WW1 Video & Audio You Recommend - Please Add to

[Bunny]

Roll up chaps. Often the more recent confrontations overshadow The Great War, its history and stories that should be remembered. This year, as we commemorate the start of World War One, the BBC in particular have commisioned a few series that attempt to portray certain aspects of the war. As a backdrop to these recent series, there is a plethora of cinematic footage - films, TV series, documentaries, actual footage, that may be of interest to anyone with an interest in WW1 and the events leading up to it.

If you have watched any WW1 cinematography, whether real, factual or fiction, and think it worthy of watching, please post its title, rough year of production, short synopsis in this thread, and a link if it's available online, and I'll add it to the list below.

Likewise, there is so much radio produced that doesn't get a look in, but we will start a list for anything audio related too.

Cheers.

[Bunny]

2014

"Our World War" - Series immersing viewers in the real stories of British troops serving on the front line during WW1.
Episode 1: "The First Day" - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p022wq5k
"August 1914, two weeks after the First World War was declared. 80,000 British troops have arrived in southern Belgium, but they have yet to engage the enemy. Amongst these professional soldiers are the 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, some of the best-trained gunners in the British Army."
Episode 2: "Pals" - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p022wq83
"1916, and Britain's armed forces are decimated. Across the country, friends join up to fight together, in new battalions known as 'Pals'. Paddy Kennedy, a warehouse clerk from Manchester, joins the Manchester Pals Battalion alongside his friends Henry, Andy and Jim."
Episode 3: "War Machine" - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04f8cw8
"1918, and after four years of combat the British invent a new weapon designed to break the stalemate. Private Chas Rowland, determined to bring the war to an end and return home, joins the Tank Corps under the command of Lieutenant Mould, entering the extraordinary world of the Niveleur, a Mark V tank."

"The Passing Bells" - At the outbreak of war, two teenage boys - one German and one British - defy their parents to sign up.
5 Part Series - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04nz99y/episodes/guide


2008

"WWI Aces Falling" - Edward Mannock VC and James McCudden VC rose from modest backgrounds to become two of Britain's greatest fighter aces in World War One. As the number of their victories grew, so did their chances of dying in flames. Timewatch tells the story of their battle to survive against the odds, and of the 90-year-old mystery surrounding the death of one of them.
Documentary - https://youtu.be/6T6QldD9Ogw

"Fighting Aircraft of WW1" - Before the First World War flying had just caught the imagination of the public, yet within a short space of just a few years, all of the major nations were developing aircraft. The very nature of war itself was rapidly undergoing a transformation, with new techniques in artillery, military tactics and the armament of aircraft.
Documentary - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NBZsCK6tnU

"The Red Baron" - A 2008 German biopic directed by Nikolai Müllerschön about the World War I fighter pilot Manfred von Richthofen, known as the "Red Baron". It was filmed in the Czech Republic, France and Germany, entirely in English to improve its international commercial viability.
Film - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spymSdZiv9Q


2002

"Dogfight: The Mystery of the Red Baron" - Documentary about Baron Manfred von Richthofen, or "the Red Baron", and particularly the events leading to his death when he was gunned down over the Somme Valley by an anonymous Allied serviceman on 21st April 1918.
Documentary - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U83fBrkqByc


1998

"Flying Coffins - The First World War in the Air" - 'I know I'm going to die. I just don't know when. And worrying about when it's going to happen is killing me.' - U.S. Fighter Pilot, World War One. When the First World War broke out, powered flight was barely a decade old. Within the first few months of the war, the first flimsy aircraft would change ground warfare forever. An Allied reconnaissance plane spotted a crucial weakness in the German lines at the Marne in August 1914. However, as the Allies massed in attack, a German aircraft saw them and the element of surprise was lost. Armies could no longer manoeuvre without being seen - and the era of trench warfare began.
Documentary: Part 1" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37x2E6aoAF0
Documentary: Part 2" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gx3b9HQtkto


1996

"4 Years of Thunder" - World War I was the first time aeroplanes were deployed for warfare. The then rickety flying machines fought crucial dogfights as both sides struggled for air supremacy. Flying aces like Manfred von Richthofen, aka The Red Baron, won fame and glory for their aerial expertise. Four Years of Thunder reveals, for the first time, the inside story of the air war in World War I with the use of some of the most stunning and authentic footage ever assembled.
Episode 1: "Flying to War" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-Qrx7pO65Y
Episode 2: "The Fokker Scourge" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7aWH84SV3s
Episode 3: "Bloody April" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ide5dp1mgHg
Episode 4: "Winged Victory" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjMbehXv3Mw


1981

''Gallipoli'' - Two Australian sprinters face the brutal realities of war when they are sent to fight in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey during World War I.
Film - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082432/


1976

"Aces High" - A naive young officer straight from school arrives on the Western front to fight the air war against the Germans. However, the life expectancy of green pilots is not very good.
Film - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075627/

1969

"Battle of Britain" - In 1940, the British Royal Air Force fights a desperate battle vs. the Nazi Germany Air Force for control of British air space to prevent a Nazi invasion of Britain.
Trailer - http://youtu.be/atkbSqBU98Q
Film - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0064072/

1966

"The Blue Max" - A British war film in DeLuxe Color and filmed in CinemaScope, about a German fighter pilot on the Western Front during World War I, starring George Peppard, James Mason and Ursula Andress, and features Karl Michael Vogler and Jeremy Kemp.
Trailer - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Efc6Y6LCuuc
Film - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0025X ... _vi_aiv-20

[Bunny]

2014

"Tommies" - Drama series following the lives of those on and behind the battlefront of World War I.
Series - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04l902x

"Home Front" - Drama serial tracking the fortunes of a group of characters on the home front as they try to maintain normality while Britain is involved in the First World War. Each episode follows a different character.
40+ Episode Series - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b047qhc2

[Bubi]

Not a documentary, but if you havent seen "The Blue Max" cirica 1966, youve not seen Hollywood WW1 at its best. This was the "Top Gun" movie of its day, and used in flight filming, as was Top Gun. As a result of seeing this decades ago, it was one of the motivations for my starting a personal WW1/WW2 aviation collection. Back in the day, PLMs (Pour Le Merite - Blue Max) were still somewhat affordable as were the pilot badges. Now they are astronomic or fakes. If theres any interest, Ive got a set packed away somewhere and Ill share some pics. Again, 2 thumbs up and fun too.



Official Trailer:


Watch it at Amazon: (there are some free sites online)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0025X ... _vi_aiv-20

[Bubi]

WW1 Aces Falling (BBC) , documentary


Four Years of Thunder: Flying to War, 4 part documentary


Four Years of Thunder: Flying to War,


Four Years of Thunder: Bloody April,


Four Years of Thunder: Winged Victory,



Flying Coffins: The First World War in the Air (part 1 of 2) , documenatary


Flying Coffins: The First World War in the Air (part 2 of 2)


Fighting Aircraft of WW1, documenatary (with some corny music)



More on the fun side...

Dogfights: The Red Baron Mystery, investigative narrative


The Red Baron , (German made loosely historic movie)

[Von Archie]

Aces High, on a par with the Blue Max for me

[Bubi]

@VonArchie,

OK I just fired up NetFlix and found Aces High. I will watch it, thanks!

Crap... this thread is gunna make me want to fly ROF again.

[Robo]

2014

"Our World War" - Series immersing viewers in the real stories of British troops serving on the front line during WW1.
Episode 1: "The First Day" - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p022wq5k
"August 1914, two weeks after the First World War was declared. 80,000 British troops have arrived in southern Belgium, but they have yet to engage the enemy. Amongst these professional soldiers are the 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, some of the best-trained gunners in the British Army."
Episode 2: "Pals" - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p022wq83
"1916, and Britain's armed forces are decimated. Across the country, friends join up to fight together, in new battalions known as 'Pals'. Paddy Kennedy, a warehouse clerk from Manchester, joins the Manchester Pals Battalion alongside his friends Henry, Andy and Jim."

Just watched these 2 recently, superb movie. I am not a big fan of the camera and music used, but it got me and my wife to appreciate the 11.11. and what these young lads went through. Thanks for recommending, I would have missed that.

Also adding one to the list, my WWI favourite:

1981

''Gallipoli'' - Two Australian sprinters face the brutal realities of war when they are sent to fight in the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey during World War I.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082432/

[Bunny]

Another one coming up - especially for the 501 lot:

I was there - Battle of Britain
Series 1, Episode 1

"Pilots of the 501 Squadron tell the story of the Battle of Britain in their own words."

Yesterday channel, UK Freeview, Sky etc - December 15th at 6pm. Set your alarms I caught the last half tonight, some fascinating stories, especially the one from Wing Commander Ken McKenzie and his technique for making sure the enemy don't fly home!

[Dave]

1976

"Aces High" - A naive young officer straight from school arrives on the Western front to fight the air war against the Germans. However, the life expectancy of green pilots is not very good.
Film - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075627/

I can't recommend Aces High enough. Stupidly underrated, and a bit let down by its cobbled-together action scenes but it's my single favourite film about aerial warfare after Battle of Britain. Incredibly grim though for a war film made back then. Unfortunately it's almost impossible to find anywhere online. I'll have a look though.

Best way to describe it is that if The Blue Max is Top Gun, then Aces High is Saving Private Ryan.