Great War, The, Series

Synopsis

A definitive history of the 1914-1918 war, narrated by Sir Michael Redgrave and employing the voice skills of other leading actors including Sir Ralph Richardson (as Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig) and Marius Goring. Includes archive footage and photographic images gathered from 37 sources around the world. Features interviews with veterans of the war, many of whom were only in their sixties at the time, as well as 150 extracts from diaries, letters and reports.
1: Features the first six programmes of the series. Looks at the first year of the war from the causes of the conflict up to Christmas 1914. Includes the German invasion of Belgium, the British Expeditionary Force in action at Mons, the Battle of the Marne, the beginnings of trench warfare and a look at early naval engagements.
2: The second year of the war, which saw an escalation of artillery bombardments and the first gas attacks. Covers the war on the Western Front including Verdun, Ypres, Artois and Champagne and the formation of the new British Army, as well as life on the British and French home fronts. Also includes war in the Carpathians, the Galipoli campaign, the Alpine war and the sinking of the Lusitania.
3: Summer 1916. Includes a look at British recruiting practice and the huge build up to the Somme offensive, as well as the battle of the Somme and its aftermath. The first use of tanks is covered, along with the naval engagement at Jutland, an assessment of the German U-boat menace and the first rumblings of discontent on the British home front. The winter of 1916-17 sees Chemin des Dames, Vimy Ridge and a widespread mutiny amongst French forces, while America declares war. Concludes with the offensive at Ypres in 1917.
4: 1917 saw the Russian Revolution and the collapse of opposition to the German in the East. Also looks west tot he trench lines of 1917 and the work of the war artists, war poets, propagandists and journalists. Covers the changing technology of the war, with tanks in action at Cambrai, and Zeppelin and Gotha raids on Britain. Moving on into 1918 it chronicles the arrival of the Americans and the massive German offensives in a desperate attempt to break the stalemate.
5: The final year of the war saw the German offensive stalling just 56 miles from Paris, American divisions in action and an Allied offensive on the Marne. The offensive of August 8th was the Allies pressing agains the Hindenberg Line and crumbling morale on the German home front. Features episodes devoted to the war in the Middle East, the Balkans and on the Austro-Italian front and concludes with the last great battles and the Armistice.

Language

English

Country

Great Britain

Medium

Video; 5 videocassettes. VHS. b&w. 240, 200, 200, 200, 200 min.

Year of production

1964

Availability

Sale; 2001 sale: £19.99 (inclusive) each part 2001 sale: £89.99 (inclusive) boxed set

Notes

Originally broadcast as 26 x 40 minute episodes on BBC 2 in 1964 and repeated on BBC 1 in 1965. Shown again on BBC 2 beginning 22/2/03

Subjects

History

Keywords

World War 1

Credits

Writer

John Terraine

Contributor

Marius Goring; Michael Redgrave; Ralph Richardson

Distribution Formats

Type

DVD

Format

Region 2 PAL

Price

£ 99

Availability

Sale

Year

2002

Type

VHS

Format

PAL

Price

£19.99 (inclusive) each part 2001 sale: £89.99 (inclusive) boxed set

Availability

Sale

Duration/Size

240, 200, 200, 200, 200 min

Year

2001

Sections

Title

This business may last a long time ...

Synopsis

1: Features the first six programmes of the series. Looks at the first year of the war from the causes of the conflict up to Christmas 1914. Includes the German invasion of Belgium, the British Expeditionary Force in action at Mons, the Battle of the Marn

Title

Please God, send us a victory

Synopsis

2: The second year of the war, which saw an escalation of artillery bombardments and the first gas attacks. Covers the war on the Western Front including Verdun, Ypres, Artois and Champagne and the formation of the new British Army, as well as life on the

Title

Hell can not be so terrible

Synopsis

3: Summer 1916. Includes a look at British recruiting practice and the huge build up to the Somme offensive, as well as the battle of the Somme and its aftermath. The first use of tanks is covered, along with the naval engagement at Jutland, an assessment

Title

Only war, nothing but war

Synopsis

4: 1917 saw the Russian Revolution and the collapse of opposition to the German in the East. Also looks west tot he trench lines of 1917 and the work of the war artists, war poets, propagandists and journalists. Covers the changing technology of the war,

Title

And we were young

Synopsis

5: The final year of the war saw the German offensive stalling just 56 miles from Paris, American divisions in action and an Allied offensive on the Marne. The offensive of August 8th was the Allies pressing agains the Hindenberg Line and crumbling morale

Production Company

Name

ABC

Name

BBC Television

Name

CBC Enterprises

Name

Imperial War Museum

Distributor

Name

Simply Media

Contact

Laura Smith

Email

info@simplymedia.tv

Web

http://www.simplymedia.tv/ External site opens in new window

Phone

0203 542 3722

Address

Highlight House
57 Margaret Street
London W1W 8SJ

Notes

Formerly known as DD Home Entertainment or DDHE