Happy Birthday America! Hollywood has done a legendary job creating movies for the silver screen that make us burs tight pride and inspiration.
Here are a few of our favorite movies about the 4th of July or America’s greatness…
Sometimes movies can be complicated, depicting the American spirit, although the bitterness and conflict will give you reason to pause. ‘Red Dawn’ starring Patrick Swayze, Charlie Sheen, Jennifer Grey, Lea Thompson, and the recently departed Powers Booth brought all movie watchers to stand guard against invasion, while the movie ‘Born on the 4th of July’ starring Tom Cruise, demonstrated betrayal and sacrifice.
‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’ with Jimmy Cagney from 1942 is the benchmark of Hollywood and love of country. In this biographical musical about Broadway writer and producer George M. Cohan, Jimmy Cagney sings and dances his way to multiple awards. This is a ‘must watch’ today.
Let’s give a shout out the great American films that starred a few of our brightest stars – ‘Red Tails’ and the ‘Tuskegee Airman’ was inspirational on many fronts, while Spike Lee’s ‘Miracle at St. Anna’ was wonderful. ‘G.I. Jane’ with Demi Moore was very entertaining and educational for sure.
There can be no better ‘little guy’ film than ‘Rocky’ from the late 70s, or ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ the 2016 film about WWII Army Medic Desmond T. Doss who refused to pick up a weapon, rather saving lives and becoming a shining example of courage and our American Values.
The 1996 film ‘Independence Day,’ starring Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, and more, hit home with ‘one for all’ emotion, as the world battles aliens set on sucking earth’s resources for themselves. The next in the installment of this theme just opened in theaters a few weeks ago.
Honorable mentions include ‘National Treasure’ with Nicholas Cage, the filmed musical ‘1776,’ early Denzel Washington and Mathew Broderick’s ‘Glory,’ Mel Gibson’s ‘The ‘Patriot,’ Sylvester Stallone’s original ‘Rocky,’ ‘Sargent York’ with icon Gary Cooper and ‘Saving Private Ryan’ the Tom Hanks classic.
Finally, heart-warming military movies that you should watch this holiday include ‘They Were Expendable,’ ‘The Horse Soldiers’ (John Wayne, William Holden in the Civil War) ‘Top Gun,’ ‘Midway’ ‘Full Metal Jacket,’ ‘The Longest Day’ and ‘The Dirty Dozen.’
—
Photo credit: Featureflash / Shutterstock.com