Hold the phone and beat the drum, a new Quentin Tarantino film opens today: “Inglourious Basterds.” With Brad Pitt in the lead, the Q’s latest tells of a band of Jewish-American soliders who brutally kill Nazis.

In that spirit, let’s tackle World War II films. But since literally thousands of movies were made on this subject, we have to narrow the field. I’m ranking only films with Allied troops vs. the Nazis.

So, no ”Hell in the Pacific”, ”They Were Expendable” or “Bridge on the River Kwai.” And speaking of POW movies, they’re not direct-conflict films, so we’re not counting two of my fave films of all time, ”Stalag 17″ and “The Great Escape.” Nor am I considering excellent homefront films like “The Best Years of Our Lives” and “Hope and Glory”;  or some stellar films that deal indirectly with the conflict, like ”Casablanca”, “Judgment at Nuremberg” and “Schindler’s List.”

Those are the marching orders, so let’s move out:

10. “Attack” (1956): Jack Palance is powerful as a war-weary lieutenant whose platoon is set up for disaster by an inept commander (Eddie Albert) who got his position through political connections. Directed by Robert Aldrich (he’s coming up again) and co-starring Lee Marvin and Buddy Ebsen.

9. “Hell is for Heroes” (1962): An underrated film with Steve McQueen, Bobby Darin and James Coburn. This is the story of a small squad of U.S. soldiers who are forced to hold a line against a far superior Nazi force. Director Don Siegel would go on to greater fame directing “Dirty Harry” and other Clint Eastwood vehicles.

Peck in order

8. “Twelve O’Clock High” (1949): Gregory Peck stars as Gen. Frank Savage (great name!), an Army Air Corps commander in the early days of the war who takes over a unit with sinking morale and turns them into a tough fighting force. Real aerial combat scenes highlight the action.

7. “Battleground” (1949): One of those “Late Show” favorites from my youth. Van Johnson and James Whitmore star as part of a squad of soldiers waiting for the Battle of the Bulge. A surprisingly realistic film considering it was made only a few years after the real fighting stopped.

6. Das Boot (1981): A look from the other side. German submariners try to uphold their duties as soldiers while they grapple with the ideology of their government. As with all submarine dramas, the claustrophobia multiplies the drama. Slightly better than “The Enemy Below,” a very good movie.

"Blood and Guts"

5. “Patton” (1970): George C. Scott gives one of the great contemporary performance, showing the warts and all of this egotistical and brilliant tank commander, George Patton. The opening monologue is classic and Karl Malden is perfect as Gen. Omar Bradley.

4. “The Big Red One” (1980): Rebel director Sam Fuller pays tribute to his World War II unit with this gloves-off story of a veteran sergeant (Lee Marvin) leading a host of young soldiers (Mark Hamill, Robert Carradine) through the horrors and battles of the war in Europe.

Damian Lewis in "Band of Brothers"

3. “Band of Brothers” (2001): Rarely do I include TV series in my lists, but this 10-part saga, based on the real exploits of “Easy Company” of the 101st Airborne, is so good that it might be the best show ever made for the small screen. The truly moving moments are interviews, conducted years later, with the real soldiers.

2. “The Dirty Dozen” (1967): Lee Marvin shines as a commander forced to use imprisoned soldiers on a suicide mission to destroy the German high command. Robert Aldrich directed and John Cassavettes (”Franko”) was nominated for a supporting Oscar. Cast includes Charles Bronson, Donald Sutherland and Jim Brown.

"Saving Private Ryan"

1. “Saving Private Ryan” (1998): Steven Spielberg’s directing gem, with Tom Hanks playing the leader of a squad that must save a young soldier (Matt Damon), whose brothers already have been killed in action. The opening landing sequence is as intense as any scene ever filmed. Watch it by clicking on the link below.