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Synopsis
Boasting a script by Eric Ambler and Peter Ustinov, The Way Ahead [1944] is a rousing version of a familiar WWII genre: an officer must hammer a small group of disparate characters into an effective fighting unit as quickly as possible. David Niven stars as tough-minded Lieutenant Jim Perry, who has to put a reluctant and sometimes comically inept group of raw recruits through fantastically realistic basic training exercises. When the troops hit the beaches of North Africa, they finally begin to understand the purpose behind their training.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Mono ), English ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Black & White, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: The Immortal Battalion has a bit of a convoluted history. It started life as a training film, The New Lot, which ran 44 minutes. When Winston Churchill approached David Niven about creating a film that would do for the British Army what In Which We Serve had done for the Royal Navy, he contacted Carol Reed and suggested expanding The New Lot. The result, written by Eric Ambler and Peter Ustinov, was the acclaimed The Way Ahead. For its U.S. release, Way Ahead was edited to a shorter length and retitled The Immortal Battalion. In either of its feature length forms, the film is concerned with the training of a bunch of raw recruits into a capable and efficient fighting regiment. Niven stars as Jim Perry, a lieutenant and former ordinary guy who finds that he must learn to take a tough line in order to make his wildly diverse crew come together and understand the importance both of the war and of their place in it. Although it takes time and constant effort on the part of Perry and his sergeant, the eight men eventually overcome their different backgrounds and feelings, and transform themselves into a unit which performs its tasks with admirable skill and dexterity, preparing them for their battle against the Desert Fox in Africa. Told in a semi-documentary style, Battalion also features the screen debut of Trevor Howard. ...The Way Ahead ( The Immortal Battalion )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
72 of 72 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A story of the tough days of the Second World War (when Britain stood alone and kept losing up to the time of approaching victory in the Western Desert, despite losses in the Far East) made just before the Allied landings in Normandy. A 'keep the spirits up and victory will be ours' effort which has the massive advantage of great screenwriting (Ambler and Ustinov) and acting (Niven, Ustinov, Holloway et al and the wonderfully pompous Raymond Huntley). Excellent characterizations of, largely, moaning new soldiers being knocked into shape by Sergeant Hartnell as they become a force to take on Jerry. The last scene as the platoon advance into enemy fire is one to inspire and terrify: the ordinary British Tommy could win but there would be a cost; terrible but worth bearing. Bloody marvellous stuff. Literally.
35 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A splendid evocation of my father's generation.Ordinary men who accepted the discipline and uniformity of army life, obeyed orders and did their duty, while retaining their diversity and individualism. The truth is that the second world war was won by shop boys, car mechanics, clerks, bolier men, Oxford graduates,choral scholars teachers and park keepers, who, through the regimental system were moulded into infantrymen. The final scene as the diverse characters advance into the enemy fire, united in a common beleif in King, Country and regiment, yet still individuals, is one of the most moving in Brtiish cinema.
46 of 47 people found the following review helpful
This is one of those rarely seen films that is a joy to behold.
From the director that made 'The Third Man' we have an often told tale of how a disparate group of recruits into the army are gradually molded together to become a team.
The Difference here though, as with all Brithish films of this period is the characterisation, everyone you meet in the film has one, and you learn about them, and in a way grow with them.
From their first meeting in the Army base to the closing scene as they unflinchingly advance on the rarely seen enemy this film is full of character and low key drama. It is a tribute to the common infantry man of WW2 and the bonds of friendship they formed.
If you are fans of WW2 films or Classic British films in general then watch this film it will not dissapoint.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
an other IIworld war film
I like such films that remind me of my young age at that time: of course there is a large contribution to that period orpoaganda (but this is a valid documentation about that time,... Read more
Published on 24 May 2010 by Carlo Scarafiotti
Very watchable
"The Way Ahead"
David Niven stars as the young officer, with William Hartnell as his Sergeant, they are tasked with training a group of reluctant recruits from typically... Read more
David Niven stars as the young officer, with William Hartnell as his Sergeant, they are tasked with training a group of reluctant recruits from typically... Read more
Published on 18 May 2010 by S. Penny
Top British war film
The first Carry on film was Carry on sergeant and William Hartnell was the sergeant in that who was retiring and in this film he was cast as the sergeant. Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2009 by Peter Wade
Its ok
Its an ok film while you are watching - David Niven breezes through the film and William Hartnell provides the best acting - but I felt disappointed and cheated by the ending. Read more
Published on 28 Dec 2008 by Alex da Silva
Fantastic propaganda
Great film. One can only imagine the frame of mind of those originally watching it during the war. Brilliantly avoids the trap of portraying characters as heroes, they're just... Read more
Published on 26 Jun 2008 by Mr. T. P. Kingston
One of the Greatest
This is one of the most affecting films I have ever seen, and makes me wonder how I could have passed so many years of life and never seen it before. Read more
Published on 25 Jan 2008 by Denis Smith
A Classic
This movie shows what can be done when talents such as Ustinov and Ambler are told to make an Army training film and they then managed to come up with a classic like this. Read more
Published on 11 July 2007 by ray dorrity
Great propaganda movie
One of those with characters drawn from disparate backgrounds who end up pulling together. They spend the first half of the film whingeing about absolutely everything (they remind... Read more
Published on 29 Jun 2007 by Ms. L. R. Fisher
A good Black & White WW2 film
This movie follows the call up and training of various men, called up to fight in WW2.
It's interesting to see the men from different backgrounds, (the important... Read more
It's interesting to see the men from different backgrounds, (the important... Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2007 by Ty-Fry-Typhoon
Crazy or Eccentric!
“The Way Ahead” is a wonderful addition to the History of film. I am sure the Director took the material given to him and changed it beyond recognition. Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2006 by nmollo
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