Joyeux Noel (2 Viewers)

[mk26gmls]

I saw this movie today on World War I and I thought it was outstanding. It is centered around Christmas Eve and Christmas Day of 1914. Has anyone here seen this movie and what are your thoughts? If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.

Darrell

 

[kilted vampire]

Where did you see it? I really want to see this one! Found on netflix as Merry Christmas.

 

[mk26gmls]

Yes, that's it. Merry Christmas. I rented it from Hollywood Video. I liked the film as much as two other foreign films I have seen. Those were Downfall and Brotherhood of War. If World War II interests you, you have to see it.

 

[gk5717]

I also enjoyed it, liked the uniforms.
The only part I didn,t like was when the woman was in the trenches, don,t really think that would have happened.
Gary

 

[Rob]

I ordered this last week and it arrives tommorow,am really looking forward to it.Mind you i love any film about WW1.For my fellow Brits,if anyone gets the chance to see the C4 series 'The first world war' on dvd its well worth getting.Excellant series.(not sure if its available on region 1)

Rob

 

[gk5717]

Rob, if you like World War 1 movies, don,t you think Paths of Glory is the best, if not one of the best war movies of all time.
Gary

 

[jazzeum]

Rob, if you like World War 1 movies, don,t you think Paths of Glory is the best, if not one of the best war movies of all time.
Gary

Of that there is no doubt. I think I may have mentioned this before but that movie was banned for a very, very long time in France.

 

[Rob]

Gary,absolutely agree with you and Brad.Superb movie.

Rob

 

[kilted vampire]

I have finally seen this movie. It meshes with the accounts from the book of the same subject Silent Night. About the only thing that wasn't real was the woman in the trenches. The warning about the shelling that was to occur did happen. Though I am not sure about the exodus to the German and then Scottish trenches. I can say that I enjoyed the movie except for the poopy headed Bishop and other high ranking officials.

The truce was attempted again in 1915 but not nearly as successful. It is generally surmised that by that time there was just too much animosity for it too have succeeded. That would have truly been a Christmas miracle. It will rest in my heart always.

 

[Rob]

I finally got round to watching this yesterday.It was ok but i wouldn't say it was great.I thought the acting especially on the British side was poor and the presence of the Germans girlfriend during a bombardment and in no mans land seemed faintly absurd.This spoilt it for me quite a lot.Apart from all that,not bad.

Rob

 

[Harrytheheid]

I finally got round to watching this yesterday.It was ok but i wouldn't say it was great.I thought the acting especially on the British side was poor and the presence of the Germans girlfriend during a bombardment and in no mans land seemed faintly absurd.This spoilt it for me quite a lot.Apart from all that,not bad.

Rob

So did you enjoy it or not then?

H

 

[Rob]

I guess overall no.There is also the continuation of the ludicrous myth that every single officer in the British army was a bumbling,paper pushing fool who couldn't wait to get away from the trenches.I think whilst there were possibly many like this its a disservice to tar all with the same brush.

Rob

 

[Harrytheheid]

I guess overall no.There is also the continuation of the ludicrous myth that every single officer in the British army was a bumbling,paper pushing fool who couldn't wait to get away from the trenches.I think whilst there were possibly many like this its a disservice to tar all with the same brush.

Rob

Unfortunately, I think Blackadder compounded that myth. I also believe that Haig comes in for a lot of unjustified critisism. Yes, the Somme was a disaster (especially the first few days), but 1917 and certainly 1918 illustrate that the lessons had been well learned. Such a shame that so many brave men perished during the learning curve of course.
Haig proved his concern for his men with the launch of the Earl Haig fund after the war.
Just my opinion of course, and I'm prepared for incoming from those with entrenched opposite opinions.
Regards
H

 

[Louis Badolato]

Unfortunately, I think Blackadder compounded that myth. I also believe that Haig comes in for a lot of unjustified critisism. Yes, the Somme was a disaster (especially the first few days), but 1917 and certainly 1918 illustrate that the lessons had been well learned. Such a shame that so many brave men perished during the learning curve of course.
Haig proved his concern for his men with the launch of the Earl Haig fund after the war.
Just my opinion of course, and I'm prepared for incoming from those with entrenched opposite opinions.
Regards
H

Here it comes Heid . . . while I usually agree with your opinions, I simply have to take umbrage with your assessment of Douglas Haig. That piece of garbage launched and continued a human wave assault in order to claim a "victory" so to save his position as commander of the BEF. 60,000+ causualties to save his job . . . somehow I don't think the "Earl Haig Fund" sufficiently makes up for this level of butchery. And he never learned the lessons . . . he was still advocating the same rolling barrage "over the top" tactics in 1917 when his reputation and his bacon were saved by (1) the advent of the tank and (2) half a million Dough Boys.

 

[damian]

Lions led by donkeys
Loius I tend to agree with you on this one.
( I am going to dig in now)
Regards
Damian

 

[billy1]

You know where this producer stands on matters of faith. The bishop was cast as the devil. Seems lilke there was another agenda here.

 

[Rob]

Its very difficult when discussing Haig because there are strong arguments for and against.The Somme was an absolute disaster with very little gain and an obscene loss of life. I think one of the biggest crimes was that following the Somme he wasn't replaced and was allowed to go on and repeat the excercise in the misery of Passchendaele.Obviously he had friends in high places including the King i believe.However credit must be given to him for his efforts in driving back the Germans at the end of the war.I think the ' Lions led by Donkeys' legend has been reviewed by historians since the nineties and is no longer in fashion.However overall i think he should have been replaced after the Somme.

Rob.

 

[Rob]

Its very difficult when discussing Haig because there are strong arguments for and against.The Somme was an absolute disaster with very little gain and an obscene loss of life. I think one of the biggest crimes was that following the Somme he wasn't replaced and was allowed to go on and repeat the excercise in the misery of Passchendaele.Obviously he had friends in high places including the King i believe.However credit must be given to him for his efforts in driving back the Germans at the end of the war.I think the ' Lions led by Donkeys' legend has been reviewed by historians since the nineties and is no longer in fashion.However overall i think he should have been replaced after the Somme.

Rob.

Whenever i think of the first day on the Somme it always reminds me of the Titanic.One of those occasions where many things came together at one point in time to cause an absolute disaster.The simple fact that not enough Germans were killed in their dugouts.The fact that as high explosive was still being fire at barbed wire, and merely threw it high into the air instead of cutting it.And also perhaps the saddest point,the fact that the troops were given orders to walk not run.This proved the death warrant for almost twenty thousand men on that summers day.This for me is perhaps the most heartbreaking of all the elements of that day.

I have read many accounts of the battle that day written by German machince gunners.(many who did not say a word for decades for fear of being murdered in revenge)in which they all say the same thing.There were so many British troops that day that if they had ran at us we would not have stood a chance.There were so many of them we could not have possibly killed them all in time.For evidence of this just look at the Ulster divisions performance that day,sweeping forward taking German trenches and eventually going so far they were cut off and taking fire from all sides(inlcuding their own artillery).Not for no reason is this still the worst day in the history of the British army.

The argument against Haig is and i guess will always be very strong.He was undoubtably stubborn and uncommunative.Their are also opinions who say that as a true cavalry man he did not have great enthusiasm for tanks and Machine guns.This is still speculation however.Even If you can forgive him for the Somme,Passchendaele was criminal.

He did do a lot for servicemen after the war,in fact even when i was a kid the Poppy we wore still had 'Haig fund' written on it.However this has nothing to do with is performance as commander,i feel history will always cast him as 'The Butcher of the Somme'.

Rob

 

[Harrytheheid]

Here it comes Heid . . . while I usually agree with your opinions, I simply have to take umbrage with your assessment of Douglas Haig. .

Aaaaaiiiieeee......The Steel Helmet is severely dented by all this not unexpected shrapnel.....!!!!

Cheers
H

 

[Rob]

Don't worry mate,its all friendly fire!