Favorite Patriotic Movies

[coldblossom.livejournal.com]

Not actors, just movies (though maybe someone else can start a thread on actors?).

Mine....there are a lot, but the first one that pops into my head is The Rocketeer. It was a great movie that gets little recognition. Why is it a favorite? Because the hero, the Rocketeer, stands for what Superman (the 70s/80s Superman films would fall under "patriotic " as well, but not the new remake) used to stand for: truth, justice, and the American Way. Everything about that movie screamed Americana, that we're the good guys fighting the bad guys (Nazis) and that yes, there is true evil in the world and that this evil isn't to be reasoned with but to be destroyed. Plus (and this is one of my favorite scenes in the entire movie), in what other movie do we have a mobster who, when he realizes he's been working for the bad guys, says:

"I may not make an honest buck, but I'm 100% American and I don't work for no two-bit Nazi!"

And then goes to work side-by-side with the FBI to help apprehend/kill said evil-doers.

Further, would we see something like this in any movie made today, say about Iran or North Korea or radical Islam? No way!

So, what's your favorite patriotic film?

Comments

[lydia-diane.livejournal.com]

When I saw Superman Returns (the newest one) in theaters, editor in chief Perry White says, "Truth, justice... all that stuff."
Such an obvious omission. It saddens me that the writers took it out.

[mprice.livejournal.com]

The line from the 1970s version was the best.

Superman: I fight for truth, justice, and the American way.
Lois Lane: You'll be fighting every politician in the country!

[mprice.livejournal.com]

Some oldies but goodies in no particular order.

"Yankee Doodle Dandy" starring James Cagney as George M Cohan - who was himself looked down upon for being a "flag waver."

"Sargent York" starring Gary Cooper. A wonderful film of patriotism, heroism, and faith.

"Mister Smith Goes to Washington" starring Jimmy Stewart. Political corruption meets Patriotic small down American.

"To Hell and Back" starring Audie Murphy as himself. The most decorated soldier of WWII, including the Congressional Medal of Honor.

[autumnjoy.livejournal.com]

Omigosh, yes.
John Adams is my hero.

[saint-kit.livejournal.com]

There should be a whole list right here, but my brain's dead so I'm just going to say Sand Pebbles (For the "They expect to destroy us" speech) and Patton (because dude, it's Patton).

[shezan.livejournal.com]

America, America (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056825/)
Hangmen Also Die (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0035966/)
The Deer Hunter (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077416/)
Casablanca (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034583/)
United 93 (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475276/)
A Time To Love And A Time To Die (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052296/)
The Fighting Sullivans (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037323/)

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

My dad was an extra in "The Rocketeer." He's one of the crowd when he swooshes through that first time.

[bratfarrar]

Can't come up with any patriotic movies that haven't already been mentioned, but just wanted to add that I adore The Rocketeer, and am thrilled to see that there are other people besides my sister who think it's cool.

[modernelegance.livejournal.com]

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
The Patriot (Mel Gibson & Heath Ledger Version)
The Great Escape
And I'm going to say Iron Man just to stir up some discussion...some people saw it as a pacifist thing but I didn't see that at all. When he found out that his weapons were fighting against our troops he stopped production until a better solution presented itself.

[thatfilmgirl.livejournal.com]

Indiana Jones. *nods*

[athousandsmiles]

An oldie, but my favorite movie of all time: OSS.

Also, major The Rocketeer love here.

[lazypadawan.livejournal.com]

Me, I love patriotic '80s cheese: Red Dawn, Rambo: First Blood Part II, and anything with Chuck Norris in it.

[sinergi.livejournal.com]

I LOVED the Rocketeer! One of my favorite movies of all time. Such a great example of a patriotic film. Especially the scene at the end where you have the FBI, and gangsters teaming up to take down those evil Nazi's.

Another patriotic film that I think fits is The Incredibles. Not only is it a film about family. I also found it to be a film that recognizes that there is real evil out in the world and that we can't just lay down and be blind to that evil.

[orominuialwen.livejournal.com]

I can't believe nobody's mentioned An American Carol yet! I have to also agree on MR. Smith Goes to Washington

[ohinternets.livejournal.com]

!!!!!!!

The Rocketeer is, no lie, one of my all-time favorite movies and has been for years. I saw it in the theaters, and bought it on VHS (I'm old) and later DVD, and I just never, ever get tired of watching it. It's so underrated, and mmmm, Billy Campbell.

[ohinternets.livejournal.com]

Would like to add White Christmas. It's a very patriotic movie, centering around the US Army's contributions to WW2 and filled with tribute, love and respect for the men and women of the armed forces.