When Eagles Dared tells the stories of the historical events of World War II and the films that have depicted these events on cinema screens, presenting a guide to history through cinema that compares the cinematic myth with the historical reality. Illustrated with rare posters and stills, it gives a unique view of this war through the lenses of over 50 diverse films including Downfall, Patton, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Anzio, The Thin Red Line, Letters from Iwo Jima, Stalingrad, Battle of the Bulge, Cross of Iron, and A Bridge Too Far. Events discussed include the war in the skies (Battle of Britain and The Dambusters), the sea (Sink the Bismarck!), and the North African desert (The Battle of El Alamein and Tobruk). There are "special mission" movies, including Where Eagles Dare and Inglourious Basterds, classic tales of ingenuity (The Great Escape), and human endurance (The Bridge on the River Kwai).