November 16, 2022

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA AND PATHS OF GLORY LEAD THE WAY

I have viewed 40 World War One films.   This is my rank of the top ten.  The list of films will continue to grow and this list can and will change as I continue to add to my number of films I have seen.  I have ranked them as my favorite with regard to entertainment and historical value in cinema.  This list is only one man’s opinion and nothing more.

My top ten from tenth to number one:

10.  They Shall Not Grow Old- five stars-2018:  One of the best films of the year, it not the best. Peter Jackson’s most personal film and ground breaking cinema. It is a must see for any historian, anyone that loves the cinema, and anyone that “cares” about where we have been with regard to the history of the world. Sure, it is a visual look with commentary by those that were on those battlefields and lived the experience and survived. But the kicker. It is in color, it is put on the silver screen as it was, not as we might think it was. Breathtaking photography by the film makers of 1914-1918 enhanced by the film makers of today (Peter Jackson).

9.   The Big Parade-five stars-1925:  silent film about World War One. Has it’s place as one of the most significant war films in history. A must watch for film buffs…highly regarded.

8.   Westfront 1918- five stars-1930:  a film on WW1 trench warfare from the German side………recommended….just purchased the blue ray edition (Criterion) Pabst’s take is of a lower budget than “All Quiet…..”that came out in the same year. A look at the horrors of the Great War without any sentimentality. Compares well with all the great films on this war and nothing is held back. The cursing by the soldiers is surprising for 1930. Pabst shows how he is the better director over MIlestone (AQOTWF) and that says a lot. Use of filmed sound in the movie is a first for the director and historic. “It was particularly pioneering in its early use of sound – it was Pabst’s first “talkie” – in that Pabst managed to record live audio during complex tracking shots through the trenches.” Highly recommended. (a better film than ALL QUIET? No. But the overall look of the battlefield and the fire fights are true to life (compares to actual film of THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD, ” and the cinematography is better.)

7.   1917- five stars-five stars-2019:

A clean crisp World War 1 film that displays the cinematic artistry of director Sam Mendes. You get the feelings that that you have viewed something special after seeing a film constructed in a manner that echo’s the Great War in a personal manner, filled with set pieces that do not gross out the viewer yet gives one a sense of wonderment and bewilderment that brings one to their knees with emotions through visual sights that stun the senses. May not be the best film of the year but it might just be the best war film in twenty years.

After buying the blue ray of the film, I gave it another viewing. Here is that review. For my taste, this movie was the highlight of the films or 2019. It opened in OKC just after the New Year and on my first look, you can read above. I am writing this review on my 2nd viewing in May. I have viewed a bunch of movies and 1917 is one of the finest flicks, not only in the military/war genra, but of the over 4000 that I can remember enough to say something about. Sam Mendes’s story, based on his grandfather’s remembrance of the Great War, is as close to masterpiece filmmaking as one can get. If there is a flaw in this movie, you find it and tell me about it. I cannot. From the opening scene under the tree to the final scene, under another tree, we get an unrushed yet frantic look at a few hours in the life of a British corporal as he does his work in saving 1600 of his fellow soldiers. Mendes, as we know,,used a continuous camera shot with only a couple of cuts that you cannot recognize without looking. That alone is a taking risks filmmaking that only a master director and cinematographer (Roger Deakins) can pull off with fidelity. And they did. Deakins might be the best at his job in the movie business working today. Mendes has not made a movie for the war gore, all out battle shit that many of those that follow the genre. No he made a film for the ages, one that could be considered an art film that so many hate to view. Mendes allows the “thinking man” devour a film of visuals, of settings, of mood. And I might add, emotions. It is not a all out bloddy mess with indiscriminate killings like a Mel Gibson’s fine HACKSAW RIDGE. No, Mendes lets the movie flow from one set piece to another. With a fluidity of visuals of what it really might have looked like back in 1917 France we get death as personal, individual for the most part, and still a real emotional experience not grouped with mass killings. The final “over-the-top” scene is also personal as the death displayed is not gross or in fact over-the top. We have some gore as in bodies that are rotting in no-man’s land, in a river bloating as corpses do when they start their decomposition, and the ripped flesh and missing limbs of those that are being taken care of in triage. This movie makes you jump at various times and Mendes uses sound and sight to lure you into a suspenseful situation then gives you the shock of a not-so-good thing that is happening. The light show you are given in the French town is visually beautiful, filled with two chases as the gunfire is ever so close in hitting their target. The final scene with the brother and the quiet respectfulness of two soldiers of different rank gives the viewer a peaceful way to come to a conclusion as the soldier takes his place under a tree to pull pictures of him wife and get his emotions under control. 1917 is the best war film since Dunkirk and will be considered one of the best in cinematic history by the critics of film.

6.  Sergeant York- five stars-1941:  Hollywood all the way but Gary Cooper and director Howard Hawks give us the best biographical film of a real war killer in York who is, in fact, against war.  More complex than you might think, the theme of pacifism in this flick is heavy handed but the points made stand on merit.  You can fight and kill and still be against war.  Deserving of all the honors given.

5.  Gallipoli- five stars-1981:  Director Weir sets the stage for a visual treat from the lands of Australia to the battle scared cliffs of Gallipoli. As war films go, this one is not all battle, but enough so to get the point that World War One was one bitch of fight where you gave your life for liberty and happiness unless you were of the upper class in the British Empire.  The over-the-top ending is stunning as are the cliffs of Gallipoli and how they shaped the battlefield.

4.  The African Queen- five stars-1952: The great adventure film of the first World War.  John Huston’s direction along with Hepburn and Bogart give this flick all anyone would want in entertainment.

3.  All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) five stars:  the best film of Eric Maria Remarque’s novel. Historic WW1 battles shot on film. Anti-war and makes you think why countries can get young men to give up their lives to fight and die.

2.  Paths of Glory- five stars-1957: A Kubrik Film….with Kirk Douglas as a significant influence in its making. Best WW1 battle action on film…better than even the historic Big Parade and All Quiet on the Western Front. Executions at the end are played out in a troubling way as you have feelings for those being shot. Only one woman in the film, being Kubrick’s wife singing a song at the end of the film.  Deep and must be studied by people that love film.

1. Lawrence of Arabia- five stars-1962:  Not only my greatest/best film on World War One, but the best war/military film of all time, and my third on the list of best films ever made.  OK, so you understand that I like this flick.  Peter O’Toole leads the way as Sir Lawrence and his performance is totally stunning.  Nothing is wrong with this movie and everything is right as of Director David Lean.  No other grand film that Lean made comes close to this movie, including “Bridge over the River Kwai.”  A must see on the silver screen (which I have accomplished three times) this is the real deal.

Added film: should have  been in my Top Ten so I have added it as a Top Ten.

The complete list of WW1 films that I have viewed can be found at:

https://letterboxd.com/fwpahlke/list/best-world-war-one-films-i-have-viewed/