Summary
Steven Spielberg has become synonymous with World War 2 movies and TV shows, butMasters of the Airessentially capped off a filmmaking obsession dating back to the early ’60s. Since his first feature film released in 1963, Spielberg has become one of the most prolific filmmakers and storytellers in history. With titles likeJaws, Indiana Jones, ET, The Color Purple, Jurassic Park, andLincoln(to name a few) under his belt, there’s no question why Spielberg is considered one of the best of the best. Granted, his WW2 interest has been a lifelong thing.
Masters of the Air, Apple TV+’s WW2 drama that released in the early months of 2024, served as Spielberg’s most notable project of the year. The show told thetrue story of the 100th Bomb Group, an Air Force unit stationed in Europe during WW2. Austin Butler and Callum Turner headlinedMasters of the Air’s castalongside a large ensemble cast depicting the horrific nature of the war as experienced by bombers. IncludingMasters of the Air, Spielberg has had a hand in creating over a dozen WW2 movies and shows, something that started over six decades ago.
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Steven Spielberg Started Making World War 2 Projects As Early As 1961
1941, Steven Spielberg’s sixth feature film as a director, might be considered the filmmaker’s first real WW2 movie, but he started creating WW2-centric projects nearly 20 years earlier.One of Spielberg’s first movies was a WW2 short film titledFighter Squad,which he made in 1961 when he was around 14 years old. The silent movie focusing on fighter pilots also featured real WW2 footage. As seen in thetrue story of the Spielbergs at focus inThe Fabelmans, the teen quickly mastered the 8mm camera work before moving on to more technical endeavors.
That same year, Spielberg madeEscape to Nowhere, another WW2 short film, albeit longer thanFighter Squad. Not only was this film shot in color, but it also featured more characters and a developed story. The 40-minute movie that focused on soldiers during a WW2 battle in Africa was also a film festival prize winner, giving Spielberg all the more reason to continue his filmmaking, even at such a young age.
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Masters Of The Air Completed Spielberg’s World War 2 Obsession
The Scope Of Spielberg’s WW2 Projects Have Greatly Differed
FollowingFighter Squad,Escape to Nowhere, and1941,Steven Spielberg went on to create some of the best WW2 projects in history. On the film side, Spielberg would be best known for WW2 titles likeEmpire of the Sun, Schindler’s List, andSaving Private Ryan. He also directed a few other historical dramas and produced other WW2 movies likeFlags of Our FathersandLetters from Iwo Jima. The WW2 obsession also spilled over to the small screen after Spielberg re-teamed with Tom Hanks to createBand of Brothers.
Spielberg has now been involved in projects that have covered the biggest elements of WW2
WhileBand of Brothersis often considered the best WW2 showin history, it spawned two companion shows,The PacificandMasters of the Air. Though Spielberg and Hanks didn’t return to create or direct the other shows, they executive-produced the titles and were the driving forces behind them. FollowingMasters of the Air’s release, Spielberg has now been involved in projects that have covered the most prominent elements of WW2. He’s focused on units within the Air Force, Army, and Navy, presenting terror faced by soldiers across Europe and the Pacific.
Spielberg’s WW2 projects have notably featured heavy action through battles involving land, sea, and air, but other titles have also focused stories on a more personal level. At times,the tales of human drama and suffering are mixed within the action-heavy projects, allowing Spielberg to present all aspects of war.Masters of the Air, for example, featured pivotal air missions, but the show also effectively gave viewers a deeper look into members of the squadron losing friends, struggling with reenlistment, and even becoming POWs.
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What Spielberg Has Said About Making So Many World War 2 Movies & Shows
Spielberg Was Inspired By His Own Father When It Came To WW2 Projects
Around the timeBand of Brotherswas set to release in 2001, Steven Spielberg spoke about his fascination with WW2, indicating that it was never a fleeting interest. In an interview with theLA Times,Spielberg admitted that he’s “been stuck in the 1940s for most of [his] career"after sharing that he’d been interested in creating war stories for his entire life. The interest primarily stemmed from his father, Arnold, serving as a radio operator in the war. However, even though more than 20 years have passed since Spielberg’s interview, the interest hasn’t waned.
Steven Spielberg’s son, Sawyer Spielberg, played Lt. Roy Frank Claytor inMasters of the Air.
Masters of the Airmay have completed Spielberg’s WW2 obsession, allowing him to help bring so many different kinds of war projects to life, but there’s no reason to think he’s now done with the genre. The Apple TV+ show’s focus on bomber pilots checked off a major goal of Spielberg’s, especially since Arnold had always wanted his son to put the Air Force in the spotlight. However, there are plenty of WW2 elements worth exploring, giving Spielberg endless opportunities to dive back into that genre of storytelling.
