Steven Spielberg: A Filmmaker’s Journey Through World War II
Steven Spielberg is one of the most prolific filmmakers of the latter half of the 20th and 21st centuries. His early upbringing was colored by the impact of World War II, which he was born in 1946. It’s no surprise that he has been deeply interested in stories about World War II, producing and directing many films that explore the period.
Spielberg’s first World War II film, “1941” (1979), is a war comedy that depicts Los Angeles during the days following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The film stars Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as members of a misfit group of soldiers and civilians who panic over a potential Japanese invasion. While the film is satirical and features some of the best comedic actors of the period, it’s consistently ranked as one of Spielberg’s worst movies.
In contrast, “Empire of the Sun” (1987) is a coming-of-age wartime drama that follows the story of young Jamie “Jim” Graham, played by Christian Bale, as he faces the challenges of internment in a Japanese prison camp in World War II-era China. The film explores Jim’s journey from a privileged British expatriate child to a resourceful and resilient survivor of the conflict.
Spielberg’s next World War II film, “Saving Private Ryan” (1998), is a true war movie that marks the first collaboration between Spielberg and Tom Hanks. The film tells the story of Miller’s command of a company of soldiers who risk their lives in an attempt to extricate Private James Ryan from the fighting in Europe, in order to spare his family from losing all of their sons after Ryan’s brothers are killed in the war.
Finally, “Schindler’s List” (1993) is Spielberg’s most moving and dramatic contribution to narratives about the war. The film chronicles the efforts of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved over a thousand Polish Jews during the Holocaust. The film vividly portrays the atrocities committed during World War II while highlighting Schindler’s transformation from a profit-driven industrialist to a humanitarian savior.
All of these films showcase Spielberg’s ability to tell powerful and emotional stories about World War II, and each one has been widely praised by critics and audiences alike.