WWI- part 1
World War I seems as remote to us now as gaslights or horse-drawn streetcars. It was an indecisive Chapter One conclusively ended by World War II. But to our grandparents and great-grandparents, it was as real and memorable as the Gulf War is to us. A couple of interesting things about the subject: Woodrow Wilson won the 1916 presidential election with the slogan “He kept us out of war.” And five months later, we entered the war. It was exactly 100 years ago this month.
By the way, the recent movie and Broadway play Warhorse is set in World War I.
I’ve picked my 10 best films about the War To End All Wars, and we’ll start with 10 through 6.
10. The Big Parade (1925) was made less than 10 years after the actual event. It is a silent. John Gilbert is no longer a household word, but he was to our grandmothers. Its great battle scenes are still as good as any ever filmed. Interesting vignettes are tied together very well into a satisfying whole. Altogether, one of the best overviews of the war.
9. Another silent, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921) is even earlier. It features two brothers who fight on different sides. Wallace Beery is excellent, as is Alan Hale (that was his son as the captain on Gilligan's Island). And speaking of household words, Rudolf Valentino has one of his major roles in this film, so you can see what all the swooning was about. Beware the dreadful 1962 remake.
8.  Ernest Hemingway's A Farewell To Arms  was brought to the screen semi-faithfully and very romantically in 1932. Gary Cooper and Helen Hayes are the American doughboy and British nurse who fall in love and lose. It has superb cinematography. Avoid the 1957 remake with Rock Hudson.
7. John Ford's The Lost Patrol (1934) features a very familiar story that is very well done. A small British unit in the desert is repeatedly attacked and diminished by snipers. It stars Victor McLaglen and Boris Karloff (as a religious type, but at least as a regular human). Good action; good score; good fun.
6. Wings (1927) is the answer to the trivia question, "What movie won the very first Oscar for best film?" It features Richard Arlen, Gary Cooper and Clara Bow (the "It" girl). The aerial battle sequences are still some of the best ever filmed. The plot is a little thin. Another silent. It is interesting how effective battle scenes can be without any sound.
All of the movies in this article are available on DVD, and are fine for all ages. The top five WWI films are coming soon.