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Suggestions for TV series or films set during war

155 replies

SuggonaPost · 05/11/2023 13:43

DD (17) is really enjoying All the Light we Cannot See (yes not nearly as good as book etc) and it’s set her on a train of wanting to watch wartime dramas.

So not battle heavy war films, more dramas set during the war. And I say war, either WW1 or WW2.

I’ve thought of Schindlers List which may be a bit much - and am stuck. Suggestions appreciated.

She didn’t do History GCSE so is finding it an interesting learning too.

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HonoriaLucastaDelagardie · 09/12/2023 23:55

There are some classic 1950 films - and the people in them often had fought in WW2.

And in films such as Battle of the River Plate, one can play 'spot the actor before he was famous'.

Casablanca is not historically accurate - there were no Germans in Casablanca - but many of the actors who played the minor characters were themselves refugees from Nazi Europe. All the little side stories are part of what makes it such a great film.

I may have mentioned it already on this thread, but The Third Man deals with the consequences of war. Brilliant atmospheric portrayal of post-war Vienna. One of the best British films ever.

Dunkirk is also amazing and the cast is easy on the eyes!

The actors often look too well-groomed in these films. Hair freshly cut, clean shaven, uniforms clean on that morning.

dollybird · 10/12/2023 06:55

There was a film that came out probably in 2018 for the centenary, of old WW1 footage that had been colourised and had sound added. It was incredible, think it was BBC. There's something on Netflix out now that sounds similar about WW2.

CrushingOnRubies · 10/12/2023 08:58

dollybird · 10/12/2023 06:55

There was a film that came out probably in 2018 for the centenary, of old WW1 footage that had been colourised and had sound added. It was incredible, think it was BBC. There's something on Netflix out now that sounds similar about WW2.

They Shall Not Grow Old - directed by Peter Jackson.

It's so moving and well worth a watch

cakeorwine · 10/12/2023 10:19

HonoriaLucastaDelagardie · 09/12/2023 23:55

There are some classic 1950 films - and the people in them often had fought in WW2.

And in films such as Battle of the River Plate, one can play 'spot the actor before he was famous'.

Casablanca is not historically accurate - there were no Germans in Casablanca - but many of the actors who played the minor characters were themselves refugees from Nazi Europe. All the little side stories are part of what makes it such a great film.

I may have mentioned it already on this thread, but The Third Man deals with the consequences of war. Brilliant atmospheric portrayal of post-war Vienna. One of the best British films ever.

Dunkirk is also amazing and the cast is easy on the eyes!

The actors often look too well-groomed in these films. Hair freshly cut, clean shaven, uniforms clean on that morning.

So true - Robert Shaw (who went on to play Quin in Jaws and was in James Bond and other classic films had a minor role in The Dambusters.

Casablanca is a classic - and the fact that it was filmed during WW2 in 1942 - when the outcome was uncertain - and featured refugees from Europe just adds to its brilliance.

You can see the emotion in this clip.

La Marseillaise Casablanca

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOeFhSzoTuc

HonoriaLucastaDelagardie · 10/12/2023 22:31

You can see the emotion in this clip.

Yes, there's Yvonne, the girl who was consorting with Nazis, in tears as she calls out 'Vive la France!'

The actress was married to the actor who played the croupier, who was Jewish. They escaped from France in June 1940, just before it fell to Germany.

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