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Few films have the same gripping power as those that attempt to authentically portray the brutal realities of war. When done well, these films become timeless, dominating award shows and embedding their iconic lines, performances, and moments into popular culture. When done poorly, they fade into obscurity within a few years.
As with many things, there's often more beneath the surface of some war movies than what appears on screen. The following ten entries take a closer look at some of the most influential war films in cinema, uncovering lesser-known facts, behind-the-scenes dramas, and the struggles that took place off-camera.
10. The Descent
Actor Tom Sizemore's struggles with drugs and alcohol have long been public knowledge. At the height of his fame in the mid-1990s, Sizemore was constantly in and out of rehab, his troubles becoming fodder for media headlines due to his reckless behavior and frequent run-ins with the law. During this chaotic period, he received a call from Steven Spielberg regarding the upcoming World War II film, Saving Private Ryan. Spielberg requested a meeting, insisting that Sizemore bring his wife along. In the meeting, the director pointedly asked her, 'Can Tom stay clean and sober?'
Despite the frequent broken promises, Spielberg agreed to cast Sizemore on one strict condition: He was to undergo daily blood tests during the production of the film. If he failed a single test, he would be immediately removed from the project, and his role would be reassigned to Billy Bob Thornton.
Although Sizemore completed the movie without incident, his legal troubles continued to mount. He faced multiple charges, including drug-related offenses and assault charges against his ex-partner, Heidi Fleiss. In November 2017, Sizemore was dismissed by both his management firm and talent agency, and he lost his role as the male lead in the psychological thriller The Door following allegations of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl in 2003.
9. Gibson vs. GLAAD
The 1995 film Braveheart by Mel Gibson, which chronicles the First War of Scottish Independence against King Edward I of England, stirred up controversy even before its release. Gay activists expressed concern that the film was an exercise in homophobia and would promote "gay-ing." This perception was fueled by a scene where King Edward I is shown killing his son’s male lover by throwing him out of a castle window. Furthermore, Sandy Boldner, a spokesperson for GLAAD, claimed that Gibson harbored animosity toward homosexuals, citing a history of anti-gay behavior.
The tension between the two sides escalated when GLAAD organized protests in nine cities against Gibson’s acting and directing. In response, the actor vehemently shot back, declaring, "They can f— off" and insisting he would "apologize when hell freezes over." Despite the heated exchange and fiery words, Braveheart emerged as a box-office hit, earning five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
8. Famous Faces
Darryl Zanuck was determined to create an anti-Hollywood war film when he agreed to produce and direct The Longest Day, a 1962 film about the Allied invasion of Normandy. In an effort to strip away the glamour often associated with war in Hollywood films, Zanuck knew that depicting the harsh realities of battle would be a tough sell to audiences and film studios. To immerse viewers, Zanuck enlisted a host of A-list stars. Ironically, the prominence of stars like John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Sean Connery, and Richard Burton became distracting, making it hard for viewers to believe they were watching real people instead of recognizable celebrities.
In an interesting twist, Darryl Zanuck approached Dwight D. Eisenhower with an offer to star in a film where he would portray himself. Eisenhower, however, politely declined the offer but agreed to attend a private screening of the movie. He did so, but only for a short time before storming out, just minutes into the film. What exactly caused the former president and war hero to react this way remains unclear, but he was resolute in his decision. "Ike, you can’t do that," his wife Mamie said, to which he snapped back, "The hell I can’t!"
7. Ultimatum
At the height of his career in 1966, legendary Hall of Famer Jim Brown shocked the sports world by announcing his abrupt retirement from the NFL. The decision came as a surprise to many, especially considering the 29-year-old athlete was at the top of his game. His sudden exit was a direct result of an ultimatum that ultimately steered him toward the next chapter in his life, a life he had already been contemplating.
While filming the World War II epic The Dirty Dozen in London, alongside stars like Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, and Charles Bronson, Jim Brown found himself stuck on set longer than anticipated. This delay led to a public fallout with his NFL team’s owner, Art Modell. Modell threatened to fine Brown $100 for each day he missed training camp. Feeling he had "no bargaining power," Brown had no choice but to retire from football, expressing his decision as one made "with regret but not sorrow."
On July 14, 1966, Jim Brown held a press conference on the set of his film, wearing military fatigues and standing in front of a tank. He announced, “My original intention was to try to participate in the 1966 National Football League season. But due to circumstances, this is impossible.” This marked an unexpected end to a legendary and highly respected football career.
6. Nixon’s Pastime
Former US President Richard Nixon had a deep passion for movies and made watching them a regular pastime during his presidency. In the five years he served, Nixon watched an impressive 538 films in the White House screening room. Although he had little love for foreign films, Nixon was fascinated by a wide array of genres, even enjoying films that humorously mocked him.
Despite his usual aversion to R-rated films, one movie Nixon couldn't stand was West Side Story, claiming he “couldn’t stand the propaganda.” One of his favorite films, however, was the 1970 war drama Patton, starring George C. Scott as the renowned US General from World War II. Nixon’s admiration for the film was so intense that he watched it multiple times leading up to his announcement of the 1970 invasion of Cambodia. This behavior led many to speculate that Nixon, a president known for his wartime decisions, was attempting to emulate General Patton’s boldness and military strategy during a politically turbulent era in America.
5. Wasted Talent
Regarded as Hollywood’s first true Method actor, Montgomery Clift revolutionized the industry with his immersive approach to acting, setting a new standard never seen before. However, his remarkable ability to disappear into a character served only as a temporary shield from the deep, lifelong unhappiness he was silently fighting.
Struggling to accept his homosexuality, Clift’s battles with alcoholism, drug abuse, and erratic behavior escalated while working on the 1953 hit film From Here To Eternity, which starred Burt Lancaster and Frank Sinatra. During filming, Clift developed a close bond with Sinatra, even talking him out of suicide when the singer became depressed after being spurned by Ava Gardner. Unfortunately, their friendship ended abruptly when a drunken Clift was kicked out of a party hosted by Sinatra after making sexual advances toward another man.
Clift’s drug and alcohol problems grew more severe during the production of the film and worsened after it concluded. In 1957, a near-fatal car accident left him physically disfigured, which deeply affected the image-conscious actor and left lasting psychological scars. Clift passed away from a heart attack on July 23, 1966, at the age of 45.
4. All Quiet On The Western Front
The 1930 film All Quiet On The Western Front offers a brutally honest portrayal of the horrors of World War I, based on Erich Maria Remarque’s powerful anti-war novel. The film was quickly banned in Germany for its perceived “anti-German” sentiment and, ironically, was also banned in Poland, where it was branded “pro-German.” Before the film was banned in Germany, Nazi supporters disrupted screenings by releasing snakes, rats, and stink bombs. Adolf Hitler was said to be enraged by the film’s pacifist, anti-nationalistic message, fearing it might inspire a wave of pacifism throughout Germany.
Remarque, the author of the novel, was forced to flee his homeland due to the constant persecution he faced from the Nazi regime. After his departure, the Nazis seized all the funds from his bank accounts and held public rallies where they burned his books. Despite the severe mistreatment, Remarque was fortunate to escape with his life, unlike the millions who would perish in the coming years.
3. Russian Roulette
In 1981, psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Radecki contacted the general manager of WFLD-TV in Chicago, urging them to cut the Russian roulette scenes from The Deer Hunter, which was about to air. The 1978 film shows Vietnam POWs, portrayed by Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken, being coerced into playing the sadistic game by Vietnamese captors in a gambling den.
Dr. Radecki feared that these disturbing scenes could lead to real-life imitations, noting that there had been 28 shootings and 25 confirmed deaths from Russian roulette in the United States since the film’s release. Unfortunately, his concerns were ignored, and soon after, Ted Tolwinski, 26, and David Radnis, 28, tragically ended their lives by playing the deadly game after watching the film.
More than three decades later, individuals still reenact the fatal game. In 2015, 20-year-old film enthusiast Bryan Javier Soto Aguilera watched the movie and then took his own life, replicating the dangerous game of chance.
2. ‘The Lizard King’
1986 marked a pivotal moment in Oliver Stone's career. After years of trying to carve a space for himself in Hollywood, Stone's status was solidified among the industry's elite with the release of his acclaimed film Platoon. The modestly budgeted film, which delved into the Vietnam War and starred Charlie Sheen, triumphed, winning four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Interestingly, Stone had penned the screenplay 17 years before its release, originally focusing on mythology before reworking it into a more grounded war drama. What is even more intriguing is that Stone had envisioned rock ‘n’ roll legend Jim Morrison, the lead singer of The Doors, as the lead character. Obsessed with the idea of casting his idol, Stone even sent Morrison an early draft of Platoon in hopes of persuading him to star in the film.
Tragically, two years later, Jim Morrison, known as 'The Lizard King,' was discovered lifeless in a bathtub in his Paris apartment, with the screenplay Stone had sent him lying nearby. In a haunting twist, the script was returned to Stone in 1990 while he was in the midst of filming The Doors.
1. A Production From Hell
It's hard to imagine that Francis Ford Coppola's iconic film Apocalypse Now nearly didn't make it to the big screen, especially considering the chaos that surrounded its production. Over the course of 16 months, the cast and crew endured personal struggles that pushed them to the edge of madness. When Marlon Brando was finally scheduled to film his scenes, he showed up on set having not read the script and was 40 kilograms (88 lbs) overweight. The cast's drug use was rampant, with even a 14-year-old Laurence Fishburne allegedly introduced to heroin by his costar Dennis Hopper.
Sam Bottoms, an actor in the film, admitted that he was often under the influence of pot, speed, or LSD while filming his scenes. If that wasn’t enough to derail the production, lead actor Martin Sheen, who was battling alcoholism, often filmed in a state of severe intoxication. During this tumultuous period, Sheen even suffered a heart attack, throwing the production into disarray. Coppola, fearing the film would be a $20 million disaster, confessed to his wife that he had contemplated suicide. Ultimately, what seemed destined to fail became one of the greatest achievements in cinema, grossing nearly $150 million worldwide.
