10 Best War Movies From The 1960s

The 1960s proved to be an incredible time period for cinema, with the decade producing some of the most acclaimed and widely celebrated films ever made, regardless of genre. From seminal spaghetti Western outings in the vein of The Good, The Bad and the Ugly and nerve-jangling horrors like Psycho all the way to mind-bending science fiction offerings such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, the decade played host to a number of iconic and culturally influential movies that have stood the test of time to earn status as undisputed cinematic classics.




War movies were decidedly not exempt from this status quo, an unsurprising state of affairs given the social climate of the 1960s. The decade witnessed the debuts of several wildly successful and influential war films, many of which are widely regarded as some of the best war movies of all time. Producing an immersive snapshot of armed conflict that thrills and appalls in equal measure, these films vary in terms of style and messaging but all share one common trait; they are all masterful war outings that hold up in terms of quality and watchability to this day.


10 The Great Escape (1963)

Directed By John Sturges


One of the war genre’s most seminal offerings, 1963’s The Great Escape depicts a heavily dramatized account of the mass escape of British prisoners of war from German prison camp Stalag Luft III. Boasting one of the most impressive casts of all time featuring the likes of Steve McQueen, James Garner, and Richard Attenborough, John Sturges’ picture is a timeless classic; a near flawless piece of war film making that gets better with every watch.

Related

The True Story Of The Great Escape From Stalag Luft III In Masters Of The Air Episode 7 (Yes, THAT One)

Masters of the Air’s Stalag Luft III was a real camp for Allied prisoners of war, and The Great Escape is the camp’s most important historical event.

From The Great Escape’s rich tapestry of characters to the film’s explosive action sequences, there is little to find fault with in this iconic action number. A name that is frequently brought up in discussion surrounding the best war movies ever made, there are few offerings that can rival the McQueen-led movie in terms of lasting success or cultural impact.


9 Dr Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb (1964)

Directed By Stanley Kubrick

Widely regarded as one of the greatest movies ever conceived regardless of genre, Stanley Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb is a masterful war comedy of the highest order. The 1964 black and white film chronicles the desperate attempts to prevent a nuclear war that ensue after a deranged US general orders a preemptive nuclear strike on the Soviet Union.


Providing a satirical take on the Cold War and mutually assured destruction that never ceases to entertain, Kubrick’s film is regarded as one of the most successful and influential films of all time. Earning an impressive four Academy Award nominations, Dr. Strangelove is a legitimately sidesplitting and timeless war comedy, a razor-sharp satire of epic proportions that holds up in terms of quality and laughs to this day.

8 The Longest Day (1962)

Directed By Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, and Bernhard Wicki


An epic historical war drama produced on a scale unlike anything cinema had ever seen before, The Longest Day is an international production concerning the 1944 D-Day landings at Normandy. Utilizing multiple directors, the film also boasts a remarkable international ensemble cast, with Sean Connery, Robert Mitchum, and John Wayne being just a few of the standout names associated with the 1962 picture.

Receiving five Academy Award nominations and positive reviews from critics, The Longest Day is regarded as a seminal war film and one of the finest black-and-white genre offerings out there. In addition to the movie’s glowing critical response, The Longest Day also proved to be a smash hit at the box office, grossing an impressive return of more than $50 million against a budget of $7.75 million.


7 Where Eagles Dare (1968)

Directed By Brian G. Hutton

A war thriller based on the works of legendary Scottish novelist Alistair MacLean, 1968’s Where Eagles Dare has garnered classic status over the years. Starring Hollywood big hitters Clint Eastwood and Richard Burton in the leading character roles, the movie chronicles a perilous Allied mission to rescue a captured American General from a German mountain fortress accessible only by cable car.

Steven Spielberg has cited
Where Eagles Dare
as his favorite war film of all time.


Where Eagles Dare is a first-rate war movie, one that notably benefits from a top-tier score from Ron Goodwin. Burton and Eastwood are excellent in the lead roles, while the film’s electric action sequences and intricate plot combine to produce a classic staple of the genre. Lauded by many critics as one of the greatest war films ever conceived, Hutton’s picture is a beloved blend of adventure and excitement that is just as watchable in 2024 as it was in 1968.

6 Battle of Britain (1969)

Directed By Guy Hamilton

A genre offering that spared no expense during production, Guy Hamilton’s Battle of Britain dramatizes the battle for aerial supremacy in the skies over Britain that was fought between the Luftwaffe and the RAF during the summer of 1940. Notorious for an array of spectacular flying sequences, Hamilton’s 1969 film boasts an ensemble cast featuring the likes of Michael Caine, Laurence Olivier, and Christopher Plummer, to name a few.


Battle of Britain
requisitioned so many period aircraft for shooting that the film unofficially owned the 35th largest air force in the world during production.

Somewhat remarkably, given the film’s subject matter, star-studded cast, and the eye-watering cost of production, Battle of Britain isn’t the most electrifying war film of the 1960s in terms of action. With that being said, it’s still a polished piece of war film making, as well as a remarkable testament to the sheer scale and attention to detail that went into production.

5 The Guns Of Navarone (1961)

Directed By J. Lee Thompson


Based on Alistair MacLean’s novel of the same name, 1961’s The Guns of Navarone chronicles a perilous mission to blow up a seemingly impregnable German fortress and the enormous titular guns housed within it during WWII. Starring the big name likes of Gregory Peck, David Niven, and Anthony Quinn, J. Lee Thompson’s thrilling film is just as exciting as the book upon which the film is based.

A suspense-loaded race against time that partially inspired Star Wars, The Guns of Navarone is a WWII offering that eschews the relentless realism associated with its contemporaries for an emphasis on adventure, aided by some lively action sequences and an array of charismatic bows from the movie’s gifted cast. Thompson’s film leverages the taut atmosphere of its narrative to maximum effect, producing a thrilling war movie that holds up under modern scrutiny.


4 The Train (1964)

Directed By John Frankenheimer

A showcase of Burt Lancaster’s dramatic chops and John Frankenheimer’s gripping style of direction loosely inspired by real events, 1964’s The Train follows Paul Labiche. A member of the French resistance during WWII, Lancaster’s Labiche is tasked with derailing the Nazis’ plans to move an array of stolen art masterpieces to Germany by train, a mission that sees him go head-to-head against Paul Scofield’s dastardly Colonel von Waldheim.

A riveting black and white war film that leverages Lancaster’s star power and charisma to maximum effect, The Train features an array of action sequences that were years ahead of their time in terms of scale and spectacle. Lancaster performed all of his own stunts during production on the film, while multiple real train wrecks and explosions were implemented to cultivate an unshakable air of realism.


3 The Night of the Generals (1967)

Directed By Anatole Litvak

Spearheaded by Peter O’Toole in the leading role, 1967’s The Night of the Generals is an engrossing murder mystery set against the backdrop of Germany towards the end of WWII. The film chronicles an investigation into the brutal murder of a prostitute in Warsaw, where the three suspects in the case are revealed to be high-ranking German generals; two of whom just so happen to be plotting to kill Adolf Hitler.

Swiftly morphing into an intricate spider’s web of deceit and subterfuge, The Night of the Generals is the rare example of a first-rate mystery film that happens to double as an excellent war movie. Cultivating a thrilling atmosphere of suspense and intrigue from start to finish, Anatole Litvak’s picture leverages a gripping narrative and an excellent cast to produce an underappreciated diamond in the rough for the wider genre.


2 The Dirty Dozen (1967)

Directed By Robert Aldrich

Chronicling a suicide mission against the backdrop of WWII perpetrated by twelve convicts, later offerings in the vein of Guardians of the Galaxy and The Suicide Squad owe a debt of thanks to 1967’s The Dirty Dozen. Robert Aldrich’s picture has served as the genesis for practically every cinematic offering featuring an unlikely band of rag-tag undesirables tasked with a seemingly impossible mission, a state of affairs that can be attributed to the excellent quality of film making that can be found in The Dirty Dozen.


Sacrificing strict historical accuracy to produce a thrilling adventure set against the backdrop of a war film, the Lee Marvin-led outing derives its success from an array of explosive action sequences and a compelling cast of lovable miscreants. A memorable outing that received four Academy Award nominations, The Dirty Dozen stands as one of the finest war films ever made, let alone one of the best genre offerings to come out of the 1960s.

1 Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

Directed By David Lean

While it may not strictly be a war film in the traditional sense, Lawrence of Arabia features enough elements from the genre to merit inclusion, considering what a seminal piece of cinema David Lean’s film is. Starring Peter O’Toole as the eponymous character T.E. Lawrence, the 1962 film depicts Lawrence’s experiences during the First World War and is widely regarded as one of the greatest movies ever made.


Peter O'Toole as Lawrence with tears in his eyes in Lawrence of Arabia

Related

Lawrence Of Arabia TV Series In The Works: Title, Season Plans & Script Update Revealed By Roland Emmerich

A new Lawrence of Arabia TV series is officially in the works, and director Roland Emmerich reveals the title, season plans, and a script update.

An awe-inspiring epic laden with beautiful visuals, Lawrence of Arabia’s incredible performances and stunning cinematography combine for one of cinema’s most inimitable viewing experiences. O’Toole is superb in the leading role, with the late actor’s rousing performance complemented by an array of strong bows from the movie’s enviable supporting cast. A glorious score from Maurice Jarre serves as the cherry on the cake for one of cinema’s most beloved offerings.

Fuente

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR