War > Mills, John War > H > by Actor (by last name)

Advantages: Family film with limited violence
Disadvantages: None

One of the all time great British war films. Sir John Mills plays Pat Reid and the film is based on Pat Reid's real wartime experiences as noted in a couple of published books from the 1940's/50's. As such the events from the arrival of British POWs at the Colditz prison camp, Mill's character was one of the first of the British to be incarcerated in Colditz Castle. Colditz is the unescapable prison camp for all POWs who have escaped from other Stalags. ...
...the allied nations, how the Poles and French help the British in the early day, and how the friendships develop. As such the film focuses on all nationalities escape attempts be they succesful or unsuccessful, with perhaps the most unusual escape coming from a game of leap frog. The film also unusally manages to show that all German guards and officers were not Nazi tyrants. The Colditz Story is a feel good film intermixed with some sadness but ... Read review

Advantages: Brilliant and Realistic tale of allied POWs courage and ingenuity inside Colditz Caslte.
Disadvantages: No special features - Bit of a shame - But it is an old film.

The Colditz Story (1954) Directed by Guy Hamilton Staring John Mills, Eric Portman, Christopher Rhodes, Lionel Jeffries, Bryan Forbes. Format Black & White, PAL Language English Region Region 2 Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Number of discs 1 Classification Universal Studio Warner Home Video DVD Release Date 18 April 2005 Run Time 93 minutes DVD Features Original theatrical trailer During WW2 many allied soldiers, mainly airman, fell into the hands of ...
...the different theatres. Depending on where you were captured you would be put into the nearest POW camp. However Colditz Castle was a POW camp with a difference. This was reserved especially for those who had attempted previous escape attempts from other camps in and around Germany. And had therefore proved themselves a menace to the German war effort. Colditz Castle was thought to be, by the Germans and some of its prisoners, impossible to escape ... Read review

Advantages: An excellent selection of vintage war films, perfect for an avid fan of war films, such as myself. Also ideal for anyone who wants to get a taste of this genre.
Disadvantages: May have been better to replace 'The Cruel Sea' with a more classic film such 'The Great Escape' or 'The Guns of Navorone'.

This collection is an excellent selection of vintage war films. Perfect for anyone who enjoys this genre. The Dambuster and The Colditz story are of particular interest to me as they are true stories. Which are portrayed very well in the respective films. The good thing about this being the 'British' war film collection is that there is the absence of the 'american touch'. By this I mean the story hasn't been adapted from the truth in order to satisfy ...
...your a watching as you know what is being showed actually happened. The Cruel Sea is a collaboration of many different seamens experinces during WW2, and shows an excellent portrayal of what these brave men had to endure. However I am a sucker for true stories, so although this story is not unrealistic, i would have preffered a true story such as maybe The Great Escape or The Bridge on The River Kwai. Ice Cold in Alex is of course a classic war film ... Read review

Advantages: Great action sequences
Disadvantages: Slow to start, but gethers pace nicely

...any factual or historic event, Von Ryan's Express stars Frank Sinatra and Trevor Howard and tells the story of survival against the odds in a war torn Europe. Released in 1965, Sinatra plays Colonel Joseph Ryan, a smart thinking American Pilot who after getting shot down by the Italian Army is sent to an Italian run Prisoner of War camp for what is expected to be the remainder of the war. Upon arrival Ryan is immediately made the head of the Allied ...
...turn the soldiers call him Von Ryan for collaborating with the enemy. In fact the heated discussions that take place between Ryan and Fincham are great to watch on screen as you see Sinatra in a different light to other roles that he has played before, something which leads to both men trusting each other by the end of the film. With the help of the Italian Commander, who has now switch sides, Ryan and the Allies hatch a plan to escape and steal ... Read review

Advantages: Educational & great story
Disadvantages: Constant flashbacks & forwards spoil flow of film slightly

Set during WW2 this film tells the story behind what has become part of American military folklore of the Marines raising the Stars & Stripes on the island of Iwo Jima. You follow the individual stories of the marines to see how their lives helped to create the story behind this American iconic image which went on to be carved in stone as a monument. Before watching the movie I didn't know anything about this film or the story of the second flag ...
...in that account. The film is well made, looks wonderful and all the actors are excellent that they all played their alloted roles very well indeed. The film for me has one major point against it that makes it difficult to watch and that is the constant scene transitions from present to past to war to future and where ever else they choose to be. This made scenes disjointed and exceptionally difficult to follow. Although it says this was shot back ... Read review