One of America's most renowned film scholars, Jeanine Basinger, offers a revealing, perceptive and highly readable look at the combat film. Discussing over one thousand movies, Basinger covers in-depth the key examples of the genre and uses them to define the meaning of genre itself. From "Bataan" to "Battleground" to "The Dirty Dozen" to "Saving Private Ryan," the book traces the evolution of the combat genre, as its recurring characters, plots and events are used and reused over time.

There is also a section outlining what happens when women replace men in combat and when the subject is treated as comedy. First published in 1986, this updated and expanded edition of the book contains a new introduction, a new chapter on "Saving Private Ryan" and an updated filmography. This is an essential text for anyone seriously interested in genre, movies, and with 38 photographs, as much a treat to look at as it is to read.