3 Classic War Films Vol. 1

Mrs. Miniver (1942), Battleground (1949), and Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

I'm happy to be posting the first "installment" of  Classic War Movie Recommendations. WW2 has always been an area of historically interest for me. The many films made during that era and shortly after have granted me a closer glimpse into what it was really like, and even when the storylines are fictitious, what was on the mind of audiences at the time that made the studios produce these films. 

Now you may think that when I say war movies I simply mean the action of the battlefield, but I also mean films that depict what's going on on the home front. That is why I have selected two "on the battle field movies," Battleground (1949) and Bridge Over the River Kwai (1957), and two "on the home front movies": Mrs. Miniver (1942) and The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), both directed by William Wyler. 

I hope that these films grant you a glimpse into what the world must have been feeling at the time, as they do for me,  as you watch as an audience member of today.

- Olivia

Mrs. Miniver (1942)- 2 hrs 14 mins

Mrs. Miniver is the story of a young English family's joy and heartbreak as they struggle to live through the early days of World War 2 in their small town just outside London. 

Mrs. Miniver came out at a time when America had just entered the war and England had been facing the world virtually alone. The film shows the effects of war on an average family and their community. No, it doesn't take place at the battle field, but it does so much more because of it. It's everyday life that we can see and feel clearly.Churchill even went as far as to claim that the film did more for the war effort than "a flotilla of destroyers." Mrs. Miniver is one of the most beautiful and heartrending films.

Availability:  Amazon video, Googleplay, DVD, and on Blu-ray.

• Purchase DVD: https://www.target.com/p/mrs-miniver-dvd/-/A-11447701?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&CPNG=PLA_Entertainment+Shopping&adgroup=SC_Entertainment&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9003967&gclid=Cj0KCQjw1q3VBRCFARIsAPHJXrGpgsZncOE8WvyYfdOnZcPWTtyJHnyYxgfv24pgG3LNk_VAGJnLojEaAsoEEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

• Purchase Blu-ray: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mrs-Miniver-Blu-ray/21836492?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227015766422&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40953690272&wl4=aud-310687321802:pla-78896790152&wl5=9003967&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=21836492&wl13=&veh=sem

 

Battleground (1941)- 1 hr 58 mins

Greer Garson and Teresa Wright with their Oscars from their performances in Mrs. Miniver

John Hodiak (center) and Van Johnson (far left) in a scene from Battleground

The tight knit group of the 101st Airborne Division must struggle together in Bastogne, Belgium, December 1944, amidst the Battle of the Bulge.

Battleground is delightfully entertaining in its accurate portrayal of comedic banter and serious conversatoins that occur between a group of men facing a serious task.

Availability: Youtube, Amazon video, Googleplay, DVD, and Blu-ray.

• Purchase DVD: https://www.amazon.com/BATTLEGROUND-EC-Various/dp/B0007TKNLU/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1521248116&sr=1-1&keywords=battleground+dvd

• Purchase Blu-ray: https://www.amazon.com/Battleground-Blu-ray-Van-Johnson/dp/B01LTI05HE

Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)- 2 hrs 47 mins

When P.O.W.s in a Japanese prison camp are given the task of building a bridge that will aide the Japanese, tensions rise between the British Colonel (Alec Guinness), tasked with commanding the operations, and the rest of the POW's as they plot to destroy it. 

The winner of Best Picture, The Bridge on the River Kwai, is an enticing masterpiece. It adds a great score, collection of performances, and photography to an already original and incredible storyline that puts some tough principles to question. 

Availability: Youtube, Amazon video, Googleplay, and DVD.

British Colonel Nicholson commanding the rest of the POWs

• Purchase DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Bridge-River-Kwai-James-Donald/dp/B00004XPPC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521248645&sr=8-1&keywords=bridge+over+river+kwai+dvd

• Purchase Blu-ray: https://www.amazon.com/Bridge-River-Kwai-Blu-ray/dp/B004SUDPWI/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1521248674&sr=1-1&keywords=bridge+over+river+kwai+blu-ray