history and brief background on war films

• The first war movie was a 90 second propagandist effort called Tearing down the Spanish Flag (1898).
• Most directors steered away from war films because of the huge cost making them
• After World War One, war films came back and became more popular.
• Post World War Two was when most war films were made.
• Many now are based on modern or fictitious/ futuristic wars and are mostly 18.

Films:
Although the war genre first started in 1898 with a 90 second film called Tearing down the Spanish Flag, I am only going to look at the films post World War 2 as that is when most of these films became popular.
1940-1950
• The Great Dictator. (Charlie Chaplin spoof) 1940 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dn9c-4Y0ePY
. Casablanca 1942
• For Whom the Bells Tolls 1943
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At this time war films really started to become popular and more people began watching the films again as it was a current subject that was on everyone’s mind. Also in some cases to show the victory in wars.
1950-1960
• The Men 1950
• Three Came Home 1951
• To Hell and Back 1955 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of-gl7RpVE8
To Hell and Back was based on a novel written by a solider from the war and when it came to make the movie, he played himself as could play the role perfectly.

1960-1970
• The Longest Day 1962
• The Great Escape 1963 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkwmIDx9RwQ
.Zulu 1964
.In Harm’s Way 1965
• The Sand Pebbles 1966
The Great Escape is one of the most famous films around. It made $5,500,000 which was a lot for a film of this time, which made limited use of the special effects used in films today.

1970-1980
• M*A*S*H 1970
• Kelly’s Hero’s 1970
• A Bridge to Far 1977 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKDPX8PEiVk
• Force 10 from Navarone 1978

1980-1990
• Stripes 1981
• Top Gun 1986
• Good Morning Vietnam 1987 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9_mED99cdk
• Fat Man and Little Boy 1989
One of the biggest grossing films in this period would be Good Morning Vietnam which took $123,922,370!

1990-2000
• Pearl Harbour 1991
• Heaven and Earth 1993
• Saving Private Ryan 1998
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68t6PhbYiSo
• The Thin Red Line 1998
Saving Private Ryan took in a massive $481,840,909 from worldwide sales and tickets.

2000-2010
• Tigerland 2000
• Black Hawk Down 2001 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUJ6cxWdZwA
• Behind Enemy Lines 2001
• Flags of Our Fathers 2006
• Rambo 2008
• Inglorious Basterds (2009)
This is the most recent war film to be produced and so far has made $249,062,031.