Where You Can Stream All the Films of the ‘Five Came Back’ Directors

By Joe Reid @joereid
Published April 7, 2017, 6:03 p.m. ET

Where to Stream:

Five Came Back (2017)

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The Netflix documentary Five Came Back is one of the best things you could watch on streaming right now. It’s an illuminating documentary about the five Hollywood directors who went overseas during World War II and made propaganda and documentary films to support the war effort. The three-part series unfolds like a compelling yarn about five men whose careers were in various stages of accomplishment before the war, and who all did some of the best work of their careers when they came out.

Once you’ve seen Five Came Back, you’re almost guaranteed to have an insatiable urge to check out the films of these men: Frank Capra, John Ford, John Huston, George Stevens, and William Wyler. Almost all of the movies they made during the war are available to stream for free with either a Netflix or Amazon Prime membership. And their vast catalogues of narrative films, made both before and after the war, are widely available to rent on-demand.

Please use this as a reference to either begin your deep dives into the careers of these five remarkable filmmakers.

Frank Capra

Watching Five Came Back, you get a good sense of the kinds of films Capra made during World War II. These were films ad dedicated to educating and rallying the public back home. Capra’s films during this time are often controversial, particularly with respect to his depiction of the Japanese. (Films in bold are available to stream for free with a Netflix or Prime Video subscription.)

The rest of the Frank Capra’s films that are available to stream can be rented on-demand via Amazon or iTunes (films in bold are available to stream for free with a Prime Video subscription):

Before the War:

After the War:

“The Battle of Midway”photo: Everett Collection

John Ford

Much of Ford’s contribution to the war effort was made via short films, but he also directed one of the most effective and illuminating portraits of WWII battle, The Battle of Midway. (Films in bold are available to stream for free with a Netflix or Prime Video subscription.)

Before the War:

After the War:

John Huston

Huston was mostly known as a screenwriter before hitting big as a director just as the United States was entering into the war. During the war, Huston directed additional scenes for Capra’s Battle of Tunisia, but perhaps his most effective film during that era was the post-war reflection Let There Be Light, which was held back from release for years. (Films in bold are available to stream for free with a Netflix or Prime Video subscription.)

Before the War:

After the War:

“The Diary of Anne Frank”photo: Everett Collection

George Stevens

Stevens followed the Allies after D-Day into Europe and was on hand to document the liberation of the concentration camps. His footage was used to prosecute Nazi war criminals and shame Holocaust deniers. (Films in bold are available to stream for free with a Netflix or Prime Video subscription.)

Before the War:

After the War:

William Wyler

Wyler had already directed one Oscar-winning film before he went to cover the war, though by the time he was honored as Best Director, he was already overseas. He came back from the war having lost his hearing while filming on a bomber plane for Thunderbolt. He still did some of the best work of his life upon his return, including another Oscar win for The Best Years of Our Lives, a film that was heavily influenced by his war experiences. (Films in bold are available to stream for free with a Netflix or Prime Video subscription.)

Before the War:

After the War: 

Where to stream Five Came Back