David Ridgus Posted 8 June , 2014 Share Posted 8 June , 2014 Oddly enough, I don't feel as pleased at the news as I thought I would be. Still just very disappointed and annoyed at such a missed opportunity. I hope the latest version of Testament of Youth will be better. http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2014/testament-of-youth When is this due to be aired, does anyone know? Can't seem to find anything giving a date. Caryl It's a BBC Films production so I think it's aimed at a Cinema release in 2015. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarylW Posted 8 June , 2014 Share Posted 8 June , 2014 Caryl It's a BBC Films production so I think it's aimed at a Cinema release in 2015. David Oh I see - thanks David. I'd no idea the BBC made films for cinema release. Thought it was going to be another series. I noticed that the original series of Testament of Youth, that was supposed to have been hugely popular at the time, is on youtube. The youtube segments are very short and although numbered 1/6, 2/6 etc., I found it hard to find the correct order. I watched the first one, then the second part had jumped forward. No idea if it's all there or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ridgus Posted 8 June , 2014 Share Posted 8 June , 2014 Caryl The recent film about Dickens and the latest adaptation of Great Expectations were both BBC Films productions. It is going to need some plot trimming to fit all the action into a film. The original with Cheryl Campbell is available for under a tenner at Amazon if you don't want to pick your way around YouTube. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoshi1912 Posted 10 June , 2014 Share Posted 10 June , 2014 As a staff nurse by trade and as someone interested in the Great War, The Crimson Fields piqued my interest on two fronts. However, like many have already expressed, the programme was a big disappointment. Dreary, cheesy, nonsense. However, two links in this thread (thank you Slick63 and CarylW) supplied very interesting viewing on the subject of VADs and nursing during WW1. A shame the Beeb got it so wrong as it (TCF) could have been so good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoppage Drill Posted 10 June , 2014 Share Posted 10 June , 2014 You know what really would make a terrific drama about a Casualty Clearing Station ? "Private Lord Crawford's Great War Diaries". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Ridgus Posted 10 June , 2014 Share Posted 10 June , 2014 You know what really would make a terrific drama about a Casualty Clearing Station ? "Private Lord Crawford's Great War Diaries". And/or 'A surgeon in Khaki'David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Light Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 You know what really would make a terrific drama about a Casualty Clearing Station ? "Private Lord Crawford's Great War Diaries". And/or 'A surgeon in Khaki' David But that then completely ignores the women's perspective, which was the whole point of The Crimson Field - a very rare chance to give a nod to the fact that women did a professional job in France Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 I have been perusing F.A.N.Y. Invicta by Irene Ward, there are stories there about their activities during WW1 that would make fantastic television. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Light Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 There are stories everywhere about women in general and nurses in particular that would make good television. The problem is that the writers and producers don't think them worthy enough without changing, manipulating and adding to them until they're unrecognisable - exactly as has been done in TCF. If you read the current online comments by the programme's supporters it's evident that they love it and have swallowed it hook, line and sinker. The truth will never be exciting enough for film and TV in today's climate of 'extreme drama.' Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yoshi1912 Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 There are stories everywhere about women in general and nurses in particular that would make good television. The problem is that the writers and producers don't think them worthy enough without changing, manipulating and adding to them until they're unrecognisable - exactly as has been done in TCF. If you read the current online comments by the programme's supporters it's evident that they love it and have swallowed it hook, line and sinker. The truth will never be exciting enough for film and TV in today's climate of 'extreme drama.' Sue It annoys me that the women in TCF (and in many other dramas) always are troubled and escaping from something or other, usually a broken heart or wicked stepmother etc. It can't possible be that most of the VADs and the nursing sisters went to do a professional job and give the men the highest standards of care and not to escape from anything. Only just noticed the link to your excellent website 'Scarlet Finders'. It looks very interesting and I will enjoy reading through this resource. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 There are stories everywhere about women in general and nurses in particular that would make good television. <snip> The truth will never be exciting enough for film and TV in today's climate of 'extreme drama.' Perhaps what we need, then, is a factual documentary programme/series about WW1 nursing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Light Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 This short video has been made by Jonathan Trace/Christine Hallett for a pitch to TV companies, but no idea whether it's been picked up by anyone. Rather averse to 'Angels' but that's just a personal niggle Angels of No Man's Land Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 Hopefully it's just a working title, Sue, as I don't much care for the 'of No Man's Land' element either, which transparently echoes 'The Roses of No Man's Land'. I don't think nurses ventured into No Man's Land very often, although Elsie Knocker does recount, in 'Flanders and Other Fields', how she and Mairi Chisholm would go out into NML at Pervyse to recover the bodies of downed airmen .... by local arrangement with the Germans, provided they wore nursing head-dress to identify themselves and did not attempt to retrieve anything of military value from the aircraft. I wonder if Jonathan and Christine have approached Wall to Wall, who make WDYTYA and also made Ian Hislop's 'Not Forgotten' series, which included an episode entitled 'Women', which featured Elsie and Mairi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelBully Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 Well said Sue - I think that it would be far more interesting to have a TV version of 'A Diary Without Dates ' by Enid Bagnold as one example. What the TCF apologists are doing is effectively marginalising the women who served by making out that their stories aren't 'dramatic' enough which is quite demeaning. There are stories everywhere about women in general and nurses in particular that would make good television. The problem is that the writers and producers don't think them worthy enough without changing, manipulating and adding to them until they're unrecognisable - exactly as has been done in TCF. If you read the current online comments by the programme's supporters it's evident that they love it and have swallowed it hook, line and sinker. The truth will never be exciting enough for film and TV in today's climate of 'extreme drama.' Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seaJane Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 What the TCF apologists are doing is effectively marginalising the women who served by making out that their stories aren't 'dramatic' enough which is quite demeaning. Hear very Hear, Michael! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoppage Drill Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 But that then completely ignores the women's perspective, which was the whole point of The Crimson Field - a very rare chance to give a nod to the fact that women did a professional job in France Sue Crawford didn't ignore them - but his opinions may not be what you would like. The Beeb would probably go into a tailspin too. However, he was no mysoginist and his views were, at least, contemporary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 ... If you read the current online comments by the programme's supporters it's evident that they love it and have swallowed it hook, line and sinker... Sue On IMDB 478 viewers gave it an average rating of 8.3 (out of 10), which is high. Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Light Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 Crawford didn't ignore them - but his opinions may not be what you would like. The Beeb would probably go into a tailspin too. And I feel sure that exactly the same might be said of the trained nurse's view of RAMC orderlies - unfortunately they have rarely done so - it's their view which is in such short supply and consequently has a tendency to get fabricated. Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue Light Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 Hopefully it's just a working title, Sue, as I don't much care for the 'of No Man's Land' element either, which transparently echoes 'The Roses of No Man's Land'. I don't think nurses ventured into No Man's Land very often, although Elsie Knocker does recount, in 'Flanders and Other Fields', how she and Mairi Chisholm would go out into NML at Pervyse to recover the bodies of downed airmen .... by local arrangement with the Germans, provided they wore nursing head-dress to identify themselves and did not attempt to retrieve anything of military value from the aircraft. I wonder if Jonathan and Christine have approached Wall to Wall, who make WDYTYA and also made Ian Hislop's 'Not Forgotten' series, which included an episode entitled 'Women', which featured Elsie and Mairi. And I tend to think that none of the 22,000 trained members of the British nursing services saw anything of No Man's Land until after the Armistice. I hope to get an update on it soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulgranger Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 stop Press! It's been axed.No further series will be made. RRadio Times today Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 Oh what a shock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 Read all about it. Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auchonvillerssomme Posted 11 June , 2014 Share Posted 11 June , 2014 My wife is disappointed, she really enjoyed it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonraker Posted 12 June , 2014 Share Posted 12 June , 2014 A couple more goofs noted on IMDB: Reggie Soper is addressed as 'sergeant' throughout the series, but wears the rank of a staff sergeant (three stripes and a crown, as opposed to the three stripes only of a sergeant) and should therefore be addressed (given that he is is the Royal Army Medical Corps) as 'staff'. Though, as he is in charge of the quartermaster stores, he would usually be addressed as 'Q'. Purbright is listed as a full colonel and referred to as Brett's senior officer, yet they both wear the rank of a lieutenant (half) colonel. Moonraker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiegeGunner Posted 12 June , 2014 Share Posted 12 June , 2014 If the Beeb is not commissioning a second series, someone should step in sharpish and acquire the wooden huts that were constructed for the series. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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