ARmy Rumour SErvice

**Flash MacTavish** · 17-05-2012, 19:50

Originally Posted by Ratty22

Oh yes. Steer him well clear of " Oh What a Lovely War", at least until he's read " Haigh, an Educated Soldier".
OWALW : made by luvvies for '60's lefties and other dope-addled degenerates.

Old Rat
Out

Actually I rather liked it, at least the musical score, and I would point out that most people I know consider me to be somewhat to the right of Attila the Hun. Beer-addled might be near the mark at times...

**Chef** · 17-05-2012, 20:22

Paths of glory, is good, the Lew Ayres version of All quiet... is also to be recommended, I wouldn't say its slow, but is very powerful. The Daniel Craig film is 'The Trench' screenplay by William Boyd, also a book by him 'An ice cream war' set in Africa but a good read.

I have The trench somewhere on video if thats any use to you, also a set of contemporary stereograms, PM me if they might be of use.

**skid2** · 17-05-2012, 21:17

BBCs Great War series out there somewhere. Channel 4 Strachans WW1. More than just the western front. Check Sky for a movie called 'The Trench' from what I remember it was cleaner looking than most kitchens.

**AIRBORNEJOCK** · 17-05-2012, 22:38

Originally Posted by wolfskin

I can recommend Breaker Morant , a true story with Edward Woodward in the lead role.

Boer war not world war 1 .... Fail

**Grumblegrunt** · 17-05-2012, 22:51

nobody mentioned blackadder goes forth?

agreed on hill 60 and the original all quiet but the two EMR books 'all quiet' and 'the way back' are better for depth, the lost battalion isnt a bad film from the american perspective and is at least based on a true story with more believable minor actors.

there's a couple of documentary series out there in internet land from the 60's onwards and several decent standalone ones on the likes of haig.

**FroggyStyle** · 18-05-2012, 00:16

Whats wrong with the colour version of 'All quiet on the western front' with that john boy from the waltons and ernest cyborg or whatever his name was, we watched it in school and it captivated everybody. Also the Charge of the light brigade (Anzacs in Turkey not the old B & W Crimean war version) was a great film as a sprog. The Trench was fucking gash, and war horse is beef as fuck and a total let down, considering steven 'Private ryan' spiels had a hand in it.

**King_of_the_Burpas** · 18-05-2012, 00:40

Speaking of colour, although not a drama, I would recommend the series "WW1 in Colour", written by Simon Berthon. It includes superb archive film, covers campaigns well beyond the Flanders fields, includes interviews with Old Contemptibles like Harry Patch and avoids too much of the "move him into the sun" stuff.

Armchair generals here might consider it a little 'O' Levelish, but it's a good primer. It's on the National Disco Channel at the mo, but it might be Amazoned as well.

World War 1 In Colour - Complete TV Series [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Kenneth Branagh: Film & TV

It's only £6 for the whole series. Money well spent, imho.

**SUU23** · 18-05-2012, 01:03

Originally Posted by Grumblegrunt

nobody mentioned blackadder goes forth?

agreed on hill 60 and the original all quiet but the two EMR books 'all quiet' and 'the way back' are better for depth, the lost battalion isnt a bad film from the american perspective and is at least based on a true story with more believable minor actors.

there's a couple of documentary series out there in internet land from the 60's onwards and several decent standalone ones on the likes of haig.

If he's off to Ypres (Most do) then Hill 60 is an ideal primer. Stand on one side of the road and imagine Fritz on the other side of the road,

Passendaele although a bit soppy gives an insight to mud. As my mate found when he walked through a field to a blockhouse behind Langemark

**Grumblegrunt** · 18-05-2012, 01:14

at 14 I remember watching all quiet on c4 (i think) at silly oclock so I hunted out the books which gave a good reality check to all the nam and sven hassel books. they repeated the world at war soon after.

in this weather I'd stick him in the garden for a week or two sleeping a great coat and just feed him on biscuits brown, corned beef and sugarless tea. a few fleas would help the dramatic effect.

the finnish winterwar film is a good one for realism which I think is probably more important than the actual time period as being shelled in a trench is the same now as it was then.

**Grumblegrunt** · 18-05-2012, 01:22

Originally Posted by FroggyStyle

Whats wrong with the colour version of 'All quiet on the western front' with that john boy from the waltons and ernest cyborg or whatever his name was, we watched it in school and it captivated everybody. Also the Charge of the light brigade (Anzacs in Turkey not the old B & W Crimean war version) was a great film as a sprog. The Trench was fucking gash, and war horse is beef as fuck and a total let down, considering steven 'Private ryan' spiels had a hand in it.

saw both as a kid and the later one the other week, I reckon black and white watched in the dark has a better effect than the colour version just like the old BW ww2 films or the seven samurai for example are more powerfull films because you can concentrate on the characters rather than the visual experience. the various versions of zatoichi show this quite well. imagine the cruel sea in colour or watch a bridge too far in BW.

mind you I grew up with black and white portable tv's and its drawbacks like snooker but its good to be able to appreciate a film for its content rather then its colour.