 Mserafin  | 26 Nov 2014 9:12 p.m. PST |
I recently stumbled upon this series on the YouTubes: YouTube link …and I am flabbergasted that I'd never heard of it before. I attribute this to my being American, and you bloody Brits holding out on us poor colonials. It's been discussed before a little on TMP, but the few discussions seem to have been mostly UK members: TMP link According to the Wiki, it's not been on US TV, and the only DVD releases were Region 2 (UK). Other than the overall quality of it (which is impressive), what strikes me is how much this series resembles "The World at War" ver. 1.0. Similarities include: Haunting, pathos-ridden theme: Check
Distinguished British actor doing voice-over: Check
Original footage used as much as possible: Check
Multi-national veteran interviews: Check
Subtle dubbing of appropriate sound effects over silent footage: Check I've seen videos about the making "World at War" but I don't recall them ever crediting this BBC series as a model. Perhaps I've simply forgotten them, but does anyone else see a resemblance? NEVER MIND: Or then, I cold have just Googled this sooner: link And to those who don't know what I'm talking about, or don't care, I still heartily recommend watching this series, because it is impressive and will make you want to buy miniatures. |
| Martin Rapier | 27 Nov 2014 12:07 a.m. PST |
It is very good, despite its age. I have the DVD box set. In many of the scenes the film is reversed so the protagonists are on the 'right' side of the screen, so lots of left handed Mausers:) |
| artaxerxes | 27 Nov 2014 12:46 a.m. PST |
The Great War was very much John Terraine's baby, a significant part of his attempt to impose some capital H history on understanding in a climate which believed that 'Oh What a Lovely War' was a documentary. It is a landmark series, and repays viewing (again) especially by those too young to have known the Great War generation when they were still in their vigorous prime and could explain themselves in their own voices and not be 'interpreted' by the bleeding heart crap which now passes for much of the history of that war. Rant over. |
| Guy Barlow | 27 Nov 2014 4:47 a.m. PST |
This is being shown again on TV as I watched an episode the other day. Guy |
| Cuchulainn | 27 Nov 2014 5:58 a.m. PST |
We only give the Americans the rubbish like Coronation Street and Eastenders, Mserafin. The good stuff like this we keep for ourselves. |
| MongooseMatt | 27 Nov 2014 7:53 a.m. PST |
The similarities are deliberate – the World at War was very much based on the mould of the Great War. |
| Abwehrschlacht | 27 Nov 2014 12:04 p.m. PST |
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| Yesthatphil | 27 Nov 2014 2:58 p.m. PST |
What Abwehrschlacht said  ! Plus it is available on BBC iplayer (for a couple of weeks) … link (I watched episode 1 the other day … it has hardly dated at all) … Phil |
| artaxerxes | 27 Nov 2014 11:03 p.m. PST |
Yes, it carries its age extraordinarily well. A sign of quality documentary making. |
| monk2002uk | 27 Nov 2014 11:36 p.m. PST |
The one important difference between the two series is the relative lack of input from the other major nations. There is no equivalent of the interviews with Hitler's secretary and his personal aide, Albert Speer, or Gamelin. On the British side there is no equivalent of Horrocks or other WW2 commanders. The content is dated. The Mons episode talked about the Schlieffen Plan and about Germans being mowed down as they advanced in close order on the British. The series is still well worth watching. The footage is really interesting, including the sequences taken from films made post war. The interviews are still very informative. And it is wonderful to hear the likes of Sir Michael Redgrave and the other famous British actors who provide the voice overs. Robert |
| Mserafin | 28 Nov 2014 9:29 a.m. PST |
There is no equivalent of the interviews with Hitler's secretary and his personal aide, Albert Speer, or Gamelin. On the British side there is no equivalent of Horrocks or other WW2 commanders. I noticed that as well, but I put it down to the fact that The Great War was made 50 years after the fact, while World at War was done 30 years after the fact. There were probably less "leader" interviews in Great War because there weren't any leaders from that era who were in any shape to be interviewed. If the squaddie vets they interviewed were in their 60-70s in 1964, any of their remaining generals and political leaders would have been in their 80s or 90s. |
| monk2002uk | 28 Nov 2014 11:12 a.m. PST |
I agree. Just an observation and not a criticism. Robert |
| spontoon | 07 Dec 2014 11:37 a.m. PST |
As far as I know many German units were " mowed down' at Mons. I've read of units with 75% casualties! @Mserafin; not having heard of these marvelous series before might be an effect of your age. I can remember when they were shown on PBS stations in the US: 30 odd years ago! |
| Mserafin | 07 Dec 2014 12:56 p.m. PST |
@Mserafin; not having heard of these marvelous series before might be an effect of your age. I can remember when they were shown on PBS stations in the US: 30 odd years ago! Well, that probably explains it then – 30 years ago I was up to my neck in graduate school and not much aware of what was on TV. |
| artaxerxes | 07 Dec 2014 11:48 p.m. PST |
The Great War had its initial airing in 1964. It was not re-shown (I'm pretty sure) until the 1980s (which would accord with your recollection of '30 years ago'). It was then 'buried' in the BBC vaults and for reasons best known to themselves they steadfastly refused either to re-air it or to make it available on either VHS (I don't think it ever made it to tape) or, until a few years ago, DVD. It is available in a boxed set of the latter (or at least it was) at a very reasonable $$ and I gobbled one up straight away. The World at War on the other hand has had several airings since initial release, but then it was not a BBC product. |
goes to sea with the Terrain Mat.
