- Language English
- Classification: Exempt
- Studio: Laserlight
- VHS Release Date: 30 May 2000
- Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004CXCI
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 38,143 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The ability of a camera crew to follow legionaires in training is fairly special. Unfortunately, the camera crew does not appear to have done enough background research to breathe into the documentary a true feeling of what it's really like in the Legion. There is no feeling of the elitism that goes with being a Legionaire, no 'explanation' of why people join the legion and/or what legionaires do once in the Legion. If the video was to track a select group of British recruits, more about the recruits themselves would have told us something about what was in their heads before, during and after they signed up. There is so much that could have been covered by the camera - and that the Legion would have been proud to have talked about or shown - and yet, it's not. I get the impression the camera crew and producer could have done with spending a few quid on a book or two about the Legion before showing up to start the documentary. Nevertheless, is it worth watching? For sure! Is it worth buying to keep? Sorry, no.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This video consists of two parts. The first one follows an English guy from the moment he knocks on the door of Fort Nogent and tells the guard that he wants to join La Legion Etrangere. We also see the selection procedures and some of the rigours of Basic Training. It ends with the presentation of the Kepi Blanc. Only then can the new recruits call themselves Legionnaires.
The second part tells of the jungle training in French Guiana. We see how the legionnaires are trained to survive in the jungle and how they celebrate one of their many festivities.
The first part of the video is very useful for those of us who are seriously considering joining. It gives us an insight of what to expect when walking through the gates for the first time. The second part is good also but I would have loved to see something about the other regiments as well.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This DVD is a truncated version of a mini series in the early 80's which in part chronicled the admission of a young Scotsman, who the series followed but in this DVD promptly disappears pretty much at the Marseilles fort front door!
It shows the process of admission and then the selection process to weed out the weak. The myths about criminals being allowed to join are debunked. They don't if the Legion has any say so, although how they would apply such stringent criteria to recruits from countries with poor infrastructure and high levels of corruption is another matter.
What is amazing is how tidy and modern looking the Legions barracks and training camps are, spartan but impressive nonetheless. They put the UK to shame, and this is 30 years ago!
Singing and comradeship and unswerving fidelity are hammered home by tough NCO's whose corporal punishments other than endless press-ups, are not revealed. Singing and singing in note is very important in training as is learning the French language quickly. Up and down the training hill go the lads as they hit bum notes singing stirring Legion songs. Some of which apparently are from the Waffen SS bizarrely.
A trip to French Guyana is the central feature of the DVD- hellish and arduous training in swamps, controlled exposure to crocs and snakes as jungle warfare training gives the viewer a taste of the life. No more than that though. Then it Kepi Blancs on and a finish with cheesy comments by a fairly dubious Irishman, after an extraordinarily camp and yet macho drag show, which is the French post jungle training equivalent of a night out on the lash. A bit of rumpy down the brothels is made in passing, but the Legion are awfully polite chaps as the film makers emphasise with their attention to the needs of the local Guyanese.
A reasonable DVD, although I remember the series more fondly and DID then want to join the Legion. After this I wont be leaving my wife and child for the 'lure of the lesion' as i think i have had all the jungle training i can endure with the old Boa!
It shows the process of admission and then the selection process to weed out the weak. The myths about criminals being allowed to join are debunked. They don't if the Legion has any say so, although how they would apply such stringent criteria to recruits from countries with poor infrastructure and high levels of corruption is another matter.
What is amazing is how tidy and modern looking the Legions barracks and training camps are, spartan but impressive nonetheless. They put the UK to shame, and this is 30 years ago!
Singing and comradeship and unswerving fidelity are hammered home by tough NCO's whose corporal punishments other than endless press-ups, are not revealed. Singing and singing in note is very important in training as is learning the French language quickly. Up and down the training hill go the lads as they hit bum notes singing stirring Legion songs. Some of which apparently are from the Waffen SS bizarrely.
A trip to French Guyana is the central feature of the DVD- hellish and arduous training in swamps, controlled exposure to crocs and snakes as jungle warfare training gives the viewer a taste of the life. No more than that though. Then it Kepi Blancs on and a finish with cheesy comments by a fairly dubious Irishman, after an extraordinarily camp and yet macho drag show, which is the French post jungle training equivalent of a night out on the lash. A bit of rumpy down the brothels is made in passing, but the Legion are awfully polite chaps as the film makers emphasise with their attention to the needs of the local Guyanese.
A reasonable DVD, although I remember the series more fondly and DID then want to join the Legion. After this I wont be leaving my wife and child for the 'lure of the lesion' as i think i have had all the jungle training i can endure with the old Boa!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Left Wondering
The video starts off ok,but as like others have said it leaves people hanging on wondering a bit.What i mean by that is what happened to Dean Heggie did he make it through the... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Graham1969
big dreams
i found this dvd to be the best C4 could manage at the time, it did break from one thing to another, and did not follow one person, as i thought it would. Read more
Published on 7 Sep 2009 by jasper
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I enjoyed the program, and it did give a good in sight into joining the Legion. My only complaint was that it started with a young Scotsman who seem to vanish and you were left... Read more
Published on 26 May 2009 by Douglas M. Grant
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A bit out dated, needs a new story of 2005/6 recruits. Great storey of cadet Dean, great guy! tails off after him. Read more
Published on 10 July 2006 by Mr. F. Hobday
Intresting....
Well if you are intrested in the subject Special Forces, then this DVD is for you. It tells you a story about a english ex soldier that enlists to the famous foregin legion in... Read more
Published on 19 Jan 2006 by special forces fan from Finland
Draggy, plods along
Very slow-moving. If you went by this video alone, you'd think that a legionnaire's training consisted mainly of doing push-ups, running up and down hills and getting muddy. Read more
Published on 13 Dec 2001
CRACKING DOCUMENTRY
This video is an excellent counterpart to the more historical video 'French Foreign Legion'.
I have seen this video numerous times and like the previous reviewer would reccomend... Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2000
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