The World at War



It is very good. I would like to see the documentary about the First World War narrated by Michael Redgrave - another classic.
 
Johnap said:
It is very good. I would like to see the documentary about the First World War narrated by Michael Redgrave - another classic.
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The BBC screened the 1st few episodes in 2014. Thought they would screen the rest during last year, but nowt. Disappointed.
 
Son of Stan said:
Used to fill me with dread when I was young. Some harrowing footage. Narrated by Lawrence Olivier iirc.
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Was compulsory viewing in our house on a Sunday afternoon in the seventies. Should be compulsory viewing in school.
Funny looking back at how Daaaaaahling Larry used his actorrrrr’s luvvie intonations for the commentary:

[Stentorian bellow]
THE GERMANS EXPECTED TO BE CELEBRATING CHTISTMAS IN MOSCOW, BUT THEN ...

[wimpy, reedy whine]
Winter came!

hillbillyblackcat said:
Superb series. Helped greatly that it was made back in the 70s when so many of the important figures where still around to be interviewed.
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Aye this makes it unsurpassable IMO. Even if they had Burns on the job for a new documentary and enhanced hi def imagery, they’ll never be able to round up all those old boys for their first hand recollections.
 
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Possibly the best opening narrative to any programme ever made. I still get a shiver down my spine when I read or hear it.

"Down this road on a summer day in 1944, the soldiers came. Nobody lives here now. They stayed only a few hours. When they had gone, the community, which had lived for a thousand years, was dead. This is Oradour-sur-Glane, in France. The day the soldiers came, the people were gathered together. The men were taken to garages and barns, the women and children were led down this road, and they were driven into this church. Here, they heard the firing as their men were shot. Then they were killed too. A few weeks later, many of those who had done the killing were themselves dead, in battle. They never rebuilt Oradour. Its ruins are a memorial. Its martyrdom stands for thousands upon thousands of other martyrdoms in Poland, in Russia, in Burma, China, in a world at war."
 
Son of Stan said:
Used to fill me with dread when I was young. Some harrowing footage. Narrated by Lawrence Olivier iirc.
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I watched the last lot of repeats on Yesterday and noticed that the powers that be have cut some scenes from the original series.

Nothing like hiding reality.

The Lambton Worm said:
Possibly the best opening narrative to any programme ever made. I still get a shiver down my spine when I read or hear it.

"Down this road on a summer day in 1944, the soldiers came. Nobody lives here now. They stayed only a few hours. When they had gone, the community, which had lived for a thousand years, was dead. This is Oradour-sur-Glane, in France. The day the soldiers came, the people were gathered together. The men were taken to garages and barns, the women and children were led down this road, and they were driven into this church. Here, they heard the firing as their men were shot. Then they were killed too. A few weeks later, many of those who had done the killing were themselves dead, in battle. They never rebuilt Oradour. Its ruins are a memorial. Its martyrdom stands for thousands upon thousands of other martyrdoms in Poland, in Russia, in Burma, China, in a world at war."
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The final episode 'Remember' gets me every time.
 
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