinematography too.
TriStar, Legends of the Fall (1994)
Passchendaele
Paul Gross went out of his way to try and legitimize Canadian cinema by having millions spent on this drama which took heavy influence from films like Saving Private Ryan.
Rhombus Media, Passchendaele (2008)
Darling Lili
Pink Panther director Blake Edwards’ musical about a German spy was a flop upon release in 1970, but has since been reclaimed as one of the filmmaker’s boldest films.
Paramount, Darling Lili (1970)
What Price Glory?
You’ll find that many early WWI films can almost be more romantic dramas or comedies involving love triangles than combat pictures. Look no further than director Raoul Walsh’s silent hit from 1926 for an example.
Twentieth Century, What Price Glory (1926)
War Horse
Steven Spielberg returned to a genre he pioneered with this 2011 stage adaptation that didn’t leave a single dry eye in the house.
Hell’s Angels
Perhaps you remember the passage from The Aviator that depicted Howard Hughes’ obsessive production of this aviation epic. Well, maybe it’s finally time to see the film itself.
The Caddo Company, Hell's Angels (1930)
A Very Long Engagement
The team behind Amelie reunited for this sweeping romantic melodrama. It was made with the intention of showing that the French film industry could measure up with Hollywood in making old-fashioned epics.
Warner Bros., A Very Long Engagement (2004)
Waterloo Bridge
The same year he redefined the horror film with the Boris Karloff-starring Frankenstein, director James Whale made this stirring romance. Whale himself had experience serving in the British Army during the conflict.
Universal, Waterloo Bridge (1931)
Testament Of Youth
This old-fashioned romance was a vehicle for rising stars like Game Of Thrones’ Kit Harrington and future Oscar winner Alicia Vikander. It took an acclaimed memoir of the same name by British nurse Vera Brittain as its source.
BBC, Testament of Youth (2014)
Sergeant York
The American Sniper of its time was this Gary Cooper drama, which he won his first Best Actor Oscar for. One of the biggest box office hits of the 1940s, it serves as a strong record of Roosevelt-era America.
Warner Bros., Sergeant York (1941)
King And Country
One of many films blacklisted American director Joseph Losey made in Britain, King And Country essentially plays as a highly compelling courtroom drama against a battlefield context.
1917
This Academy-Award-winning box office smash took inspiration from video games like Red Dead Redemption 2 to present a new cinematic experience.
Gallipoli
An early breakthrough film for both star Mel Gibson and director Peter Weir was this 1981 drama which depicted the perspective of grunts in the Australian Army, something that hadn’t been seen in many films.
A Farewell To Arms
Based on Ernest Hemingway’s iconic novel, this WWI drama trades in the tragedy of the source material for a sense of romantic transcendentalism. One of many great films by director Frank Borzage.
Paramount Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
Wings
The first ever winner of the Best Picture Oscar was this silent-era aviation drama from director William Wellman. Many of its flight sequences still thrill today.
William A. Wellman, Wikimedia Commons
Paths Of Glory
One of Stanley Kubrick’s earliest triumphs was this moral drama from the late 50s starring Kirk Douglas. Much of the bold camera movement is still replicated in films today.
Grand Illusion
Jean Renoir’s humanist POW drama from 1937 remains a staple of film schools everywhere. Director Jim Jarmusch paid tribute to it in his great 1986 film Down By Law.
RAC, The Grand Illusion (1937)
Lawrence Of Arabia
David Lean’s 1962 epic remains one of the grandest big-screen experiences of all time. If you can, we recommend seeing it whenever a 70mm print is screening in your town.
Columbia Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
Dishonored
Possibly the best collaboration between legends Marlene Dietrich and Josef von Sternberg was this 1931 spy romance. Despite being nearly a hundred years old, it still holds up today.
The Big Parade
One of Hollywood’s earliest blockbusters was this silent-era epic from director King Vidor. It pushed him to make constant artistically risky films after.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Wikimedia Commons
The Lost Patrol
One of the deeper cuts from legendary director John Ford is this 1934 thriller which plays against a desert landscape. It features a strong supporting turn from horror actor Boris Karloff.
They Shall Not Grow Old
Peter Jackson has largely kept himself busy post-Hobbit trilogy by futzing around in the archive. One example was this 2018 documentary which colorized existing WWI footage.
House Productions, They Shall Not Grow Old (2018)
Westfront 1918
Director GW Pabst was best known for his collaborations with actress Louise Brooks, but this combat drama proved he was highly adept at several kinds of films outside the melodrama.
Bavaria Film, Westfront 1918 (1930)
The Red Baron
Director, producer, and mogul Roger Corman was known for not spending a lot on his film budgets, but this 1971 aviation film saw him reaching for the big leagues.
Corman Company, The Red Baron (1971)
Shoulder Arms
Clocking in at only 46 minutes, this charming comedy from Charlie Chaplin mines laughs from one of the dreariest things in human history: trench combat.
Charles Chaplin Productions, Shoulder Arms (1918)
The Road To Glory
One of the most underrated films from legendary director Howard Hawks is this ensemble drama. Some thanks may be due to the contributions to the script by novelist William Faulkner.
20th Century Fox, Wikimedia Commons
Captain Conan
French filmmaker and cineaste Bertrand Tavernier was deeply enamored with classical Hollywood cinema, and this combat drama evidenced it in thrilling form.
The King’s Man
The third installment in the Kingsman franchise took things back to the 1910s, bringing a historical spin to the outrageous action series.
Twentieth Century, The King's Man (2021)
The Dawn Patrol
One of the numerous films from director Howard Hawks on this list is this fighter pilot drama starring Errol Flynn. Aviation truly was one of the most popular ways to see the conflict of the 1910s onscreen.
First National Pictures, The Dawn Patrol (1930)
The Great War
This Italian film from 1959 combined drama and comedy to capture the grand, cosmic absurdity of combat. It remains one of Italy’’s most important films.
Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica, The Great War (1959)
Flyboys
An old-fashioned tribute to the aviation dramas of the 1930s, Flyboys is worth digging up from the bottom of the Amazon Prime or Netflix viewing libraries.
Wonder Woman
Still the best-liked film from the DC Cinematic Universe, Wonder Woman set itself apart by using 1918 London as a backdrop against a superhero tale.
Warner Bros., Wonder Woman (2017)
Johnny Got His Gun
Blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo made his directorial debut with this 1971 film based on his novel of the same name. Clips from the film were included in the music video for the Metallica song “One”.
World Entertainment, Johnny Got His Gun (1971)
Doughboys
Even Buster Keaton got his shot at putting on a soldier’s helmet with this 1930 comedy. It may not necessarily be one of the star’s most beloved films, but anything with him in it is guaranteed a couple of laughs.
The African Queen
Humphrey Bogart won his only Oscar for this 1951 adventure film also starring Katharine Hepburn. Legendary director John Huston was behind the camera.
Horizon Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
Wilson
One of Hollywood’s go-to prestige genres is the biopic. This dramatization of President Woodrow Wilson’s life by director Henry King saw typical supporting player Alexander Knox given a rare lead role.
Time Inc., 20th Century Fox, Wikimedia Commons
The Life And Death Of Colonel Blimp
One of the biggest influences on Martin Scorsese was the directing duo Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, and many feel this film spanning decades in the life of a commanding officer is their highest achievement.
The Archers, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943)
Mata Hari
One of star Greta Garbo’s most successful films was this 1931 drama. To date, the original, uncensored version remains unavailable—for a scandalous reason. Shortly after the film's release, Hollywood implemented new censorship laws, leading to a steamy dance and two intimate scenes being cut from the film upon its rerelease to the public.
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