For me, prison movies revolve around two themes. Either war-related or crime-related. So, this issue focuses on war-related prison films. There are a large number of films in this category. Wikipedia only lists 35 such films ("prisoner of war" movies) but interestingly enough does not list the movie Prisoner of War, a 1954 film starring Ronald Reagan.
The Internet Movie Database (IMDB) lists 272 movies under this topic and they missed several I was able to think of. Definitions can be tricky. IMDB lists The Pianist as a "prison" movie - and it was an outstanding film - but the protagonist was "imprisoned" in the Warsaw Ghetto, and doesn't fit my arbitrary line. My definition includes significant movie time inside a POW camp.
My top three movies in this category are:
The Deer Hunter - Vietnam War - I was lucky enough to just miss this war - for real (in the last year of the draft lottery my birthdate was picked number 6, so if they had not canceled the draft a few months later I was going...). Maybe that's why I have always been interested in movies about 'Nam. It won five Oscars, including Best Picture and was nominated for four more. Christopher Walken was phenomenal as Nick. Deer Hunter is on both my best War Movie list as well as this list. Almost certainly on MOST lists of the top 10 films of the 1970's. (Trailer).
The Internet Movie Database (IMDB) lists 272 movies under this topic and they missed several I was able to think of. Definitions can be tricky. IMDB lists The Pianist as a "prison" movie - and it was an outstanding film - but the protagonist was "imprisoned" in the Warsaw Ghetto, and doesn't fit my arbitrary line. My definition includes significant movie time inside a POW camp.
My top three movies in this category are:
The Deer Hunter - Vietnam War - I was lucky enough to just miss this war - for real (in the last year of the draft lottery my birthdate was picked number 6, so if they had not canceled the draft a few months later I was going...). Maybe that's why I have always been interested in movies about 'Nam. It won five Oscars, including Best Picture and was nominated for four more. Christopher Walken was phenomenal as Nick. Deer Hunter is on both my best War Movie list as well as this list. Almost certainly on MOST lists of the top 10 films of the 1970's. (Trailer).
If you want to see the most famous scene from the movie - called the MOW MOW scene - click here. [And, if the subject of Russian roulette fascinates you then you really need to watch the movie 13 Tzameti, one of the most tense movies of all time. Starts slow but then...really tense. Don't watch the trailer if you want to be surprised (Trailer).]
The Great Escape - WWII (Europe) - One of Steve McQueen's best efforts and a great all-around cast. No gore but plenty of edge-of-your-seat suspense. (Trailer). The movie was hardly noticed by the Academy and there weren't that many blockbusters that came out in 1963. Tom Jones won best pic that year so it's hard to see why this film wasn't at least nominated. Highly entertaining movie. It almost makes my best Longest Films list, but at 172 minutes just misses (three hours is the cutoff).
The Bridge on the River Kwai - WWII (Asia) - If you can whistle, you won't get this movie's theme song out of your head. If you can't whistle you'll want to learn. "Bridge" WON seven Oscars, including: best actor, director, writer, music and picture. Although not a great year for movies (12 Angry Men, Sayonara, The Spirit of St. Louis, Witness for the Prosecution, and Three Faces of Eve were the other "big" pictures that year), winning seven is a lot. (Trailer)
Know which movies have won the most Oscars and how many they won? There are three tied for the lead. See below for the answer.
And the rest of the top 10 (somewhat in order) are:
King Rat -WWII (Asia) - Great acting job by George Segal. Film rarely seen on TV. Might not want to see it while eating but this is a really entertaining film.
Rescue Dawn - Vietnam War (Laos) - Christian Bale gets real skinny - again.
The Dirty Dozen - WWII (Europe) - Outstanding all-star cast. Telly Savalas makes a great insane guy.
Stalag 17 - WWII (Europe) - William Holden won Oscar for Best Actor.
The Great Raid - WWII (Asia) - Unsung movie starring Benjamin Bratt and James Franco.
Taxi to the Dark Side - The War on Terror - Documentary, Abu Ghraib and Gitmo. This is a very intense film.
Empire of the Sun - WWII (Asia) - Another Christian Bale movie (he's not the star). A little weird at times but still worth the time.
Two others get Honorable Mention
Life is Beautiful or La Vita e Bella (subtitle alert) takes place in a Nazi concentration camp so it isn't really about POW's. But this is an incredible film and certainly worth mentioning. Very powerful, sad, poignant and even funny at times. I would be amazed if it doesn't move you. It was nominated for seven and won three Oscars. If you can stand the subject matter it is well worth the time. (Trailer)
Andersonville - I don't usually include "Made-for-TV" movies which is why this doesn't technically make the list, but as far as POW camps go, this movie worked for me. The real place must have been a living hell. Couldn't find a working trailer. Movie directed by John Frankenheimer (Birdman of Alcatraz, The Manchurian Candidate, French Connection II). One of the few really good Civil War movies.
Only a few others were very close to the top 10 for me as lots of this genre are films like Rambo, First Blood and Missing In Action (Sly Stallone and Chuck Norris pics). But, a couple of near misses:
La Grande Illusion - French film (duh) - WWI, directed by Jean Renoir; a classic.
Hart's War - Bruce Willis plays his standard hero's role, just not so unbelievable as Die Hard series.
Slaughterhouse Five - Vonnegut story goes to the movies. And, it doesn't work like the book but is still entertaining.The Great Escape - WWII (Europe) - One of Steve McQueen's best efforts and a great all-around cast. No gore but plenty of edge-of-your-seat suspense. (Trailer). The movie was hardly noticed by the Academy and there weren't that many blockbusters that came out in 1963. Tom Jones won best pic that year so it's hard to see why this film wasn't at least nominated. Highly entertaining movie. It almost makes my best Longest Films list, but at 172 minutes just misses (three hours is the cutoff).
The Bridge on the River Kwai - WWII (Asia) - If you can whistle, you won't get this movie's theme song out of your head. If you can't whistle you'll want to learn. "Bridge" WON seven Oscars, including: best actor, director, writer, music and picture. Although not a great year for movies (12 Angry Men, Sayonara, The Spirit of St. Louis, Witness for the Prosecution, and Three Faces of Eve were the other "big" pictures that year), winning seven is a lot. (Trailer)
Know which movies have won the most Oscars and how many they won? There are three tied for the lead. See below for the answer.
And the rest of the top 10 (somewhat in order) are:
King Rat -WWII (Asia) - Great acting job by George Segal. Film rarely seen on TV. Might not want to see it while eating but this is a really entertaining film.
Rescue Dawn - Vietnam War (Laos) - Christian Bale gets real skinny - again.
The Dirty Dozen - WWII (Europe) - Outstanding all-star cast. Telly Savalas makes a great insane guy.
Stalag 17 - WWII (Europe) - William Holden won Oscar for Best Actor.
The Great Raid - WWII (Asia) - Unsung movie starring Benjamin Bratt and James Franco.
Taxi to the Dark Side - The War on Terror - Documentary, Abu Ghraib and Gitmo. This is a very intense film.
Empire of the Sun - WWII (Asia) - Another Christian Bale movie (he's not the star). A little weird at times but still worth the time.
Two others get Honorable Mention
Life is Beautiful or La Vita e Bella (subtitle alert) takes place in a Nazi concentration camp so it isn't really about POW's. But this is an incredible film and certainly worth mentioning. Very powerful, sad, poignant and even funny at times. I would be amazed if it doesn't move you. It was nominated for seven and won three Oscars. If you can stand the subject matter it is well worth the time. (Trailer)
Andersonville - I don't usually include "Made-for-TV" movies which is why this doesn't technically make the list, but as far as POW camps go, this movie worked for me. The real place must have been a living hell. Couldn't find a working trailer. Movie directed by John Frankenheimer (Birdman of Alcatraz, The Manchurian Candidate, French Connection II). One of the few really good Civil War movies.
Only a few others were very close to the top 10 for me as lots of this genre are films like Rambo, First Blood and Missing In Action (Sly Stallone and Chuck Norris pics). But, a couple of near misses:
La Grande Illusion - French film (duh) - WWI, directed by Jean Renoir; a classic.
Hart's War - Bruce Willis plays his standard hero's role, just not so unbelievable as Die Hard series.
The Road to Guantanamo - Another intense movie - unusual in that it is a dramatization-documentary about the so-called Tipton Three. The film is certainly biased, but regardless, it is a strong indictment of US foreign policy under the Bush administration.
Answer: Titanic, LoTR - Return of the King and Ben-Hur each won ELEVEN Oscars.
Next Issue: Prison Movies, Part II
Wow Wayne, I can tell we are close to the same age--or else we just really have similar tastes in movies. When I saw your category I wondered if Bridge...Kwai would even get mentioned. For me it carries such strong feelings from my childhood (watching it multiple times on TV and rooting for the noble Brits)that just mentioning, let alone hearing, the theme song makes me quite nostalgic. And of course what woman of our generation didn't fall in love with Steve McQ in The Great Escape? (I don't know what he did for all the guys....)And another great theme song that evokes strong childhood memories. And, finally, I think the Deer Hunter was really THE movie of our generation so deeply affected by the Viet Nam war. I have a hard time re-watching this one and I can never see Walken without thinking of his deeply disturbing character.
ReplyDeleteMy concern about the 2 WWII movies (along with Stalag and Dirty 12)is their tendency to romanticize the war and being a POW (such handsome, heroic men and stirring music!); Deer Hunter certainly didn't do that! These 3, in particular, reflect the ethos of their time and the agenda of movie makers from those eras. I will be interested to read what your bloggers from the younger generation think of your picks! In the meantime, I'm loving it!
Great list - I will post a lengthier comment soon but had to ask...where is Schindler's List??
ReplyDeleteSchindler's List is one of the best movies of all time, but similar deal as Life is Beautiful. Concentration camp - and factory - focus so not technically qualified for this category (it is nice to be the category God). It is among the Top 10 on several of my other lists, like Long Movies and B&W Movies and War Movies. Maybe even Top 10 overall.
ReplyDeleteYou just never know what you can stir up by doing one of these. I just got a note from my sister letting me know that my brother-in-law (Frank Senger) had a part in the American version of 13 Tzameti. See Frank's credits at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0784262/
ReplyDeleteFrank's best movie was The Professional (also called Leon). A Luc Beeson film that ranks 35th all-time on IMDB. Frank is THE star of the opening sequences of he film.
I'm very happy The Great Escape made this list! I love this movie. And Mom, Steve McQueen is dreamy for all women of all generations!
ReplyDeleteMining the vein of war-related prison movies that are *not* POW films, I'd like to nominate Paths of Glory (gotta love Kirk Douglas), Breaker Morant (as an honorable mention) and The Execution of Private Slovik (nestled in next to Andersonville as another TV movie).
ReplyDeleteMark, I have not seen Private Slovik but will try to track it down. The other two are definitely under consideration for best War movies (not POW).
ReplyDelete