"Historically Accurate Films" Topic

This has probably been done before, but in the great pantheon of historical films, which ones have most impressed with their accuracy? To make it easier try and base your decision on that first viewing as we all know that when you watch something repeatedly on DVD, you can always find faults.
For me, 'Master and Commander', 'The Duellists' and 'Gettysburg' are pretty far up there.
What do you think?

The alamo(new one) duellists, Gettysburg and master and coomander.

Thats realy it,

There are lots and I've enjoyed both of them.

Alexander had the clothing and equipment spot on.

It made an effort to make the battles sort of accurate to start with – then went 'ahh to hell with it' later.

But it had the best Roxanne.

Pat

Glory, Breaker Morant,

Glory definately & Gettysburg. I'd also nominate We Were Soldiers.

I thought Ride with the Devil really nailed the civil war in the far west. The costuming was spot on as well.

Second the Duellists too. My favourite film.

It depends what you mean by accuracy, rivet counting? button lace counting? the correct feel for the period? includes some of the original participants?

'Theirs was the Glory' largely featured original members of 1st Airborne Div and was shot on location in Arnhem in 1946 with WW2 kit, however the observation that they were being attacked by '200 Jerry tanks' clearly wasn't right, although it probably felt like it at the time.

A few suggestions:

'The Cruel Sea', yes based on a novel, but a novel based on Montserrats wartime experiences. Rings true.

'In Which We Serve', yes dramatised for film, but based on HMS Kelly.

'Theirs was the Glory'

'The Bridge' (original 1950s version). Never mind the T34s standing in for Shermans, this is as grim as it gets.

'The Way Ahead', OK it used Valentines as Pz IIIs.

'Paths of Glory'

'All Quiet on the Western Front' (both the original one and to a lesser extent the 1970s one)

'War and Peace', the Russian film and the 1970s TV series.

'The Last Valley' (obscure 30 Years War movie with Micheal Caine)

'Above us the Waves'. X craft attack the Tirpitz, true story.

'Spartacus' – just for the 1:1 Roman Legions doing their chequer board maniple thing.

'A Bridge Too Far' – I used not to rate due to Ryans sloppy book, this but having read interviews with the original participants in the battle who assissted in the making of it, it does capture much of the feel of the battle, even if it is loaded with inaccuracies and anachronisms. Has much the same feel as Theirs was the Glory.

'A Walk in the Sun', again has some anachronisms like the invitable M3 painted grey, but is pretty close to the book and has an oustanding feel to it.

'Barry Lyndon'.

Empire of the Sun
We Were Soldiers
Pork Chop Hill

That "historical accuracy" notion is the slipperiest slope.

Stanley Kubrick appears to top the list of directors with
Spartacus, Paths of Glory, Barry Lindon, Full Metal Jacket and Dr Strangelove

My favorite WWII flick: The Longest Day (despite the lame comic relief here and there)

The Seven Samurai

Oliver Stone's Vietnam trilogy, with Platoon leading the pack

Another vote for the Duelists, also one of my top films of all time

Das Boote and Cross of Iron are up there

Breaker Morant also very good

For the whole way that young men become soldiers, hard to beat Full Metal Jacket

Cross of Iron is certainly a lot of fun and very much of the Germanic 'stubble in the rubble' genre, but realistic….

That was why I didn't mention Stalingrad either.

Vietnam is always a bit of a tricky one, especially as a number of our esteemed posters fought there. Personally my favourite Vietnam film is 'Apocalypse Now', not because it is realistic in any way shape or form (well, maybe some bits), but in terms of Vietnam as a bad acid trip, it really can't be beaten. The Deer Hunter for similar reasons, one of the greatest films ever made, a wonderful observation of human nature and culture, but a realistic portrayal of the war? 'The Quiet American' is pretty realistic, different VN war though.

Master and Commander.

And what about the original "Waterloo"?

Kingdom of Heaven has the best trebuchets.

No one mentioned "Enemy at the Gates" which gives a pretty good account for itself in my view.

Master and Commander, The Duelists, and perhaps Tears of the Sun also provide entertainment and a greater deal of accuracy than most…

I enjoyed watching the cast of "Tears" carry real weapons and combat loads, something most modern combat films don't put their actors through, …but I think the most interesting part of that film is that the script was originally written to take place in Bosnia in the Jablanica – Mostar area. Will

Not a war film, but "Slaughterhouse Five" (from the Kurt Vonnegut novel) has the only actual German half-track (Sdkfz 251?) I ever remember seeing in a film. They're usually M3's painted dunkelgelb or grey.

Am I right that the 1939 film, "Gunga Din" used the Indian Army? I remember the drill shown was impressive.

Also how about the Erol Flynn "Charge of the Light Brigade" which used real Russian cavalrymen and actually killed a lot of horses? Obviously not historical events but the charge is impressive.

Hello…."Zulu"

One of the best: "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1968)

YouTube link

YouTube link

YouTube link

Verhoevens' Flesh and Blood,has sir John Hawkwood and loads of mercenary goodness.Could be called The Tower meets Rutger Hauer.

Define Historically Accurate? If you are saying accurate from beginning to end then I will say that such a movie does not exist. Stories are always modified to fit the film length.

Gee, how come no one has brought up "Battle of the Bulge?"

Seriously, I think the Finnish film "Winter War" is really good. Has a good "feel" for me anyway. of what it must have been like to face overwheliming odds, day after day, no matter how many of the enemy you kill.
The last scene, when the announce that peace has come, when the few remaining Finns step out of their holes, to see still more hordes of Russians, was powerful.

"Stosstruppen 1917" my favortie.

WWI
"All Quiet on the Western Front" 1932, Gallopolie, "Lawerence of Arabia"

WWII:
best ones "In the Line of Fire El Alemain", "Stalingrad" Letters from Iwo" "Das Boot"

Vietnam:
"84 Carlie Mopic" best Nam film followed by Hamberger Hill

Musket Period:
"War and Peace" Russian version "Charge of the Light Brigade" 1968 and "Glory"

Ancients:
"Henry V" and "Alexander Nevsky"

Other WWII favorties

"Soldier of Orange" and "Black Book"

Colonial:
and of course the classic "Zulu" singing "Men of Harlich" song that is what a good war movie is all about.

Alexander had the clothing and equipment spot on

Agreed but as far as I know nobody in Macedonia sounded they were watching a game at Croke Park!

And what about the original "Waterloo"?

Nice film, shame about the locations!

We must include Gallipoli and The Lighthorsemen…really an unintentional ANZAC trilogy with Breaker Morant, in my opinion.

And some from me:

Master and Commander
The Duellists'
Gettysburg
Kingdom of Heaven
Das Boote
Platoon
We Were Soldiers
Full Metal Jacket
Ride With the Devil
A Bridge to Far
Tora, Tora, Tora
Charge of the Light Brigade (68 version)
Gladiator (for the sets and costume)
Battle of Britain (did well with what they had)
Enemy at the Gates (captured the feel of things)
Pearl Harbour (sorry, just kidding)
La Reine Margot
All Quite on the Western Front (original version)
The Alamo (not the John Wayne one)
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon (again captured the feel of things)

Oh! I would have said Zulu but most of the acion they show in daylight took place in the dark!

How could I have forgotten the latest 'The Alamo'. It gets the laurels too.

I agree with many of the above and would add:
Blackhawk Down
DarK Blue World

Ed G

Agreed Blackhawk down best post Vietnam War film. "The Hurt Locker' is good but realistically flawed in many aspects.

Duelists
Master & Commander
Austerlitz (Abel Ganz – heck they even used Davout's Great Grandson to play Davout & he looks the part)
Winter War – very evocative even if you don't speak Finnish
Zulu – yes they daylighted things just so you could see them & took other liberties, but the feeling is there
Das Boote
Gettysburg
Breaker Morant
Gallipoli

Agree with a lot of the above but how about "Culloden" the 1964 Peter Watkins film. Very gritty for 1964 but then he went on to make "The War Game" which the BBC thought too extreme to broadcast when it was made.

imdb.com/title/tt0057982

Was on the BBC iplayer for a while.

"they even used Davout's Great Grandson to play Davout & he looks the part…"

"Yes, but consider, Madam, if the child were to have my looks and your brains…"

Colonel Chabert

Xena

The female costumes were spot on.
If there were males, I didn't notice.

The combat scenes were so realistic as to be beyond belief.

I think Tin Dictator is off his meds.

Wow! No one has said Sahara, with Humphrey Bogart?
An awesome movie.

"Come and See"

Can I recommend George MacDonald Fraser's book the Hollywood History of the World?

It concentrates on what they got right rather than wrong

Saving Private Ryan?
The Boat
Gladiator – the opening battle was very impressive I thought…even if the barrage was a little over the top.

I think I would put '300' in the 'very silly' category.

That Stanley Kubrick film…Barry Lyndon!

Ran – even if it is fictional isn't bad.
Cross of Iron

I had problems with the decisive Roman cavalry charge through the woods in the opening of Gladiator…the HE FFE was also unfortunate.

Battle of Algiers link

Utu imdb.com/title/tt0086497

'Top Secret'.

Agreed but as far as I know nobody in Macedonia sounded they were watching a game at Croke Park!

I thought they were at Ballinasloe Horse Fair, myself.

Add Das Boot to my list. And please knock the "e" off the Boote above. Das Boot is the correct singular form.

Wings

I also like:
No Man's Land, imdb.com/title/tt0283509
Battle of Britain- At least they tried to get as many aircraft as possible into the air that were similar if not the real thing.
Tora, Tora, Tora- Tons of aircraft and "prop" aircraft to be blown up. Full size replica's of Japanese and American ships.
All's Quiet on the Western Front- The early version
Paths of Glory
Letters from Iwo Jima

Valley of the Dolls.
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!