Niemi, Robert 100 Great War Movies

The Real History behind the Films

This book is a guide to 100 war films from 1930 to the present day. Readers interested in war films will learn surprising anecdotes about these films and find answers to all their questions about the historical accuracy of the films. This cinematic guide to war films spans 800 years and analyses films set in the Scottish Wars of Independence in the 13th century (Braveheart) to the war in Afghanistan in the 21st century (Lone Survivor). The Second World War has produced the most war films and continues to be a source for newly released films such as Dunkirk. This book covers these films, but also examines films set during other conflicts, such as the Napoleonic Wars, the American Civil War, the First World War, the Vietnam War, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The book is organised alphabetically by film title, making it easy to navigate. Each entry is divided into five sections: Background (a brief discussion of the film's origins and financing); Production (information about how, where and when the film was made); Summary (a detailed synopsis); Reception (how the film fared in terms of box office receipts, awards and reviews); and Film History vs. Real History (a brief analysis of the film's historical accuracy). This book is ideal for readers who want to take a lively look behind the scenes of the greatest war films of all time.