Documentary backdrop image for Five Came Back (2017)

2017195 minNRdocumentary

7.9/ 10(45 ratings)• TMDB

Film History World War Ii

Deep Dive

Five Came Back

Rating: 4
Author: Peter Bradshaw

2017195 minNRdocumentary

7.9/ 10(45 ratings)• TMDB

Deep Dive

More than 100 hours of archival footage illustrate the wartime experiences of five influential American directors during World War II.

“They showed the war to the world.”

Film History World War Ii

Genres

History

Director

Laurent Bouzereau

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Synopsis

More than 100 hours of archival footage illustrate the wartime experiences of five influential American directors during World War II.

People

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Laurent Bouzereaudirector

Mark Harriswriter

Meryl Streepcast

Francis Ford Coppolacast

Steven Spielbergcast

Synopsis

John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, Frank Capra, and George Stevens were five directors who used their talents during World War II. They produced films that documented the war's realities between 1942 and 1946. Their work included iconic titles such as The Battle of Midway and The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress. This documentary combines over 100 hours of archival footage with commentary from modern filmmakers like Steven Spielberg and Guillermo del Toro. Meryl Streep narrates, presenting their legacies and the influence of their wartime efforts.

What Critics Say

Mark Harris’s documentary about US studio directors’ impact on the second world war is a tad gung-ho, but its story is enticing, smart and undeniably timely.

Peter BradshawRead full article

March 31, 2017

Deep Dive

Why Watch

See how John Ford filmed The Battle of Midway.
Find out about Frank Capra's propaganda films.
Meet the directors who shaped wartime cinema.

Did You Know

The documentary is based on Mark Harris's 2014 book, 'Five Came Back'.
It won an Emmy for Outstanding Narrator for Meryl Streep's performance.
The series was released on March 31, 2017, on Netflix.
It features analysis from five modern directors, including Steven Spielberg.

Perfect For

Film history enthusiastsWorld War II buffsDocumentary lovers

Read full Deep Dive →

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Five Came Back released?

Five Came Back was released on March 31, 2017.

Who narrated Five Came Back?

Meryl Streep narrated Five Came Back.

How many Emmy Awards was Five Came Back nominated for?

Five Came Back was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards.

Awards & Festivals

Emmy Awards

2017 • Award

Awards & Festivals

Comments

What are people saying?

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