Watch Five Came Back

Five Came Back is a documentary series that premiered on Netflix in 2017. The show features the story of five legendary Hollywood directors who put their lucrative careers on hold during World War II to enlist in the U.S. Army and make documentaries about the war. The five directors are John Ford, William Wyler, John Huston, Frank Capra, and George Stevens.

Narrated by Meryl Streep, the series brings together prominent filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg, Guillermo del Toro, Lawrence Kasdan, Francis Ford Coppola, and Paul Greengrass to examine the filmmakers' lives, careers, and their war experiences. Each episode focuses on one of the directors and their work, and how it was shaped by their wartime experiences. It is a fascinating and insightful series that explores the intersection of war, politics, and film.

The first episode of the series profiles John Ford, the director of classics such as Stagecoach and The Searchers. During the war, Ford became a major in the U.S. Navy and was tasked with making documentaries about the war. The film he made, The Battle of Midway, was a monumental achievement in documentary filmmaking and was instrumental in turning the tide of the war in the Pacific.

The second episode of the series features the work of William Wyler, the director of the epic films Ben-Hur and The Best Years of Our Lives. Wyler was a native of Switzerland, but he enlisted in the U.S. Army to fight in World War II. He was famously injured during a bombing mission and lost most of his hearing. Despite this, Wyler was determined to make a documentary about the war and went on to make the powerful and moving film, The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress.

The third episode tells the story of John Huston, the director of classic films such as The Maltese Falcon and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Huston was an officer in the U.S. Army and was assigned to make documentaries about the war. His work took him to North Africa, Italy, and Germany, and his film, Let There Be Light, was a groundbreaking exploration of the psychological trauma suffered by soldiers.

The fourth episode focuses on Frank Capra, the director of It's a Wonderful Life and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Capra was a major in the U.S. Army and was tasked with making films that would help boost morale and patriotism. His most famous film, Why We Fight, was a series of seven films that explained the reasons for U.S. involvement in World War II and helped to rally support for the war effort.

The final episode of the series looks at George Stevens, the director of films such as Shane and A Place in the Sun. Stevens was a major in the U.S. Army and was tasked with documenting the liberation of Europe. His work resulted in the powerful and disturbing film, Nazi Concentration Camps, which showed the horrors of the Holocaust to American audiences for the first time.

Throughout the series, viewers are treated to rare archival footage, interviews with the directors themselves and their families, and insights from contemporary filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg and Guillermo del Toro. The show brilliantly conveys the scope of the directors' work and the impact of their films on audiences at the time.

In conclusion, Five Came Back is an exceptional documentary series that shines a light on a fascinating period in Hollywood history. Through the lens of World War II and the experiences of these legendary directors, the series explores the power of film to shape public opinion and the role of the filmmaker in times of war. With its informative and engaging approach, Five Came Back is a must-watch for cinephiles and history buffs alike.

Five Came Back is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (3 episodes). The series first aired on March 31, 2017.