The best David Niven’s war movies

David Niven

David Niven

28/02/1910- 29/07/1983
We present our ranking of the best David Niven’s movies. Do you love cinema? Or are you looking for a movie of your favorite actor to watch tonight? Surely you have some to see or that you did not know yet about David Niven.
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The Guns of Navarone

The Guns of Navarone
7.5/10
  • Genre: ActionWar
  • Release: 27/04/1961
  • Character: Cpl. James Arthur Miller
A team of allied saboteurs are assigned an impossible mission: infiltrate an impregnable Nazi-held island and destroy the two enormous long-range field guns that prevent the rescue of 2,000 trapped British soldiers.

Escape to Athena

Escape to Athena
5.6/10
During the World War II, the prisoners of a German camp in a Greek island are trying to escape. They not only want their freedom, but also seek an ineffable treasure hidden in a monastery at the summit of the island's mountain.

Cleopatra

Cleopatra
6.8/10
The queen of Egypt barges the Nile and flirts with Mark Antony and Julius Caesar.

The Charge of the Light Brigade

The Charge of the Light Brigade
7/10
In 1853, as the British and Russian empires compete to gain and maintain their place in the dreadful Great Game of political intrigues and alliances whose greatest prize is the domination of India and the border territories, Major Geoffrey Vickers must endure several betrayals and misfortunes before he can achieve his revenge at the Balaclava Heights, on October 25, 1854, the most glorious day of the Crimean War.

The Shortest Day

The Shortest Day
5.8/10
  • Genre: ComedyHistoryWar
  • Release: 14/02/1963
  • Character: Soldato inglese (uncredited)
The Shortest Day is a 1962 Italian comedy film. It is a parody of the war movie The Longest Day and stars the popular duo Ciccio Ingrassia and Franco Franchi in the leading roles. Dozens of many other well-known actors accepted to appear in the movie in cameo roles for free, to avert the bankruptcy of the production company Titanus.

Soldiers Three

Soldiers Three
5.9/10
Kiplingesque tale of British forces in 19th-century India.

The Sea Wolves

The Sea Wolves
6.3/10
This true story follows the exploits of a top-secret British military mission to destroy Nazi radio ships in a neutral harbor during WWII. The daring plan is led by British Intelligence officers Col. Lewis Pugh (Gregory Peck) and Capt. Gavin Stewart (Roger Moore). Since the ships are in neutral territory the British Military command, while encouraging the scheme, must deny any knowledge of it if it fails. Pugh and Stewart enlist the aid of retired officer Col. Bill Grice (David Niven) and some of his former soldiers. On the pretext of being on a fishing expedition, these seemingly drunken old men in civilian clothing must board and destroy 3 Nazi ships, whose radio transmissions have resulted in Nazi submarines sinking allied ships. While Stewart arranges a diversion onshore, Pugh and Grice carry out the dangerous raid on and destruction of the Nazi ships.

The Dawn Patrol

The Dawn Patrol
7.5/10
  • Genre: ActionDramaWar
  • Release: 24/12/1938
  • Character: Lieutenant Scott
In 1915 France, Major Brand commands the 39th Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps. The young airmen go up in bullet-riddled "crates" and the casualty rate is appalling, but Brand can't make the "brass hats" at headquarters see reason. Insubordinate air ace Captain Courtney is another thorn in Brand's side...but finds the smile wiped from his face when he rises to command the squadron himself. Everyone keeps a stiff upper lip.

The Way Ahead

The Way Ahead
6.9/10
  • Genre: DramaWar
  • Release: 09/06/1944
  • Character: Lieutenant Jim Perry
A mismatched collection of conscripted civilians find training tough under Lieutenant Jim Perry and Sergeant Ned Fletcher when they are called up to replace an infantry battalion that had suffered casualties at Dunkirk.

The First of the Few

The First of the Few
7/10
  • Genre: War
  • Release: 14/09/1942
  • Character: Geoffrey Crisp
This 1942 fictionalized biopic chronicles the true story of how two of the most remarkable men in aviation history - visionary Spitfire designer R.J. Mitchell and his test pilot Geoffrey Crisp - designed a streamlined monoplane that led to the development of the Spitfire.

A Man Called Intrepid

A Man Called Intrepid
6.8/10
During World War II, a wealthy Canadian uses his own money to help the Allies form an espionage network.

The Real Glory

The Real Glory
6.5/10
  • Genre: ActionWar
  • Release: 29/09/1939
  • Character: Lt. Terence McCool
In the wake of the Spanish-American war, military doctor Bill Canavan (Cooper) arrives at a war-torn Filipino outpost. Infested with cholera and under attack from a vicious local Moro chieftain, the troops are terrified and their commanding officer has all but given up hope. Outnumbered and out of supplies, Canavan decides to trade his scalpel for a rifle and rally the few remaining troops into one last stand before the outpost and everyone inside becomes just another footnote in history.

The Best of Enemies

The Best of Enemies
6.7/10
  • Genre: ComedyWar
  • Release: 26/10/1961
  • Character: Maj. Richardson
During World War II, a plane full of RAF fighter crashes in the Ethiopian desert and they are met upon by an enemy Italian patrol that allows them to go free. But, when the Brits are given orders to attack the Italians, lots of problems ensue.

The Extraordinary Seaman

The Extraordinary Seaman
3.4/10
  • Genre: AdventureComedyWar
  • Release: 14/05/1969
  • Character: Lt. Commander John Finchhaven, R.N.
Marooned sailors discover a World War II ship haunted by its late captain.

Carrington V.C.

Carrington V.C.
6.9/10
  • Genre: DramaWar
  • Release: 09/12/1954
  • Character: Major Charles Carrington
Major Charles Carrington (David Niven), is arrested for taking £125 from the base safe, he also face two other charges that could finish his distinguished service career. He decides to act on his own defence at his court martial hearing, his argument being that he is owed a lot of money from the army for his various postings that have cost him out of his own pocket. To further complicate the proceedings, Carrington alleges he told his superior, the very disliked Colonel Henniker, that he was taking the money from the safe. A mans career, his marriage, and quite a few reputations, all hang in the balance.

Conquered City

Conquered City
5.8/10
  • Genre: DramaWar
  • Release: 05/12/1962
  • Character: Major Peter Whitfield
Filmed in 1962 but not released in the US until 1966 (with 20 of its 108 minutes removed), Conquered City is an all-star World War II drama financed in Italy and filmed in Greece. An Athens hotel, full of refugees and expatriates of all nationalities, is captured by Allied troops in the closing days of the War. British Major David Niven has been ordered to prevent a cache of weapons hidden in the hotel from falling into the hands of renegade troops. He cannot allow himself to trust anyone--not even the most innocent-looking (or attractive) of guests. Originally titled La Citta Prigioniera. Conquered City was released in English-speaking countries outside the U.S. as Captive City.

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