Badmovies.org Forum

We've been watching WWII movies, both entertainment based and documentaries, and we've seen some good ones so far.

But, I'd like to find one (or more) to show my children what it was like living back home in the US, UK, Germany and/or Japan (or other places) while the war was going on...things like rationing, working for the war effort, etc.

The only criterion is that I would like PG-13 or lighter.  Movies can be fiction or non-fiction, entertainment or documentary, old or new, B&W or color, etc.

Any suggestions?

Well, it's kinda slightly after the war but it's still a great flick.
THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/42/The_Best_Years_of_Our_Lives_film_poster.jpg)

I know the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe had alot of this at the start, apart from the whole 'Fantasy' elements of course.  The BBC Narnia series certainly had a bit more of the kids trooping around at home.  Maybe re-edit the fantasy parts out ;)

[You know, if living in a WWII mansion in the countryside in Britain is 'life at home' in any case.]

I don't think this completely fits what you're looking for bit try "Empire of the sun". Its about a boy living in China with his family. Then Japan inavdes during WW2, then the boy has to learn to live in occupied China.

Empire Of The Sun - Trailer:

http://youtu.be/IKbg7RmW8rY (http://youtu.be/IKbg7RmW8rY)

I was going to suggest The Others but that was R so no go.  :smile:

I think Mrs Miniver would be a good bet and something your kids could watch - also Kevin Brownlow's It Happened Here.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c4/Mrs_Miniver_poster.gif/220px-Mrs_Miniver_poster.gif)

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/68/It_Happened_Here.png)

You can't be too young to see stuff like Grave of the Fireflies or Barefoot Gen.

http://youtu.be/114DhB1oLmY (http://youtu.be/114DhB1oLmY)

The early parts of Hell to Eternity with Jeffrey Hunter (which is based on a true story) depict "the war at home."  But then it switches to the war in the Pacific.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEuPUUB5Vek

SINCE YOU WENT AWAY (1944) 
The story of a mother (CLAUDETTE COLBERT) and her two daughters (JENNIFER JONES and SHIRLEY TEMPLE) left to maintain the home-front when their father goes off to war (we never see him in the film).  The film explores rationing, loss of beloved ones, family ties, scrap drives, the black market, and maturation. 

Excellent suggestions, all.  Thank-you!

Couple of specific comments:

Dean:  We have seen the Narnia movies, and I actually reference the beginning the other day when we were watching a documentary about the London air raids.

Bushma:  Perfect.  Life in China fits...different cultural views is always welcome.

Messedup:  We've seen Grave of the Fireflies, but it might be time for  rewatch.  Haven't seen the other one.

AHD:  That looks perfect for what I was looking for.

Everyone else:  THANKS Again!  All good suggestions and I will check them out.

the DIARY OF ANNE FRANK (1959)

The Diary of Anne Frank (1959) Trailer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7zDyJcF3ko#)

Not a movie but:

Foyle's War (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foyle%27s_War)

DCI Foyle is working on the homefront in Sussex, England, solving crimes under the larger backdrop of WWII. Each episode is a movie-length self-contained story. Each episode also explores different aspects of the war, which may be largely unknown or unexplored. Examples may be the classified research into the "bouncing bomb", the mass displacement of children during the war, or simply the existence of pro-fascist anti-semites in England.

I loved this series. Checked out one episode from the library to watch with my mom, ended up devouring the entire series in the space of a few months. Not only does each episode provide a satisfying mystery, the research gone into the show is impeccable. (Well, far as I know.)

I think this is exactly what you're looking for. Can't recommend it enough.

^ yeah similar with me my parents watched it, I remember it being good. Gonna have to initiate a rewatch binge

And it's one of the best!

Ken Burns: The War is excellent.

http://www.pbs.org/thewar/ (http://www.pbs.org/thewar/)

I agree.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWrKMV07-5Y

Flags of our Fathers (2006) has parts of the film that depict life on the home front of World War II, mixed in with the frontline stuff. Not an entire movie of home life during the war, but I thought that Clint Eastwood captured the feel of how the war was affecting people at home rather well.

Also, The Pacific (2010) is an HBO TV miniseries not a movie, but it too depicts a split-version of life at home and life on the front like Flags of our Fathers (2006) does. But again it depicts it rather well, and it was the home front stuff that fascinated me.

On a side note and a bit off-topic, because you asked about World War II movies, All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) is set in World War I, but also does a fantastic job depicting what life was like at home away from the front and what happens when you put active duty soldiers on leave from the front in a civilian setting; they're like a fish out of water. I hope this helps!

Thanks for the added suggestions.


zelmo, the first time I tried to read that book, it gave me nightmares.  The book is (in my opinion), horrifying.

I did eventually make it through.

Based on that emotional experience, I will wait a bit before introducing that one to my children.  It's an important story, but one that I believe should be taken in the context of a little more life's experience.

Was this the one with Adam Beach as Ira Hayes? If so, that was a great movie because Beach really played Hayes to the hilt. I really felt bad for his character knowing what he went thru after the war. Adam beach is a great actor!

Look for a german produced film called The Bridge. A group of teenage friends in a small German town are drafted by the Reich and deployed to their old town to guard a strategic bridge. Life is a picnic until a US armored division shows up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_86PDoqvoI

. . . and its sequel THE CLASS OF '44

Oh yeah, the exploits of Oscie, Hermie, and Benjie, thre young American boys smack dab in the middle of the summer of '42 when the war is going on pretty strong.