British Universities Film & Video Council

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World at War, The: Vol 1 (5 Parts)

Synopsis
The first six programmes from the seminal 26-part series first shown in 1974, preceded by a programme on the making of the series.
1 THE MAKING OF THE WORLD AT WAR - The story behind the production process and the challenges involved in sumarising years of history and milions of feet of archive footage.
2 A NEW GERMANY, 1933-1939 - Germany, a nation stricken by humiliating defeat and emerging from economic depression, looks to one man for a resurgence of hope. He is Adolf Hitler (director Hugh Raggett, writer Neal Ascherson).
3 DISTANT WAR 1939-1940 - In eastern Europe, the full force of the Nazi machine rolls on, but in Britain and uneasy calm settles on the nation. With Churchill elected prime minister, Britain is unprepared for war and few people are able to take the threat seriously. It is the ‘phoney’ war, wtih the sound of distant guns thundering ominously on the horizon (producer/director David Elstein, writer Laurence Thompson).
4 FRANCE FALLS May-June 1940- The French had made the disastrous mistake of preparing for another conflict like World War 1. German armour and air power mount their massive onslaught and the French army is totally humiliated (writer/director Peter Batty, producer Jeremy Isaacs).
5 ALONE IN BRITAIN May 1940-June 1941 After Dunkirk, Britain faces the German onslaught. Although the RAF wins the battle of Britain, the cities are blitzed and on the continent the last allies, Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete, are conquered. The outlook is grim (producer/director David Elstein, writer Laurence Thompson).
6 BARBAROSSA June-December 1941: Hitler turns against Russia (producer/writer Peter Batty).
7 BANZAI - JAPAN STRIKES 1941-1942 - Japan enters the war with its attack on Pearl Harbor (producer/writer Peter Batty). Narrated by Sir Laurence Olivier; music by Carl Davis.
9 ON OUR WAY - AMERICA ENTERS THE WAR 1939-1942. "It was felt that Britain was trying to drag us in. There was even sentiment hat England would fight to the last American" - Norman Corwin, American radio journalist. (producer/writer Peter Batty).
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Video; Videocassette. Standard formats. b&w/col. 6 x 52 min.
Year of production
1973
Availability
Sale
Notes
Broadcast on BBC2 from 14/1/01.
The entire series is available on 11 videocassettes as a boxed set (ref. PTWAR 1) priced £74.99 or as a set of 11 DVDs (ref FHEDWAR) containing additional material, for £99.99.
Subjects
History
Keywords
World War II

Credits

Director
David Elstein; Hugh Raggett; Peter Batty
Producer
David Elstein; Jeremy Isaacs; Peter Batty
Writer
Laurence Thompson; Neal Ascherson; Peter Batty
Contributor
Carl Davis; Jeremy Isaacs; Noble Frankland
Cast
Laurence Olivier 

Distribution Formats

Type
DVD
Format
Region 2 PAL
Price
£24.99
Availability
Sale
Duration/Size
417 minutes
Year
2005

Sections

Title
New Germany, A: 1933-39
Synopsis
1: Germany, a nation stricken by humiliating defeat and emerging from economic depression, looks to one man for a resurgence of hope. He is Adolf Hitler (director Hugh Raggett, writer Neal Ascherson).

Title
Distant war 1939-40
Synopsis
2: In eastern Europe, the full force of the Nazi machine rolls on, but in Britain and uneasy calm settles on the nation. With Churchill elected prime minister, Britain is unprepared for war and few people are able to take the threat seriously. It is the '

Title
France falls: May-June 1940
Synopsis
3: The French had made the disastrous mistake of preparing for another conflict like World War 1. German armour and air power mount their massive onslaught and the French army is totally humiliated (writer/director Peter Batty, producer Jeremy Isaacs).

Title
Alone: Britain: May 1940-June 1941
Synopsis
4: After Dunkirk, Britain faces the German onslaught. Although the RAF wins the battle of Britain, the cities are blitzed and on the continent the last allies, Yugoslavia, Greece and Crete, are conquered. The outlook is grim (producer/director David Elste

Title
Barbarossa: June-December 1941
Synopsis
5: Hitler turns against Russia (producer/writer Peter Batty).

Title
Banzai: Japan strikes
Synopsis
6: Japan enters the war with its attack on Pearl Harbor (producer/writer Peter Batty).

Production Company

Name

Thames Television

Distributor

Name

FremantleMedia Home Entertainment

Email
videodvd@fremantlemedia.com
Web
http://www.fremantlehomeentertainment.com/ External site opens in new window
 

Available from retail outlets

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