Turner Classic Movies Remembers World War I With Special Memorial Day Tribute
World War I served as the setting for some great films, and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will air five of such films on Memorial Day (May 25).
TCM’s Memorial Day movie marathon will also include 31 other films that pay tribute to soldiers who put their lives on the line in the name of freedom. The 72-hour event gets under way at 5 a.m. Saturday, and Monday’s special WWI tribute will be co-hosted by Robert Osborne (“The Essentials”) and Eli Paul (vice president of the National World War I Museum in Kansas City).
–Penny TV
TCM’s tribute to WWI heroes features:
7 p.m. – “Sergeant York” (1941): Gary Cooper took home an Oscar for his performance in this true story of a young pacifist who is drafted into the service and becomes one of the war’s greatest heroes. Walter Brennan, Joan Leslie and June Lockhart co-star, with Howard Hawks directing.
9:30 p.m. — “The Dawn Patrol” (1938): Errol Flynn and David Niven play pilot buddies in France during the war in this tale of wartime camaraderie. Basil Rathbone co-stars as the rigid officer forced to send the young recruits into aerial dogfights.
11:30 p.m. — “The Fighting 69th” (1940): Extraordinary action, sentimental drama and a good dose of comedy make this one of James Cagney’s most memorable films. The exciting story, which follows the famed Irish regiment, also stars Pat O’Brien and George Brent.
1:15 a.m. — “The Big Parade” (1925): Considered to be among the best World War I films ever made, this epic silent film from director King Vidor stars John Gilbert as a clean-shaven soldier whose eyes are opened to the horrors of war. Renee Adoree and Hobart Bosworth co-star.
3:30 a.m. — “The Lost Patrol” (1934): John Ford directed this sterling account of a British military squad lost in the Mesopotamian desert and facing constant threat from the locals. Victor McLaglen takes the lead role that his brother, actor Cyril McLaglen, played in a 1929 silent version. Boris Karloff turns in an outstanding performance as a religious fanatic, and Max Steiner provides a memorable score.
Remainder of TCM’s Memorial Day weekend schedule:
Saturday, May 23
5 a.m. — “Wings of the Navy” (1939)
6:30 a.m. — “Air Force” (1943)
8:45 a.m. — “Task Force” (1949)
10:45 a.m. — “Flying Tigers” (1942)
12:30 p.m. — ‘Back to Bataan” (1945)
2:15 p.m. — “Pride of the Marines” (1945)
4:30 p.m. — “They Were Expendable” (1945)
7 p.m. — “Battleground” (1949)
9:15 p.m. — “A Walk in the Sun” (1946)
11:15 p.m. — “The Fighting Sullivans” (1944)
1:15 a.m. — “Objective, Burma!” (1945)
3:45 a.m. — “The Story of G.I. Joe” (1945)
Sunday, May 24
5:45 a.m. — “Destination Tokyo” (1943)
8 a.m. — “Submarine Command” (1951)
9:30 a.m. — “We Dive at Dawn” (1943)
11:15 a.m. — “Operation Crossbow” (1965)
1:30 p.m. — “Where Eagles Dare” (1969)
4:15 p.m. — “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (1957)
7 p.m. — “Above and Beyond” (1952)
9:15 p.m. — “The Dam Busters” (1955)
11:30 p.m. — “A Sailor-Made Man” (1921)
12:20 a.m. — “Shoulder Arms” (1918)
1 a.m. — “Ballad of a Soldier” (1959)
2:45 a.m. — “The Fighting Seabees” (1944)
Monday, May 25
4:30 a.m. — “Action in the North” (1943)
6:45 a.m. — “Sahara” (1943)
8:30 a.m. — “Hell is for Heroes” (1962)
10 a.m. — “Men of the Fighting Lady” (1954)
11:30 a.m. — “The Devil’s Brigade” (1968)
1:45 p.m. — “The Dirty Dozen” (1967)
4:30 p.m. — “Kelly’s Heroes” (1970)
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Comments
Thank you so much for this outstanding list. This must have taken a lot of time to put together. As a veteran, I appreciate your thoughtfulness.
[...] Turner Classic Movies Remembers World War I With Special Memorial …11:15 p.m. — “The Fighting Sullivans” (1944) 1:15 a.m. — “Objective, Burma!” (1945) 3:45 a.m. — “The Story of G.I. Joe” (1945). Sunday, May 24 5:45 a.m. — “Destination Tokyo” (1943) 8 a.m. — “Submarine Command” (1951) … Read more [...]
My father was a WWI veteran. He died in 1957 when I was 17. He was 62. He was in and out of VA hospitals from the time I can remember. This was called “Daddy’s vacations”. My mother always felt that the War killed him.
My father was not born in America but was so proud of being an American. He enlisted and was happy to be of service to his country.
I have been very resentful hearing of all the momuments for every war but never about WWI. I googled to see what was done for these wonderful men. Apparently our newscasters have forgotten them, but I see by the results of my search that others have not. I am glad to see this.
I’m sure I am not alone in my appreciation of this detailed schedule. I hope many will both watch, remeber, and appreciate the people whose stories are represented or told, and, contemplate the cost to the people whose lives parralled these stories. Our country will remain free only so long as there are those who are willing to risk their lives to protect it.