Topic: Favourite War Movies

[mariomike]

More on the above.
"In April and May 1944, the Allied air forces lost nearly 12,000 men and over 2,000 aircraft in operations which paved the way for D-Day."
http://www.ddaymuseum.co.uk/faq.htm#casualities
Control of all strategic air power was transferred from Harris/Eaker/Spaatz to General Eisenhower on 14 April, 1944 at noon.

"In the first weeks after D-Day, the casualties of Bomber Command were higher than those of the British Second Army in Normandy."
Ref: "Bomber Command" page 289.
Sir Max Hastings:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Hastings#Books

[Retired AF Guy]

Oh I used to love playing with stats while getting my Military History degree

http://warchronicle.com/numbers/WWII/ddaycasualtyest.htm

Nation Sector/ Estimated Casualties

US Airborne / 2,499
Utah / 197
Omaha / 2,000   
UK Airborne / 1,500   
Gold / 413   
Sword / 630   
Juno / 1204

Total = 8,443


Not even close to more than all others combined.  Also that little know fact that Juno was the second bloodiest beach, which is probably why they hadn't heard about Omaha. Looks like they might have been a bit busy that day..

I didn't include losses to the airborne forces when I made my statement. As for the number of casualties at the different beaches it depends on the which source you use. For example, some sources estimate that only 2,000 U.S. casualties at Omaha, while other put the number at 3,000 . If we use the high figure of 3,000 casualties at Omaha then yes, there were more casualties at Omaha then the other four beaches combined (3,000 vs 2444). As I stated earlier I didn't include the losses to airborne forces in my calculations.

And yes, I realize that the Canadians were busy on D-Day, and afterwards, and initially were unlikely to be aware of the American losses at Omaha. However, I'm sure that between June '44 and May '45 they would have heard of the American loses at Omaha, let alone in later years when they had returned to Canada.

[toyotatundra]

Folks have mentioned a lot of films that were well-written and well-acted.  Films that try to capture actual war, or attempt serious statements on human conflict. Paths of Glory. Platoon. The Deer Hunter. Those are all movies I remember and respect

However, if I were to refer to the war movies I most enjoy, they would be the comedies and the fantasies. Dr. Strangelove. Empire Strikes Back. 300. The Lord of the Rings.

[Motaba]

Alot of great war movies mentioned, mostly in the last 100 yrs history. Not sure if this was mentioned, but ive only seen it once, and never heard of it from anyone. It's called "When Trumpets Fade"...takes place in germany WW2. The leading actor is the guy who played the pilot in Black Hawk Down, the one who got captured.

Anyways, I too prefer the older historic movies....Alexander, Kingdom of Heaven, Braveheart.

[pfinlayson]

I liked "Black Adder Goes Fourth".  Especially the last episode where they finally get sent over the top.  Check out Hugh Laurie before he turned into an angry doctor!

I have trouble with any war movie with John Wayne after learning about his skirting around serving... Kind of makes him look a hypocrite.

How able the pair that Clint Eastwood directed: Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima.  Best watched one after the other.

[pfinlayson]

I almost forgot:  Tora! Tora! Tora!.