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Oh! What a Lovely War: The Special Collector's Edition [DVD] [1969]

Wendy Allnutt , Corin Redgrave , Richard Attenborough    Parental Guidance   DVD
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
Price: £3.25 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Oh! What a Lovely War: The Special Collector's Edition [DVD] [1969] + "Oh What a Lovely War" (Modern Classics)
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Product details

  • Actors: Wendy Allnutt, Corin Redgrave, Maurice Roëves, Malcolm McFee, John Rae
  • Directors: Richard Attenborough
  • Format: PAL, Widescreen, Colour, Subtitled
  • Language: English
  • Subtitles: English, Dutch, Swedish
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9 - 2.35:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment (UK)
  • DVD Release Date: 30 Oct 2006
  • Run Time: 138 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000NJLQHY
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,450 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)

Reviews

From Amazon.co.uk

It's a product of its Vietnam era just as surely as Robert Altman's M*A*S*H, and like that film Oh! What a Lovely War is ostensibly about a different war. Based on a celebrated anti-war stage piece produced by Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop, the film chronicles the various madnesses of the First World War. Along with vignettes involving the members of the fictional Smith family, the movie lands its punches with a two-pronged attack: by using the songs of the war, mostly patriotic; and by using the real-life words of various figures from WWI. You can see how this would have fit a stylised stage show; in the more literal, realistic realm of film, it mostly comes across as heavy-handed pretentiousness. Richard Attenborough, who would later explore the lives of Gandhi and Chaplin, first made his way to the director's chair here, and he enlisted a staggering who's who of his fellow British actors for roles in the large ensemble: Olivier, Gielgud, and Richardson among them. John Mills plays the most bull-headed of the generals, blithely measuring out yards of territory gained by the thousands of casualties involved. The songs are a historically fascinating lot, mostly given an ironic or sinister treatment in this incarnation, as jolly patriotic tunes that mask the utter carnage at the front. Among the high points is Maggie Smith singing (well, declaiming) an ode to recruitment, promising war as a grand adventure. The blending of arch content with Attenborough's realistic staging of trench warfare just doesn't take, but what does hit home are the actual quotes and the statistics of killing; World War I set a bloody standard for sheer, blind slaughter. --Robert Horton

Product Description

United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Mono ), Danish ( Subtitles ), Dutch ( Subtitles ), English ( Subtitles ), Finnish ( Subtitles ), Norwegian ( Subtitles ), Swedish ( Subtitles ), ANAMORPHIC WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Anamorphic Widescreen, Black & White, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Commentary, Documentary, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: A movie about the First World War based on a stage musical of the same name, portraying the "Game of War" and focusing mainly on the members of one family (last name Smith) who go off to war. Much of the action in the movie revolves around the words of the marching songs of the soldiers, and many scenes portray some of the more famous (and infamous) incidents of the war, including the assassination of Duke Ferdinand, the Christmas meeting between British and German soldiers in no-mans-land, and the wiping out by their own side of a force of Irish soldiers newly arrived at the front, after successfully capturing a ridge that had been contested for some time. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, Golden Globes, ...Oh! What a Lovely War

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
70 of 71 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars An essential DVD release 4 Nov 2006
Format:DVD
At last - a most eagerly awaited DVD release, and it's no disappointment. The packaging, menus, and print quality are all top notch. Extras are limited to a 45 minute documentary (helpfully divided into three parts) and director's commentary - I believe it's only Lord Attenborough's first.

The print is simply wonderful - widescreen never looked better, and it's far more bright and clean than anyone will have seen for years. It has be one of the highest quality pictures I have seen for a long time.

As a film experience, it has everything to recommend it - all those huge stars, the beautiful cinematography, and those remarkably touching (and witty) songs. You could say this is a musical for people who normally don't watch musicals, because these are all authentic WW1 songs, popular, sacred and profane.

The whole film is dotted with poignant moments, but the definitive one is right at the end, and truly breathtaking. Especially when you learn that it was filmed for real! A real pleasure to own this reinstated masterpiece.
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28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Oh! What a Lovely War 28 Oct 2006
Format:DVD
This is a long overdue release of a classic anti-war film. Although the serious student of military history will have long moved on from the iniquitous 'Lions led by donkeys' view of the Great War, this film does show the disconnection between the jingoist home front and the reality of the front line. Particularly effective is the scene in the ruined church with the nurses singing 'The churches' one foundation' and the soldiers singing their own lyrics. The final scene is particularly touching.
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98 of 101 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars AT LAST !!!!!!!!!!! 20 Aug 2006
By Steve TOP 500 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
Well, I can't review the DVD as it's not released yet, but firstly thank God to whoever managed to finally overcome whatever obstacles were in its way. A 1969 film finally makes it to DVD in 2006...

And what a film. It struck me that many people will never have even seen this masterpiece (and there are very few films I would call that) before. For those who haven't, be aware that the title is ironic. This movie shows how most of Europe, then other continents, were drawn into the carnage of World War 1 by old alliances. And then, how the slaughter went on, and on... But also be aware that it's a musical, where the musical numbers comment on the madness of the war, and underline the black humour necessary to keep everyone going. Songs like 'When This Lousy War is Over', 'Good-bye-ee' and 'We Don't Want to Lose You ( but think you ought to go)' stick in the mind long after seeing the film.

The cast is like a Who's Who of British acting: John Gielgud, John Mills, Kenneth More, Vanessa Redgrave, Jack Hawkins, Dirk Bogarde.... Much of the film was made on location in, and near, Brighton; the famous pier is used to great effect, as, amongst other things, the control centre for the British generals. In one memorable scene the ever-growing casualty figures are displayed in enormous numbers whilst Field Marshall Haig (John Mills) decides to send yet more men over the top. In fact the film is arguably more a series of set pieces than a running narrative.

And that incredible final shot!!! What a treat for those who haven't seen the film before. I saw this on first release in 1969 at the Lounge Cinema, Headingley, Leeds, and can still remember watching as the entire screen filled with...ahh, wait and see.

For me, this is the most anticipated DVD ever; I just hope that loving care has been taken over the transfer of this, one of the most extraordinary films of all time.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars The film was not to my taste.
Disappointed with the actual film after hearing and reading great comments of the film. The film appears to be a skit at WW1, which I think is bad taste when so many lost family... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr H G Gowland
5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh as ever
A long time since I have seen this film. I thought it was as good as I remembered - perhaps no longer a novel idea, but nonetheless an entertaining satire of WWI.
Published 1 month ago by T. Howell
1.0 out of 5 stars Bogus!!!
I paid a lot of money to get the movie here quickly. I needed it by a certain date and to share. The package did arrive within the time allowed. HOWEVER, I WAS UNABLE TO VIEW IT!!! Read more
Published 1 month ago by kathryn tryck
5.0 out of 5 stars Still a 5 star film
It was if it were made in 2013 great film. It has so many great movie stars in the cast.
Published 2 months ago by Brentwood
5.0 out of 5 stars or, how they did for our forebears
Every military officer and politician should be given a copy and ordered to watch it until they resign their commissions
Published 2 months ago by mikeinmacc
5.0 out of 5 stars Oh What a lovely war
CD arrived on time as advised, rep[roduction was exc. The film itself I have seen several times and still I find bits missed previously. Read more
Published 2 months ago by C R Russell
5.0 out of 5 stars Dazzlingly Brilliant
I consider this the best film of all time. Its a must see!!! The performance of Maggie Smith alone is unmissable and terrifying as are some of the other brilliant cameos. Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. J. Padfield
5.0 out of 5 stars pleased
I bought this because my uncle has a small part in it and I wanted to see it again. The last time I saw it was in the cinema when it first came out. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Pauline
2.0 out of 5 stars okay
i remember being very impressed with this film of a a stage production when i first saw it in 1969 but it has not worn so well. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Catherine
5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Special Film
Not a documentary, but nonetheless essential viewing for everyone; it shows the farce which was behind the tragedy of the war. Read more
Published 3 months ago by A. Denial
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