Greatest World War I movies ever made

With the hotly anticipated epic 1917 set to refocus Hollywood on the stories of the Great War, here are 14 of the best so far

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World War I was a horrendous conflict that saw slaughter on an industrial scale throughout Europe — yet it is the poor relation of World War II when it comes to the movies.

Was it because the Americans were so late to enter that war? Because the Nazis were so evil that they made the perfect cinematic opponent? Or simply because any movie from the Great War will be hideously graphic?

Upcoming World War I movie 1917, looks set to refocus Hollywood on the Great War, with the Sam Mendes-directed epic — which was filmed as one continuous shot — being talked about as a serious Oscar contender.

A scene from upcoming Wold War I epic 1917.

It is perhaps no surprise that, to date, the best World War I movies have come from the countries that suffered most — Britain, France, Canada and, of course, Australia.

American movies about that time tend to be flops, such as Legends Of The Fall, Flyboys and In Love And War.

So, to honour the “war to end all wars” that began in 1914, here are 14 brilliant World War I movies. Tell us your thoughts, and what you think we’ve missed, in the comments below.

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA

This British film is incredibly long but also incredible, full stop. From the sweeping scale to the performance of Peter O’Toole as the unassuming Englishman who unites the Arab tribes to sweep aside the Turkish forces, it is an incredible movie. It’s no surprise it cleaned up at the Oscars and indeed at every awards ceremony.

Watch it on YouTube, Google Play

Peter O’Toole in Lawrence Of Arabia.

GALLIPOLI

The definitive Australian film about the war. It does have historical inaccuracies and of course it was an Australian officer who ordered the final, suicidal charge at The Nek, rather than an English one. But that doesn’t diminish the power and horror of how the prime of a generation enthusiastically signed up for an adventure, only to be slaughtered.

Watch it on YouTube, Google Play

Mel Gibson in Gallipoli.

A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT

This French film starring Audrey Tautou is part mystery, part war movie. Mathilde sets out to find her missing fiance, presumed killed in No Man’s Land after being accused of cowardice. What she finds is a twisted tale of incompetence, murder and revenge. The war scenes are truly shocking.

Watch it on YouTube, Google Play

Audrey Tautou in A Very Long Engagement.

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

This is a German story about a group of friends brainwashed into joining the Imperial German Army and then discovering the true horrors of war. Both the 1930 original and the 1979 remake hold a 100 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It is the perfect anti-war war movie.

Watch it on YouTube, Google Play

A scene from All Quiet On The Western Front.

PATHS OF GLORY

A Stanley Kubrick masterpiece about the senselessness of war. Two incompetent French generals order an attack, knowing it is hopeless and when it fails, decide to execute three of the men for “cowardice”. Kirk Douglas plays the heroic officer trying to save them from the firing squad. Yet there are no heroes here as the generals decide that executing men will be the perfect thing for morale. So shocking — and so close to the truth — it was banned for nearly 20 years in France.

Watch it on Stan

Kirk Douglas in a scene from Paths Of Glory.

WAR HORSE

Based on a stage play about the exploits of Joey, an amazing horse who is drafted into the British Army and affects the lives of all around him. His owner Albert joins up in the hope of finding and helping his mate. It’s intensely moving and a reminder of the animal cost of the war, as well as the human cost.

Watch it on Stan

Albert (Jeremy Irvine) and Joey in War Horse.

SERGEANT YORK

A rare example of a great American film about the conflict. This is the true story of Alvin York, a former drinker and womaniser who was struck by lightning and found God. The Tennessee woodsman is drafted into the army and, although a pacifist, finds himself forced to become a war hero.

Watch it on YouTube, Google Play

Gary Cooper in Sergeant York.

BENEATH HILL 60

Another great Aussie feature that takes us beneath the action as a bunch of barely-trained Queensland miners try to dig underneath a German stronghold on the so-called Hill 60 and blow it up. Based on a true story, the tension is amazing, the action is brilliant and the ocker humour is spot on.

Watch it on YouTube, Google Play

Brendan Cowell in Beneath Hill 60.

THE LIGHTHORSEMEN

A double dose of Australian storytelling as this tells the true story of the last cavalry charge of any war, when the Lighthorsemen took Beersheba. This has a sweeping scale and a fantastic cast, as well as a fair bit of humour. It does drag a little through the middle but the end battle just takes your breath away.

Watch it on YouTube, Google Play

Peter Phelps and Sigrid Thornton in The Lighthorsemen.

THE DAWN PATROL

This is the 1938 remake of the 1930 original, with better actors but some of the groundbreaking action sequences from the first movie. Confused? Just watch this one as the masters of the pencil-thin moustaches, Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone and David Niven try to survive and avoid cracking up in the British Flying Corps.

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Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone and David Niven in The Dawn Patrol.

REGENERATION

This 1997 film takes a look at the mental cost of the war and is based on the novel by Pat Barker. Poet and war veteran Siegried Sassoon is facing court martial after criticising Britain’s high command for slaughtering men needlessly. To save him, his friend Robert Graves gets him put into a Scottish psychiatric hospital, which specialises in getting men ready to go and fight again. There he meets a sympathetic doctor and men wounded in soul rather than body.

Watch it on YouTube, Google Play

A scene from Regeneration.

JOYEUX NOEL

This is based on a true event during the Christmas of 1914, before the war has descended into list true horror. There was a spontaneous ceasefire, where British, French and German soldiers mingled together, shared chocolate and even played soccer. Naturally many were punished for this moment of humanity amid the carnage.

Watch it on Amazon Prime

A scene from Joyeux Noel.

THE TRENCH

Daniel Craig leads a powerful cast in this dramatisation of the 48 hours before the battle of The Somme, the hideous massacre of tens of thousands of British soldiers. Craig is the sergeant trying to get a naive bunch of young soldiers ready, while his officer drinks in his dugout. It has a crack at The Somme but perhaps nothing can encompass the sheer scale of that nightmare.

Watch it on YouTube, Google Play

Daniel Craig in The Trench.

PASSCHENDAELE

We forget how crucial the Canadians were to the war, considered the equal of the Australians in battle. This Canadian film sees a tough sergeant wounded in battle and sent home to help enlist others, where he falls in love with a nurse. Naturally her younger brother wants to enlist ... and that leads them both to Passchendaele, another battle notable for its slaughter. The romance is soggy but it is saved by the war scenes.

Watch it on YouTube, Google Play

Paul Gross and Caroline Dhavernas in Passchendaele.

Originally published as Greatest World War I movies ever made