1917 (WWI movie)
Discussion
Adam B said:
dvb70 said:
I don't think it's actually that unrealistic to have greenery not too far back from the front lines. I have read a few accounts where there were fields not too far back from the lines. Some of the lines did not move for years so it was only really the front lines being shelled constantly. I think we have a slightly skewed view of the trenches from a modern perspective that makes as picture a hellish mud scape stretching for mile upon mile but it does not quite match the reality.
thats what I suspected, thanksI remember that film featuring basic railways that they eventually built to bring the supplies/ammo and troops up to the front, I understand that the trains were slow and short, and the tracks were a special almost-miniature gauge that were very easy to put down, or take up and move, just by manpower, no specialist heavy machinery required.
kev1974 said:
I need to rewatch Peter Jackson's "They Shall Not Grow Old", that has a lot of real front line footage if I remember, just can't remember if it is all close up with the men shots or anything more distant?
I remember that film featuring basic railways that they eventually built to bring the supplies/ammo and troops up to the front, I understand that the trains were slow and short, and the tracks were a special almost-miniature gauge that were very easy to put down, or take up and move, just by manpower, no specialist heavy machinery required.
Railway Companies of the Royal Engineers were vital to the war. Those really light gauge railways were versatile because like you say they were prefabricated in manhandle-able sections, and didn't require totally flat terrain, nor ballast.I remember that film featuring basic railways that they eventually built to bring the supplies/ammo and troops up to the front, I understand that the trains were slow and short, and the tracks were a special almost-miniature gauge that were very easy to put down, or take up and move, just by manpower, no specialist heavy machinery required.
Steam engines were used tofrom the rear echelon areas, and petrol/diesel engines used to get right up to the front to avoid clouds of steam and coal fire smoke from giving away the position (and schedule) of the railways...
RE Railway Companies were split into two types, Construction... https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and...
And Operating Companies... https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and...
gareth h said:
Crossflow Kid said:
ukaskew said:
I live on the edge of the Plain, almost applied for an extra spot but it was quite a time commitment. As I recall they had a lot of pushback just to dig the trenches as there were concerns about uncovering remains, so they were very very limited in how much they could disturb as it all had to be surveyed.
Think that’s more to do with protecting the environment and not disturbing any unexploded ordnance than uncovering “remains”.The local pub did very well out of the filming!
CrutyRammers said:
gareth h said:
Crossflow Kid said:
ukaskew said:
I live on the edge of the Plain, almost applied for an extra spot but it was quite a time commitment. As I recall they had a lot of pushback just to dig the trenches as there were concerns about uncovering remains, so they were very very limited in how much they could disturb as it all had to be surveyed.
Think that’s more to do with protecting the environment and not disturbing any unexploded ordnance than uncovering “remains”.The local pub did very well out of the filming!
[quote]Salisbury Plain is a unique area of chalk grassland, which presents important opportunities for archaeological survey. It is the last surviving large area of unploughed grass downland in southern England, and represents 40% of such land in Europe. There are archaeological sites remaining as extant earthworks when elsewhere they would have been ploughed out long ago, leaving only traces visible on aerial photographs. This state of preservation allows for a much more detailed survey of such sites without recourse to the destructive techniques of excavation.
Very good and very well executed.
Bit lacking on plot - the basic premise is pretty much laid bare in the first five minutes but that doesn’t matter as it’s totally captivating and draws you in.
Some parts seem a little slow but this captures the boredom of warfare interspersed with the exciting bits I guess.
The wide angle aerial tracking shot of Schofield running the length of a trench parapet as the troops emerge is simply brilliant, must-see stuff.
Best performance for me was Andrew Scott as a brutally realistic and thus totally disillusioned Lieutenant who appears to still be in control but at the same time just doesn’t care any more.
Bit lacking on plot - the basic premise is pretty much laid bare in the first five minutes but that doesn’t matter as it’s totally captivating and draws you in.
Some parts seem a little slow but this captures the boredom of warfare interspersed with the exciting bits I guess.
The wide angle aerial tracking shot of Schofield running the length of a trench parapet as the troops emerge is simply brilliant, must-see stuff.
Best performance for me was Andrew Scott as a brutally realistic and thus totally disillusioned Lieutenant who appears to still be in control but at the same time just doesn’t care any more.
paulw123 said:
Looking forward to seeing this. Dunkirk was beyond dreadful. Last reasonable WW2 film was Hacksaw ridge.
1917 isn’t without its “Oh FFS” moments which, just like Dunkirk, stand out because the rest of the film is so good.If someone could point to a map of Flanders and show me where there’s a raging mountain stream leading to a 100’ waterfall that’d be great.
Thesprucegoose said:
Only on pH does Dunkirk get bad reviews. Elsewhere it is rated highly. I'm looking forward to 1917.
Pedants go to the cinema looking for reasons to moan, others like me go for a bit of escapism or a good story or a bit of joy/suspense etcWho gives a f if a 10 second clip includes an unlikely geographic feature
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