War Docos
Innovative German film-maker Leni Riefenstahl's pioneering masterwork epic "Triumph of the Will" (1934) was explicitly propagandistic yet historical in its spectacular yet horrifying documentation of the Nazi Party Congress rally in Nuremberg in 1934. It was a revolutionary film combining superb cinematography and editing of Third Reich propaganda. She also documented the 1936 Berlin Olympics in the stunning film "Olympia" (1938) - with graceful and beautiful images of 'Aryan' athletes in competition. To respond to the Nazi propaganda, Frank Capra was commissioned by the US War Department to direct seven films in a "Why We Fight" (1943) series of narrated WWII newsreel-style films. The first in the series, "Prelude to War," a look at the events from 1931-1939, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 1942. These and many other truely great War Documentaries, including the BBC's brilliant "World At War" series, are available by scrolling below.
Right: William Wyler's Academy Award winning "The Memphis Belle"Â
The Great Commanders: Volume 1 (1993)
8.5/10
Director: Phil Grabsky
Three episodes (of six) are covered in volume 1 of 'The Great Commanders' series. Filmed on locations around the world, leading experts in the field t... Read more
The Great Commanders: Volume 2 (1993)
8.5/10
Director: Phil Grabsky
Three episodes (of six) are covered in volume 2 of 'The Great Commanders' series. Filmed on locations around the world, leading experts in the field t... Read more
The Great Escape: The Reckoning (2009)
7.5/10
Director: Steve Westh
In March 1944, seventy-six Allied airmen broke out of Stalag Luft III, a prison camp in the heart of Nazi Germany in a story made famous by the iconic... Read more
The Great Indian Wars 1540-1890 (2005)
8.5/10
This five-part documentary series relates the 350-year struggle between the white man and the American Indians, from Coronado's expedition to the Grea... Read more
The Great Ships (1997)
7/10
From ancient Viking ships to modern aircraft carriers, "The Great Ships" lets you step on board to explore the design, construction, technology and ar... Read more
The Great Ships: Rulers of the Waves (1997)
7/10
From the ancient Viking ships, the scourge of the high seas with their ruthless crews that were willing to take on vessels twice the size of their own... Read more
The Great War (1990)
8.3/10
"The Story of World War I 1914 - 1918". This compelling story of World War I has been compiled using archive and rare footage from the 4th of August 1... Read more
The Green Prince (2014)
7.2/10
Director: Nadav Schirman
"A Palestinian in Ramallah, Mosab Hassan Yousef grows up angry and ready to fight Israel. Arrested for smuggling guns at the age of 17, he's interroga... Read more
The Guns of August (1964)
7.3/10
Director: Nathan Kroll
Starring: Fritz Weaver, (narrated by)
Using rare archive footage, this documentary tells the story of World War I. The film shows the rivalry between the various royalty in Europe leading... Read more
The Hitler Youth (1999)
7.2/10
"I want young people to grow up so that they will frighten the world; a violent, dominant, cruel youth...I do not want intellectual education. Young p... Read more