WWII Films - British made

Listening to Weston talk about his experience, he came across to me as a straight forward and ordinary soldier. However, dealing with his rehab, 73 operations for 46% burns I believe, and coming to terms with the rest of his life must have been an enormous mountain. Especially as he had the capability to kill himself, which some disabled don’t.

No.9

 

Very welcome Otto.

Probably going to be tough now to find appropriate additions, but I’m sure there are some. Perhaps there could be a thread of German films?

No.9

 

One you missed No.9, 'A Matter of Life and Death', not really a 'war film', but set during the war and with a very interesting subject.

 

Hi,
You guys missed out "Squadron 992", made by the GPO Film Unit about an RAF Barrage Balloon Unit defending the Forth Bridge. It uses a recreation of the air raid of 16th October 1939, but using captured He111's instead of the real life JU88A-1's. Directed by Harry Watt, it was released in 1940.
My favourite bit is when we see an RAF type knocking on a cottage door in North Queensferry. Next scene, this old dear tells her husband "There's a chap from the Air Force wants to know if he can put a Barrage Balloon in our garden"-brilliant!

Regards,
Gordon

[ 06. January 2004, 07:49 AM: Message edited by: The_Historian ]

 

Ah well....
Does anyone know if a definitive guide to old British war movies has been printed yet?
I remember asking in my local Waterstones a few years ago, and after the assistant ferretted but came up empty-handed, he commented about how surprising it was.
I've seen quite a few (courtesy of having an old man who saw them first time round ), but I would still like to get my hands on THE authoritative guide to the genre.

 

Not sure whether you'd call it a definitive guide, Gordon - but the best I've come across so far is 'British Cinema And The Second World War' by Robert Murphy ( Continuum, 2000 ).

It's perhaps more a work of scholarly discussion, but nonetheless it's thorough ( ie it includes 'The Dam Busters', '633 Squadron' and 'Where Eagles Dare' ! ) and is a fascinating read.

 

Cheers Martin!
I'll keep an eye out for it.

 

Some good stuff available on DVD like the Danger UXB series from Thames Television.

Also, go here for the British War Collection
http://www.dvdempire.com/exec/v4_item.asp?item_id=662775
If it doesn't load for you just seach for British War
This DVD collection includes:
The Cruel Sea
The Ship That Died Of Shame
Went The Day Well
The Dam Busters
The Colditz Story

Due for release on March 22

 

Ah, BRILLIANT!!!!!!!!
Got all those on video, but the tapes are a couple of decades old

 

my 2 favourite british made ww2 movies are 'A bridge too far' and 'Enemy at the gates'(everyone has an english accent so i presume its english made).

 

Being picky here, but 'A Bridge Too Far' was a joint USA/UK production ( with US money - MGM ) and 'Enemy At The Gates' was actually a joint USA/German/Ireland/UK production ( with the money from Paramount ).

 

THEIRS IS THE GLORY

Rank shot this movie on the ruins of Arnhem in 1946 with the original Arnhem vets as themselves....In my opinion you don't get a more striking English made movie about WW2 than that one....

 

'On the fiddle' with a young Sean Connery. I Used to see a lot of these old films when I was studying in Aberdeen.

' I pity the man who hears the pipes and isna scotsman ' Classic line from the red beret.