10 War Movie Actors Who Were Actually There
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- Опубліковано 14 тра 2024
- The Hollywood actors who served in World War 2, and the movies that brought them right back.
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James Stewart. Famous as an actor before WW2. He joined the Army Air Force as a pilot. He served in B-24 flying numerous missions over Germany ending up as a Colonel commanding Bombing strikes over occupied Europe.
When he returned to making films it is clear, in retrospect, that Stewart was suffering from what today we call PTSD
Indeed, though I don't think he made any films about WWII. Stewart served in the Air Force reserve and retired as a Brigadier General in 1968.
no he made 2 movies about ww2@@DavidJCane
When publicity was being created for his first post war film (It’s a Wonderful Life) Stewart insisted that nothing would be said about his wartime service. @@DavidJCane
Leaving Stewart off this list is a huge miss.
You beat me to it. The above list is not complete without Stewart.
James Garner got TWO PURPLE HEARTS in Korean War. There were many more than only 10. Audie Murphy definitely deserves the number one spot here. 👍🏻
Which helped explain why he was not afraid to take on anyone.
I was wondering who could top Christopher Lee, I'd heard the name Audie Murphy but didn't know the history. Definitely earned that spot. Reliving your nightmare for *entertainment*?! Bloody hell...
Also Melvyn Douglas served in TWO wars.
I don't think Garner did a Korean War movie, which is what this list is focused on...actors who portrayed characters in the same war in which they actually served.
The list of actors who actually served during wartime is practically endless, and a veritable "Who's Who" of Hollywood actors from the late 40s well into the 70s, and some of them lasted well beyond that. Most of them didn't go on to have extremely memorable roles in war movies, however.
And he never said there were only ten. He just picked ten with particularly memorable roles or personal stories. Audie Murphy being cast to play himself almost makes him a given to top the list, but his service record definitely seals the deal.
There's a criticism video of The Wild Geese and how badly they are wearing their berets and how no one who had served would have worn them that badly. But pretty much all of those actors had seen military service, several in units that wore berets...
Donald Pleasance ("Great Escape" to name just one), was a machine gunner on Wellingtons and Lancasters. Sixty-one missions and ended the war as a POW. Funny, in some postwar movies, he played Germans. Notably, he portrayed Himmler in "The Eagle has Landed", and did a fine damn performance. One of my favorite actors, often underrated.
Great addition! Made me think of Patrick Macnee as well, who I think served on patrol boats in the English Channel.
I liked him very much in Night of the Generals. Denholm Elliott (Raiders of the Lost Ark, etc.) was also an RAF gunner.
Patrick McNee was ill or injured and recovering in Bosham when his MTB or MGB went out and did not return, thus he survived. In a TV interview, he claimed he would want to have been buried in Bosham.
Try to catch Will Penny ,Pleasance is absolutely terrifying .The movie stars Charleton Heston in a fine nuanced performance ,Joan Hackett,Ben Johnson ,Anthony Zerbe,Bruce Dern and in his film debut Lee Majors
And he was initially dismissed by the Director during the filming of the Great Escape until the Director was told that he was a former POW in real life‼️
Left out: Eddie Albert (far left at 17:47) Famous for his role as a farmer in Green Acres, he was also in Roman Holiday and The Longest Day. Albert enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and was discharged in 1943 to accept an appointment as a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V" for his actions during the invasion of Tarawa in November 1943, when, as the coxswain of a US Navy landing craft, he rescued 47 Marines who were stranded offshore (and supervised the rescue of 30 others), while under heavy enemy machine-gun fire.
very true ...... and jimmy stuart too
His performance in 'Attack' as the cowardly commander of a group of soldiers fighting in Europe was his finest performance.
The extremne opposite of his real life persona - and his best acting role,in my view.
There are dozens. Those of us who grew up in the 6os, 7os and 80s, this generation was the 'grown ups'.
@@richardscanlan3419 Attack is one of those little gems that gets easily overlooked.
@@richardscanlan3419 Was going to mention "Attack!"; glad others are aware.
Jack Palance, also in that movie, was a bomber pilot in the Army Air Force.
In truth, many actors and extras of that era served in the war.
Another war veteran actor in the movies "Lawrence of Arabia" and "The Guns of Navarone" was Anthony Quayle. The latter movie must have cut close to home for him because he served as an SOE operative in Albania where he barely survived an extremely harrowing manhunt for days which left him seriously affected.
Tyrone Power III (Jesse James) flew medical C-46 transports for the USMC, Jackie Coogan (Adam's Family's Uncle Fester) was an Army glider pilot in Burma, James Stewart (Vertigo) flew B-24s in the ETO, Sabu Dastagir (Jungle Book) flew as a USAAC B-24 gunner in the South Pacific, Ernest Borgnine (McHale's Navy) was on patrol boats in the USN, Paul Newman (Cool Hand Luke)was a USN TBF Avenger radio operator in the Pacific, Tony Curtis (Some Like it Hot) was a USN on a submarine tender in the Pacific, Ozzie Davis (Evening Shade) served as an Army Corps in North Africa, Eli Wallach (The Magnificent Seven) served in the Army as a Medic in North Africa, Telly Savalas(Kojak) served in the US Army as a Medic stateside (discharged due to injuries in an accident), Jack Palance served in the USAAF and was discharged after injuries suffered during pilot training, Leslie Nielson trained aa a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force, James Arness (Gunsmoke) served in the US Army and was wounded in Italy, his brother Peter Graves (Mission Impossible) served in the USAAF, Charles Durning (the Sting) survived the first wave at Omaha Beach, and was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and 3 Purple Hearts during the war. These are but a few of the many actors from "the Greatest Generation" that served.
Other actors-James Dolan of Star Trek(Scotty) was at D Day . apart of a finger was shot off and his life was saved a metal lighter he had inspired Cletus over his heart. The bulletin hit thel lighter or maybe it was a cigarette case.Amother actor was Neville Brand
I was surprised Jimmy Stewart wasn’t on the list of 10 and Rod Steiger and Rod Serling were 2 other notable members of the greatest generation.
Charles Durning was on an episode of NCIS, portraying the part of a elderly veteran suffering from PTSD, following his wife’s death. It covers many aspects of an elderly veteran’s life and memories.
I cry every time I watch it, having bought the whole season on DVD just to have that particular episode. “Call Of Silence” (season 2, episode 7)
@@pauldourletJames Doohan was fine on D Day until shot in a friendly fire incident.
Neville Brand was badly wounded, leaving visible scars on his face. His agent spread a rumor that he won the Medal of Honor and that he was the 4th most decorated soldier of WW2. He actually won a Silver Star medal, and corrected the rumor whenever he was interviewed.
Thanks for correcting me @@SidneyBroadshead
You forgot James Doohan (Scotty) who was in the D-Day battle and was even wounded there. He then made a brief appearence in 36 Hours - not a main actor, yes - but definetely worth a honourable mention. 🙂
He lost a finger during service and had to wear a prosthetic during the Star trek run
@@markhindmarsh2811 I don't think he ever wore a prosthetic. Stand-ins would often be used for close-ups. In some scenes, Scotty is carrying or holding things in the injured hand.
@@chuckoneill2023 correct. In most of his scenes, they production crew made efforts to hide Doohan's injured hand. There was one scene that I know of where you can see it if you are looking. It's in "The Trouble with Tribbles" where Doohan as Scotty walks in carrying an armful of tribbles.
He also had a recurring role in Voyage To theBottom of The Sea
As for "36 Hours " an implausible but very entertaining movie featuring James Garner, Rod Taylor and Eva Marie Saint....it's off topic but there's a brief appearance by John Banner, wearing almost the same uniform as he did as Schultz in "Hogan's Heroes!" His role in the film is more cynical, not humorous, very believable.
Must include James Stewart, who not only served on Bombers in WWII, but remained in the reserves post war, and flew a mission over North Vietnam in a B-52, as a general
Don't forget his leading role in Strategic Air Command flying the B36 Peacekeeper.
He did yes. Just saw that last week
No sign of John Wayne..........family deferment.
Richard Todd playing his own Commanding Officer on D-Day is amazing. Oh and you forgot Sir Christopher Lee as the German Officer in "1941" using his perfect German -- one of six languages hr spoke fluently.
I truly love Spielberg's "1941" and to this day wish we had gone to see that in the theater instead of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." Such a fun movie. =)
Todd used in the movie "D-Day" his own old beret used in that very operation!
Both were in the first episode of this story
Do think Peter Butterworth deserved an honourable mention. The Carry On films actor had a person escape attempt from a German POW camp, and got 27 miles before being found by a member of the Hilter Youth, leading him to joke we would never work with children.
He was also involved in 2 other famous escape attempted that where turned into films, The Wooden Horse and The Great Escape. For the Great Escape he was due to be the last man through, but remained behind, as he was also acting as a "code sender" back to the UK through code letters. For The Wodden Horse, he was one of the vaulters while the tunnel was being dug under the vaulting horse. He auditioned to appear in the film The Wooden Horse, but was rejected as he didn't look heroic enough!!!!
As a Texan and daughter of a big Audie Murphy fan, I'm happy he was number 1. The one thing I remember from high school US history is that he was the most decorated American soldier in WW2. If you're ever in Greenville, TX, you should visit the Audie Murphy and Cotton Museum. His section of the museum is so emotionally touching.
Audie Murphy (and Bill Mauldin, editorial cartoonist for the "Chicago Sun-Times", but cartoonist for "Stars and Stripes" during the war -- Willie and Joe) stared in John Huston's "Red Badge of Courage" ... no specific battle is identified, but from Crane's book, it would be a part of the Battle of Chancellorsville.
A SHORT MAN FROM TEXAS, A MAN OF THE WILD
THROWN INTO COMBAT WHERE BODIES LIE PILED
FIGHTS HIS EMOTIONS, HIS BLOOD'S RUNNING COLD
JUST LIKE HIS VICTORIES, HIS STORY UNFOLDS
BRIGHT, A WHITE LIGHT
IF THERE BE ANY GLORY IN WAR
LET IT REST ON MEN LIKE HIM
WHO WENT TO HELL AND CAME BACK
If you don't already know it, look up the song "To Hell and Back" by Sabaton.
I just drove past Audie’s statue this morning. I also have visited his grave in Arlington.
Art Carney(Ed Norton,The Honeymooners)was in the Army and was wounded on Normandy Beach.😮
Clark Gable was a gunner on B17s and became an intelligence officer
after tye top brass was concerned that he might be shot down and captured.
Another actor who relived his wartime experience on screen was Esmond Knight. In the 1960 film "Sink the Bismark", he played Captain John Leach of HMS Prince of Wales. He was an accomplished actor in the 1920s and 1930s before joining the Navy when World War II broke out. During the battle of the Denmark Strait, the Bismark hit the Prince of Wales in the bridge and compass platform with a 15 inch shell, which killed everyone on the bridge except Captain Leach and Knight who was a gunnery officer. Knight was hit with shrapnel and lost his left eye while his right was badly damaged, leaving him functionally blind (he later recovered some vision in it). Ironically, his injuries saved his life, as the Prince of Wales was sunk seven months later by the Japanese and Captain Leach was killed, making Knight the only survivor of the hit. So, basically he was both the actor and technical advisor to that scene.
another british actor who almost deserves to make the list is Robin Hughes - a familiar face to americans as a supporting actor after moving in the US in 1948 - - during the war - he was about to board the HMS Hood when he was reassigned to another ship - the Hood's sinking left only 3 survivors out of a crew of over 1,400 - (Esmond Knight witnessed the sinking of the Hood before sustaining his own injuries) - - Robin Hughes played himself in the old supernatural series One Step Beyond (running concurrent with the similarly themed Twilight Zone) recreating his close call - the episode was called "Signal Received" - it can be found in it's entirety on youtube - it includes a short interview with Hughes at the end
Honorable mention to R. Lee Ermey, who was a Vietnam veteran who not only trained recruits but also deployed to Vietnam and saw battle. He was in a number of period war films, playing Marine Drill Instructors in the Boys of Company C and Full Metal Jacket.
one thing of note, in Full Metal Jacket , he was originally hired not as an actor but as the film's tech advisor... they then cast him as Hartman, since Ermey actually had been a Marine Drill Instructror...who better to play one... and a lot of that yelling and screeming and cursing was all him and not in the script...
@@paulmurphy773 The other guy originally cast as Hartman had also been a Marine DI, but Ermey impressed Kubrick and the guy who lost the Hartman role was recast as the helicopter door gunner. Ain't war Hell?
All true but this video is about actors who served in WWII.
So many served, with so little recognition. Let's never forget their sacrifices.
Alec Guinness was quoted as saying his hardest acting was as a Naval officer during the war. Incidentally there were a lot of actors who served during the war and their roles varied during their service. World War Two was one of those wars very few stayed out of, forcing everyone to do something either in or out of the military.
There are many more actors, I think, who deserve recognition from WWII:
Jimmy Stewart, Bomber Pilot. Not just for his flying, but his leadership.
Mel Brooks, demolitions.
Eddie Albert, truly a Pacific Hero.
Don Adams. I used to think his portrayal of tough-spy Maxwell Smart was silly, till I read of his time in the navy.
James Arness and Charles Durning who landed on the beaches on D-Day.
And more.
As always thank you so very much for the videos.
Sterling Hayden was a decorated Marine officer and an OSS agent during World War 2.
Don Adams actually served in the Marines.
@@johndavis9432 Thank you very much, you are correct.
@@grahamcann1761 Arness landed in Anzio, in Italy and got wounded during that battle. Meanwhile, his brother, Peter Graves, served in the USAAF (no info as to what role/position or theater)
James Arness actually landed at Anzio where he was wounded in the leg by machine gun fire. The wound left him with a permanent limp that, if you look closely, you notice in Gunsmoke.
For those of you that don't know, what we saw of Audie Murphy's "To hell in back" action was version that was purposely dumbed down from the Medal of Honor official paperwork, which was again dumbed down from the actual combat action. They did that to make it "believable" enough for him to get the medal of honor.
You're right. The action for which he received the MoH he was not on top of a Sherman but was on a tank destroyer. (Was easier to get a Sherman for the film in the 1950's.) And they pretty much had to cut the length he was on top of the burning vehicle, because the movie would have been too long... he was up there for almost an hour. And it left out the fact that after he left the tank he rejoined his company, reorganized it and led them in retaking the lost ground from the Germans. The Audie Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio, Texas has a memorial room that contains many of his uniforms, copies of songs and poetry he wrote and his citations. We Texans are proud of our sons.
@@highcountrydelatite while I understand you think I used it out of context, I did not. For him to be awarded the MoH, someone had to "give" him the opportunity by writing the report in such a way that he would be awarded the MoH. Since it's in the past, it's "get".
Others have mentioned Star Trek's James Doohan, who served in the Canadian forces in the Normandy invasion. But I don't think anyone has mentioned Sabu [Sabu Dastagir], who started life as a real "elephant boy" in India and virtually played himself in Robert Flaherty's 1937 film Elephant Boy and subsequently had an interesting film career. According to Wikipedia: "Sabu joined the United States Army Air Forces and served as a tail gunner and ball-turret gunner on B-24 Liberators. He flew several dozen missions with the 370th Bombardment Squadron of the 307th Bomb Group in the Pacific, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor and bravery." Many who knew him remembered him as the nicest guy who ever lived.
Oof, imo there were few worse jobs on US bombers than the ball turret gunner, especially on B-24s. In addition, tail gunners had the highest casualty rates iirc.
@@sirboomsalot4902 I already had a very high regard for Sabu, but this information moves it up another notch. He had joined the Army Air Force immediately after becoming an American citizen. He died of a heart attack just before his 40th birthday. His wife and children remembered him as an ideal husband and father, warm, loving and kind --- which fact was communicated to me by a mutual friend.
Comedian, Don Rickles served in the US Navy and often used his service as part of his comedic material. He was also in that Clark Gable movie, Run Silent, Run Deep and was also in Kelly's Heroes.
Gable flew in b17s
@@roadtrip2943 Don Rickles drank water and took a shit everyday, what is your point?
He also had a tv series, CPO Sharkey where he played a chief petty officer at a Navy Recruit depot.
Jon Pertwee (best known as the 3rd Doctor) served in the Royal Navy on the doomed HMS Hood, he was off the ship when it was wrecked by the Bismarck. Pertwee served in a intelligence unit with Ian Flemming and is frequently given as the inspiration for James Bond (along with Christopher Lee).
Gee! So the third Doctor Who was played by one of the only two sailors that survived the sinking of HMS Hood by the Bismarck in 1941? The man had his ship literally exploded under him and he and his mate flew into freezing seawater. Resilient guy!
@@claudiomarcelosilva1087 Not that exciting, he was off the ship when it set sail. On leave from what I understand. Kind of like calling in sick on 9/11 and you work at the World Trade Center. More lucky than tough, but the dude was plenty tough.
@@Mauther If memory serves he'd been selected for officer training, and he and several other crew had been taken off the ship the week before to go and do that. The survivor guilt must have been horrible.
Donald Pleasance. British actor, RAF navigator on bombers, was in his second tour of operations (so already flew 30 missions) when he was shot down and became a POW. During the Great Escape film he offered some advice to the Director who tore into him asking what he knew about it.
A bit obscure for American audiences but Peter Butterworth (a comedic actor who appeared in Carry On films) was a Fleet Air Arm pilot shot down over Norway. Became a POW where he learned acting.
Butterworth. A fine comic actor. watch the dining scene in Carry On Up The Khyber.
I know this is specifically a World War Two centred piece, but if I may add another and that is Michael Caine. Caine, served in the Korean War in the King's Fusiliers, an Infantry Regiment and was present in some of the most brutal battles. It's extremely rare to hear him talk about it. I think it might be something he wishes to keep low key but nevertheless, when he does, it's quite poignant.
Thank you for mentioning Michael Caine it's a shame he's not 🚫 included in the list
He spoke about it in an interview I saw, talking about his unit being surrounded and agreeing to 'not go cheap'. I haven't been able to find it, I think it was Wogan, Parkinson or someone of that ilk.
Dirk Bogarde not only served in the British Army for the failed Market-Garden campaign in September 1944, but went on to play a general in the Richard Attenborough epic “A Bridge Too Far.”
And he actually served in the battle depicted in that film.
Rightly, Gen. Browning's wife, Daphne du Maurier, wanted to sue the studio responsible for that Yankee flag waver but couldn't due to the cost. Bogarde himself later admitted his portrayal of Browning was full of lies, half truths and exaggerations, as he'd served under Browning as an Air Photographic Interpreter.
Dirk was actually on General Browning's staff and had serious differences with the way he was portrayed in the movie.
He also was one of the first British officers to enter the Bergen-Belson Nazi concentration camp when it was liberated. 13,000 dead and 60,000 starving, ill people on the brink of death were found there.
Sir Dirk's career was always in jeopardy because he was gay. I guess serving his country and being a screen heartthrob wasn't "manly" enough. The UK had some crazy laws against "deviancy" until 1967.
Another famous actor not mentioned : Kenneth More appeared in numerous wartime movies , perhaps most famously in Reach for the Sky in which he played Douglas Bader ; however in real life he had applied to join the RAF but was rejected on medical grounds , then volunteered as an ambulance driver before the outbreak of war , when war broke out he received a commission into the Royal Navy as a lieutenant where he saw active service on the cruiser HMS Aurora , then aircraft carrier HMS Victorious . Other wartime film credits include Sink the Bismarck , The Longest Day and The Battle of Britain - there may be others I have overlooked since he was Britain's highest paid screen star at the height of his career .
Great video. If you do a part 2, you should look at Sterling Hayden. He starred as Gen. Jack D. Ripper in Dr. Strangelove and the crooked police captain in The Godfather. He was trained as a Marine Corps officer but was assigned as a commando in the OSS, operating behind enemy lines in Yugoslavia, Greece, and even Germany.
A real mans man IMO.
Yeah, and he was a leading Communist in Hollywood because of his work with the Yugoslavs.
He did star in a couple of forgettable WWII movies as well.
As an aside, one of Australia’s most beloved actors, the late Bud Tingwell was a RAAF Spitfire & Mosquito pilot in the European & Asian theatres during WW2, I believe mainly in photo reconnaissance. Post war he had parts in a handful of war movies amongst a much larger body of work. Wonderful person he was!
Although he was not really a star in Hollywood, well loved german actor Hardy Krüger was also a war veteran and played in several war movies, like "The Longest Day" or "A Bridge too Far".
When it comes to Hollywood classics, he had a big role in "Hatari!" alongside John Wayne, "The Wild Geese" and of course the original "Flight of the Phoenix".
And The One That Got Away.
Yes he did..serving in the 38th SS Grenadier Division Nibelungen. Add to that the some of the German actors in the Great Escape also served including the camp Kommondant (Hannes Messemer - serving at Stalingrad then as a POW ..escaping Russian captivity) and one of the more tougher guards in the movie..Til Kiwe (serving in the Fallschirmjager and getting captured in North Africa and being sent to a POW camp in Colorado in the USA, where he escaped after dying his uniform and made it as far as St Louis before recapture. (doesn't that sound familiar !!)
Hardy Kruger was in the Waffen SS.
...and Taxi to Tobruk
Minor correction. Charles Bronson did not play an American in The Great Escape. He played a Polish pilot in the RAF. Also, towards the end you show some pictures that contain Richard Jaeckel, an American actor. He served in the Merchant Marine 1944-1949 and although it was a towards the end of the war and possibly less dangerous period for the ships it was still dangerous so... just to recognise his service also.
The real Tunnel King was a Canadian RCAF pilot and former miner, Wally Floody.
@@Liz-sn1mmthis needs recognised. Sidney mines in Nova Scotia has the miners singers choir
Among the many others you have forgotten was Tyrone Power who joined the US Marines as an enlisted soldier, went to boot camp, then OCS, then became a pilot who flew the Army Curtiss Commando C-46, he transported supplies in and wounded out of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. For his services in the Pacific War, Power was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two bronze stars, and the World War II Victory Medal. Power returned to the United States in November 1945 and was released from active duty in January 1946. He was promoted to the rank of captain in the reserves on May 8, 1951. He remained in the reserves the rest of his life and reached the rank of major in 1957. Also where was Jimmy Stewert?
My Father In Law was a Canadian who worked on logistics planning for D-Day and went over 6 days later. As for the years that I knew him, he would watch "The Longest Day" every June. The main comment was that most of the actors were too old to be realistic. He, for example, he was a Colonel and only 26 at the time.
Honorable mention goes to comedy legend Mel Brooks, who was a mine sweeper in the U.S. Army after D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. While not a WWII movie in the strictest sense, he plays an actor in "To Be or Not To Be" who smuggles Jews out of Nazi-occupied Poland by hilariously portraying a certain German chancellor.
Well Mel Brooks definitely made the most accurate war movie...Spaceballs.
Technically, it was the wardrobe mistress, who was Jewish, who was hiding the Jews in the basement.
You might want to also consider actors in WWI movies who served in WWI. One example is Richard Arlen, who starred in Wings (1927), a film about combat pilots in the Army Air Service. Director William A. Wellman and star Arlen both served as military aviators during WWI.
Bela Lugosi served in Austria-Hungary.
Herbert Marshall, Ronald Colman and many others also fought in WW1.
Humphrey Bogart served in the Merchant Marine during WW1
SO did the guy who did King Kong, Merian Cooper==he flew on the Western Front, but ended up a POW of the Germans
That was fine preparation for The Caine Mutiny @@ricksamericana749
Bronson played a Polish airman who escaped the Nazis and joined the RAF. You do know he had an accent in the film, right? You might need a rewatch.
A good list, I would add that David Niven was very discrete and underplayed his 'exploits' during WW2, while Christopher Lee certainly embellished his.
Niven, when challenged for a password in WW2 admitted he couldn't remember it but asked if the sentry recognised him from one of his movies with Ginger Roger.
Niven was having a drink in a cafe in France in a town recently captured by the British. Problem was, it was retaken by the Germans while he was in the cafe and he didn't know. He managed to escape. This was in his bio. A very funny book.
Peter Ustinov was David Niven’s Batman during WW2
Love the list. However, I give a shout-out to Eddie Albert (Green Ancres) who also starred in The Longest Day. During WWII Albert was a Higgins boat driver who during one of the battles of the Pacific, drove under fire, picking up wounded Marines out of the water and getting them back to safety
And played the cowardly officer in Attack, a brilliant performance made even more when you know about his real bravery in combat.
Of course the battle was no other than D day He should have been included as he was decorated for his efforts to save Stranded Marines Semper Fi sir
You forgot Donald Pleasence (OBE) WW2 RAF Veteran who flew nearly 60 missions over Europe. His plane was shot down in August 1944, and he was captured and imprisoned in a German prisoner-of-war camp. This experience aided him when he portrayed Blythe 'The Forger' in the movie the Great Escape.
When making the movie " The Great Escape" Donald would mention to Director John Sturges about that things didn't look right. Sturges asked who this actor was and how did he know what was right. Someone told him about Pleasence's experience and Sturges then listened better to Donald's criticism.
The scene at the end of the Dambusters where Gibson tells Barnes Wallis he has some letters to write is so poignant because Richard Todd did write letters to family members of people who had died.
Jimmy Stewart? The man enlisted as a Private and retired decades later as a Brigadier General.
Arnold Ridley, grandfather of Daisy Ridley, was one of the stars of Dad's Army which included two spin off movies. Most of the male cast had served in WW2, although I think John Laurie only served in WW1. Ridley served in WW1 and was badly and permanently wounded. He enlisted again in WW2 and was wounded twice in 1940. In the TV series he potrays a brave conscientious objector. After being discharged from the army in WW1 he was mistaken for a CO and mocked.
Arnold Ridley said he would never talk about his world war two experience. And he never did.
@ wbertie2064,
By 'CO', I think you meant to refer to Arnold Ridley as bein mocked as a 'conscientious objector' rather than as its usual meaning of 'commanding officer'. My understanding was that discharged British servicemen in WWI were issued with medals indicating their having served and been be discharged (usually due to medical reasons.) He could have worn his campaign ribbons or medals on his civilian dress but perhaps he considered that a little to 'in your face.'
@@christopherhunt9078 yes, objector. Both used the same abbreviation, unhelpfully
It's funny how the actors in war movies are often decades older than the actual combatants are/were. Audie Murphy, for example, was only 20 at the END of WWII. When I was in the US army one of the Company Commanders (rank of Captain) was 24. There was a guy in our platoon who was 28 and everyone called him "Pops." Average age was probably 21-22. In "The Longest Day," John Wayne was in his mid 50's but the actual Colonel he was depicting at D day was 27 years old at the time.
Esmonde Knight was an officer in the Royal Navy on HMS Prince of Wales when she engaged the Bismarck. He played HMS Prince of Wales’ captain in the film “Sink the Bismarck”.
How did you manage to miss out Jimmy ( James ) Stewart who was a bomber pilot in the USAF during the war and went on to virtually play himself in Strategic Air Command ! He was also notable for playing Glenn Miller in The Glenn Miller Story - a real war hero as well as a great actor .
You'll have to make a sequel to this video and include Eddie Albert who served in the Pacific theater as part of the US Navy. He operated a troop boat and single handedly saved dozens of soldiers stranded on a beach while under heavy fire from Japanese forces. He was later played roles in several WW II films.
Bronson played a Polish RAF pilot, not a USAAF pilot, in Great Escape. Co-star Donald Pleasence flew almost 60 missions for RAF Bomber Command before being shot down and spending nearly a year as a POW.
Someone who definitely deserved a spot, or at least an honorable mention is Donald Pleasance. He was a RAF Aircrewman who was shot down in WW2 and kept in a German prison camp. He then portrayed a character in The Great Escape alongside Charles Bronson.
Robert Todd, who played British Major Howard during the Pegasus Bridge attack in 'The longest day' was actually Major Howard's 2nd in command during the real British attack and subsequent defense of Pegasus Bridge. When offered the chance to play himself in the movie he replied, "I don't think at this stage of my acting career I could accept a part 'that' small."
Richard Todd.
He wasn't second in command during the attack, Todd didn't get there until after the bridge was claimed
Richard Todd.
@@stevengriffin7873 I know?
Mel Brooks served as an Army combat engineer in the ETO and both starred in & produced a WW2 movie, To Be or Not to Be.
Michael Caine fought as an infantryman in Korea and starred in I certainly have no idea how many war movies.
Marvin famously disliked the Dirty Dozen, he said it was too unrealistic
You also have Pierre (Peter) Julien Ortiz. He is often forgotten in these kind of discussion. 24 service medals including two Navy Crosses and Legion of Merit, US Marine Colonel, French Foreign Legion and OSS. Not as famous as an actor but did a bunch of movies between 1949 -57
Gene Autry, though never an A roll actor, served in the China/Burma theater as a pilot. He is significant in Hollywood because he is the only person to hold a star each of the five categories of the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Lee Marvin was a real American who fought in some harrowing battles as a young Marine.
Kudos also to Charles Bronson and all of these wartime heroes.
To be clear, you do not 'win' the Medal of Honor, it is awarded, since most are awarded posthumously it is decidedly not a competition. Having said that, thank you for delving into the annals of Hollywood for this video, more from the golden years would be much appreciated.
If the Medal of Honor was given to all who deserved it, you would run out of ribbon.
Great list, and thank you for having Audie Murphy at number 1, other such lists having not even had him the list.
His story is truly amazing, especially considering how many times he was rejected from joining the military.
until you read about Christopher Lee
Any list that doesn't have him at no. 1 for this category is dubious, those that don't have him at all are complete and utter rubbish.
A SHORT MAN FROM TEXAS, A MAN OF THE WILD
THROWN INTO COMBAT WHERE BODIES LIE PILED
FIGHTS HIS EMOTIONS, HIS BLOOD'S RUNNING COLD
JUST LIKE HIS VICTORIES, HIS STORY UNFOLDS
BRIGHT, A WHITE LIGHT
IF THERE BE ANY GLORY IN WAR
LET IT REST ON MEN LIKE HIM
WHO WENT TO HELL AND CAME BACK
If you don't already know it, look up the song "To Hell and Back" by Sabaton.
An unlikely looking hero, much slighter when he was actually in combat, he became a very convincing western hero. No matter what the film showed him doing in the way or derring do, I would say: yep he could actually do that. An actor who worked with him said he had lighting reflexes. Had the hands of a woman but could empty a six gun unbelievably fast. Fearless, in another reality he could have been a topflight featherweight boxer.
A funny story anout Niven was that as he was about to lead his men into action, Niven eased their nervousness by telling them, "Look, you chaps only have to do this once. But I'll have to do it all over again in Hollywood with Errol Flynn!"
So glad to see my favourite Richard Todd on your list, when you actually read about his exploits it is amazing he survived the war at all, he was a very brave man being one of the first to go in on D Day.🇬🇧
Sabu(of The Jungle Book and The Thief Of Baghdad)served as a gunner on a B-24 bomber during WW2.
Mel Brooks fought in WW2.
In the film A Bridge Too Far, the film’s composer John Addison was a tank commander during the failed Operation: Market Garden.
Steve McQueen served in the Marine Corps.
Paul Newman served in the Navy.
Rock Hudson served in the Navy.
Just a minor nitpick: Audie Murphy didn't "win" the Medal of Honor. He is a Medal of Honor recipient, or you could say he was awarded the Medal of Honor. No one ever "wins" a combat medal like a prize at the fair.
Niven's best WW2 performance was as a soldier in the Territorial Army (reserves) transferred and promoted to Lieutenant in the 1944 film The Way Ahead directed by (Sir) Carol Reed (The Third Man). I have to assume his performance was inspired by the fact his father died as a subaltern (Lieutenant) of Yeomanry (reserves) in Gallipoli in WW1, while Niven was just a child.
Also in this movie was Peter Ustinov who was also a serving Army soldier while his father had been an active spy for the British prior to the war.
I personally thick this was probably the best british ww2 war film ever made😊
I was roommates with someone who had a friendly connection to Lee Marvin’s granddaughter. I got to go to his house and I saw a painting he had created after the wounding the narrator mentioned. A couple of giant marlins were in another room. It was amazing and I was pretty drunk.
Yet another miss here is Donald Pleasence. Pleasence served as an aerial gunner in the RAF, serving in Lancaster bombers (among others), being shot down over Germany and finishing the war as a POW in Stalagluft I. He would then act in the movie, The Great Escape, which was set in a German POW camp. During the filming he would try to correct the director on actions in the camp and would be put off by the director, until the word got out that he, in fact, had first hand experience in the matter!
Sir Christopher Lee didn't die. He just completed Life, including all side quests!
I noted the phrase, He just completed Life, for my tombstone. Thanks!
Fun Fact about Christopher Lee.
"the longest Day" was a star packed film. EVERY mayor actor from USA, UK, Germany and France was in it, EXAPT Lee.
There is that scene when a RAF Officer tells Eisenhower that the best time to attacke would be the 6th June. In real life, that officer was Lee. When he asked to basically play himself, the director rejected him, telling Lee "Noone would believe, that YOU are an officer"
Check the RAF records. He was in Italy attached to a Kittyhawk (123?) fighter-bomber Wing. His memoirs are great but his leaks to the press about SAS etc are balderdash.
There was also Dirk Bogarde who starred in A Bridge Too Far as well as taking part in the actual Operation Market Garden about which the film was made.
In the 1960 film "Sink the Bismarck", the actor Esmond Knight played the Captain of HMS Prince of Wales during the battle of the Denmark Straights. He had been a gunnery officer in the real battle, had been badly wounded and lost an eye.
Lee Marvin. Loved him in that cheesy B film with Chuck Norris Delta Force. One of the highlights for me was Lee Marvin saying "Take Em Dowwnnn" 🙂
You forgot Jim Stewart, few others, may have do 10 more list
My favourite story about Marvin was in a piece about a stage armourer. He went to explain a M3 machine gun to Marvin so he would know how to look after it properly on set. In the guys words Marvin took the gun and stripped it down, cleaned it, reassembled it, and gave it back to him safe, all while staring him in the eyes, never once looking at the gun, and asking the guy about his job 😂
I'm a big, big fan of Lee Marvin. Also Donald Pleasance and Jimmy Stewart. But Lee Marvin was something else. Capable of doing humor, too.
They forgot to mention Dirk Bogarde, who has a very interesting war experience.
It would be interesting to see a multi part series
The greatest generation of movie stars. Eternally grateful for their service and sacrifice. Patriotic heroes
Wow !
No James Stewart ? He was a C.O of a B24 squadron , a gunner who served under him was Walter Mattau (hope the surname is spelled right)
Richard Todd did not parachute onto Pegasus Bridge he was airborne , not a paratrooper . Notice in the clip you showed his badge is a bugle for light infantry Ox and Bucks to be precise not a parachute with wings . Another fact is that the head gear he wore was his own the original from D Day
Can not believe you missed out BRIGADEER GENERAL JAMES STEWART
Todd did parachute into Normandy on 6th June 1944, he was a Captain in the 7th Parachute Regiment and he jumped out of a Shorts Stirling. He did wear his D-Day headgear in the film, but with an Ox's and Bucks cap badge fitted to it. Another bloke who did operational service was Lord Richard Attenborough. He was a RAF Air Gunner who flew on RAF Bombing Missions as a Combat Cámara man.
@@richardvernon317 I was led to believe that the whole headgear was genuine, then that is my mistake
The headgear Todd wore in the Longest Day was from his actual commanding officer, Major John Howard, who Todd was portraying in the movie. It was loaned to Todd for the duration (of the movie).
Also consider Aldo Ray. He served in the US Navy and was a member of UDT 17 and took part in the beach reconnaissance immediately prior to the invasion of Okinawa. I've heard SEALS on youtube say they are amazed that the UDT guys could walk since their balls were so big!!
Neville Brand - almost as decorated as Murphy during WWII, starred in Stalag 17, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Combat! and arguably the best episope of the Twilight Zone - the Encounter - where he played a WWII veteran being confronted by his wartime experiences in the from of George Takei
Missed here is Jean Gabin, a french cinema legend who initially moved to the US in 1939. During the early war he had a scandalous affair with Marlene Dietrich in Los Angeles. He went on to volunteer for the free french forces, becoming one of the oldest tank commander of the allies, and fought with the free french second armoured division of General Leclerc from D-day until the end of the war.
Gabin was commander of a M10 tank destroyer of the Fusiliers Marins (Naval Infantry) in 1944.
Jean Pierre Aumont served in combat with Free French Forces in Italy. It was noted that he smelled at one point due to lying next to a dead Moroccan soldier for an extensive period of time.
Jean Gabin, french actor, joined Free French Navy in 1943 as « fusiliers marin ». He fought with the Allies in North Africa. He served with the 2nd armored dvision (Leclerc) that liberated Paris. He was the oldest tank commander of free french army on a M10 Wolverine. He died in 1976, his body was cremated with full military honours, his ashes were scattered at sea from a french navy ship (F784 « Détroyat », aviso type A69)
Ernest Borgnine. Joined the US Navy in 1935 and was discharged in 1941. When the war broke out in 1942, he reenlisted. He was discharged in 1945. Famous for his role in the TV comedy, McHale's Navy.
And from here to eternity
My grandma worked for a corporate gift company and handled his account. She said he was nice enough but always answered the phone “what what what?” I can imagine him saying that 😂
You might mention Hardy Kruger, who got old enough to be drafted right at the end of WWII.
As someone below says, you might go beyond WWII - to WWI, say, where Herbert Marshall lost a leg, and Claude Rains almost lost his eyesight from poison gas.
Korea - Gene Evans both served and got to make war movies for Sam Fuller while the conflict was ongoing.
Vietnam's a bit of a stretch, finding US actors who played combatants and/or vets, and who also served - they'd tend to be way down the cast list, like R Lee Ermey
Had Harvey Keitel played Willard in Apocalypse Now, he could've been on this list since he was in Nam. I think Scott Glenn was too and he had a small important part at the end of Apocalypse
Point out that Kruger was drafted into the Hitler Youth. Right or wrong, he was there.
Gene Evans was in WWII, not Korea unless he was recalled to active duty after making “The Steel Helmet”.
R. Lee Ermey deserved a spot on the list
Lee Marvin's gravestone lists his rank and branch/USMC, nothing about his Hollywood career. You left out BG Jimmy Stewart.
Gabel had a personal reason for enlisting and the military had a hard time keeping him from the most dangerous jobs he could get, often bribing his way onto bombing runs. His wife Carole Lombard died in a plane crash while out selling war bonds. He went to the crash site to help look through the rubble. She was age 33, and is often considered the first casualty of WWII on the US side.
Don't trust Wiki. Gable did try to get himself killed during the war though.
The tragedy of his wife dying was heartbreaking. He made such a scene about getting in they finally relented. He was very well liked by his teammates and flew a lot more missions than we knew. Love that guy.
David Langton, British actor. Joined Royal Artillery 1939 as private. Discharged 1946 as Major in Northumberland Hussars. Mentioned in Despatches. Primarily known as Richard Bellamy in Upstairs Downstairs. He may not be as well known, but he deserves a mention as do many others. Thank you for this very interesting video.
Great list Ewan! Love your enthusiasm and passion for the subject matter of your lists.
Seconded...
Whilst he isn't a big name actor as these on the list, i would have added James Doohan to the list (star treks scotty) he landed on the 2nd wave juno beach on d-day, personally taking out two snipers leading his men to higher ground through an anti tank minefield before taking defensive positions for the night. He was later wounded through friendly fire actually losing his right middle finger (he had to hide it all throughout his acting career).
Add to the list French actor Jean Gabin (Montcorgé). Already famous before the war, he flew to the USA where he was part of the French and German refugees, such as Jean Renoir. He lives with Marlene Dietrich for a couple of years before enrolling in the Free French, firstly in the Navy, then in the cavalry on a tank under General Leclerc (2nd DB). He participated in the liberation of Paris and operations in Germany up to Hitler’s Eagle Nest. He was awarded military medals. He came back to film acting and became one of the most popular French actors of the 50´s until his death in 1976.
Lino Ventura, in The Army of Shadows, masterpiece on the Resistance, drafted into the Italian army, which he deserted and had to hide from the Germans under the Occupation to avoid being shot.
I would say the Longest day probably did it best simply due to the quantity of actors involved. With regards Richard Todd, I can remember reading somewhere that the beret he wore during the filming of the longest day was the original that he wore on D Day itself.
The beret Todd wore in the Longest Day belonged to his commanding officer at the Pegasus Bridge battle, Major John Howard, who Todd was portraying in the Longest Day. Howard let him use the beret for filming to add authenticity. Todd commented how much it meant to us it.
Most actors born between 1910 and 1925 served in WW2. Don't forget service was compulsory you needed a lot of luck to actually avoid it. Its far more interesting to find actors born after 1940 who served. Adam Driver is one of the few actors born after 1980 with service under his belt.
You managed to feature Richard Attenborough ( 14:34 ) without mentioning his name, even though he served throughout the war. You featured Richard Burton and mentioned his name, but not that he served in the RAF from 1944 - 47.
5/10
Left off: James Stewart. Served in the US Army Air Corps in Europe. Flew a B-24 Liberator.
Charles Bronson played a Polish RAF pilot, James Garner was an American RAF volunteer pilot, James Coburn played a Royal Australian AF pilot and Steve McQueen played one of the few actual US Army Air Force pilots in “The Great Escape,” because it was an RAF prison camp.
I hope you do more lists like this. I learned a lot of really interesting stuff and added a few movies to my watchlist. (how have I never heard of Audie Murphy?)
Jack Palance's athletic career ended, and his career as a member of the United States Army Air Forces began. His face was said to have become disfigured while bailing out of a burning B-24 Liberator bomber during a training flight over Southern Arizona (where he was a student pilot). His distinctive cheekbones and deep-set eyes were said to have been the result of reconstructive surgery.
You forgot Canadian James Doohan. He was at Juno Beach on D-day, and later became a military pilot.
James wasn't what anyone would call a "war movie actor" though. In fact, I can't think of a single war movie he acted in.
@@Azrael_the_Black
A later comment said he was in 36 hours.
I understand that Richard Todd wore the same Beret for the filming of The Longest Day that he'd actually worn at Pegasus Bridge.
The beret was worn in combat by his CO, Major Howard, who loaned it to Todd to play Howard in the Longest Day
Sean Connery enlisted on the Royal Navy at age 16 in 1946.
Michael Caine joined the British Army in 1952 and served in Korea.
Claude Rains returned to England in 1914 to serve in World War One with the London Scottish Regiment. A gas attack left him almost blind in one eye and suffering vocal cord damage.
Basil Rathbone, Cedric Hardwicke, Herbert Marshall, and Ronald Colman also served.
Al Matthews (Sgt Apone in Aliens) served with The United States Marine Corps in Vietnam, holding 13 combat awards and two Purple Hearts.
Richard Chaves (Poncho in Predator) served with the infantry brigade in Vietnam.
Jesse Ventura (Blaine in Predator) served with the US Navy Undereater Demolition Team in Vietnam.
Kenneth More served in the Royal Navy in WWII and in 1960 had the lead role in “Sink the Bismarck”. Other commentators have pointed out enough other omissions that you should consider doing a sequel.
Christopher Lee...age 17...showed up in Finland in 1939 to help fight the Russians. His photo can easily be found of him with other English volunteers... Lee stands out...literally... Very tall... YP
He didn't show up in Finland, AFAIK. He got to Norway but no further, IIRC, as the borders were closed
I was wondering if you'd include Sir Christopher Lee, because I couldn't recall him in any war movies. And then Audie Murphy at number 1 ... thank you. All of these men were interesting characters.
The Uraguyan bar owner in The Batttle of the River Plate, and a submarine captain (The Man who Never Was, possibly?).
Sir Christopher Lee is related to Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond. Of course, Lee played the Man with the Golden Gun, Scaramanga.
really enjoyed this content thanks!
Thanks for the Video 😀
You forgot Donald Pleasence who was an airman in a POW camp during WWII and portrayed an airman in a POW camp in The Great Escape. The director was getting pissed when he repeatedly offered technical advice before someone revealed to him Pleasence's history.