A celebrated staple of Hollywood since the earliest days of cinema,war moviesaccount for some of the most beloved, influential, and successful movies of all time. Fromclassic epic war outingsall the way to unsung modern films aboutlesser-known wars, the genre’s finest offerings strive to capture an immersive snapshot of armed conflict, with filmmakers going above and beyond in order to produce an authentic depiction of war that doesn’t come across as clichéd, unrealistic, or disrespectful. In some cases, this can even extend to enlisting actors with legitimate military experience to help their cause.
As such, the genre plays host to a number of prominent war movies that star real-life military veterans.Many of Hollywood’s biggest A-Listers have served in a branch of the military in one capacity or another, with many of them using their real-life experiences to lend authenticity to their portrayal of a war movie character further down the line. From classic genre outings to modern standouts, real-life veterans in war movies don’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.
Missing In Action
Cast
Colonel James Braddock is a hardened Vietnam War veteran who learns that American POWs are still being held in Vietnam. To save them, Braddock returns to the jungle terrain he knows all too well against his C.O.’s orders to save his fellow soldiers.
One ofChuck Norris' best and most beloved movies, 1984’sMissing in Actionfollows Colonel Braddock; a Vietnam War veteran in search of Marines presumed dead under the movie’s titular status quo. The cheesiest Norris flick imaginable,Missing in Actionwas critically panned but proved to be a box office hit, retaining cult classic status as one of the martial artist’s most beloved offerings to this day.
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Despite Norris' reputation as an action-hero icon, his history of military service may still come as a surprise. TheWalker, Texas Rangerstarjoined the United States Air Force in 1958 as an Air Policeman,serving until 1962 when he was discharged with the rank of Airman first class. Norris was bestowed with the nickname “Chuck” and even began his training in Tang Soo Do during his time spent on a South Korean military base.
The Great Escape
The Great Escape is a World War II film directed by John Sturges, featuring an ensemble cast including Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Richard Attenborough. Set in a German POW camp, the story follows the coordinated efforts of Allied prisoners attempting a mass escape. Inspired by a true story, the film captures themes of resilience, camaraderie, and ingenuity under duress. Released in 1963, it remains an iconic adventure drama.
Known for its star-studded ensemble cast and iconic action sequences, 1963’sThe Great Escapeheavily dramatizes the real-life Stalag Luft III mass escape perpetrated by Allied POWs during WWII. Remarkably, a significant portion of the main cast had all served time in the armed forces prior to the movie. Steven McQueen, James Coburn, and Richard Attenborough were just some of the star names with military experience, while James Garner had even received a Purple Heart for his service in the Korean War.
However, the movie’s most prominent example is arguably Donald Pleasence. The man charged with playing forger Colin Blythe, Pleasence was initially a conscientious objectorbefore joining the RAF as a wireless operator in 1940.Flying in over sixty raids, Pleasence was shot down and spent the time from 1944 to 1946 as a POW much like his dramatic charge; the Englishman was known for organizing and performing in plays for his fellow prisoners. He would return to the theater after being released and discharged in 1946.
The Train
The Train is a 1964 war film directed by John Frankenheimer, starring Burt Lancaster as a French Resistance fighter tasked with preventing a German colonel, portrayed by Paul Scofield, from transporting stolen art treasures out of France during World War II. The film’s suspenseful narrative and action-packed sequences explore themes of war, resistance, and the cultural value of art.
An iconic black-and-white entry from John Frankenheimer, 1964’sThe Trainis viewed as a classic to this day. Chronicling a daring effort to foil a Nazi scheme to move stolen French art masterpieces to Germany by locomotive, Frankenheimer’s acclaimed movie is renowned for its use of legitimate train wrecks and explosions to bring its thrilling story to life onscreen. Further adding to the film’s air of authenticity,The Train’sleading man even happened to be a bona fide military veteran.
…the actor even performed with the 21st Special Services Division, an arm of the military centered on providing entertainment and bolstering morale.
The movie saw Hollywood icon, Burt Lancaster, tasked with bringing French Resistance fighter Paul Labiche to life onscreen. While he never saw active combat,Lancaster enlisted in the U.S. Army during WWII and served two years.Duly attaining the rank of Technician Fifth Grade, the actor performed with the 21st Special Services Division, an arm of the military centered on providing entertainment and bolstering morale.
Casablanca
Casablanca is a classic film set in December 1941, starring Humphrey Bogart as a cynical American expatriate in Morocco. When he encounters a former lover, portrayed by Ingrid Bergman, complicated personal and political tensions arise amidst the backdrop of World War II.
A seminal piece of cinema that is frequently mentioned in the ongoingdebate over the greatest movie ever made, 1942’sCasablancamay not be a war movie in the traditional sense, but it qualifies given that it was set and filmed during WWII. There isn’t much to say about Michael Curtiz’s timeless Best Picture winner in terms of effusive praise that hasn’t been said a thousand times before;Casablancaremains a near-flawless film more than 80 years later.
Bogart even attempted to re-enlist in the Navy following the outbreak of WWII, only to be rejected on the grounds that he was too old.
Taking on the role of Rick Blaine, cinema icon Humphrey Bogart found himself with an opportunity to channel his previous experiences of a World War into his legendary performance. The American hadpreviously joined the United States Navy during the First World War,leaving the service after a year with the rank of Petty Officer 2nd Class in 1919. Bogart’s trademark lisp and facial scar are both alleged to have come about as a result of his time in the Navy, although the circumstances behind each development vary from account to account.
The Big Red One
The Big Red One is a World War II film directed by Samuel Fuller, chronicling the experiences of the 1st Infantry Division, also known as “The Big Red One.” Starring Lee Marvin as a tough, seasoned sergeant and Mark Hamill as one of the young soldiers in his unit, the film follows their grueling and perilous journey from North Africa to Europe, vividly depicting the harsh realities and comradeship of war.
Named for the distinctive red numeral “1” patches worn by the 1st Infantry Division, 1980’sThe Big Red Oneradiates authenticity from the very get-go. This is likely due in no small part to the influence of director Samuel Fuller, a decorated WWII veteran who served in the same division. The movie is based on Fuller’s experiences during the conflict, with the director choosing another veteran to lead his film’s cast to add an extra layer of legitimacy to proceedings.
Marvin’s service medals include a Purple Heart, the Presidential Unit Citation, and the American Campaign Medal, among other honors.
Said veteran takes the form of archetypal cinematic tough guy Lee Marvin. Charged with playingThe Big Red One’sunnamed protagonist, Marvin is instantly believable as a battle-hardened and savvy sergeant, for good reason.A scout sniper in the 4th Marine Division,the American was decorated for his participation in multiple amphibious raids during the Pacific Theater in WWII. Marvin was eventually medically discharged after being wounded in action multiple times, bowing out at the rank of private first class.
Glory
Based on documented events, Glory is a historical war-drama film by director Edward Zwick and tells the story of the first all-black infantry regiment in the Civil War. Being led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, comprised entirely of volunteers, fight to protect their nation and people while facing discrimination from all sides.
One of thebest Western war movies ever made, 1989’sGloryfocuses on one of the Union Army’s earliest African American regiments during the American Civil War. Edward Zwick’s evocative offering received highly positive reviews, earning a 95% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and garnering three Oscar wins from five nominations. Dotted in among a star-studded ensemble cast, the movie features Morgan Freeman as supporting character Sergeant Major John Rawlins.
One of cinema’s most decorated and revered names known for his instantly recognizable voice, Freeman’s military history may come as a surprise to many.TheGlorystar enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1955, working as a radar technician for nearly four years. The Academy Award-winning actor had risen to the rank of Airman first class by the time he was honorably discharged in 1959.
Heartbreak Ridge
Heartbreak Ridge, released in 1986, follows a hard-nosed Marine Gunnery Sergeant, played by Clint Eastwood, as he clashes with superiors and his ex-wife while leading a recon platoon with disciplinary issues. The film explores themes of leadership and redemption against a military backdrop.
One ofClint Eastwood’s more underrated war movies, 1986’sHeartbreak Ridgesees theDirty Harryalum direct and star in the leading role of Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Highway, an aging Marine tasked with licking an undisciplined group of Marines into shape before the looming invasion of Grenada. Effortlessly embodying this tough-as-nails veteran, a large part of what makes Eastwood so believable as Highway is arguably the fact that he actually served in the military himself.
The movie’s title is derived from the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge; an engagement during the Korean War that saw Eastwood’s character awarded his Medal of Honor.
The actor was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War in 1951,serving as a swimming instructor before being discharged in 1953. In keeping with his action icon status, Eastwood even experienced a real-life blockbuster scenario during his service. The American was forced to use a raft to paddle back to shore, after a plane he was traveling on crashed into the ocean in 1952.
Full Metal Jacket
Full Metal Jacket, directed by Stanley Kubrick, follows U.S. Marine recruits through rigorous boot camp training and onto the battlefields of Vietnam, highlighting the war’s impact on soldiers' psyches. Released in 1987, the film stars Matthew Modine, Vincent D’Onofrio, and R. Lee Ermey.
One of the most unforgettable characters the genre has ever witnessed,Full Metal Jacket’sGunnery Sergeant Hartman’s litany of unprintable soundbites arguably render him themost quotable war movie characterof all time. The relentlessly abusive drill sergeant is virtually synonymous with Stanley Kubrick’s iconic war movie at this point in proceedings, with his endlessly creative torrent of sadistic insults serving asFull Metal Jacket’sinimitable calling card.
Kubrick needed somebody believable to breathe life into this walking, talking embodiment of nightmare fuel, and the late R. Lee Ermey was about as believable as physically conceivable.Enlisting in the Marine Corps in 1961 at the age of just 17, Ermey soon became a legitimate drill instructor. He was medically retired at the rank of Staff Sergeant due to injuries more than ten years later, receiving an honorary promotion to Gunnery Sergeant in 2002.
The Dirty Dozen
On the eve of D-Day, an American Army Major is assigned to train a unit of 12 convicted criminals for a suicide mission behind enemy lines in France in exchange for a pardon for their crimes.
Serving as the inspiration for virtually every rag-tag motley crew cinematic outing that would follow, 1967’sThe Dirty Dozenchronicles a suicide mission perpetrated by a group of convicts during WWII in the hopes of receiving a pardon. A timeless classic for the genre, Robert Aldrich’s fan favorite picture is widely regarded as one of thebest war movies of the 1960s.
Bronson flew 25 missions against Japanese-held islands, earning a Purple Heart for wounds received in action before leaving in 1946.
Outside of former Marine Lee Marvin,The Dirty Dozen’smost high-profile military veteran is likely Western cinema icon, Charles Bronson, tasked here with bringing disgraced colonel Joseph Wladislaw to life.The American left his job in the coal mines to join the U.S. Air Force in 1943 during WWII,working as an aerial gunner within the 39th Bombardment Group. Bronson flew 25 missions against Japanese-held islands, earning a Purple Heart for wounds received in action before leaving in 1946.
The Bridge On The River Kwai
During World War II, British POWs are forced to build a railway bridge by their Japanese captors. Colonel Nicholson, the British commander, becomes obsessed with constructing the bridge as a symbol of British pride, while an Allied commando team plots to destroy it, leading to a tense and tragic confrontation.
WhileThe Bridge on the River Kwairemains a notable example of a war movie criticized foraccuracy and realism by historical experts, David Lean’s picture is still widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. Earning seven Academy Awards, the 1957 film featuresStar Warsalum Alec Guinness in the pivotal role of Colonel Nicholson, the captive British commander overseeing the POWs tasked with building the movie’s titular structure for their Japanese captors.
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Guinness took to hiswar movierole like a duck to water, earning the Academy Award for Best Actor for his stirring performance. However, his grounded bow should come as little surprise in light of his military credentials; the man behind Obi-Wan Kenobi enlisted in the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve Force in 1941. Earning a promotion to Temporary Lieutenant before his departure in 1946, Guinness commanded a landing craft during the invasions of Sicily and Elba, smuggled supplies to Yugoslavian Partisans in the Mediterranean theater, and even survived a ferocious hurricane that destroyed his ship.
