M. Bates Posted January 13, 2001 Share Posted January 13, 2001 The epic 26 part TV documentary, World At War, is being repeated on BBC2 on Sunday (13/01/01). The Stalingrad episode is supposed to be amazing, but I haven't seen the series before. It is narrated by Laurence Olivier, and to buy the series on DVD would cost something stupid like £80. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maximus Posted January 13, 2001 Share Posted January 13, 2001 A 26-parter at around $100 or so, (what's the exchange rate anyway?) is a steal, IMHO. I believe the exchange rate is about $1.25USD/1 UK pound which then my above $100 quote is right on. [This message has been edited by Maximus (edited 01-13-2001).] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Bates Posted January 13, 2001 Author Share Posted January 13, 2001 As my father says, "Our American cousins have more money than sense." Joking apart, I can now tape this series for free. If I saw the complete DVD set second hand for a reasonable fee then they would be a good investment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maximus Posted January 13, 2001 Share Posted January 13, 2001 Well considering most documentaries of such are usually around $130 or more. $100 ain't that bad. Are these 1-hour parts or what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Bates Posted January 13, 2001 Author Share Posted January 13, 2001 50 mins with no stoppages, but essentially an hour by reasonable standards, if you were to add in a couple of advert breaks for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogue male Posted January 13, 2001 Share Posted January 13, 2001 This series was weekly viewing material when it ran in the early/mid '70s when I was a kid. The theme music is burned into my brain. Truly a well done documentary and worth the time spent watching. I don't think it has been rebroadcast on our side of the pond (US) since the either the 50 yr anniv. of the start or end of the war. Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick Posted January 13, 2001 Share Posted January 13, 2001 I suspect that as the exchange rate is more like $1.60 -> £1.00 that the series would be more like $130. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Codfather Posted January 13, 2001 Share Posted January 13, 2001 "World at War" has been playing on the History Channel here in Canada for some time, albeit in the wee hours of the morning (I think 3 or 4 am Pacific Time). I caught a few episodes when I was working a graveyard shift a while back and couldn't get to sleep afterward. The Stalingrad episode was pretty amazing. All in all pretty cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Michael emrys Posted January 13, 2001 Share Posted January 13, 2001 I saw some episodes in around 1976 and some more about two years later and was very impressed. In those days they weren't that far off the cutting edge of historical research on WW II. Not sure exactly how well they would hold up now, but probably mostly still sound. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chupacabra Posted January 13, 2001 Share Posted January 13, 2001 According to the New York Fed, the exchange rate as of yesterday was 1.477 Dollars to the Pound. Bear in mind that that's the official rate, and in practice you'd be paying a changer's fee on top of that. ------------------ Soy super bien soy super super bien soy bien bien super bien bien bien super super Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted January 14, 2001 Share Posted January 14, 2001 I have the series on video. You can get from Time-Life and only pay so much a month. I've seen it advertized on four video tapes for a lot less. ------------------ Blessed be the Lord my strength who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flipper Posted January 14, 2001 Share Posted January 14, 2001 the stalingrad episode is really good but my favotites are the german drive on moscow..the new guniea..an the u-boat episode's it pretty much after all these year's is still the best documentary on ww2..oh yeah the german invasion of poland had excellent insight(as well as footage) into prewar germany an poland an the invasion of france had great footage as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted January 14, 2001 Share Posted January 14, 2001 Though it's not much use to historians, I still like the old "Victory at Sea" series. I especially enjoy the music and I have that one on video tape as well. ------------------ Blessed be the Lord my strength who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flipper Posted January 14, 2001 Share Posted January 14, 2001 cool music did you know that all the airplane scene's the music is done in F minor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted January 14, 2001 Share Posted January 14, 2001 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Flipper: cool music did you know that all the airplane scene's the music is done in F minor.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Very interesting! I'll have to watch it again and look for that feature. ------------------ Blessed be the Lord my strength who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Michael emrys Posted January 14, 2001 Share Posted January 14, 2001 Many elements of the story were given leitmotifs that get repeated on the soundtrack whenever those elements reënter the narrative. The Theme of the Fast Carriers, for instance, or the theme for Victorious Japan. The basic melodies were written by Richard Rogers, but I understand that the orchestral score was pulled together by Robert Russel Bennet, who I believe conducted the orchestra. Yes, that show and its music had a powerful effect on my young life. As history it was, as I later discovered, one-sided and overwrought. But if you just look at it as a variety of drama, it still can be a powerful experience, just as from the other side The Triumph of the Will can be described in similar terms. Lesson learned: Be very careful of propaganda, especially the kind that appeals to you. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crepitis Posted January 14, 2001 Share Posted January 14, 2001 The World at War series is well worth watching.I remember watching it as a child in the '70s and I recently got the entire series on VHS at a car-boot sale(garage sale,to our US friends)for a fiver!The footage is generally very good, interspersed with interviews with veterans who took part in the campaigns featured,and its narrated by the late Sir Laurence Olivier!What more could you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seany B Posted January 14, 2001 Share Posted January 14, 2001 The episode on Anzio is very good also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
USGrant Posted January 14, 2001 Share Posted January 14, 2001 I went to Amazon.com to see if this series was available there on DVD (its not) and came a cross a nice set of WWII DVD lists you guys might be interested in: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/2U3OFFY48ALTP/ref=lm_d_1/106-5454107-7484427 ------------------ USGrant When the game is over, the kings and pawns go in the same box. - Old Italian Saying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindan Posted January 15, 2001 Share Posted January 15, 2001 Thanks for the list, very informative! BTW: I bought 'Das Boot' on DVD. It's awe-inspiring. The sounds define 'immersive' for me. You won't regret it, even if you already own the video-version. ------------------ ----------------------- Croda: "You hang out with a guy named "Warphead?" "Nuts!" " visit lindan.panzershark.com www.jagdtiger.de Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hundminen Posted January 15, 2001 Share Posted January 15, 2001 Picked up the entire series (9 tapes or 26 shows I believe) at a local store here in Toronto for only $80 Canadian (US$50). It was well worth the price, but some "tread-heads" should be warned that the focus is definitely on the social and political impact of the war, and the grand strategies that were employed. If I recall correctly, there was very little in the way of detailed coverage of weapons and tactics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest aka PanzerLeader Posted January 15, 2001 Share Posted January 15, 2001 I liked the very first part, "A New Germany", and the Eastern front episodes. Is it just me or has Kursk been completely forgotten? After 1943 I feel the emphasis is way too much on the Western Allies. I have the entire set in video but can't watch them for the moment here in Brazil...I'll have to buy a universal VCR(and TV!!)first Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Michael emrys Posted January 15, 2001 Share Posted January 15, 2001 <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by aka PanzerLeader: Is it just me or has Kursk been completely forgotten?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> I dunno. I recently got a copy of The Battle for Kursk 1943: The Soviet General Staff Study edited and translated by David M. Glantz and Harold S. Orenstein. I'm making my way slowly through it. Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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