War Movie Theatre | for Fans of Classic War Films and Cinema History

As Happy Birthday America Month draws to a close, Rob and Duncan take on the job of instilling discipline in a podcast that's got sloppy as they watch Clint Eastwood directing and starring in Heartbreak Ridge. The year was 1986, Reagan was in the White House, and audiences were ready to see their military kick some butt. They were rewarded with the stirring tale of the Marine Corp's against-the-odds invasion of - have we got this right? - Grenada. Has a bigger movie ever been made about a smaller war? Did the Marines hope to get a Top Gun recruitment effect? Had they misunderstood their appeal to young men?

Next week, Fan Service Month kicks off with Carve Her Name With Pride.

Coming in September, a mailbag episode! Send questions and suggestions to warmovietheatre@gmail.com.

Merch! Our film list: https://warmovietheatre.com

Visit us at facebook.com/WarMovieTheatre or on Bluesky and Twitter or at our website.
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BONG! BONG! Three and a half decades after Tom Cruise felt the need, the need for speed, he was back with the best of the best, turning and burning through the canyons of an unidentified rogue state to take our breath away. The cameras were better, but what about the script? Was everyone missing Charlie? And what are we to day to the babies around the world named Maverick?

As Happy Birthday America Month continues, Rob and Duncan are joined by Joe Twyman to discuss the return of Pete "Maverick" Mitchell.

Next Week: Heartbreak Ridge.
Coming in September, a mailbag episode! Send questions and suggestions to warmovietheatre@gmail.com.

Merch! Our film list: https://warmovietheatre.com

Visit us at facebook.com/WarMovieTheatre or on Bluesky and Twitter or at our website.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's an alien invasion, and they're not messing about. Happy Birthday America Month continues with a film so American that they could barely be bothered to show the rest of the world being blown up. BUT WE DON'T MIND. Joining us to watch the White House being destroyed is super-nerd Jonn Elledge, whose new book 31 Inventions That Built Our World explains quite a lot about the New York that the aliens destroyed. Learn about the alternative bit of casting that would have taken this film to a much less wholesome place, and marvel as we discuss whether the US would actually elect a war veteran as president.

Next week: Top Gun Maverick.
Coming in September, a mailbag episode! Send questions and suggestions to warmovietheatre@gmail.com.

Merch! Our film list: https://warmovietheatre.com

Visit us at facebook.com/WarMovieTheatre or on Bluesky and Twitter or at our website.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I have no division." Happy Birthday America Month continues with a film about the greatest battle fought on US soil, as Martin Sheen's Robert E Lee tries to draw the Union army into a fight that will leave the way open to Washington. Has Duncan persuaded Rob that it's worth the four hours it takes to tell the story? Would Russell Crowe have been better than Jeff Daniels? And, um, are one side in this the baddies?

Next week: Independence Day.
Coming in September, a mailbag episode! Send questions and suggestions to warmovietheatre@gmail.com.

Merch! Our film list: https://warmovietheatre.com

Visit us at facebook.com/WarMovieTheatre or on Bluesky and Twitter or at our website.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA! Yes, all July, we're marking 250 years of gratuitous Americans by watching the most gratuitously American war movies we can find, and no war movie is as gratuitously American as The Patriot, in which Mel Gibson oozes love of country from every pore.

How is this film so long? How come Mel is running the one Southern plantation with no slaves? And do flags really matter that much? Join us for the answers to this and much more.

Next week: Gettysburg
Coming in September, a mailbag episode! Send questions and suggestions to warmovietheatre@gmail.com.

Merch! Our film list: https://warmovietheatre.com

Visit us at facebook.com/WarMovieTheatre or on Bluesky and Twitter or at our website.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.