h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: The British War Film Genre - A87767680
Author: Bluebottle - Join in the Water Games at A87764773 - U43530

War is not an adventure. It's not like the Olympics where the loser gets a handshake and the winner gets a round of applause and a medal. In war, chances are all the winner's family and friends end up dead and the winner himself ends up losing either his limbs, sight or mind. This article is not intended to be a glorification of war. War has lasting consequences, most of them tragic and terrible.

One consequence, however, is that war does influence art and create new art forms. This includes paintings, poems, literature and, in more recent times, films. This article is a look at the British War Films genre, which came into being because of the Second World War. It is a war genre that started in Britain and was distinct from American war films for various reasons (in Britain, film makers made films they could afford to make, whereas in Hollywood they did exactly the same).
I am not saying that British war films are better than American ones, just that they had a different primary aim of being accurate and educational rather than entertaining. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. As no art form exists in a vacuum, naturally over time the British war film genre was influenced by and has itself influenced other film traditions.

Do I personally believe that war art somehow justifies war? Am I saying the fact that over 600 people have read Tennyson's 'Charge of the Light Brigade' makes the deaths by incompetence of those 600 (all of whom would be dead now, anyway) somehow means that it was right and good for them to be pointlessly slaughtered? Of course not. War is the worst thing that has ever been invented, in which innocent people filled with so much potential are killed and those who survive suffer the consequences for the rest of their lives, often transformed beyond belief.

On the whole, the British War Film genre is an art forms which contain frank and honest portrayals of war and its consequences. Yes, there are heroics, but there are far more horrors.

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Interesting, I've had a scan.

Have to disagree with you on many things;

American war films. There were many contemporary and post war films made by American filmmakers centered on the Pacific theatre of war, some John Wayne films in particular come to mind like Flying Leathernecks, but also the Thin Red Line, that are far more than good guy versus bad guy. Tora Tora Tora made the Americans realise that the Pacific war wasn't just 'theirs'.

I also have to disagree with the Star Wars / Dam Busters section. In fact the film 633 Sqaudron dictates more of the blow by blow 'trench run' action seen in Star Wars.

And no mention of the many UK Navy related films produced? We Dive at Dawn, and Above Us The Waves in particular. U571, a terrible film, rips swathes from these, as does Hunt for Red October and Crimson Tide (again no mention of). And I'd disagree about it being the last 'inaccurate' war film. Pearl Harbour is a stinker too.

You could also mention that during the 80s 'war' films took a different turn with films like The Final Countdown and the Philadelphia Experiment, although granted these are American films. Perhaps that's another Entry?

All in all, this is an interesting, but has scope for more, so I would suggest it is broken down into smaller Entries a la Uni Project, rather than one big all-encompassing Entry. That way you can properly explain propoganda films, post war films, legacy etc in bite size chunks.

Needs work

Hello Matt – I suspected that a title like this would attract your attention...

Thanks for the input. I've added a footnote mentioning some of the excellent films that you have suggested.

I also have to disagree with the Star Wars / Dam Busters section. In fact the film 633 Sqaudron dictates more of the blow by blow 'trench run' action seen in Star Wars.

I do not doubt that 633 Squadron was one of the 45 films that influenced the look of the attack of the Death Star, especially with the narrow valley, however the films that were quoted were Dam Busters, Battle of Britain and '45 others'. I've just typed in 'Dam Busters Star Wars' and '633 Squadron Star Wars' into Google and there are quite a few fun things on YouTube showing the difference.
The overall point, that the British War Film genre inspired Star Wars' climatic battle sequence, remains, even if which particular moment was inspired by which film remains open for debate.

And no mention of the many UK Navy related films produced? We Dive at Dawn, and Above Us The Waves, in particular.
I can't mention every film as there were hundreds produced. I've not mentioned Cockleshell Heroes either, or The Blockhouse etc. I have now mentioned them, and will think of adding more to that section.

U-571, a terrible film, rips swathes from these, as does Hunt for Red October and Crimson Tide (again no mention of).
Crimson Tide's American?

And I'd disagree about it being the last 'inaccurate' war film. Pearl Harbour is a stinker too.
True, but not to the same extent. Some discrepancies for dramatic licence are to be expected, but it isn't as inaccurate as U-571. Pearl Harbour existed and was attacked by the Japanese.

You could also mention that during the 80s 'war' films took a different turn with films like The Final Countdown and the Philadelphia Experiment, although granted these are American films. Perhaps that's another Entry?
Agreed – another entry! Not by me in the near future, though.

I've also now mentioned The Land Girls, starring Anna Friel. She is an actress who is so mind-boggingly attractive that Madonna sang a song about how she wished they shared the same house, entitled 'Ray of Light',
Anna Friel! I just got home – Anna Friel! Anna Friel, I just got home, Anna Friel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I think what I was trying to allude to is that you've mentioend Dam Busters quite alot, but there were many other films that lend to other filmmakers use of the dramatic, such as how Above Us The Waves actually had a real sub and tilting set, like Red October did, I think... I could be wrong...

I wondered whether the 40s films were worth an Entry of their own to be honest, theer are so many great ones, and of couse Cruel Sea is a fantastic film which I may look more into...

I know you can't mention them all, but there are some that do deserve a mention in an Entry about Brit War Films

Crimson Tide might be American, it's got Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman in it...

I may look into Top Gun, Iron Eagle etc. too

You've mentioned Dam Busters quite alot, but there were many other films that lend to other filmmakers use of the dramatic
I've added more films to that section, including The Man Who Never Was. Excellent performance by Peter Sellers in that film
You probably won't be surprised to know that The Dam Busters is one of my favourites – and not because Sir Barnes Wallis started his career down the road from where I was born on the Isle of Wight.

how Above Us The Waves actually had a real sub and tilting set, like Red October did, I think... I could be wrong...
I've not seen the tilting set bit before – more research needed.

I wondered whether the 40s films were worth an Entry of their own to be honest, theer are so many great ones
You've suggested splitting this article up – it could potentially be split chronologically into 1940s films, 1950s films and 1960s and beyond. I'll wait to see what other people think.

Of course Cruel Sea is a fantastic film which I may look more into...
If this article inspires the writing of articles about some of these excellent, but sadly often overlooked, films then I’ll be delighted.

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Dam Busters is one of my favourites too.

I recall a museum a while ago which put you in a simulator and used real footage to put you back in the raid. Great fun.

That's an aspect of war films perhaps needs adding, ot sure if it was a British idea primarily, or whether it was propaganda related, but using actual footage. Maybe it would be worth mentioning how audiences took to this - have a look on the Pathe website too, some interesting stuff there

Is it worth talking about some of the actors in these films, who atcually served in the military too? Niven, Milligan you've tocuhed on I think, but I'm sure there real life experiences may have added to performances.

And I think it might be worth looking into if there are any pre Second World War British war films worth mentioning, I know Dawn Patrol was also a Lucas/Spielberg inspiration. And are there any Brit films that look at the 'forgotten' conflicts that the UK were involved in, Korea for example, and to some degree the Falklands?

Sorry, just asking questions and making it grow. You've hit a nerve with me as this area is combing two major intersts of mine, conflict and film.

An aspect of war films perhaps needs adding...using actual footage.
I had mentioned this in relation to various films such as The Lion Has Wings, The Dam Busters, the army film unit propaganda unit films, how in the 1950s, it was often incorporated into war films to add realism (and save money) and how Steven Spielberg studied real footage when making Saving Private Ryan.

Is it worth talking about some of the actors in these films, who actually served in the military too?
Quite possibly – but it might end up being a bit listy. Perhaps that would work better as an article solely dedicated article on British War Film Actors who Served in the Military. Or an article on principle British War Film Actors, like George & Stanley Baker, John 'Hayley's Daddy' Mills (Royal Engineers), Michael Caine (Korean War), Alec Guinness (RN), David Niven (left Hollywood to enlist in the army during the war), Peter O'Toole. I'll include a link to: http://www.listal.com/list/war-heroes-big-screen-war and mention it a bit in the realism section.

And I think it might be worth looking into if there are any pre Second World War British war films worth mentioning?
The trouble with earlier films is that they don't always survive. Mademoiselle from Armentieres didn't. Balaclava (1928) about the Crimean, Lost Patrol (1929) is notably for being remade, Tell England (1931) by Anthony Asquith, son of Herbert Asquith, about Gallipoli, Freedom of the Seas (1934) is notable for being David Lean's first film. Although they are indeed British War Films, they don't really fall into the same fold that later films did, creating the actual British War Film Genre rather than being films sharing the same setting, except possibly Forever England (1935), which had John Mills and Royal Navy ships.

I know Dawn Patrol was also a Lucas/Spielberg inspiration
That, and Hell's Angels, are American, though. Getting some good American films mentioned for anyone wanting to write about American war films.

Are there any Brit films that look at the 'forgotten' conflicts that the UK were involved in, Korea for example, and to some degree the Falklands?
IMDB mentions Resurrected as being about the Falklands War - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098190/ but I've not seen it. I think there were some television series about it. I've added one about the Korean War. Young Winston counts as Boer War.

You've hit a nerve with me as this area is combing two major interests of mine, conflict and film.
You mean you find this little article to be annoying?

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Annoying in t agood way, in that I would hvae written it if I'd thought of it

Some changes made, especially creating a section on women in war and adding more details on the Realism section, especially regarding The Lion Has Wings.

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BB,

Starting to take shape, but I still really have to disagree about your take on American war films (not World War 2?! good guy, westerns etc).

Either take it out (seeing as the Entry is about British War Films) or add more balance.

The Americans, as I said, were shocking in their realism of war films in regards the Pacific conflict, particularly the Sands of Iwo Jima, which I think used stock footage of American soldiers (yes, American soldiers, not Japanese!) dead on the shore, and floating in the waves. This was in 1949, so the war was still raw.

But even during the war, films like the Fighting Seabees (44), They Were Expendable (45), Back to Bataan (45) and even the Flying Tigers (42) did not always paint the American forces in a heroic light. What these films did do was show an American public that their boys were actually dieing out there in a war many didn't really know about - as opposed to the Brits who were well in the thick of it.

It was not until later, when American audiences looked for escapism, did the film industry focus on war movies that were not as realistic, to compete with a budding sci-fi movie insurgence (star trek, black hole, fantastic voyage etc.). This was also to help the American public lose sight of the truth in places like Cuba and Cambodia / Vietnam.

Looks like I'm writing an American War Film Entry doesn't it...

back on to British War Films, one that has always stood out to me, is Went the Day Well? The what if scenario that many Brit audiences were thinking about...

Oo, and One of Our Aircraft is Missing, I loved that.

I think you need to add something about the thriller/spy genre that was popular at the beginning of the war, films like Pimpernel Smith, Q Planes and Night train to Munich were classic film noir to some degree.

I look forward to reading your article on American War Films!

As you've talked yourself into volunteering for that, I've removed the section on American war films from this article. I've also mentioned Went the Day Well and similar films too.
I've mentioned 'One of Our Aircraft is Missing' (Which always reminds of 'The Lion Has Phones' episode of Dad's Army in which Jones states, 'I thought it was one of theirs?') and the bit about Dutch women in war was inspired by that film.

Looks like my homework for tonight is to write more about thriller/spy films.

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Reading through, a couple of other things jumped out at me:

While Pan's Labyrinth could be classified as a Mexican film (director and production company), it is set during the Spanish Civil War, so...

And if you are going to mention 'children's' films like these you might want to think about Goodnight Mister Tom

The Indiana Jones films are not set 'during' the Second World War, but instead during the lead up to the war, the mid-to late 30s.

The paragraph about 'For Freedom' reads a little clumsily, could do with reworking.

Please Sir

I did my homework, honest! Unfortunately I didn't copy it onto a USB stick to bring with me today, so it's left at home. I'll bring it in tomorrow, promise!

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Next you'll say your giraffe ate it. Honestly.

Okay, spy section now added (on hidden microfilm).

*Wonders off to write 'I must not feed my homework to my llama' 100 times on the blackboard*

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Updated. Now more information about propaganda.

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