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Deep Dive: Five Came Back (2017)

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Five Came Back
Five Came Back is a documentary that examines the contributions of five American film directors during World War II: John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, Frank Capra, and George Stevens. The film analyzes their war-related works through the perspectives of modern filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg and Francis Ford Coppola. It incorporates over 100 hours of archival footage and features narration by Meryl Streep, providing a comprehensive look at how these directors shaped the portrayal of war in cinema. The documentary is structured around the analysis of specific films made by these directors, including The Battle of Midway and Prelude to War. Each modern director reflects on the legacy of their chosen filmmaker, discussing the impact of their work on both the film industry and public perception of the war. The series was released as a three-part series on Netflix and received critical acclaim, winning an Emmy for Outstanding Narrator.

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