Battle of the Somme

Synopsis
Battle of the Somme is a pioneering battlefield documentary that was seen by huge audiences in the UK when it was released in August 1916, barely a month after the events it depicted. Cinema-goers hailed it as an opportunity to see the reality of the Western Front for the first time, and to share the experiences of the soldiers who were fighting there. The film inaugurated a debate about the on-screen depiction of combat that continues to this day, and is the origin of some of the most widely used and iconic moving images of the First World War.

This digitally restored version is a startling improvement on previously released video versions. It also has the following special features:
• An official 36-page booklet with contributions from the Imperial War Museum archive team
• A full orchestral score by Laura Rossi, commissioned by the Imperial War Museum in 2005 and performed for the recording - as it was for the première performance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London on 22 October 2006 - by The Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Nic Raine.
• A recreation of the medley of light classics, folk tunes, popular songs and military music recommended as an accompaniment for the film in 1916 by cinema musician J. Morton Hutcheson in The Bioscope, a contemporary trade journal. The medley, the subject of several years of research by Dr Toby Haggith of the Imperial War Museum and Stephen Horne, is performed for the DVD by a small ensemble led by the latter.
• Interviews with the composer Laura Rossi and historians
• Missing footage.
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Video
Year of production
1916
Notes
Reviewed by Nick Hiley in VF 74.
Subjects
History
Keywords
France; Somme - battle; World War 1

Distribution Formats

Type
DVD
Format
Region 0
Price
£19.56
Availability
Sale
Duration/Size
132 minutes
Year
2008

Sponsor

Name

Imperial War Museum

Phone
020 7416 5291
Fax
020 7416 5299
Address
Department of Film
Lambeth Road
London
SE1 6HZ
Notes
Address for video sales: Duxford, Cambridgeshire CB2 4QR

Distributor

Name

Imperial War Museum,

Email
iwmshop@iwm.org.uk
Web
http://www.iwmshop.org.uk External site opens in new window
Phone
01223 499 345
Fax
01223 839 688
Address
Online Shop
IWM Duxford
Cambs
CB22 4QR
Notes
A range of CD and DVD titles covering the two World Wars, as well as more general aviation and naval topics. Many are compilations of films from the IWM’s own collection.
Name

Network

Email
shop@networkonair.com
Web
http://networkonair.com/ External site opens in new window
Phone
01992 657707
Address
19-20 Blythe Road
Berghem Mews
Hammersmith
London
W14 0HN
Notes
Founded in 1997, Network specialises in distributing niche television programmes, predominantly licensed from Granada Ventures and Fremantle. They have recently branched into feature film distribution. Sale via retail outlets or direct via Network’s website, which has some’web exclusive’ offers.
 

Available from retail outlets

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