Coinciding with
the 100 year anniversary of World War I, BBC Home Entertainment has released
five DVDs of special programming, including documentaries, recreation docudramas,
and television movies/mini-series. There is something for every history
aficionado in this bunch, because they all take different approaches in
bringing the past to life. There are some overlaps in information, but each has
the ability to focus on a specific side of the war.
14 War Stories
Format: Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC
While this
8-part recreation docudrama is certainly the lengthiest of the five releases,
it was also my personal favorite. I usual don’t respond to recreation
documentaries, but the fact that all of the stories and much of the script is
taken from actual source material makes the series far more fascinating. This
paired with more than adequate recreation actors elevates 14 War Stories beyond
my expectations. Taken from diaries, letters, postcards and telegrams, each of
the fourteen war stories are taken from the actual words of a diverse
collection of first-hand witnesses. There are soldiers from many countries, war
nurses, and homemakers awaiting news of their beloved; even views from children
immersed in a world at war. The two-DVD set also includes a making-of
featurette which includes interviews with the cast/crew and exclusive
behind-the-scenes footage.
Entertainment Value:
7.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 8.5/10
Historical
Significance: 8/10
Special Features: 8/10
37 Days
This scripted
miniseries follows the events that led up to the outbreak of World War I. As
the title suggests, it covers the 37 days preceding he start of the war,
beginning with the unlikely assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand
on June 28th, 1914. Unfortunately, this is about as exciting of an
event to take place in these 37 Days.
A vast majority of the three-part drama is endless scenes of men advising each
other behind closed doors. There are representations of all key figures, though
a majority of focus remains on the key figures in Britain
and Germany Russia
Entertainment Value:
5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 6.5/10
Historical
Significance: 7/10
Special Features: 0/10
Churchill’s First World War
Easily the
driest of all the documentaries in this collection, thankfully Churchill’s First World War is only
90-some minutes long. It covers the transition Winston Churchill made from his
failures in the Battle of Gallipoli to his rise back to prestige with the
events of World War I. Also helped along with the actual words taken from
Churchill’s correspondence with his wife, Clementine, this documentary is
strongest when dealing with the personal aspects of his life. Where the
documentary tends to become slightly dull is in the presentation of politics
that made Churchill’s career possible.
Entertainment Value:
4/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7/10
Historical
Significance: 7/10
Special Features: 0/10
My Boy Jack
Cast alone sets
this scripted film apart from the other non-documentary releases in the bunch,
with Daniel Radcliffe, Carey Mulligan, David Haig and Kim Cattrall playing the
primary roles of a family torn apart by the devastation of World War I.
Unfortunately, the final point of the film seems lost to me, beyond the use of
capable actors. The film tells the story of the eager 17-year-old son
(Radcliffe) of famed British author, Rudyard Kipling (Haig), who insists on
enlisting in the war effort despite several failed attempts to pass the physical
exam. After his eyesight hinders his attempts, Kipling pulls some strings to
get him a commission in the Irish guards, much to the disapproval of his mother
(Catrall) and disappointment of his sister (Mulligan). The special features
include an interview with three out of the four main stars (Mulligan is
M.I.A.), deleted scenes, and a non-fiction featurette about the causes and
motivations leading to World War I.
Entertainment Value:
6.5/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7.5/10
Historical
Significance: 5/10
Special Features: 8.5/10
Royal Cousins at War
More about the
politics leading up to the war than anything that happened once it began, this
two part documentary series covers the intricacies of the relationships between
the three cousins of royal descent who were ruling Germany ,
England and Russia
Entertainment Value:
7/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7/10
Historical
Significance: 5/10
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