In “1917,” two soldiers must embark on a dangerous mission to save hundreds during the height of World War 1, and tensions are high in the second trailer as we watch the two men put themselves at risk.
“I hoped today might be a good day — hope is a dangerous thing,” Benedict Cumberbatch’s character tells the two men ahead of their mission.
During the First World War, two young British soldiers, played by George MacKay (“11.22.63”) and Dean-Charles Chapman “Game of Thrones”), are given a mission that seems impossible — they must cross enemy lines to stop an attack that would kill hundreds of their fellow soldiers.
“There is only one way this ends. Last man standing,” Cumberbatch’s character says.
“If you don’t get there in time, we lost 1,600 men. Your brother among them,” a voiceover adds.
MacKay and Chapman star in the war story that also features Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, Colin Firth and Cumberbatch. Mendes directed the film based on a screenplay by Krysty Wilson-Cairns.
Mendes also produces the film with Pippa Harris (his partner at Neal Street Productions) and Jayne-Ann Tenggren and Callum McDougall. Michael Lerman is co-producing
Universal is giving “1917” a limited release on Christmas Day before opening wide on Jan. 10, 2020.
Watch the trailer above.
30 Classic World War II Movies, From ‘Battleground’ to ‘Dunkirk’ (Photos)
“Battleground” (1949) A squad deals with being trapped in the besieged city of Bastogne.
MGM
“From Here to Eternity” (1953) The film is set in 1941 Hawaii and is about a private who is punished for not boxing on his unit’s team. It stars Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift and Deborah Kerr.
Columbia
“Stalag 17” (1953) Starring William Holden and Don Taylor, a German POW camp barracks marketeer is suspected of being an informer when two American war prisoners are killed.
Paramount Pictures
“The Caine Mutiny” (1954) Starring Humphrey Bogart, Jose Ferrer and Van Johnson, it follows a U.S. Naval captain who shows signs of mental instability that jeopardizes the ship.
Columbia
“Bridge on the River Kwai” (1957) A British colonel cooperates to oversee a construction of a railway bridge for their captors after settling differences with a Japanese POW camp. It stars William Holden, Alec Guinness and Jack Hawkins.
Columbia
“The Guns of Navarone” (1961) A British team is sent to occupied Greek territory to destroy a massive German gun emplacement. It stars Gregory Peck, David Niven and Anthony Quinn.
Columbia Pictures
“The Longest Day” (1962) John Wayne and Robert Ryan star in the film following the events of D-Day.
20th Century Fox
“The Great Escape” (1963) Starring Steve McQueen and James Garner, Allied POWs plan for an escape from a German camp.
United Artists
“The Dirty Dozen” (1967) Starring Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine, a U.S. Army Major is assigned to lead convicted murderers to assassinate German officers in World War II.
MGM
MGM
“Battle of Britain” (1969) Michael Caine, Trevor Howard and Harry Andrews star in the film about the British Royal Air Force against the Nazi Germany Air Force.
United Artists
“Patton” (1970) The Francis J. Schaffner-directed film chronicles the careers of American general, George S. Patton.
20th Century Fox
“Kelly’s Heroes” (1970) U.S. soldiers sneak across enemy lines to get their hands on Nazi treasure. The film stars Clint Eastwood, Don Rickles and Telly Savalas.
MGM
“Tora! Tora! Tora!” (1970) The film dramatizes the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
20th Century Fox
United Artists
“The Big Red One” (1980) Starring Lee Marvin, Mark Hamill and Robert Carradine, the film chronicles the story of a sergeant and his unit as they try to survive World War II.
United Artists
“Das Boot” (1981) Starring Jurgen Prochnow, Herbert Groenemeyer and Klaus Wennemann, the film chronicles the world of a WWII German U-boat.
Columbia
Warner Bros.
“A Midnight Clear” (1992) The film starring Peter Berg, Kevin Dillon and Arye Gross tells the story of the American intelligence unit which finds a German platoon wishing to surrender.
Columbia
DreamWorks
“The Thin Red Line” (1998) Terrence Malick‘s adaptation of James Jones’ 1962 novel stars Jim Caviezel, Sean Penn and Nick Nolte, and focuses on the conflict at Guadalcanal.
The Criterion Collection
Paramount
“To End All Wars” (2001) Four Allied POWs endure hard treatment while they are captured by the Japanese during World War II. It stars Robert Carlyle and Kiefer Sutherland.
Argyll Film Partners
Buena Vista
“Downfall” (2004) In the German biographical film, the final secretary of Adolf Hitler tells the story of the Fuehrer’s final days.
Newmarket FIlms
“Flags of Our Fathers” (2006) Clint Eastwood directed this film also, starring Ryan Philippe, Barry Pepper and Joseph Cross. It follows the life stories of six men who raised the flat at the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Paramount Pictures
“Letters from Iwo Jima” (2006) Clint Eastwood directed the film about the battle of Iwo Jima between the U.S. and Imperial Japan.
Paramount Pictures
“Valkyrie” (2008) Tom Cruise, Bill Nighy and Carice van Houten star in the film that dramatizes the July 20 assassination plot against Adolf Hitler.
United Artists
The Weinstein Company
Columbia Pictures
“Dunkirk” (2017)
Christopher Nolan recounts the heroic efforts to evacuate Allied forces surrounded by Nazis on the beaches of France at a critical moment in World War II.
Warner Bros.
Here are a few films that best shine light on the heroics of those who died while serving in the armed forces during WWII
