WWII collection

TV miniseries that chronicled the rise of the Nazis, as witnessed by Albert Speer (Rutger Hauer). Very well done, with Derek Jacobi as Hitler. It's perhaps too sympathetic to Speer; but, then again, it was based on his memoir.

Paul Verhoeven's tale of a group of university students and their lives before, during, and at the end of the war. Excellent cast and probably Verhoeven's best film. It gives a glimpse at those who collaborated to survive, those who fought in the resistance, and those who enlisted with the German's to fight on the Russian Front. Verhoeven would later return to the subject, with Black Book, his best film in years.

British tv series, based on the exploits of the bomb disposal units. The series focuses on a young officer, played by Anthony Andrews, as he arrives at the unit, with no background in the area, and his slapdash training and baptism by fire. The series well documented wartime British life, from rationing to the dangers of the bombings, both during and after; as well as the rather rushed nature of many courtships.

Legendary British tv comedy series about the Home Guard units raised to potentially defend the country from a possible German invasion. The units were often made up of older men, hence the name. The series is played for laughs, with a harried leader of inept troops; but, it did much to highlight the work of these units.

HBO-produced film about the birth, training, and accomplishments of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. This one has history squarely in mind, unlike the later George Lucas-produced Red Tails. Laurence Fishburne leads a young cast in this excellent biopic.

Highly underated film about the bombing of Pearl Harbor, showcasing the Japanese planning and execution of the raid, as well as the initial US military malaise and response to the attack. Much better than the later film attempts.

Based on the novel, the film follows a soldier stationed in Hawaii, who faces brutal treatment for refusing to box for his unit and a love affair between a married woman and her husband's second-in-command, and the attack on Pearl Harbor.

John Wayne stars in this wartime salute to the American Volunteer Group, aka the Flying Tigers. The film is played for Hollywood heroism and propaganda, rather than historical detail, but it's one of Wayne's notable war films. The Flying Tigers would inspire the comic book Blackhawks, which were the subject of a Columbia serial. The unit also included Gregory Boyington, who would later lead the Black Sheep Squadron in the South Pacific and become the USMC's top ace.

Wartime film about the defense of Wake Island from the Japanese attacks, immediately after Pearl harbor. The film is pure patriotism and suggests the defenders fought to the last man, instead of their actual surrender. It was wartime.

Biopic of the five Sullivan brothers, from Waterloo, IA. The film follows them from childhood to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, when they attempt to enlist in the Navy and serve on the same ship. They were eventually granted this request, to their ultimate doom. The film fictionalizes many things, such as ignoring the fact that one brother was or had already served in the Navy.

Gregory Peck stars as the legendary general, covering his career from military governor of the Phillipines, through his eventual return to the islands and the eventual surrender of Japan. Peck does a masterful job of portraying the man, beloved and hated. He shows the political squabbles to get men and material, as well as Macarthur's own propensity for self-glorification. It isn't quite as accomplished as Patton, but does a pretty good job.

The film, based on the novel by Pierre Boulle (who also wrote Planet of the Apes), follows a group of British prisoners, following the surrender of Singapore. They are tasked to provide labor for the building of a bridge. Alec Guinness won the Oscar for his portrayal of the colonel who forces the Japanese to respect the Geneva conventions, but becomes obsessed with building the bridge properly, to give pride and discipline to his men. He is blind to his failure until the very end. Outstanding film!.

Companion to the Desert Fox, which features Richard Burton as a young officer in charge of Australian troops, in North Africa. They experience a horrible defeat, which shatters morale. Burton tries to rebuild his men, via a series of commando raids against German supply points, culminating in a major raid on a German airfield. James Mason reprises his role as Rommel in a cameo.

Spencer Tracy stars as Col. James Doolittle, while Van Johnson portrays the captain of one of the key bombers. The daring raid featured the launch of B-25 bombers from the USS Hornet, who then attacked points in mainland Japan, eventually ditching their planes in China and Russia. The film follows the training for the carrier launch, the attack, and the evasion of the Japanese, with aid from Chinese villagers.

TV series, which follows a group of raiders as they harass the German's in North Africa. Christopher George stars as the American leader, while Hans Gudegast (better known as Eric Braeden, of The Young and the Restless) stars as the German officer who hunts them. The series was loosely based upon the exploits of the Long Range Desert Group, the SAS, and Popski's Private Army, who carried out reconnaissance and harassment raids on Axis supply lines and airfields.

Robert Duvall stars as Gen Dwight Eisenhower in this tv mini-series. The production follows Ike as he provides a report critical of Allied efforts and soon finds himself with the job of supreme commander of the Allied forces in Europe. It then follows him through the landings in North Africa, the Italian campaign and the landings at Normandy, up to the German surrender. A major focus is upon his relationship with Kay Sommersby, his British driver and rumored lover. Excellent series that needs to be made available on DVD.

Fine film about the Manhattan Project, the development of the Atomic Bomb. The A-Team's Dwight Schultz played Robert Oppenheimer.

Wolfgang Peterson's film (also a tv mini-series) about the crew of a U-Boat and their operations at sea. We get tense, claustrophobic scenes of life on a submarine at war, including potential death, watching as arrogance and youthful hubris are filed away against the grindstone of combat experience. The submarine model was later reused for Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Wartime film about the intense fighting on Guadacanal. Features Anthony Quinn in an early role.

Chad Everett stars as a young Marine who wins the Congressional Medal of Honor in the fighting at Guadacanal. He spends his time on war bond drives, until being given a training command and eventual combat command. He struggles with a fear of dying in combat, now that he has a wife to come home to. Features Gene Hackman in an early and well essayed supporting role. Everett's character was based on Marine Gunnery Sgt John Basilone, who would also be depicted in HBO's The Pacific

Gregory Peck stars as a General who takes command of a B-17 group that is plagued with low morale and heavy losses. He builds up the leadership and confidence of his pilots and crews until even he buckles under the weight of command. The film was used as part of my leadership training in the US Navy, as it beautifully showcases the qualities of good leadership and the perils of command.

John Wayne stars in this salute to the US Navy Construction Battalions, the SeaBees. These men were tasked with building airstrips and bases on newly captured islands, sometimes while the fighting was still going on. The film portrays them heroically, as only the Duke can.