WW1 Television Documentary

R

ridingroanhorses

New member
Has anyone been watching the "First World War" series on the military
channel? For me, it's the best account of the Great War since the CBS
version of 1964-65 (I know that's probably before your time, in many
cases, but is has been replayed from time to time).

The footage of the war on the Eastern Front is amazing !!!
 
Wow Rino groaning hoarse, you had a TV in the 60s, we were still watching radio.
Zaphod
 
"moderately" humorous,as usual, Zaphod, or whatever your hormones
dictate you shuld become this day.

When your done making mental farts born out of insecurity, lack of education &/or sheer ignorance, prehaps you could, for once, contribute positively to any one of the topics listed.

That is the purpose of the Forum. Enjoy your radio, Getstuffed !!
 
Hello RRH,
You raise a good point, but this is a friendly forum, I apologize if my corruption of your name caused offence, I tend to read things wrong when words are run together. Let's try to keep our writings civil
Gus
 
Gustaf,

Please accept my deepest apologies !!! Your humor seems quite "biting"
@ times, but from now on I'll accept this with no problem. Well, as long
as you allow me to retort with some of my own !!! One of the problems
with email is that all you receive is the sender's monologue, not his/her
facial expressions as well. Once again, I'm very sorry indeed !!!

By the way, which movie version of Remarque's "All Quiet on the Western Front" did you prefer; the original 1930 or the 1979 remake.

RRH
 
Hi RRH
Your apologie is accepted, and I agree that the written word is a very poor way to communicate at times, the use of emoticons helps to a degree, but I am not inclined to use them (I got moderated for using a naughty one that I did not understand). I do not intend to be "biting" in my comments, and for that I apologise.
As for as Äll Quiet on the Western Front" I have to go with the 1930s version, there is a bit of melodrama in the acting style common to the time, but I found that it was easer to deal with than the Hollywood found in the 79 version. The notion that an aircraft would waste bombs on two soldiers bugged me, and there was something about the butterfly scene that bothered me too, but for the life of me I can not remember why (a blow to the head this summer has caused some memory problems).
Best wishes
Gus
 
I agree. While benefiting from technical advancements made over the
course of 40-some years, the later version lacks the impact of the original
Playing the role of Paul Baumer so impressed Lew Ayres that he became a conscientious objector at the start of WW2.
 
Playing the role of Paul Baumer so impressed Lew Ayres that he became a conscientious objector at the start of WW2.
Click to expand...
I did not know that, you learn something new every day.

I remembered that point I disliked in the 79 version, The 30 version had Paul reaching for a butterfly when he was killed, but the Hollywood version had him drawing a bird, I felt that Hollywood was making a statement that his death was a greater loss because he was an artist.
Best wishes
Gus
 
The 1930 ending was akin to the book - Baumer collected butterflies.

The 1979 version does show the Kaiser's review of the troops, as
described in the text. The author, Erich Maria Remarque, actually
participated in such a review while doing his stint in the War. There's
a great march in that scene, played as the Kaiser arrives. I've collected
dozens of tapes & discs over the past 20 years, & I still can't find it!

Remarque wrote a second novel, about a Wehrmacht soldier (played by
John Gavin) on the Eastern Front during the next war. Remarque has a
small role in the picture, as a former professor of the soldier, now in hiding for his anti-fascist rhetoric.

Remarque himself lived in Hollywood, marrying actress Paulette Goddard
(twice, I think). I recall her saying that the Great War, among other things, made him very difficult to live with
 
Gustaf said:
but this is a friendly forum
Click to expand...
Before Mickey Mouse there was George E. Studdy's Bonzo the Dog. Does anyone recall the little guy?

Bonzo.jpg


Looking back on the original subject of this thread, I thought it worthy to point out the companion book for the Channel Four documentary by Hew Strachan. If you have a Half Price Books in your area, the clothbound edition can be obtained for $14.98. It is also available in paperback from Penguin for $16.00

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743239598/qid=1137800117/sr=8-17/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i17_xgl14/103-4383657-1375838?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

As for AQOTWF, Lewis Milestone's 1930 version reigns supreme. Sound films were still in their infancy when it was made, yet all the cinematic artistry of silent film was employed in the visualization of Remarque's novel. Bear in mind, most sound pictures of this period were painfully static and frequently required actors to speak into microphones hidden in potted plants and other props on set.

Raymond Griffith, a celebrated silent film comedian, portrayed the French soldier in the shell hole with Lew Ayres. Griffith suffered from a throat condition which prevented his speaking above a whisper. He utters not one word of dialogue, yet his performance is unforgettable. AQOTWF was the last film he acted in.

Louis Wolheim, who portrayed Katczinsky, was a product of Cornell University and spoke four languages fluently. He died of stomach cancer in 1931 at the age of fifty-one.

I didn't mean to go off topic and bore you with trivia, but movies are my thing. I'll take Lew Ayres over John Boy any day of the week.

A Time to Love and a Time to Die is the John Gavin film RRH mentioned. However, there was a direct sequel to AQOTWF, The Road Back (1938).

Chas.
 
Riding, I believe the march you are referring to is the Praesenteirmarsch, which would be correct, but I will have to watch the movie again to be sure. I know it's one I've heard before, and have in my collection. It is a stirring scene, (the best in the movie as far as I'm concerned) with the troops shouting "Hoch! Hoch! Hoch!" in unison as the Kaiser arrives. I seem to recall that it was filmed in Czechoslovakia, and the Europeans would know about these details.
My favorite WW1 flick is Westfront 1918, made around 1930. The sound is primitive, but it is still a powerful film, full of trivial details that were common knowledge at the time, but have since been lost. Check out the trench scene where "the Bavarian" is singing a little ditty while picking cooties out of his writlets. Not to mention "the Lieutenant" wearing a 1918 cut out steel helmet, which to a German of that era would symbolize 1918. Neat stuff! Steve
 
Congratulations to both Gus and Riding for settling their initial differences like real gentlemen. This seems to be a lost art these days. Consequently, we got into a very interesting thread. I have both copies of AQOTWF. I have read the book half a dozen times. I show the "John Boy" version to my students as it is in colour and has a less dated sound quality. I love the older version because of the authenticity of the helmets and uniforms. I wonder what Hollywood did with these bits of war surplus once they were done? One book that I would recommend to all is Ghosts Have Warm Hands by Will Bird. I have read this book probablya dozen times. Bird was a Canadian who served in the 48th Highlander CEF Black Watch. He writes very well and went on after the war to make his living as an author. A movie should be made from this book but of course this will probably never happen.
Here is a paraphrased account from the book......Bird and his platoon are sent out one night to lay bath mats (duck boards) accross the mud. The wood is new and shines in the moon light giving away their position. The Germans send over a volley of shells. The men are like ants each with an 8 ft section of mat carrying it to the head of the line flopping it down and then scurrying away as the shells fall. A fresh salvo comes over, Bird and another man are blown off the duckboards and into the mud, buried alive. Luckily for Bird although he can not move or cry out he is buried with his nose pressed up against the open breach of his rifle. The rifle acts as a snorkel so that he can breathe. He hears his comrades debating amongst themselves as to whether to bother to try and dig out Bird and the other man. Fortunately, they decide to dig. Bird survives thanks to his rifle but the other man is found dead in the mud. This is a great book that has been recently reprinted and is available at Chapters. Bird was awarded the MM for actions he completed at the capture of Mons during the last of the 100 days. He was an excellent shot with the rifle grenade. Another good book....The Suicide Battalion. Here you can read about how Sgt Hugh Cairns won the Victoria Cross. Regards, Brian
 
I liked both movies. As far as the books are concerned. I would give a tremendous plug to Jack Sheldon's latest book. It is only the first two years of the war, though and only in one area. This book really delivered for me.

1844152693

Put this number above into the Amazon.com search box on my site. It should bring you right to the book and you can read a review that someone put up there. If you decide to order. It is $31.50 from Amazon and $45 from Barnes & Noble. Same book.
 
OK boys, If we are going to get off topic and talk about books, my favorite books are Arnold Zweig's for part trilogy (I know, don't tell me, it is not my fault Herr Zweig could not count) starting with "Young Woman of 1914", "The Case of Sergeant Grisha", "Crowning of a King" and "Education before Verdun".
Maggie and I just returned form Utah, where I attended yet one more gun show (that makes 3 in 3 weeks) I am out of money and did not buy anything there, but I did pick up a nice M1886-93 Lebel that I purchased last week.
Back to books, "Storm of Steel" is a very worthy book too.
Gus
 
Speaking of books, has anyone else here read a book called "A German Deserter's War Experience" by Anonymous? It was published by Heubsch in 1917, and is one of the most spectacular war books I've read. It is a first person account by a Pioneer, giving his account of the Ausmarsch in 1914, through the fall of 1915 when he deserted. The author was a Socialist and sometimes gets on a soapbox, but it's by far the most vivid and detailed first person account from the German side I've ever seen. I much prefer it to "Storm of Steel". I first read it 40 years ago and it's still one of my most treasured volumes.
Steve
 
Steve I just ordered it from Abe books. Lots of copies listed for sale. Interesting that it went to 4 printings so someone else must have liked it. Author was J. Koetgen . Thanks! Junger is hailed by many and there is no question of his bravery. He is a bit too much of a hero for me. I identify with the terror filled folks in Sheldon's book.
 
Brian,

Just a little note. I don't believe that the 15th Bn. 48th Highlanders of Canada were affiliated with the Black Watch. They wore the Davidson tartan kilt. I think it was the Royal Highlanders (13th and 42nd battalions) that wore the Blackwatch kilt and cap badge. :)

Chip
 
Vielen Dank, Otto !!! That's the scene!!! For me as well, it's the best
scene in the movie !!! Recalling the book, the soldiers were given fresh
uniforms prior to the Kaiser's arrival, which had to be returned immediately following the ceremony.

Say, Epsomgreen, I'm sure you've seen those movie shorts using four-legged friends (dogs, not horses) dressed-up in WW1 garb. My Dad told
me about them many times, along with still-vivid descriptions of HIS
favorite movie, Wings. I didn't believe him until one day they appeared on the TNT channel.

Before I forget, one & all, please check this site out, if you haven't already, as a topic for future discussion. It's The Prussian Machine @
http://home.comcast.net/%7Ejcviser/index.htm/index.htm

And yes, Gustaf & I parted as gentleman should, but neither one of us
could resist the opportunity of a duel to be subsequently arranged - He
suggested machine-pistols @ 40 paces, I: a sabre charge on horseback
(Does anyone recall that great scene with Keith Carradine & Harvey
Keitel in "The Duellists"
 
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