The best TV documentary ever made...
Discussion
I've just been watching The World at War again. (well, the one about the North Atlantic convoys and the U boats) and I am reminded just how fantastic this series was / is.
I remember that my mum made me watch it when it first appeared in the 1970s. It left a huge impression on me then, and it's still as powerful today.
In fact it could give several lessons to modern documetary makers. No crappy reconstructions, no overdramatic shreiking "host". Just original footage, interviews with people who were there, understated voice over by Larry Olivier (we never see him though) and a stirring sound track.
I think it should be required viewing for any student of WW2 or war in general.
It gets my vote as best TV doc ever made, closely followed by David Attenborough's Life on Earth.
Any other contenders?
Andy
I remember that my mum made me watch it when it first appeared in the 1970s. It left a huge impression on me then, and it's still as powerful today.
In fact it could give several lessons to modern documetary makers. No crappy reconstructions, no overdramatic shreiking "host". Just original footage, interviews with people who were there, understated voice over by Larry Olivier (we never see him though) and a stirring sound track.
I think it should be required viewing for any student of WW2 or war in general.
It gets my vote as best TV doc ever made, closely followed by David Attenborough's Life on Earth.
Any other contenders?
Andy
king 
Simpo Two said:
It's very sad to comtemplate what it would be like if it was made today. 5% facts, 20% adverts, 20% CGI, 40% chattering halfwit presenter, 15% PC.
It would go something like this...Coming up in part one of WII Germany invades poland. Cue 5 minutes of B&W clips of Panzers and Stukas.
10 minutes of Panzers and Stukas
Previously on WaW. Cue the same 5 minutes of Panzers and Stukas shown in the coming up section.
The result: a 30 minute programme and me shouting and ranting at the TV for 30 mins.
All Our Yesterdays presented by Brian Ingliss [who became one of my tutors later on] here is a wiki-link, please watch the Lambeth vid, it will crack you up.
The programme is thought to have inspired the World At War programme and even the measured tones of Olivier mimic Ingliss closely.
Ingliss was much 'posher' though.
AoY, then Ascent of Man, the WaW, in my books.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Our_Yesterdays_(T...
The programme is thought to have inspired the World At War programme and even the measured tones of Olivier mimic Ingliss closely.
Ingliss was much 'posher' though.
AoY, then Ascent of Man, the WaW, in my books.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Our_Yesterdays_(T...
The World At War stands out as the best.
It was made at a time when there were still plenty of people alive who were there, who contributed so much to the programme. It has become a valuable historical document in its own right.
The current docu-drama-reconstructions with their watch-with-mother narration are just bloody awful.
There was a series about the Cold War, which was meant to be excellent, but it seemed to pass me by and isn't available on DVD.
I know that it was hardly a conventional documentary, but I loved the Rock and Roll Years that was produced back in the 1980's.
It was an inspirational concept that really grabbed your attention. Sadly, the format has been rehashed so frequently that it has lost some of its impact. But it was essential viewing for the pre MTV generation.
It was made at a time when there were still plenty of people alive who were there, who contributed so much to the programme. It has become a valuable historical document in its own right.
The current docu-drama-reconstructions with their watch-with-mother narration are just bloody awful.
There was a series about the Cold War, which was meant to be excellent, but it seemed to pass me by and isn't available on DVD.
I know that it was hardly a conventional documentary, but I loved the Rock and Roll Years that was produced back in the 1980's.
It was an inspirational concept that really grabbed your attention. Sadly, the format has been rehashed so frequently that it has lost some of its impact. But it was essential viewing for the pre MTV generation.
Mind you, whilst the modern docu-drama might usually be a steaming coil of poo, it is worth looking back to the 1980s to see how it should to be done.
I defy anyone to watch Threads without being both horrified and terrified.
If it is possible to have a documentary about something that hasn't yet happened, then Threads was absolutely compelling viewing.
I defy anyone to watch Threads without being both horrified and terrified.
If it is possible to have a documentary about something that hasn't yet happened, then Threads was absolutely compelling viewing.
Pat H said:
Mind you, whilst the modern docu-drama might usually be a steaming coil of poo, it is worth looking back to the 1980s to see how it should to be done.
I defy anyone to watch Threads without being both horrified and terrified.
If it is possible to have a documentary about something that hasn't yet happened, then Threads was absolutely compelling viewing.
Thank you for jogging my memory, The War Game has to be up there in my list.I defy anyone to watch Threads without being both horrified and terrified.
If it is possible to have a documentary about something that hasn't yet happened, then Threads was absolutely compelling viewing.
Wiki [again!] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_Game
Holmesian]All Our Yesterdays presented by Brian Ingliss [who became one of my tutors later on said:
here is a wiki-link, please watch the Lambeth vid, it will crack you up.
The programme is thought to have inspired the World At War programme and even the measured tones of Olivier mimic Ingliss closely.
Ingliss was much 'posher' though.
AoY, then Ascent of Man, the WaW, in my books.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Our_Yesterdays_(T...
I was always under the impression All our yesterdays and World at War were one and the same, being volume 1 & volume 2. They always seemed the same except for the narrators.The programme is thought to have inspired the World At War programme and even the measured tones of Olivier mimic Ingliss closely.
Ingliss was much 'posher' though.
AoY, then Ascent of Man, the WaW, in my books.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Our_Yesterdays_(T...
Loved the theme tune of World at War
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8j653eqMTNI
Edited by ZR1cliff on Thursday 14th August 21:33
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff