2. Grand Illusion
Grand Illusion suffers from what I call Citizen Kane syndrome, essentially meaning that it is such an influential movie and has impacted so many subsequent films that it's not anywhere near as fresh as it once was. Many of the most prominent tropes of war movies originated in Grand Illusion and for a long time it was considered one of the greatest movies of all time. Nowadays only film scholars and the most hardcore film fans have even heard of it but there's no denying its influence and importance. Released in 1937 and influenced by Jean Renoir's own experience in World War One, Grand Illusion is one of the most powerful anti-war films ever made. Two French officers are captured by German forces and throughout the movie and most of the movie focuses on their attempts to escape. Grand Illusion dealt with class issues, the rise of Fascism, and prejudice, but above all, Grand Illusion is a profound study of war and the petty difference between cultures that cause it. There is no combat on-screen in Grand Illusion, except for one gunshot at the end, and the focus is on the relationship between the prisoners, and between the prisoner and the guards. Because of its message, Grand Illusion was condemned by Joseph Goebbels and after the Nazi's seized Paris in 1940, many thought that the original print of the film was lost. Fortunately, additional prints were discovered in the 1950's and the film has since gone on to become one of the giants of world cinema. Echoes of the film can be seen in Casablanca, The Great Escape, and many others but even ignoring its influence, Grand Illusion is an impressive accomplishment. The film is fair to both sides although not necessarily favorable to either and condemns the very nature of war as something monstrously absurd. Orson Welles, who regarded Jean Renoir as one of the greatest directors ever, was once asked what two movies he would save for posterity and the first movie he could think of was Grand Illusion.