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 Western Front Diaries: Winning World War I (2008)
Director: Bill Leimbach
Starring: Jack Thompson, Narrated by
The ANZAC's Western Front campaign had a greater impact than Gallipoli in almost every aspect: five times more soldiers served and were killed there,... Read more
The Wing (1981)
Director: David Hoffman
When there was a Soviet Union, when the wall was up in Germany, when there was an Eastern and Western Europe at odds with each other, there was an eli... Read more
The World at War: Volume 1 (1973)
9.2/10
Director: David Elstein, Hugh Raggett
Starring: Narrated by, Laurence Olivier
The definitive story of the Second World War in seven volumes and narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier. From the rise of Nazi Germany to the dramatic resc... Read more
The World at War: Volume 2 (1973)
9.2/10
Director: David Elstein
Starring: Narrated by, Laurence Olivier
The definitive story of the Second World War in seven volumes and narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier. From Russia to America, 'The World at War' present... Read more
The World at War: Volume 3 (1973)
9.2/10
Director: Hugh Raggett, Martin Smith, Ted Childs
Starring: Narrated by, Laurence Olivier
The definitive story of the Second World War in seven volumes and narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier. From the Germans' first major defeat at Stalingrad... Read more
The World at War: Volume 4 (1973)
9.2/10
Director: John Pett, Ted Childs
Starring: Narrated by, Laurence Olivier
The definitive story of the Second World War in seven volumes and narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier. From victory in Italy and Burma to the beginning o... Read more
The World at War: Volume 5 (1973)
9.2/10
Director: John Pett, Michael Darlow
Starring: Narrated by, Laurence Olivier
The definitive story of the Second World War in seven volumes and narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier. From D-Day to the liberation of Paris, 'The World... Read more
The World at War: Volume 6 (1973)
9.2/10
Director: Hugh Raggett, John Pett, Martin Smith, Michael Darlow
Starring: Narrated by, Laurence Olivier
The definitive story of the Second World War in seven volumes and narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier. From Hitler's demise to MacArthur's victories, 'Th... Read more
The World at War: Volume 7 (1973)
9.2/10
Starring: Narrated by, Laurence Olivier
The definitive story of the Second World War in seven volumes and narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier. From the bomb to the Nuremberg trials, 'The World... Read more
The Zulu Wars (2003)
A 3-part series that explores the facts and investigates the truth behind the British Redcoat army's campaign in Zululand during 1879. The episodes fo... Read more