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When the United States went to war, so did Hollywood. As many male stars sacrificed their careers to enlist in the various branches of the armed forces and serve their country, studios began churning out pictures that focused on the conflict. Even after 1945, and to this day, World War II continues to be a source of inspiration to many filmmakers. Here are my top 10 favourite classic World War II films. 10. Bataan (1943) Directed by Tay Garnett, Bataan follows the defense of the Bataan Peninsula against the invading Japanese forces by American and Filipino troops led by General Douglas MacArthur. With an ensemble cast that includes Robert Taylor , George Murphy, Thomas Mitchell and Robert Walker, the film centers on a combat unit whose mission it is to destroy a bridge along the peninsula and prevent the Japanese from rebuilding it.     9. The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) Directed by David Lean, The Bridge on the River Kwai follows a group of Allied POWs interned at a ...

The 1960s were a decade of social and political unrest. The civil rights movement opposed blacks and whites in a war against unfair treatment of races. The LGBT community demanded a right to be different, while female activists stroke down barriers to women's personal freedom and professional careers. Young people rebelled against the establishment and denounced the Vietnam War, which they criticized as «immoral.» John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Che Guevara were assassinated, Chairman Mao starved 30 million people to death, Neil Armstrong became the first man on the Moon, the Berlin Wall divided Germany in two, The Beatles started the «British Invasion,» and Woodstock became the biggest music festival in the world. (from left to right) The construction of the Berlin Wall begins (August 13, 1961); The Beatles arrive in New York (February 7, 1964); Neil Armstrong walks on the Moon (July 20, 1969); the Woodstock music festival takes place (August 15-18, 1969).   The «Swinging ...

On September 2, 1945, Japan signed a formal surrender that effectively brought an end to World War II. In honour of the 71st anniversary of «V-J Day,» as the occasion became known, this week on «Film Friday» I bring you a picture that documents the events that marked the beginning of the end of six long years of devastating conflict. Directed by Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton and Bernhard Wicki, The Longest Day (1962) opens in June 1944 in England, where the Allied troops are preparing to invade France through the coast of Normandy. Despite threats of poor weather that might ruin their chances of succeeding in their mission, General Dwight D. Eisenhower (Henry Grace) decides that the assault will take place in the early hours of June 6. On the other side of the Channel, the German High Command — expecting the invasion to happen at Pas-de-Calais, and assuming it will not happen anyway due to the current bad weather — is caught completely unaware. Because Adolf Hitler has taken a sleeping p...