World at War, the best? (1 Viewer)

gk5717

gk5717

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I,ve been watching the World at War series for about the 10th time. That has got to be the best overall documentary on WW2.
If anyone can name a better let me know.
Gary
 
No question , the best ever. Laurence Olivier's voice over choice was inspired , brilliant series. As is the WW1 version ' The Great War' , overall the best two docu's on the two Wars

Rob
 
absolutely the best. I have watched it literally hundereds of times I know it off by heart.

Wore out the video version and then bought the original DVD then the anniversary version in the barbed wire box set

Never get sick of watching it. I believe thats somewhere in the world its being played now and has been so since its release
Mitch
 
Agreed, the best. There is also a good ITV series that was made in the sixties on the Great War.

Martin
 
I realy liked the series WW2: Countdown to Victory it realy coverd everything from start to finish and then some.
 
BBC History of WW II, now, that's the best, no comparison.
 
I really thought the opening of the first episode really grabs the watcher. This documentary is made all the better with having first hand accounts by some very famous people.
 
I agree, "World at War" is an excellent series, the best. There may be better graphics available today, and perhaps some other footage, but the combination of film and interviews with participants beats just about anything else.

And I agree, too, that Sir Larry's narration is the icing on the cake. I have this on my DVD wish list, to add to my video library.

Prost!
Brad
 
theBaron said:
I agree, "World at War" is an excellent series, the best. There may be better graphics available today, and perhaps some other footage, but the combination of film and interviews with participants beats just about anything else.

And I agree, too, that Sir Larry's narration is the icing on the cake. I have this on my DVD wish list, to add to my video library.

Prost!
Brad
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Brad - I think you're spot on about the interviews with figures. This is the key that makes this an invaluable historical resource.

My only problem with this series is in the final episodes concerning the the end of the Third Reich. I recall in one episopde where the producers downplay the crimes committed against Germans. As one example, Sir Lawrence in a very questioining way says words like for the first time footage of atrocities against Germans (I think it footage of Nemmersdorf) may in fact be true for a change.

At the time the series was made very little was known in the in the English speaking world concerning the fate of so many millions of Germans who reaped the rewards of their leader's warped goals. There was probably also very little symapthy for their plight.

Regardless a very good documentary worth having on DVD.
 
I wouldn't disagree with Having "The World at War" series right up there near the top. But does anyone remember a series that was on TV in the 1950's - called (I think) "Victory at Sea"? This lives in my memory - as one of the first glimpses I had of actual warfare footage. I think it had a very similar format to The World at War - though much earlier. It is also memorable for me, as my Dad, an ex-Royal Navy man, was still around - and would add "flesh to the bones" - on each episode after we had watched it.

I can remember one episode which showed the hunt for the Bismark, and my Dad explained that he was on board the ship which administered the Coup de Gras to the Bismark with torpedoes (HMS Dorsetshire) and how they picked up survivors from the German Vessel - despite the threat of submarines being around

That's the top one for me - for very personal reasons. johnnybach
 
I personally havn't seen a better WW2 series than this, for an overall picture of the War and its various themes and theaters its unmatched to this day. Breslau is probably absolutely right about the crimes againgst German civilians, there was absolutely no sympathy for what they went through in that time. The trouble is from all the veterans and members of the public I've spoken to over the years is that they held all the Germans responsible because they were happy and celebrating their leader when he had all his victories during the early part of the War, but when Germany began to lose many who had supported him changed their tune. When this series was made I would imagine this feeling was still very much in evidence.

Rob
 
Combine the World at War with The Great War, the BBC series produced back in the 60s with it's cleaned up and slowed down treatment of the old newsreels and you have a very powerful combo. Trooper
 
I remember Victory at Sea from many years ago. Great score.
 
There was a great series called "Battlefield". I think BBC might have done that one. That was as good as it gets. Plenty of tactical detail without bogging down the show.
 
trooper said:
Combine the World at War with The Great War, the BBC series produced back in the 60s with it's cleaned up and slowed down treatment of the old newsreels and you have a very powerful combo. Trooper
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I think these are the two best. I really liked them both, especially the WW1 series. Docs just don't get any better. Victory at Sea is superb, as well. --Al
 
Any recommendations for a WWII documentary series for the "War in the Air" ?

Thanks, Raymond.:confused:
 
Combat said:
There was a great series called "Battlefield". I think BBC might have done that one. That was as good as it gets. Plenty of tactical detail without bogging down the show.
Click to expand...

Yes I think it was hosted by Prof Richard Holmes, he's very good and I have some of his books on WW1. Was an excellent series and I think its part of the BBC Boxset Brad mentioned earlier.

Rob
 
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