Favourite War Films

These are a few of my favourite war films: In Which We Serve (1942) was written, starred in and co-directed by Noel Coward (co-director David Lean). Produced right in the middle of the War, it tells the story of HMS Torrance (Mountbatten's HMS Kelly lightly disguised), her battles and of the lives of her officers and men and then her loss in battle but, despite suffering this fate, it must overall have been a wonderful morale-booster for a beleaguered nation. Secondly, there is Angels One Five, (1952), starring Jack Hawkins, John Gregson, Michael Denison and Dulcie Gray about a second World War fighter pilot and his fate. The Cruel Sea 1953) is an adaptation of Nicholas Monsarrat's novel, starring, amongst others, Jack Hawkins, Donald Sinden, Virginia McKenna and Moira Lister, about the destructive effect of war on relationship. Then there is The Colditz Story (1955), with a strong cast, headed up by Eric Portman and John Mills, about the high security prisoner of war camp in Colditz Castle, reserved for those officers and men of the allies who endlessly sought to escape. Next is the stirring Battle of the River Plate (1956), commemorating the famous confrontation between the battle cruisers HMS Achilles, HMS Ajax and HMS Exeter (under the Command of Commodore Henry Harwood) with the German pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee (commanded by Captain Hans Langsdorf) outside the River Plate in December 1940. Lawrence of Arabia (1962) introduced Peter O'Toole in his first starring role, as T E Lawrence in his Arabian campaigns in the First World War. The Great Escape (1963) included Steve McQueen and a star-studded cast, and depicted the ingenious escape from a prisoner of war camp and its aftermath. Zulu (1964)starring Harry Andrews and Michael Caine, depicts the incredible stand made by a small detachment of the 24th Regiment of Foot at Rorke's Drift Missionary station in 1879, against thousands of Zulu warriors. As a result of this stand eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded; a record for a single engagement that still stands. Two other favourites are Charge of The Light Brigade (1968), starring Trevor Howard, John Gielgud and Vanessa Redgrave, about the bungled orders resulting in a cavalry charge in 1854 during the Battle of Balaclava, right into the face of the Russian artillery, and The Battle of Britain (1969), with another star-studded cast, including Laurence Olivier, Ralph Richardson, Harry Andrews and Michael Caine, about the crucial Battle of Britain in 1940.

The above film still is from this film.