World War I on the big screen
From an Oscar-winning silent film in 1927 to a Steven Spielberg blockbuster in 2011, World War I has made its mark on the silver screen. DW takes a look.
Silent victor
"Wings" (1927) was the first and only silent movie to win an Oscar for Best Picture. Directed by William A. Wellman, the US movie follows the triumphs and tragedies of two fighter pilots. Gary Cooper (not pictured) played a small role that launched his Hollywood career.
Disillusioned heroes
"All Quiet on the Western Front" (1930) is a US anti-war movie. Directed by Lewis Milestone, the film was based on the book by Erich Maria Remarque about young boys going off to war and their ensuing disillusionment.
Real-life laurels
"Sergeant York" (1941) is a US biographical film directed by Howard Hawks. It chronicles country boy Alvin York who becomes a hero thanks to his excellent marksmanship. York was played by actor Gary Cooper, who won an Oscar for his role.
Before 'A Clockwork Orange'
Stanley Kubrick directed the US movie "Paths of Glory" in 1957. The film stars Kirk Douglas and highlights the futility of war and a mutiny in a French Army unit. Some critics say it is the most powerful anti-war movie ever made.
Cinematic legend
"Lawrence of Arabia" (1962) is a British movie celebrated by some as one of the most influential films of all times. Directed by David Lean, the film stars Peter O'Toole and details the French and British plan to turn Arabs against Turkish rule.
Solemn portrayal
The Australian war effort is represented in "Gallipoli" (1981). Directed by Peter Weir, the movie stars a young Mel Gibson and tells of Australians joining the war in Turkey and how they suffer from their leaders' mistakes - namely the fateful Battle of the Nek, where Australian forces suffered heavy losses against the Ottomans.
All's fair...
"In Love and War" (1996). The US romance, directed by Richard Attenborough, is about Ernest Hemingway's experience as an ambulance driver in Italy during WWI. Hemingway, played by Chris O'Donnell, falls deeply in love with Agnes von Kurowsky, a nurse at the hospital, played by Sandra Bullock.
One silent night
"Joyeux Noel" (2005), directed by Christian Carion, is a European co-production showcasing the 1914 Christmas truce between French, Scottish and German soldiers. For one day, the troops put down their arms and emerged from the trenches to play a soccer game against each other. It features Daniel Brühl and Diane Kruger and was nominated for an Oscar and Golden Globe as "Best Foreign Language Film."
Red threat
"Red Baron" is a 2008 German movie about legendary German fighter pilot Manfred von Richthofen, played by Matthias Schweighöfer. The biopic was directed by German director, Nikolai Müllerschön, and filmed in English to increase its international marketability.
A children's book
Steven Spielberg tackled the topic with "War Horse," a 2011 US film about the friendship between a young boy, Albert, and his horse, Joey. After Joey is sold to the cavalry, Albert voluntarily enlists in WWI, which takes him on a transnational journey across Europe. The movie is based on a 1982 children's book and a 2007 play.