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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Spielberg's '1917'


Mark Hone

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Having followed this thread, I have to admire the breadth of research undertaken by members of this forum.  Absolutely outstanding, in my opinion.

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2 hours ago, Interested said:

Having followed this thread, I have to admire the breadth of research undertaken by members of this forum.  Absolutely outstanding, in my opinion.

 

To be honest it is that and that only - details on such obscure items as the Cruise Visor - which keeps me signed in to this thread!

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That piece of contemporary documentation is excellent. Thank you very much for finding it. There seems to be no additional mention in munitions design and supply papers of Captain Cruise as the actual designer, and so it is illuminating to see the St Dunstan's 1917 article and not have to rely on unsubstantiated/unreferenced post-war labeling.

 

Brilliant find. Thanks again.

 

 

7 hours ago, George Rayner said:

No comment on the film...haven't seen it yet-but Cruise Visors appear here

  •  
NO LIGHTS.

NO LIGHTS.

Pearson has to tell, this month’s St. Dunstan s Review.” the Cruise visor. ” hope, he writes. that the number of cases of blinding at the front may steadily diminished the use of the Cruise visor. This is little curta.n of chain mail which is attached to
14 July 1917 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

 

find my Past

 

George

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Andrew,

Having noted subsequent posts to my above post, I think my earlier post may have been misleading in that it gives the impression that Bashford Dean sourced the information for his book in 1920.  It is perhaps obvious that the comments made by him relied on information sourced before publication of that book but, to clarify the position, in his preface dated July 20,1919  he comments:

"During my studies on the armor problem abroad (1917-1918) I received suggestions and critical help from members of the general staffs of British and French armies; through their friendly care I had the opportunity of meeting armor specialists and of securing data on experimental work and production.  Among those officers to whom I am especially indebted are................;  in London, Captain C.H Ley of the Ministry of Munitions, together with Captain I. St. C. Rose and Captain Leeming of the Trench Warfare Division; also to Mr. John McIntosh, director general of the  Munitions Equipment, and to Mr. W.A. Taylor in the Experimental Division of the Munitions Ministry to whose work I refer frequently in the following pages".  

I hope that clarifies the position.

Regards,

Michael.

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15 hours ago, Michael Haselgrove said:

...I hope that clarifies the position...

 

Thanks for the clarification Michael :)

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But what did we think of the film!!?? :-P 

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22 minutes ago, Toby Brayley said:

But what did we think of the film!!?? :-P 

What film ?:)

Edited by Black Maria
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I watched the film a couple of weeks ago and posted my comments then (overall enjoyed it, storyline weak). It's obviously been pulled apart and put back together in this thread. Last night I watched a film called Hacksaw Ridge. based on a true story of a CO medic serving in the Pacific in WW2. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was moved to investigate the real story of Desmond Doss. On reflection, it never occurred to me, whilst watching the film, to wonder how accurate the uniforms and weaponry were, how the officers addressed their men, whether or not the terrain was realistic or not. I just enjoyed it as a piece of cinema and as a testament to human courage. But now I wonder if there's a forum out there somewhere, where it too is being pulled to pieces for its inaccuracies, its dramatisation of the facts, etc? I'm just glad 1917 was made, appears to be commercially successful and, who knows, may encourage other Great War films to be made (with better storylines obviously). Just saying.....

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2 hours ago, simond9x said:

I watched the film a couple of weeks ago and posted my comments then (overall enjoyed it, storyline weak). It's obviously been pulled apart and put back together in this thread. Last night I watched a film called Hacksaw Ridge. based on a true story of a CO medic serving in the Pacific in WW2. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was moved to investigate the real story of Desmond Doss. On reflection, it never occurred to me, whilst watching the film, to wonder how accurate the uniforms and weaponry were, how the officers addressed their men, whether or not the terrain was realistic or not. I just enjoyed it as a piece of cinema and as a testament to human courage. But now I wonder if there's a forum out there somewhere, where it too is being pulled to pieces for its inaccuracies, its dramatisation of the facts, etc? I'm just glad 1917 was made, appears to be commercially successful and, who knows, may encourage other Great War films to be made (with better storylines obviously). Just saying.....

Absolutely agree 👍

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Finally saw it today. Not much to add to the many comments above. As entertainment it is visually very good, has plenty of suspense and action. Top marks. The first few minutes of moving through trenches and out into no man's land was terrific stuff. The basic premise of why the two were sent on their mission is just so far off the way things were and worked at that time that there was no need for the viewer to take it seriously.

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With regards to Hacksaw Ridge, the protagonist, Desmond Doss won the Bronze Star for bravery in the Battle of Guam and the Battle of Leyte.

 

A fundamental omission by Mel Gibson I thought.

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11 hours ago, Dai Bach y Sowldiwr said:

Behind a paywall unfortunately.

I did get this bit though....

 

Quote

But how real is 1917? Dr Jonathan Boff, history lecturer at the University of Birmingham and author of Winning and Losing on the Western Front, jokes that after coming out of the cinema he dubbed the film “Tommy Atkins and the Trenches of Doom” for its Indiana Jones-style adventure....

 

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Just now, slick63 said:

Behind a paywall unfortunately.

Yes, although the comments are visible, and it's quite interesting that those are virtually identical in content and balance to what has already been posted here on this thread.

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2 hours ago, Dai Bach y Sowldiwr said:

Yes, although the comments are visible, and it's quite interesting that those are virtually identical in content and balance to what has already been posted here on this thread.

Yes he notes all the faults  but praises the film generally, pointing out how grateful he was that it got made. My view exactly 

Edited by Rob Comber
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On 03/08/2019 at 21:49, seaJane said:

Journey's End was worth watching - at least, I thought so.

Agreed!

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On 11/01/2020 at 20:34, RichardsProductions99 said:

I was very excited to see the film, as I was lucky enough to be a background extra (as a Lance Corporal of the 2nd Battalion Devonshire Regiment) in the charge scene that features prominently in the trailers. An experience I shan't forget, going over the top to the eerie trench whistle and the thud of the explosions was exhilarating, moving (due to family links to the conflict) and just incredible in general. Advancing with Lee-Enfield (rep) and full webbing etc was as atmospheric as sitting in a trench full of khaki clad men smoking roll-ups etc.

 

Thank you for this! So interesting to hear views of an extra - always fascinated me.

I was intrigued how immersed you became in the experience; "exhilarating, moving".

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On 12/01/2020 at 13:18, Alan24 said:

Saw it this morning in Eastleigh for £4.99.

Excellent is all I can say, but then I'm no expert.

My GGF was killed on 12th April whilst his unit were following the Germans back to the Hindenburg Line at St.Quentin. Reports say it was bitterly cold and snowing.

Incidentally, his last diary entry was 6th April.

 

Alan.

"Bitterly cold and snowing" - most of the men in the film were wearing warm clothes; leather jerkins, scarves, mittens and so on. Particularly noted sheepskin worn under the tunic of officer at the ruined farm - but that was on the second viewing today ;) Blossom and light deceptive but not unrealistic given it was very early April IMO.

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On 12/01/2020 at 20:43, squirrel said:

Agree with you mate. The plot is far fetched, perhaps half remembered occurrences, a series of separate incidents run together to make one unlikely story. As you say, visually stunning and some excellent detail but I gave up attempting to see any reality about half an hour in.

There was a baby in one scene for a few minutes and a Mid Wife on the credits...the baby appeared to be several  weeks old..

Yes! I was delighted (as a midwife myself) to see 'midwifery consultant' on the credits of a Great War film; a weird convergence of my two lives...

Baby looked several months old IMO.. People have moaned about that scene but I think it worked. There were a lot of displaced local people - especially women - and it was good that these untold stories are told. I thought the scene was understated and moving without being mawkish - and it linked nicely with the photos Scofield carried of his family (seen at the end; miraculously unharmed by water but hey ho!)

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On 27/01/2020 at 08:49, Knotty said:

 

Already discussing such an idea in a pm with other Forum member it goes as follows.

 

My take on it is that once Spielberg gets an idea that works he will run with it, below I have worked out the draft scripts in typical “Hollywood” running order.

 

1914

Starts in countryside with plenty of farming shots,shire horses,and girl/boy relationships. WAR declared, patriotic scenes in pubs, all off to recruiting centres.

Some scenes of training then off to weepy scenes at dockside as the boys depart for FRANCE. CGI Battle scene of Mons, long khaki line firing like mad at hoards of “Jerries”. Red hot guns cast aside. Typical comments we must hold them lads from officers. Retreat back, then one final shoot out before with French help they dig trenches. What’s going to happen next year....roll credits

 

1918

Same cast, older dirtier, battle hardened , set in the trenches with improved visuals of the filth.  Man talking about the loved ones back home and those that had bought a Blighty wound, those that just disappeared. Overhead the Red German plane is single handedly shooting everything out the sky. Suddenly hundreds and thousands of CGI Germans appear, tommies are falling everywhere. Then as the Tommies all line up against a brick wall, in his last film appearance, Michael Caine as Haig shouts Front Rank Fire, this stops them in their tracks. Suddenly the cavalry in the shape of the AEF comes into view and turn the Germans around all the way back to the Rhine, Armistice declared and......roll credits

 

1916

Slight confusion with the cast as most are due to be killed off but are already in the previous film. Easily remedied, using CGI we just make more battle scenes to confuse. Men in trenches, saying it should have been over by Christmas. What are we going to do. Orders come through we must make a big push to be in Berlin. Many scenes of battle preparation, with young men. The allotted day arrives, big explosion, looking like Hawthorn, cue 45 minutes of explosions and destruction, many lead actors loose life & limb. Across no mans land, scenes of Germans feeding machine gun belts, They turn and all end up back where they started.  News then comes in of a big sea battle where we lost our bloody ships. Final scene Parliament with mps asking is it worth it...yes...rule Britannia.....roll credits.

 

1915

 Nothing really happened this year as far as I can tell so will defer until a suitable script can be written

 

Bit tongue in cheek but it real does my head in, it’s not real and that’s what annoys me, it’s escapism in the form of a make believe film, how long will we keep commenting on it?

Brilliant !!!! Had me laughing out loud re Michael Cain's big scene 😄😄😄

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Just got in from this at my local cinema (30 people in a small theatre, no adverts, no phones, €5 a ticket). Found the plot totally ludicrous but managed to suspend my disbelief, at least until the river. But other aspects of the film were very good, such as the crossing of no man’s land and the trench scenes generally. Tension was well maintained and I had no problems with the acting and actors, despite the incongruities. By and large I think one should see it.

 

And yes, the Germans are rotten shots.

 

Cheers Martin B

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Got round to seeing it yesterday afternoon. £6.50 as we are mentioning prices. I thought it, as do many others, a very well made film. Again, as others have commented, if you know the Great War, there is a need to suspend disbelief, but that can be done. All in all, a good effort. I was especially impressed with the set dressing, and the trench scenes that were full of incidental business.

Happily, I read the whole of this thread after I had seen the film, so the spoilers didn't spoil it, but have a care , chaps and chappesses, there are those who may yet wish to see it, so don't give too much away. By the way, I also liked the recent 'Dunkirk' . Don't @me, as they say on Twitter.

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55 minutes ago, Alan24 said:

7 BAFTAs. 

These awards are not diverse enough. Too many for the same film! :ph34r::whistle:

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