Movies About The 101st Airborne

From Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns
Rated R

Saving Private Ryan is a 1998 American war drama film directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Robert Rodat. It is set in World War II and follows United States Army Rangers Captain John H. Miller and his squad as they search for Private James Francis Ryan, who is missing in action somewhere in Normandy. After learning of Ryan's whereabouts, Miller and his men embark on a mission to bring him home safely, fighting against the Germans along the way. The film is noted for its graphic and realistic depiction of war and its emotional intensity, exemplified by its opening scene depicting the Omaha Beach landing. The film also stars Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, and Vin Diesel. The film was a critical and commercial success, earning universal acclaim and earning over $482 million at the box office. It was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, and won five, including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, and Best Sound Editing.

From David Lean, starring William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa
Rated PG

The Bridge on the River Kwai is a 1957 war drama film directed by David Lean and starring William Holden, Alec Guinness, and Jack Hawkins. Set during World War II, the film tells the story of a British colonel, Nicholson, and his group of British prisoners of war who are forced to build a bridge on the River Kwai by their Japanese captors. Despite the adversity, Nicholson is determined to complete the bridge in order to maintain the pride of the British military and his own sense of honor. As the bridge nears completion, Nicholson must work with his Japanese counterpart, Colonel Saito, to prevent either side from destroying the bridge. Ultimately, Nicholson sacrifices his own life to ensure the bridge stands. The film won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time.

From Franklin J. Schaffner, starring George C. Scott, Karl Malden, Stephen Young, Michael Strong
Rated GP

Patton is a biographical war film about the life of U.S. General George S. Patton during World War II. The film follows his career from North Africa, through Italy and France and finally to Germany. Along the way, Patton clashes with his superiors, including U.S. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. Despite his temperamental nature, Patton is a brilliant military strategist, and he ultimately leads his forces to victory during the Battle of the Bulge. The film ends with a speech Patton delivers to his troops in which he calls on them to take courage and honor their fallen comrades.

From Bruce Beresford, starring Edward Woodward, Jack Thompson, John Waters, Bryan Brown
Rated PG

"Breaker Morant" is a 1980 war drama film directed by Bruce Beresford and starring Edward Woodward, Bryan Brown and Lewis Fitz-Gerald. It follows the story of three Australian lieutenants – Harry Morant (Woodward), Peter Handcock (Brown) and George Witton (Fitz-Gerald) – who are court-martialed for war crimes during the Second Boer War in South Africa. The story follows the men as they are charged with murder, despite having acted on orders from their superior officers. It explores themes of justice, loyalty, and duty in the face of a flawed military system. The film was praised for its acting, direction and cinematography, and went on to become a cult classic.

From Edward Zwick, starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman
Rated R

Glory is a 1989 American Civil War drama directed by Edward Zwick and starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, and Morgan Freeman. The film follows the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, the first African-American unit to fight for the Union in the Civil War. The 54th Regiment is led by Robert Gould Shaw (Broderick), a white officer from a wealthy family. Shaw is determined to prove that African-American soldiers are just as capable as white soldiers, and he leads his men bravely and courageously through a series of battles. Along the way, the men of the 54th Regiment face discrimination from both the other Union soldiers and the Confederates. In the end, the unit earns the respect of their peers and the nation for their valor and heroism.

From Ridley Scott, starring Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, Eric Bana
Rated R

Black Hawk Down is a war drama directed by Ridley Scott and released in 2001. It follows a group of elite U.S. Army Rangers and Delta Force soldiers during the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu in Somalia. The mission is to capture two top lieutenants of a Somali warlord, but the mission quickly goes awry and they become pinned down in the hostile city, under threat from thousands of heavily armed Somalis. In one of the most intense battles of modern times, the American forces must fight for their lives against overwhelming odds in order to survive. The film is based on the 1999 non-fiction book by Mark Bowden and features an all-star cast, including Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, Tom Sizemore, Ewan McGregor, and William Fichtner.

From Edward Dmytryk, starring Humphrey Bogart, José Ferrer, Van Johnson, Fred MacMurray
Rated Not Rated

The Caine Mutiny is a classic 1954 drama film based on the novel by Herman Wouk. It is directed by Edward Dmytryk and stars Humphrey Bogart, José Ferrer, and Van Johnson. The film follows the crew of the U.S. Navy minesweeper, the USS Caine, during World War II as they face a series of increasingly difficult and dangerous missions. After a series of breakdowns and conflicts, the ship's captain, Queeg (Bogart), is relieved of command by the executive officer, Maryk (Ferrer). Maryk is subsequently court-martialed for mutiny, and the outcome of the trial is uncertain until the ship's psychiatrist, Keith (Johnson), intervenes by revealing Queeg's mental instability. The film culminates in a gripping courtroom drama as Maryk battles for his reputation and freedom. The film won two Academy Awards and is considered a classic of World War II cinema.

From Directors: Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, Gerd Oswald, Bernhard Wicki, Darryl F. Zanuck, starring John Wayne, Robert Ryan, Richard Burton, Henry Fonda
Rated G

The Longest Day is a 1962 epic war film based on Cornelius Ryan's 1959 non-fiction book of the same name. It chronicles the D-Day landings at Normandy on June 6, 1944, from the perspectives of both the Allied and Axis forces. It stars an ensemble cast including John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Sean Connery, Richard Burton, Red Buttons, Eddie Albert, Paul Anka, Peter Lawford, Robert Wagner, Jeffrey Hunter, Mel Ferrer, and Sal Mineo. The film depicts the D-Day invasion through several perspectives, with the events presented from both the Allied and the German points of view. The Allies must gather their courage to cross the English Channel and the beaches of Normandy, while the German forces must desperately defend their positions and attempt to repel the Allied invasion. As the day progresses, the Allies gradually gain control of the beaches, while the German forces are overwhelmed by the sheer number of enemy forces. The film culminates in a dramatic climax, with the Allied forces finally winning the day.

From Frank Lloyd, starring Charles Laughton, Clark Gable, Franchot Tone, Herbert Mundin
Rated Passed

Mutiny on the Bounty is an iconic 1935 American adventure drama directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Clark Gable, Charles Laughton and Franchot Tone. It is based on the Charles Nordhoff and James Norman Hall novel Mutiny on the Bounty, and depicts the real-life mutiny against William Bligh, captain of the HMS Bounty, in 1789 on a voyage to Tahiti. After a grueling journey, the crew finally revolts and Bligh is set adrift in a small boat with a few loyal supporters. The mutineers, led by Fletcher Christian, settle on the remote Pitcairn Island and begin a new life, unaware of the consequences that await them. After much deliberation, some of the mutineers decide to return to England to face whatever awaits them, and the film culminates in a thrilling chase between the Bounty and a British warship. In the end, the mutineers and their families escape back to Pitcairn Island, where they can start a new life. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won Best Picture, Best Actor for Charles Laughton, Best Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. It remains an enduring classic.

From Cy Endfield, starring Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth
Rated Not Rated

Zulu is a classic 1964 British war film starring Stanley Baker, Michael Caine, and Jack Hawkins. Directed by Cy Endfield, it is based on the true story of the Battle of Rorke's Drift, fought between the British and Zulu forces in South Africa in 1879. The story follows a group of British soldiers, led by Lt. John Chard (Baker), who are stationed at the remote outpost of Rorke's Drift in Natal, South Africa. When their commander, Lt. Gonville Bromhead (Caine) is killed, the remaining soldiers must defend the post from an attack by the Zulu warriors. With the help of a few native African allies, the British soldiers manage to repel the Zulu attack, making this one of the most remarkable military victories in British history. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning two for Best Cinematography and Best Editing.

From Fred Zinnemann, starring Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Deborah Kerr, Donna Reed
Rated Passed

From Here to Eternity is a 1953 drama set in 1941, during the months leading up to the attack on Pearl Harbor. It tells the story of several characters stationed at a U.S. Army base in Hawaii, including First Sergeant Milt Warden (Burt Lancaster), Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt (Montgomery Clift), and Karen Holmes (Deborah Kerr). Milt falls in love with Karen despite her marriage to his commanding officer, Captain Holmes (Philip Ober). Meanwhile, Prewitt, an accomplished boxer, refuses to fight for the company’s public relations due to a personal code of honor. The film follows the intertwined stories of these three characters as they deal with the pressures of military life and the looming threat of war.

From Directors: John Ford, Mervyn LeRoy, Joshua Logan, starring Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell, Jack Lemmon
Rated Passed

Mister Roberts is a 1955 American comedy-drama film directed by John Ford, Mervyn LeRoy and Joshua Logan, based on the 1946 novel and 1948 Broadway play of the same name. The film stars Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell, and Jack Lemmon in a story concerning the frustrations of a naval officer stationed aboard a cargo ship during the waning days of World War II. The executive officer, Lieutenant Commander Douglas A. "Doug" Roberts (Fonda), yearns for a transfer to a combat assignment, but his commanding officer, the tyrannical Captain Morton (Cagney), denies his requests. Roberts develops a close relationship with the crew, despite Morton's attempts to prevent it. He also strikes up a friendship with a local island girl, Ensign Frank Thurlowe Pulver (Lemmon). After discovering that Roberts has applied for a transfer without his knowledge, Morton punishes him by giving him the most difficult tasks. During an air raid drill, Roberts secretly escapes the ship in a stolen motor launch and heads for an island to celebrate his impending transfer. However, Morton tricks him into returning to the ship to face a court-martial. The film culminates

From Terrence Malick, starring Jim Caviezel, Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Kirk Acevedo
Rated R

The Thin Red Line is a 1998 American war film written and directed by Terrence Malick, based on the 1962 novel of the same name by James Jones. It tells the story of a group of soldiers during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. The film follows a platoon of soldiers from the U.S. Army's 27th Infantry Regiment, as they fight their way through the battle in the Pacific Theater. The platoon is led by Capt. John Gaff (Sean Penn), a veteran of the war, and Sgt. Edward Welsh (John Cusack). The Thin Red Line focuses on the psychological effects of war on the soldiers in the platoon, as they struggle to make sense of their situation in the midst of confusion, carnage and death. Along the way, they must come to terms with their own mortality as they battle for their very lives. Through the use of flashbacks and memories, the film follows their journey with a mix of hope, sorrow, and courage.

From Richard Attenborough, starring Sean Connery, Ryan O'Neal, Michael Caine, Laurence Olivier
Rated PG

From Sam Peckinpah, starring James Coburn, Maximilian Schell, James Mason, David Warner
Rated R

From Peter Weir, starring Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, Billy Boyd, James D'Arcy
Rated PG-13

From Lewis John Carlino, starring Robert Duvall, Blythe Danner, Michael O'Keefe, Lisa Jane Persky
Rated PG

From John Ford, starring John Wayne, Joanne Dru, John Agar, Ben Johnson
Rated Passed

From Norman Jewison, starring Howard E. Rollins Jr., Adolph Caesar, Art Evans, David Alan Grier
Rated PG

From Samuel Fuller, starring Lee Marvin, Mark Hamill, Robert Carradine, Bobby Di Cicco
Rated R

From Don Siegel, starring Steve McQueen, Bobby Darin, Fess Parker, Harry Guardino
Rated Approved

From John Irvin, starring Anthony Barrile, Michael Boatman, Don Cheadle, Michael Dolan
Rated R

From Mike Nichols, starring Matthew Broderick, Christopher Walken, Matt Mulhern, Corey Parker
Rated PG-13