40 years ago today (1 Viewer)

[Rob]

The first episode of the superb , remarkable and hugely influential 'The World At War' was first broadcast. With stark shocking film clips, interviews with veterans both ordinary soldiers and military leaders alike it set the standard for War documentary's in the future. Voiced by the incomparable Laurence Olivier and with a soundtrack that both haunts and stays in the memory it was hugely successful and at the time the most expensive tv series ever made.

I watched an episode last night entitled ' Pacific' and it is a brilliant example of my description above. Moving, horrific and riveting , it showed in graphic detail the horrors those young marines went through to help clear the Japanese from Islands such as Okinawa and Iwo Jima. How those young went home and tried to restart a normal life after what they'd been through I will never know.

This series is so good I wonder if it will ever be surpassed, or indeed if anyone will ever even try. The nearest anyone has come is the superb 'Great War' , made along very similar lines.

Rob

 

[lancer]

The first episode of the superb , remarkable and hugely influential 'The World At War' was first broadcast. With stark shocking film clips, interviews with veterans both ordinary soldiers and military leaders alike it set the standard for War documentary's in the future. Voiced by the incomparable Laurence Olivier and with a soundtrack that both haunts and stays in the memory it was hugely successful and at the time the most expensive tv series ever made.

I watched an episode last night entitled ' Pacific' and it is a brilliant example of my description above. Moving, horrific and riveting , it showed in graphic detail the horrors those young marines went through to help clear the Japanese from Islands such as Okinawa and Iwo Jima. How those young went home and tried to restart a normal life after what they'd been through I will never know.

This series is so good I wonder if it will ever be surpassed, or indeed if anyone will ever even try. The nearest anyone has come is the superb 'Great War' , made along very similar lines.

Rob

Most heartily agree. Just watched a few episodes the other day. Also, the unfortunate fact is the window of opportunity for someone to make this type of documentary is rapidly closing. It is 68 years since the end of the war and the vets numbers are shrinking daily. -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

It was 40 years ago today (or maybe 20 :wink2....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj2bmQ4P4cM

 

[theBaron]

The first episode of the superb , remarkable and hugely influential 'The World At War' was first broadcast. With stark shocking film clips, interviews with veterans both ordinary soldiers and military leaders alike it set the standard for War documentary's in the future. Voiced by the incomparable Laurence Olivier and with a soundtrack that both haunts and stays in the memory it was hugely successful and at the time the most expensive tv series ever made.

I watched an episode last night entitled ' Pacific' and it is a brilliant example of my description above. Moving, horrific and riveting , it showed in graphic detail the horrors those young marines went through to help clear the Japanese from Islands such as Okinawa and Iwo Jima. How those young went home and tried to restart a normal life after what they'd been through I will never know.

This series is so good I wonder if it will ever be surpassed, or indeed if anyone will ever even try. The nearest anyone has come is the superb 'Great War' , made along very similar lines.

Rob

I fully agree, Rob. I remember seeing the series here in the mid-70's, and I still remember images and interviews after all this time. And Sir Larry's narration. I have this on a wish list at Amazon, to pick for my library. It still holds up, despite the intervening years.

Prost!
Brad