They found a warehouse containing thousands of surplus WW1 uniforms, which is why the Tommies look so realistic. They are wearing the genuine articles. The dialogue is taken from written statements made by leaders of the time or from popular songs of the day.
It’s such a beautiful film, I did a research project on WWI trench warfare in middle school and I came across clips of this film. I didn’t know how to get it and the only copy at the time I could find was an original VHS tape that was extremely expensive for me at that time. I gave up on the search until about 3 weeks ago (about 10 years later after that project), I found that I could buy it and watch it on here. I bought it and 2:30 hours later I was bawling my eyes off. I had only known those clips I mentioned so I built up in head of what type of film it would be, but it was so much more than I imagined. Loved it ❤️
without a doubt one of the darkest war films i've ever seen, because it shows you the veneer of false cheer that gets played, and after seeing this film, whenever you look at it, you can see right through it.
Wondered if they were referring to ww1 battle of Verdun or ww2? Only wondering because she says " they are all the same" but would they also reference ww2? Maybe only because of the scene where death/chorus at the beach and it says World War 1 not The Great War.thoughts?
An interesting observation from Eastern Europe. There seems to me , an enormous chasm between Western, so-called "democracy" and Eastern Europe. (The Roman influence versus Teutonic tribes, which pertains to this day). I knew my avuncular "Godfather" in the 50s and 60s, and now have his "Embodiment" document dated the 5th of August 1914, to join his regiment "The Duke of Lancasters Own Yeomanry". Wounded and captured at Passchendale in 1917, he survived and even kept in touch post-war with the farmers in Bavaria where he laboured, starving like everybody else; even invited to the Berlin Olympics in 1936. He obviously suffered greatly and he and his wife slept in separate rooms post-war, having no children. My brother and I learnt a bit about trench warfare, wizz-bangs, going over the top, puttees and other topics - but not often. I loved the film when it came out. The ghastliness of war was obscured but the insanity obvious, surrealistically. Thank you for your presentation. Slante! (I'm Irish).
I was 8 years old when this was filmed in my home town. I remember being really miffed that the West Pier, one of my favourite haunts, had been placed off limits, and during the school summer holidays, too! I mean, why would anyone want to make a film about the first world war on the pier, of all places?, I argued petulantly. That view didn't change when I was taken to see the film the following year- its messages went right over my 9 year old head. It wasn't until nearly 10 years later, and studying history, that I went back to OWALW, and this time i was spellbound, deeply moved, and remembered that summer holiday slight, as a tiny sacrifice which had been worth making. And yes, i did see the irony of that "sacrifice", too!
IT has no equal, unique, and masterful, especially as Richard Attenborough had no previous experience directing films. I gues thats why it was unique, unsullied by previous knowledge.
Always liked that scene as well with that Tim Roth looking US soldier who turns the map around 😂 even though those crazy kamikaze final line about not coming back they will be buried over there...odd
The official lyrics are "we won't come back 'till it's over over there" the movie's version of "We'll be buried over there" is either a version the troop sang or a liberty the movie took (I don't think the song in the original musical at all) to add an element of disillusionment
If you know your WW1 history, and are well read on the topic, this movie is perfect! If you have been absorbing Hollywood movies on WW1 then you will be confused. I would also add that is a depiction of the events that happened and the impact they had on a family. To call it "anti-war" to me is not quite on target. When most people think of "anti-war" they bring to mind some Vietnam Era Hollywood product that bashes the soldiers. This is a unique product and can not be easily labeled. Thanks for doing this review. No scenes should have been cut - each tells a part of the story. Don't you feel the the sense of utter futility when the crowd slowly empty the scene by driving off the protesters? (4:56) mark. I hope you know that the songs were authentic to the era but the soldiers adapted the words to reflect conditions. As the movie progresses so to does the mood. Your nit pics about not being able to distinguish characters when they change clothing or appearance makes me wonder about you. Perhaps this movie is from an earlier era when people invested time, emotion, and thought into a film. This is one of the riches films out there. 8:07 is the Battle of the Frontiers: 1914 where the French, following Plan 17, charged directly into the German kill zones. One of the biggest blood baths in history. The first reality wake up call to happen in 1914.
I was at school in the early '60's, history - for us - ended in 1913. Nobody wanted to explain this horror, or the rematch. Don't make light of it, you really don't want to know how many Smiths didn't come back. 2 hours I can live with, 4 years probably not.
Ya this is the one I point to people if they want a proper anti war film, also the fact of if being made a play just after the war and truly made the point of how truly horrible thing it was and how it was viewed at the time.
11:48WRONG, they landed a force in a part of greece that was pro entente (there were two factions in greece: pro central Powers and pro entente, there were also french troops)and they Just sat down and did NOTHING untill Greece declared war on the central Powers.
The music isn't the point. The music furthers the plot. It's the same as the music in "The Big Chill." Also, this movie isn't somewhat surrealistic - it's meant to be both very realistic and surrealistic at the same time. I worked with Richard Attenborough on Gandhi and had a long talk with him on OWALW. His imaginative use of the real, staged and surreal is fabulous and meant to drive home the point of the film. If you are going to review films, it "might be nice" if you learned something about history and about film. Just for instance, sweetie, the red poppy isn't an accident as you would know if you know anything about WW1. Lord have mercy.
I never said that the red poppy was accidental? Also, do you think me saying that the movie is "somewhat surreal" instead of just "surreal" it means I didn't get that it has surreal scenes? I literally pointed them out in the video. I really wish you had chosen to share some insight from your talk with Attenborough instead of being smarmy.
They found a warehouse containing thousands of surplus WW1 uniforms, which is why the Tommies look so realistic. They are wearing the genuine articles. The dialogue is taken from written statements made by leaders of the time or from popular songs of the day.
Oh that’s cool
Yes it is.
It’s such a beautiful film, I did a research project on WWI trench warfare in middle school and I came across clips of this film. I didn’t know how to get it and the only copy at the time I could find was an original VHS tape that was extremely expensive for me at that time. I gave up on the search until about 3 weeks ago (about 10 years later after that project), I found that I could buy it and watch it on here. I bought it and 2:30 hours later I was bawling my eyes off. I had only known those clips I mentioned so I built up in head of what type of film it would be, but it was so much more than I imagined. Loved it ❤️
I stumbled on the last clip, boom
without a doubt one of the darkest war films i've ever seen, because it shows you the veneer of false cheer that gets played, and after seeing this film, whenever you look at it, you can see right through it.
This video deserves billions of views for that jerman joke.
….a film of true genius that has kept me spellbound for nearly 60 years.
This video has been ready for a while, I wanted to wait until the copyright claim dispute was resolved before publishing it, but it's taking too long.
Wondered if they were referring to ww1 battle of Verdun or ww2? Only wondering because she says " they are all the same" but would they also reference ww2? Maybe only because of the scene where death/chorus at the beach and it says World War 1 not The Great War.thoughts?
I hope you might read my comment.
Slante!
It actually tells in simple form the origin and the tide of 1914-1918.
An interesting observation from Eastern Europe. There seems to me
, an enormous chasm between Western, so-called "democracy" and Eastern Europe. (The Roman influence versus Teutonic tribes, which pertains to this day).
I knew my avuncular "Godfather" in the 50s and 60s, and now have his "Embodiment" document dated the 5th of August 1914, to join his regiment "The Duke of Lancasters Own Yeomanry". Wounded and captured at Passchendale in 1917, he survived and even kept in touch post-war with the farmers in Bavaria where he laboured, starving like everybody else; even invited to the Berlin Olympics in 1936.
He obviously suffered greatly and he and his wife slept in separate rooms post-war, having no children. My brother and I learnt a bit about trench warfare, wizz-bangs, going over the top, puttees and other topics - but not often.
I loved the film when it came out. The ghastliness of war was obscured but the insanity obvious, surrealistically.
Thank you for your presentation.
Slante! (I'm Irish).
I was 8 years old when this was filmed in my home town. I remember being really miffed that the West Pier, one of my favourite haunts, had been placed off limits, and during the school summer holidays, too! I mean, why would anyone want to make a film about the first world war on the pier, of all places?, I argued petulantly. That view didn't change when I was taken to see the film the following year- its messages went right over my 9 year old head.
It wasn't until nearly 10 years later, and studying history, that I went back to OWALW, and this time i was spellbound, deeply moved, and remembered that summer holiday slight, as a tiny sacrifice which had been worth making.
And yes, i did see the irony of that "sacrifice", too!
red poppies symbolise those that die eveeyone who has a poppy dies. the irish soldiers was really touching
i cried multiple times upon viewing this movie hehh... good movie.
IT has no equal, unique, and masterful, especially as Richard Attenborough had no previous experience directing films. I gues thats why it was unique, unsullied by previous knowledge.
Holy Hell this Video's awesome
Always liked that scene as well with that Tim Roth looking US soldier who turns the map around 😂 even though those crazy kamikaze final line about not coming back they will be buried over there...odd
The official lyrics are "we won't come back 'till it's over over there" the movie's version of "We'll be buried over there" is either a version the troop sang or a liberty the movie took (I don't think the song in the original musical at all) to add an element of disillusionment
@@GnorriTV yeah I know! Its strange how they let them change it which destroyed the entire song.crazy right?
@@GnorriTV MANY OF THE LYRICS SUNG BY THE TROOPS , WERE CYNICAL ALTURNATIVES TO THE REAL VERSION
If you know your WW1 history, and are well read on the topic, this movie is perfect! If you have been absorbing Hollywood movies on WW1 then you will be confused. I would also add that is a depiction of the events that happened and the impact they had on a family. To call it "anti-war" to me is not quite on target. When most people think of "anti-war" they bring to mind some Vietnam Era Hollywood product that bashes the soldiers. This is a unique product and can not be easily labeled. Thanks for doing this review.
No scenes should have been cut - each tells a part of the story. Don't you feel the the sense of utter futility when the crowd slowly empty the scene by driving off the protesters? (4:56) mark.
I hope you know that the songs were authentic to the era but the soldiers adapted the words to reflect conditions. As the movie progresses so to does the mood. Your nit pics about not being able to distinguish characters when they change clothing or appearance makes me wonder about you. Perhaps this movie is from an earlier era when people invested time, emotion, and thought into a film. This is one of the riches films out there.
8:07 is the Battle of the Frontiers: 1914 where the French, following Plan 17, charged directly into the German kill zones. One of the biggest blood baths in history.
The first reality wake up call to happen in 1914.
I was at school in the early '60's, history - for us - ended in 1913. Nobody wanted to explain this horror, or the rematch. Don't make light of it, you really don't want to know how many Smiths didn't come back. 2 hours I can live with, 4 years probably not.
Hits hards
Another British film good cast
It’s a film, an entertainment NOT a documentary!
Remember, Vietnam was happening at the time, and UK was beeing economically pressured to send troops.}
L´eapfrog i{`´ the most im}portant song
Ya this is the one I point to people if they want a proper anti war film, also the fact of if being made a play just after the war and truly made the point of how truly horrible thing it was and how it was viewed at the time.
the END at the Field of rest is prob the Best Best ends EVER
IF, the digging graves, followed by filling them in later, doesnt Move you, and disturb you, then !?!?! ?
As far as gore not being allowed,not quite.Just watch "Charge of the light brigade" from 1968.
@@kaletovhangar Charge of The Light Brigade is an excellent film.
Why isn't their more comments?
Not a particularly interesting topic I guess
@@GnorriTV how could that be that's like saying musicals are fulling out of style.........oh
@@GnorriTV I disagree and will subscribe.
I like different views.
@@GnorriTV such a shame
My school in London did the play in 1974. It had a major impact on my views. War is a ridiculous way to run a planet! 🤷🏻♂️🌎
11:48WRONG, they landed a force in a part of greece that was pro entente (there were two factions in greece: pro central Powers and pro entente, there were also french troops)and they Just sat down and did NOTHING untill Greece declared war on the central Powers.
How nice of them :)
@@GnorriTV i did not expect that response
But ok i guess...
@@GnorriTV Also cavalry was not uselles and actually did quite well in ww1, the only big disasters were early war.
@@GnorriTV czcams.com/video/ju1WURm15YU/video.html this is a great video to understand more about cavalry.
The music isn't the point. The music furthers the plot. It's the same as the music in "The Big Chill." Also, this movie isn't somewhat surrealistic - it's meant to be both very realistic and surrealistic at the same time. I worked with Richard Attenborough on Gandhi and had a long talk with him on OWALW. His imaginative use of the real, staged and surreal is fabulous and meant to drive home the point of the film. If you are going to review films, it "might be nice" if you learned something about history and about film. Just for instance, sweetie, the red poppy isn't an accident as you would know if you know anything about WW1. Lord have mercy.
I never said that the red poppy was accidental? Also, do you think me saying that the movie is "somewhat surreal" instead of just "surreal" it means I didn't get that it has surreal scenes? I literally pointed them out in the video.
I really wish you had chosen to share some insight from your talk with Attenborough instead of being smarmy.
@@GnorriTV Tacky. Go back and listen to your own narration.