War has always provided a rich seam of inspiration for film-makers, but the advent of World War II lent a patriotic imperative to the genre and brought an even greater number of war movies to the screen on both sides of the Atlantic. From the battle for the skies to struggles on the home front and in the desert, films such as The Dam Busters and Ice Cold In Alex dramatise all aspects of the conflict and its effect on human relationships.  Featuring great performances from John Mills, Richard Attenborough, David Niven in films from directors as diverse as David Lean, Carol Reed and Sam Peckinpah, these 12 classic movies are tales of survival, heroism and endurance against all odds.