World War II Movie Night

World War II Movie Night
World War II Movie Night

On World War II Movie Night, host J. Byron delves into the countless movies made about the greatest conflict in human history. How much can we learn about World War II from how it's portrayed in film? Can movies render this infinite subject more manageable? Fun and stimulation mix in this engaging, thought-provoking podcast.

  1. 12/24/2024

    99. "Sands of Iwo Jima" (1949)

    World War II Movie Night returns to a ripe year for 1949's "Sands of Iwo Jima," a definitive U.S. Marines movie and starring vehicle for one John Wayne. This movie also features a very interesting connection to the war itself that may or may not merit celebration, which we'll get into... Asides include "Karate Kid" and its little-noticed World War II subplot, my non-relationship with coffee, and I go all Child Protective Services on a character in the movie!  Drop us a line at worldwartwomovienight@gmail.com Check out our X at http://twitter.com/WWIIMovieNight

    46 min

  2. 11/28/2024

    98. "A Bridge Too Far" (1977)

    Tonight we explore a movie that resulted from trying to make another "The Longest Day" (1962) for the late '70s. Yes, 1977's "A Bridge Too Far" shares many logistical, stylistic and thematic similarities with TLD, including the same author of the source novels. So join us as we chase a movie with a long runttime and myriad stars of its time, as they execute a real-life paratrooper-centered operation after D-Day. Asides include... a corporate paradox and a funny name-joke from "The Sopranos."  Drop us a line at worldwartwomovienight@gmail.com Check out our X at http://twitter.com/WWIIMovieNight

    46 min

  3. 10/25/2024

    97. "Apt Pupil" (1998)

    Ahoy hoy! Tonight World War II Movie Night closes out Spooky Movie Month with 1998's "Apt Pupil." Based on a 1982 Stephen King novella, tonight's movie sees up-and-coming director Bryan Singer follow his praised debut ("The Usual Suspects") with an adaptation that gives a late-'90s slickness to King's tale of an All-American teenager who discovers a Nazi in his neighborhood. Oh, and as far as tonight's episode? Strap in!... asides include, the ages of actors who play teenagers, Anthrax, and many, many things Stephen King.

    52 min

  4. 10/04/2024

    96. "The Boys from Brazil" (1978)

    World War II Movie Night kicks off Spooky Movie Month with 1978's "The Boys from Brazil." Is it horror? Is it science fiction? Is it Nazi'sploitation? The question is debated to this day. What we do know is that it was nominated for Oscars and has Gregory Peck playing... a 1970s Josef Mengele! Join us for a record three (!) entries into the Trophy Case,  and more accents than you can keep track of!... Asides include Sharon Stone, Steve Guttenberg, "The Exorcist," the unknown history of Japan's  Unit 731, and which are the scariest dog breeds?  Drop us a line at worldwartwomovienight@gmail.com Check out our X at http://twitter.com/WWIIMovieNight

    54 min

  5. 09/14/2024

    95. "Casablanca" (1942)

    World War II Movie Night is shocked, shocked! to finally be doing our most famous movie ever, 1942's "Casablanca." When its creators made "Casablanca," they knew they had a good movie on their hands, but they didn't realize it would blow up into one of the most watched, remembered, quoted movies of all time. Tonight we examine: why is that? Why does this movie have the legacy it does? We also delve into why the plot is harder to remember than you think... asides include chess, gambling, and a Bob Dylan song.  Drop us a line at worldwartwomovienight@gmail.com Check out our X at http://twitter.com/WWIIMovieNight

    45 min

  6. 08/23/2024

    94. "The Pianist" (2002)

    Tonight we explore 2002's "The Pianist," a movie that can be attributed to multiple countries EXCEPT America, for a very specific reason. How good (or not) is this movie that won its maker a (controversial) Best Director and its titular star a Best Actor? The answer's pretty striking, as we explore probably the best movie you can watch about what happened in Poland during the war... Asides include... well, really just one, but it's a DOOZY!  Drop us a line at worldwartwomovienight@gmail.com Check out our X at http://twitter.com/WWIIMovieNight

    50 min

  7. 08/02/2024

    93. "633 Squadron" (1964)

    Tonight we revisit the Royal Air Force for a special bombing mission: to destroy a German V-2 rocket factory. But that's easier said than done, given the details of the mission. Meanwhile, what will become of the Norwegian resistance-fighter helping the mission? Can gruff American Roy Grant separate his feelings about the mission from his feelings about the resistance-fighter's sister? Let's find out!... Asides include yet another "Sopranos" reference, the "Top Gun" sequel, the 1986 Challenger explosion, and the decades-long debate over whether tonight's movie or 1955's "The Dambusters" influenced the Death-Star scene in "Star Wars."  Drop us a line at worldwartwomovienight@gmail.com Check out our X at http://twitter.com/WWIIMovieNight

    40 min

  8. 07/05/2024

    92. "Stalingrad" (1993)

    Tonight World War II Movie Night returns to non-English WWII movies that punch ya' in the gut with 1993's "Stalingrad"! A platoon of German soldiers is plucked from the Italian Riviera for a new mission at the Eastern Front: Stalingrad. Despite thinking they'll make short work of the Russians, what the soldiers go through is akin to a horror movie, with not only death, injury and starvation, but death of idealism and identity... asides include Ice Cube's ruminations on 1993, and a Sopranos reference ("Pine Barrens"!).  Drop us a line at worldwartwomovienight@gmail.com Check out our X at http://twitter.com/WWIIMovieNight

    50 min
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4.2
out of 5
43 Ratings

About

On World War II Movie Night, host J. Byron delves into the countless movies made about the greatest conflict in human history. How much can we learn about World War II from how it's portrayed in film? Can movies render this infinite subject more manageable? Fun and stimulation mix in this engaging, thought-provoking podcast.

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