What is your favourite film (movie) that fits in with the theme of this site (first 20-ish years of the 20th century). Choose just one, please. I know it's tough to narrow it down - that's the point.
"Many Wars Ago/Uomini Contro" is No.1 for me. "Joyeux Noel" is good too, and I thought that "Nicholas and Alexandra" was decent. (Don't take the last two into consideration, its just a statement)
-- Edited by Hughbearson on Wednesday 29th of September 2010 04:27:44 PM
Probably the 1930 movie of "All Quiet on the Western Front" based on Erich Maria Remarque's book. I see from imdb that there's remake in the pipeline - scheduled for release in 2012.
Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" is certainly worth a look imho.
Hi Charlie, isn't there a remake with Richard Thomas in it? Might be only released on dvd.
there's a tv? film starring David Jason ("Jack Frost") about a regiment that 'disappeared' at Gallipoli. I've forgotten the name, but it was a moving story. It's difficult to pick just one favourite film as there are a few nice ones.
Kieffer
-- Edited by kieffer on Thursday 30th of September 2010 06:17:47 AM
kieffer wrote:...there's a tv? film starring David Jason ("Jack Frost") about a regiment that 'disappeared' at Gallipoli. I've forgotten the name, but it was a moving story.
thank you Steve! Dr. Alzheimer has little mercy on me as film titles always slip from my memory. Strangely enough names of actors and the story itself remain in the brain. Kirk Douglas in a ww1 movie..the title? (I did not like that movie too much as the 'French' were talking English).
Kieffer
-- Edited by kieffer on Thursday 30th of September 2010 07:03:51 AM
kieffer wrote:Kirk Douglas in a ww1 movie..the title? (I did not like that movie too much as the 'French' were talking English).
Paths of Glory (1957). This is not fair - people are mentioning other films, one way or another.
If I was to do such a thing, I would probably mention Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and For King and Country (1964). It's not just the film(s) of course, it's the circumstance, and the company. Zhivago, I was very young, we had received our warning orders we were about to go off on active service, there was this girl ... For King and Country, I was in Corps training at that time (a little earlier, another city), there was this girl ... Lawrence - that was before I was conscripted even. There was this girl ...
-- Edited by Rectalgia on Thursday 30th of September 2010 07:13:32 AM
For what its worth . My favorite WW1 film is Wooden Crosses by Raymond Bernard. I think its about the closest anyone has got to the Western Front. With real Great War veterans acting in it . The battle scenes filmed with shaky documentry style camera work and the attack in the graveyard, strong stuff.
Just to be cheeky, All Quiet On The Western Front with Lew Ayres is a very close second. Then there's the SOMME and ANCRE Films for the real faces of the men that were there. Saw the Battle of the Ancre at the cinema last year with the original piano score , very moving(hence the painting). Sorry thats four films, I'll shut up now.
Are there many Russian WWI films (Done in the stlye of combat, rather than a Nickie & Alex/Zhivago) that aren't October, 10 days .etc or that other early Soviet I forget the name of?
You may mean "10 days that shook the world" (1928) directed by Sergei Eisenstein of "Battleship Potemkin" fame. I haven't seen this but read the book of the same name by John Reed.
Well, yes, the "Etc." meant "-that shook the world". I tried watching it online, but my adolecent attention span didn't let me go the whole way through.
Well another great is the Welsh film of Hedd Wyn he was a famous bard, and won the National Eisteddfod at Birkenhead. He had been killed at Ypres so coul;d not collect his prize. The film was down for "best foriegn film at the Oscars. The most telling bits are when there the Welsh soldiers who can't understand the officers on account of the fact they couldn't speak English
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Balders ???? It was funded by S4C etc, with the Oscar bit Catherine Zeta Jones and Anthony Hopkins really pushed for it but to no avail,I think some Spanish film got the Oscar with Hedd Wyn coming 3. I have got the film on video if someone could explain how you put that on disc I could pass it on.
Why is James calling you Baldrick in such a familiar tone? Well, none of my business. As PDA says you need an automagical whatnot, aka "a common analog video card" according to this handy guide - Transfer Video To Disc. Common? Never heard of it and didn't understand a word of the 'guide', despite it obviously being British (author can spell "disc"). Well, I understood the "the"s and "and"s.
But yes, it can be done and it's as simple as falling off a log. Apparently.
Rectalgia wrote:Why is James calling you Baldrick in such a familiar tone?
You misunderstand. It is a form of affectionate and mildly humorous abbreviation popularised by the late Brian Johnston and a relic of his public school days. It is perpetuated on Test Match Special - Johnners, Aggers, Blowers, etc. Non Baldrick sed Balders. That's yer actual Latin.
I should have realised that, as a Welshman, Balders would have no knowledge of cricket.
Apologies for any offence caused.
-- Edited by James H on Friday 8th of October 2010 01:38:23 PM
__________________
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
You misunderstand. It is a form of affectionate and mildly humorous abbreviation popularised by the late Brian Johnstone and a relic of his public school days. It is perpetuated on Test Match Special - Johnners, Aggers, Blowers, etc.
Ah, thank heavens, like Davo, Johnno, etc. Of course the thought occurred (only to be instantly dismissed) that you had elevated his to the status of a Nordic diety. The most handsome of the gods was born to Frigg and Odin. He was named Balder (also known as Baldur). He was a god of truth and light. Balder was also knowledgeable in healing herbs and runes, which made him a favorite among the people of Midgard.
Print it, read it, then throw it in the waggers paggers baggers.
__________________
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
I've just remembered this. Saw a film on TV in a hotel room, but missed the beginning. It's about a German soldier who is disabled in the War and returns home. He can't get a job because he's lost a limb; his wife leaves him when their money runs out; he gets evicted from his flat because he can't pay the rent; he is pushed around by civilians who haven't been in the army; and he ends up having to take a job as an attendant in a public toilet. I won't tell you the ending, but it's not a happy one. It was a German film, and relatively recent - maybe 1980s. Does this mean anything to anyone.
Much weirder is a black and white one I saw many years ago, about a WWI soldier who has been so severely wounded that he has lost all his limbs and can't see or speak. He's just a torso, lying on a table in the middle of a room with his face covered with a cloth. The nurse who is detailed to look after him tries to communicate with him somehow. That's all I can remember, except that there aren't many laughs in it. It's certainly not Up The Front, which I'm surprised no one has mentioned.
__________________
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
I've just remembered this. Saw a film on TV in a hotel room, but missed the beginning. It's about a German soldier who is disabled in the War and returns home. He can't get a job because he's lost a limb; his wife leaves him when their money runs out; he gets evicted from his flat because he can't pay the rent; he is pushed around by civilians who haven't been in the army; and he ends up having to take a job as an attendant in a public toilet. I won't tell you the ending, but it's not a happy one. It was a German film, and relatively recent - maybe 1980s. Does this mean anything to anyone.
Much weirder is a black and white one I saw many years ago, about a WWI soldier who has been so severely wounded that he has lost all his limbs and can't see or speak. He's just a torso, lying on a table in the middle of a room with his face covered with a cloth. The nurse who is detailed to look after him tries to communicate with him somehow. That's all I can remember, except that there aren't many laughs in it. It's certainly not Up The Front, which I'm surprised no one has mentioned.
I haven't seen as many WWI films as I should've, but from I don't think that Paschendael is very good. I has that stupid "Hold...*enemy comes closer* Hold...*enemy comes closer* Hold...*enemy comes closer* Hold...*enemy comes closer*... NOW!" *Bangbangbangexplosionspeopledyingcloseupviolence* thing in it which has been done to death in war films.
Westfront 1918 was rather bizarre. I think that it is in German Expressionist style. Did like it though.
Talking of hospial dramas, Officer's Ward is well worth a viewing.
[url]http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0273148/[url/]
It headed up this string, but A Very Long Enagement gets my vote as well. The warm browns, reds and yellows of home contrasting with the blues and greys of the battlefield. Sumptious movie making.
Apart from Dr Zhivago, one of my all time favorites is "Blackadder goes forth", even though that's not a movie. The best scene is when captain Darling shows general Melchett a table covered with mud, depicting the land they conquered that day at the cost of thousands of lifes. Upon general Melchett's question what scale it is, captain Darling replies it's full scale... Very funny, but also frighteningly close to reality.