From the nail-biting realism of Apocalypse Now to the epic set up of Gone with the Wind, war films have enchanted audiences worldwide and continue to do so. In fact American filmmakers have explored conflict, terror, bravery, sorrow of war scenes since the early days of cinema.
Let’s take a look at the three best American war films of all time.
Dr. Strangelove (1964)
This film is as strange as its name suggests. Directed by Hollywood legend Stanley Kubrick, the movie blends comedy and suspense while maintaining the tension of the Cold War. Though it is a comic film but It can sometimes be difficult to laugh as the threat of a nuclear explosion lingers.
The film centers around a half-mad officer who believes the Soviets are threatening America’s “precious bodily fluids.” Without the consent of the US president, he makes a major decision to launch a nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. From then on, many intriguing comic situations unfold.
Interestingly, a close look at the film may show similarities between Dr. Strangelove’s character and former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Others say it resembles key hydrogen bomb scientist Edward Teller. Regardless of who it resembles, it is considered a masterpiece by Stanley Kubrick. The film was nominated in all major categories at the Academy Awards but did not win. However, it is the best American war film ever made.
Gone With the Wind (1939)
Not one, not two, but ten Academy Awards make this film a true Hollywood classic. Directed by three filmmakers: Victor Fleming, George Cukor, and Sam Wood, it is also recognized as one of the most successful films of all time.
This classic film, set during the Civil War in the American South, tells the story of Scarlett O’Hara and her struggle to survive the war and its aftermath. In short, it is a tale of love, loss, and survival.
Interestingly, the production of the film was more twisting than its story. The producer changed the management team repeatedly during the shooting period. The actors were dissatisfied with the production pace and some even said that it was a miracle that the film was completed. In fact, the main protagonist, Scarlett, was cast after filming had already begun. Apart from the scandals and beautifully written script it is no doubt that Gone with the Wind is a true Hollywood classic.
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Francis Ford Coppola and “The Godfather” are synonymous. The legendary Coppola made a few remarkable war films, and among them, “Apocalypse Now” is undoubtedly his finest creation.
The film is based on the famous novel “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad. Coppola changed the time and setting of the story and set it in the context of the Vietnam War. In the movie, U.S. Army Special Forces Colonel Walter E. Kurtz has gone mad and sets out on a mission with his comrades, who consider him a demigod, to eliminate NVA and PLAF forces without permission from his commanders. The film follows the journey of Captain Willard, who is tasked with assassinating the mad colonel.
The film is renowned for its stunning cinematography and haunting soundtrack. Apart from the beauty of images, It also explores themes of the nature of war, morality, and the human psyche.
