MOVIES

From Propaganda to Pacifism: Tracing the History of War Movies

A brief history of war movies

Photo by Brendan Sapp on Unsplash

War films are usually historical fiction. They mix fiction alongside non-fictional settings in numerous wars such as the Napoleonic, World Wars, and Vietnam. They can also be more historically accurate accounts of more specific battles. They date back to the early days of cinema with more limited films, while more recent war movies have been Hollywood blockbusters.

In the early 20th century, war films were somewhat limited. The emergence of World War I in 1914 ensured that war documentaries were produced in the United States, and they were more for propaganda. Of course, World War I would provide more of a setting for further war films during the interwar period, when many World War I movies emerged.

During World War II, war films once again reverted to propaganda and documentaries. After 1941, Hollywood began to mass-produce war films in greater numbers. Films such as The North Star and They Were Expendable were two that emerged during the period.

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In the postwar era, war movies were slightly less fictional, probably because of the wealth of World War II material to base them on. The Dam Busters, Dunkirk, and Sink the Bismarck were a few of the more notable war films of the 1950s and 1960s. The British film industry produced many war films during this period, which covered UK military operations and battles.

When the 1960s and 70s emerged, war films were much more colorful thanks to full color cinema. Some classic war movies of the period include Lawrence of Arabia, set around the Arab war with Ottoman Turkey in World War I, A Bridge Too Far, Battle of Britain, Midway, and Tora! Tora! Tora! Such films were largely set during WW2, with non-fictional characters.

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After Vietnam, Vietnam War films were produced in greater numbers. Platoon and Full Metal Jacket were two 1980s Vietnam War movies of the period. Other earlier films, such as Coming Home and The Deer Hunter, won multiple Academy Awards.

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More recently, films such as Saving Private Ryan have been among the more notable war movies. Saving Private Ryan was set in 1944 and featured superb opening scenes of the Allied landings on Omaha Beach. That film won five Oscars at the Academy Awards. Pearl Harbor, Enemy at the Gates, Letters from Iwo Jima, Yamato, and Flags of Our Fathers are war movies that have since followed.

Overall, the war film genre is big. Countless war films have been produced over the decades, some of which have been Hollywood classics. Undoubtedly, war films are fascinating and exciting historical accounts.

Read more of my movie articles on Medium:

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