Top 10 War Films Of The 1960s

[@SmashingUKProductions]

We've had a lot of comments asking the whereabouts of 'Kelly's Heroes', so just to clear up, despite it being released on the cusp of the new era, it isn't a 1960s film. 'Kelly's Heroes' was released in 1970 and is instead included in our list looking at the best war films of the 1970s.

[@rolfagten857]

With Telly Savalas.

[@Vagabondo-fs6qu]

"The Blue M

[@bluerock4456]

Ursula Undress (as we pre-teens called her) ... oo la la.

[@rogueriderhood1862]

Certainly better than that god-awful Where Eagles Dare. How did that get in the top 10?

[@davidtaylor8002]

Not that great of a movie.

[@DerykRonk]

It should not have because this is THEIR list.

[@pdxyyz]

Love how Sean Connery started D-day as a private in The Longest Day and ended up a General by Arnhem in A Bridge Too Far

[@dodge-ut6ti]

PROMOTIONS COME FAST DURING WARTIME.

[@robvegas9354]

Bridge is such an awesome movie. a team up with James Bond, Hannibal Lector, Sonny Corleone, Popeye Doyle... etc. an all time classic! amazing film!!!

[@silvervalleystudios2486]

@@robvegas9354 The cast was good but I found Bridge a little slow. Action sequences were awesome but the dialogue was slow for me. I felt the same about Big Red One. I find they don't have that gritty cowboy element in the characters like Attack with Jack Palace and Hell is For Heroes with Steve McQueen. I really like the earlier war movies.

[@duncancurtis1758]

Monty liked him!

[@rolfagten857]

And US Lieutenant Colonel of the 101st Airborne Troops in "The Presidio" (1988)😂

[@isaacmartinez6904]

The Longest Day, Zulu, The Dirty Dozen, Ivan's Childhood, Army of Shadows, The Battle of Algiers, Spartacus, War and Peace, Doctor Zhivago and Lawrence of Arabia are my personal favorites from the 1960s.

[@robvegas9354]

Awesome List! Eagles and the Great escape are absolute classics and they used to show them at christmas every year, The Train is probably the most action packed movie ever made and an all time favorite. Von Ryans is unreal as well!

[@SpainHighlander]

Hi. I thought that I might have seen The Battle of Britain in there. Good list though. Well done. Regards from sunny Spain.

[@SmashingUKProductions]

It was very close to being included, unfortunately it just missed out!

[@williamvasilakis9619]

Agreed Stuart!!!! Battle of Britain is fantastic.

[@frankiehoskyn3948]

Notable Mentions : 36 Hours (1964), The Blue Max (1965), Khartoum (1966).

[@proudcanadian5713]

Really needed "The Devil's Brigade" in there.

[@deejaytee5481]

"The Train" & "The Hill" must be two of the most under-rated films of all time, regardless of genre

[@BuggsOgden]

I agree, especially "The Train". Great camera work, good story and Burt Lancaster doing his own stunts. They don't make 'em like that any more!

[@halcyon289]

Nota war film , but check out Connery in The Offence. An underrated actor at his darkest.

[@lordmalvada8212]

The Hill is very clever film. So entertaining.

[@duncancurtis1758]

Paul Scofield is masterful as the deranged Nazi colonel. Blech also appeared in Bridge at Remagen 1969 and Battle of the Bulge.

[@evo5dave]

The cinematography in Lawrence of Arabia is stunning

[@JamesBond-uz2dm]

a masterpiece

[@leecalladine]

Truly one of the greatest films. It has an ability to pull you in and immerse you in a way that is unique. When Lawrence blows out the match and you switch to the desert my god you are just there! Will never tire of this film.

[@white-dragon4424]

Operation Crossbow is one of the most historically accurate WWII films of the era. The agent characters are fictitious, but all the secondary characters and events are very accurate, even to the point where it shows Professor Lindemann in complete denial about the V weapons right up till they're flying overhead. The testing of the V-1 was also accurately portrayed. To me it's far superior to a lot of the "cartoons" in this list like The Dirty Dozen and Where Eagles Dare.

[@nathaniellathy6559]

1. Longest Day 2. Guns of Navarone 3. Alamo 4. Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come 5. Shenandoah 6. Seven Days in May 7. Zulu 8. In Harm's Way 9. Battle of the Bulge 10. Great Escape A good score helps. Good to have John Wayne in a War film. Andrew McLaglen is an underrated director.

[@nathaniellathy6559]

Father Goose is a near miss

[@howardjolley2215]

Only one I agree with is Lawrence of Arabia. Followed by The Longest Day, The Great Escape, The Guns of Navarone, Zulu, Where Eagles Dare, Army of Shadows, The Dirty Dozen, The Battle of Britain and The Train.

[@zulkanainbaharuddin2185]

During my childhood. Watch all the movies. Love them.😙😙😙❤❤❤

[@NuggetsDungeonTerrain]

The Devils' Brigade could have got a mention. I love the scene where they take the whole town prisoner.

[@rolfagten857]

With general Archie Bunker in it!

[@rolfagten857]

Hell in the Pacific (1968) / 36 hOurs (1964) / Le soldatesse (1965) / Tobruk (1966) / The Dirty Dozen (1967) / The victors (1963) / The Bridge at Remagen (1969)./ Paris brûle-t-il? (1966) / The Hill (1965) / None but the Brave (1965) .

[@johnf3885]

I remember my dad taking me to watch Zulu, Where Eagles Dare, and Laurence of Arabia. They hold special memories for me every time I see them as a kid I remember sitting there with a carton of Kiora and a bag of Revells. Miss you dad.

[@ichabodon]

I could make my own list but that would have included films from the 50’s. One of my all time favorites is ‘Ice Cold in Alex’ which I think is a classic

[@howardjolley2215]

Agree it was an excellent film.

[@daistoke1314]

Ice cold and The Cruel Sea I think say a lot of how Britain fought their war.

[@michaelcampin1464]

Excellent film

[@jameswolf133]

If we’re talking about 1950s movies, ‘Go For Broke’ should get an honorable mention.

[@sleuthentertainment5872]

Hell is for Heroes, Dirty Dozen, The Train, The Great Escape, Where Eagles Dare and of course the Masaki Kobayashi's Human Condition trilogy deserve to be on the top

[@AC-SlaUkr]

Aboulutely agree with your selection. Enjoyed every one

[@richardulrich8736]

Got to agree with "Lawrence of Arabia" as your top pick but the "The Train" would make my Top Ten List

[@chrisholland7367]

Good selection. Have most of these on DVD. 👍

[@rogerclarke7407]

I guess you don't conster, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, a war movie?

[@brianthomas2434]

Thanks for remembering Frankenheimer's "The Train." It seems unreservedly forgotten after nearly six decades. How about "Operation Crossbow?"

[@duncancurtis1758]

Richard Burton with his enormous bus driving wheel. Clint with his limitless supply of bullets.

[@dizbang3073]

terrible movie.

[@paulwee1924dus]

Play Dirty (1969) / Up on the beach (1965) / 36 Hours (1964 ) / Als 2 Druppels Water (1963) / Week-end at Zuydcoote (1965) / The battle of the Bulge (1965) / Tobruk (1967) / The Devil's Brigade (1968) / La Grande Vadrouille (1966) / The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1962) . Is my TOP 10!

[@zpy-nq7wv]

TO ME ," WHERE EAGLES DARE " IS THE BEST WAR FILM OF THE 60'S .

[@rolfagten857]

"Broadsword calling Danny Boy - Over"

[@rolfagten857]

But why not: "Play Dirty" (1969) / "Fabrik der offiziere" (1960), "36 Hours" 1965 / "The Bridge at Remagen" (1969) / "Counterpoint" (1967) / "Tobruk" (1967) "Hell in the Pacific" (1968) / "The Battle of the Bulge" (1965) / "The Battle of Britain" (1969) and "The Blue Max" (1966)! To put together an alternative top 10.

[@paulwee1924dus]

You have a nice top 10 list M8. Yeah WW2 pooney cinematic great!

[@TrainmanDan]

The Bridge at Remagen.

[@davidgolinsky]

Tobruk, Battle of the Bulge, Anzio, The Hill, typical Hollywood productions but still worthy of mention.

[@OhGreatSwami]

Always liked the Battle of the Bulge, the Battle of Britain, and the Bridge at Remagen.

[@white-dragon4424]

Battle of the Bulge? lol

[@OhGreatSwami]

@@white-dragon4424 Just for the song.

[@white-dragon4424]

@Green Sneakers & Ham That and the Green Berets, that the Vietnam troops laughed at when they were shown it.

[@guadalahonky4002]

I am a Melville fan and I would replace Army of Shadows with Sink The Bismarck! (1960) My film short hand is: Any Anthony Quayle 1950s or 1960s war film is first rate.

[@lacrimatorium]

Great choices. Nice to see Tarkovsky sneak in here. Are you doing the 50s too?

[@SmashingUKProductions]

Indeed! It'll be our last video of the war film era series.

[@lacrimatorium]

@@SmashingUKProductions Can't wait.

[@johnmcmahon13]

Great list. Thanks

[@joshuariddensdale2126]

Where Eagles Dare is a great movie, but the original novel it's adapted from is even better. There are some minor nitpicks between the two (they arrive in a Lancaster and leave in a Mosquito in the novel, but arrive and leave in a JU-52 in the movie). But the main plot twist is still there.

[@MGB-learning]

Great video

[@knightnight1894]

Glad see you mentioned War and Peace, meaning you have a open mind. To me, War and Peace(of course not the Hollywood one), is the one, the only, the true master piece, the peak of no one can overtake, in the entire movie history, just like Gone with Wind in America movie history.

[@averagekentuckyfan870]

I liked the charge of the light brigade as well although not as good as any on this list

[@jimgeorge3273]

Charge of the light brigade is better then a lot of movies listed here. Great flick(charge of the light brigade.

[@richardmorris8807]

no 633 squadron ,crazy!

[@davidcoleman757]

Pretty much the golden age of war films. Every one a classic. Zulu is my favourite film of all time.

[@danbuchman7497]

Interesting list, not a fan of all star casts but gotta love The Great Escape. Suggestions: Is Paris Burning, Sink The Bismarck, In Harms Way, PT-109, and my all time favorite that I’m surprised didn’t make the top 3, Dr. Strangelove. Think a couple of movies should be pushed down, The Dirty Dozen and the Longest Day. Thanks for putting this together.

[@SmashingUKProductions]

I was debating the inclusion of 'Dr. Strangelove' and whether it really is a war film or not, but decided it was best just to omit it just this time, but rest assured I love the film a lot, and it was included in our Cold War list.

[@ksturmer5388]

Number 8 (Where Eagles Dare) is the best film ever!!

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Best? I always kind of find it boring.

[@thenewongoam2486]

Hey Smashing UK, can you make Top 10 Middle Eastern War films?

[@SmashingUKProductions]

We've got this on the to-do list for early next year! :)

[@RajeshKumar-wv5fp]

Please now make a list of greatest films with no Oscar nominations

[@gatoreuph]

Wow! Except for the foreign-language films, all my 60s favorites.

[@jamesfields2916]

Attack & Retreat from 1965 about the Italian army fighting on the Russian Front. Rarely runs on tv and haven't seen it on tv since 1993.

[@sonnysantana5454]

1' the longest day , 2' the guns of navarone, 3' the bridge on the river kwai, 4' never so few , 5' the dirty dozen , 6 where eagals dare , 7' raid on rommel , 8 tobruk , 9' first to fight , 10' counterfit traitor , 11 the great escape

[@nathaniellathy6559]

Bridge on River Kwai came out in 57

[@MrMattMWH]

The Guns of Navarone > Where Eagles Dare

[@sandersson2813]

Ice Cold In Alex is a miss here.

[@rolfagten857]

A John Mills movie.

[@rochrich1223]

The original original dirty dozen were the exercises US soldiers were required to do in WWII. The push-up and the "jumping jack" are the two most famous.

[@kenmazoch8499]

in harm's way, battle of britain, the blue max, and devil's brigade all should be on the list or at least honorable mentions.

[@Ftc.6]

My pops called it The Longest Movie after he saw it in the theater.

[@Columbiastargazer]

The Movie "Is Paris Burning ?" (Paris Brule-T'il?) should get a mention for its cast and the authentic footage spliced into it

[@scullcap357]

sorry incorrect , the blue max is number 1 .

[@davejones2541]

Battle of the bulge may be historically inaccurate, but what other movies have that many tanks in action?

[@a.barker7792]

Lawrence is one of the greatest films of any kind. Glad it's your number one.

[@jasonstab6453]

No brainer on No 1, but a strong argument must be made for Dr Stranglove

[@Lucfrdebraganca]

Outros: Tora! Tora! Tora!, Paris está em chamas?, Roma, cidade aberta, Inferno no Pacífico, Matadouro 5, Por quem os sinos dobram, Guerra e paz (versão russa),

[@stevecoleman2250]

No mention of “King and Country” made in 1964 with Tom Courtney and Dirk Bogarde, a court martial in the field of a soldier accused of desertion and cowardice,when in reality he is suffering PTSD. A very strong anti we message.

[@SmashingUKProductions]

A great film, we featured 'King and Country' in our World War I list.

[@lordwintertown8284]

Well I expect Lawrence of Arabia would probably be the top film & it was indeed, Hm so many good films from the 60's. Hopefully your 50's list might contain The Gifthorse (1952) & or The Yangtze Incident: The Story of the H.M.S Amethyst (1957), I recently found that film in an odd retro film shop is Brisbane & now one down on my war film to get list with seven to go (poor little Able Seaman Simon).

[@codebasher1]

Kellies Heroes... My #1

[@SmashingUKProductions]

'Kelly's Heroes' was released in 1970, so unfortunately it was ineligible for this list. Thanks for the comment!

[@codebasher1]

@@SmashingUKProductions Made in 60s released in the 70s. Yeah I understand.. :) thanks

[@aztro4010]

Is Paris Burning? (1966) should've been on this list, sure it's no The Longest Day, but it's still a pretty great WWII film.

[@thatblenderguy7566]

Is Paris Burning? (1966) And The Sand Pebbles (1966) Should Have Been In The Honourable Mentions.

[@lucarvbraganca9766]

Lawrence of Arabia: great movie, great cast, great music and... greats truths.

[@roberthitchman]

How do you not have “The Battle of Britain”, made in 1969. I believe “Patton” and “Tora, Tora, Tora” came out in 1970.

[@jacjac50]

No Hell is for Heroes? No The Devil's brigade?

[@patrickflynn607]

"Where Eagles Dare is overrated" but you have really underrated "The Longest Day" if you think it's not in the top two.

[@mrdarkside4071]

I'm not seing "The Train" with Burt Lancaster... Unforgivable mistake.

[@paulwee1924dus]

3 seconds!

[@scottclark3139]

Operation Crossbow better be listed!

[@jamesfields2916]

How about Play Dirty with Michael Caine?

[@paulwee1924dus]

Now you're talking. Thats right!

[@sivabala5425]

Dark of the Sun is not in the list. AAArgh

[@robertplattner1636]

What about Manchurian Candidate and Dr Strangelove?

[@carstenstille8503]

"Hunde wollt ihr ewig leben" Is the greatest Film about Stalingrad!

[@paulwee1924dus]

Nail it!

[@stewsretroreviews]

No Battle of Britain? Come on! Where Eagles dare should be at no 2, still an amazing movie

[@rochrich1223]

You should do a series of the best war films available on You Tube.

[@paultunstall3509]

They missed out battle of the Bulge and Battle of Britain some odd choices.

[@alanmoffat4454]

NICE I AGREE WHITH YOUR PICKS .

[@eurolicious1]

WTF 😢Battle of Britain (1969) doesn’t even rate an honourable mention?!😂

[@paulwee1924dus]

Sad. indeed

[@belahajnal]

Where eagles dare should be number one. One of the best ww2-movies ever.

[@kaptaink1897]

Can someone help me identify a movie? Ends with a guy digging his own grave and uses it as a foxhole. Roll credits. WWII, Pacific, American, Japanese, black and white.

[@Lucfrdebraganca]

Lawrence da Arábia é um filme para o qual não existem elogios suficientes.

[@wingnut2425]

Not a fan of the Victors then? Carl Foreman's anti-war war film, one of the best.

[@plaidzebra5526]

Longest Day shouldn't be number 10, It's a better classic Where Eagles Dare by leaps and bounds

[@SRV2013]

Guns of Navarone and Where Eagles Dare are not war films, but fantasy.

[@scottmccloud2894]

Sink the Bismarck. Hell is for Heroes. How could you miss these? Where Eagles Dare - is good, but total fiction - should not be here.

[@WALTERBROADDUS]

Sink the Bismarck is 1950s.

[@bobanderson6656]

The Longest Day SB at least second. Larry of Arabia is a masterpiece, no doubt.

[@daistoke1314]

Could anyone pick 10 films from the last decade that would give equal pleasure?

[@kenfox22]

How could you possibly forget the Green Berets????

[@bluerock4456]

Easily enough, because it was a terrible movie.

[@nathaniellathy6559]

Underrated. Not the Duke's best War movie but good. Loses something in third act.

[@rogerrice1772]

What about Sink the Bismarck?

[@peterwhite507]

Heroes of Telemark

[@simonhellier7281]

Is this a joke? The Battle of Britain not even mentioned!

[@donaldclay9535]

11. Patton and 12. Battle of Briton

[@SmashingUKProductions]

Unfortunately 'Patton' was released in 1970, it's featured in our 1970s list instead. Thanks for the comment.

[@donaldclay9535]

@@SmashingUKProductions My Bad, Touche'.

[@apolishjewishpianistfromww5350]

Theres no 1967 Westerplatte :(

[@Foxrich99]

Lot's of great deep war movies where ignored for mindless action Shame that this is what Americans consider to be the best movies

[@michaelcampin1464]

No Dambusters

[@SmashingUKProductions]

'Dambusters' was released in 1955, we'll be doing a list on the best 1950s war films in a couple of weeks.

[@isuriadireja91]

let's see... Lawrence of Arabia The Longest Day Zulu The Great Escape The Dirty Dozen Where Eagles Dare The Guns of Navarone The Train El Cid & 55 Days at Peking

[@bobapbob5812]

Battle of Algiers got freedom for Algeria whose population is all moving to France.

[@yamboliya]

the battle of neretva 1969

[@andreraymond6860]

Paths Of Glory?

[@georgekaragiannakis6637]

A great movie but produced in 1957.

[@SmashingUKProductions]

As George has rightfully stated, it is an incredible movie, but it was released in 1957. We'll be doing a list on the best 1950s war films in a couple weeks.

[@lib556]

Charge of the Light Brigade (1968)? Lost Command (1966)? Pork Chop Hill?

[@robertgarrett4046]

THESE ARE ALL BLOODY CRAP SO CALLED FILMS .