Four brilliant World War 2 films on UK TV this weekend (19/5/18-20/5/2018)

I thought I'd take a break from writing about war films that are currently streaming and have a look at some of the movies available on tv to watch this weekend. I must say I was pleasantly surprised, there's some really good movies to watch from friday night right through to sunday. Without any further adieu here's the list:

Saving Private Ryan:
Sky One, Saturday 19th May, 21:00. 

This is probably on of the greatest World War 2 films ever made and the opening scene is the definitive D-Day cinema scene, if you haven't seen it, it's fantastic, visceral and so immersive you really should watch it. You can easily find this Steven Spielberg classic in lots of greatest war movies lists and for very good reason, it's awesome.

If you don't know much about the film here's a quick run down. Set in World War 2 the films begins at Omaha Beach with the D-Day landings. The film then follows the exploits of a small group of G.I.s on a mission to bring Private Ryan back as his 3 other brothers had been killed in action.

Year of production: 1998, age rating: 15, running time: 2h 50m. Starring: Tom Hanks, Edward Burns,
Matt Damon and Tom Sizemore. Director: Steven Spielberg.

The Dam Busters:
Film 4, Sunday 20th May, 16:20. 

A British war film classic, poignant as this week marks 75 years since the actual attack on German dams in World War 2. The film tells the story of no.617 squadron of the RAF, who were tasked with delivering experimental bouncing bombs developed by Barnes Wallis. With the aim to destroy vital dams in Germany's industrial regions, flooding valleys and massively disrupting Nazi Germany's war time production.

Year of production: 1955, age rating: U, running time: 2h 50m. Starring: Richard Todd, Michael Redgrave, Ursula Jeans and Basil Sydney. Director: Michael Anderson.

A Bridge Too Far:
Spike, Saturday 19th May, 15:50. 

In my opinion the best World War Two movie ever made. Based around the real Operation Market
Garden, which was an ambitious Allied plan to scythe through the German front lines capture channel ports and greatly reduce the length of the war.

Year of production: 1977, age rating 15, running time: 2h 34m. Starring: Dirk Bogarde, James Caan, Michael Caine and Sean Connery. Director: Richard Attenborough


Guns of Navarone
Spike, Sunday 20th May, 17:50.

Another British classic, the story revolves around a group of Allied commandos tasked with the important mission of taking out 2 land based guns that thwart Allied naval efforts in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Year of production: 1961, age rating: PG, running time: 2h 50m. Starring: Gregory Peck, David Niven, Anthony Quinn and Stanley Baker. Director: J. Lee Thompson.

For other war films ideas please check out some of my other posts: 
Every war film currently on Netflix UK in 1 list.
List of the best WW2 films available on Netflix.
Best current war movies on Amazon video.