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BBC World War I Anniversary DVD Releases


        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
  • Language: English
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: August 19, 2014
  • Run Time: 416 minutes

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            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
     
     
         Format: Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC
  • Language: English
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: September 16, 2014
  • Run Time: 165 minutes

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            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. Although I have no problem with the infantile behavior portrayed in German leader, Kaiser Wilhelm II, it was frustrating to see how horribly wrong they got Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Another of these DVD releases covers the three royal cousins at the center of the War, and they got the looks and behavior wrong on this leader in 37 Days.

     

    Entertainment Value: 5/10

    Quality of Filmmaking: 6.5/10

    Historical Significance:  7/10

    Special Features: 0/10

     

    Churchill’s First World War
     

         Format: Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC
  • Language: English
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: August 19, 2014
  • Run Time: 90 minutes



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            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

     
    Actors: David Haig, Daniel Radcliffe, Kim Cattrall, Carey Mulligan, Julian Wadham
  • Director: Brian Kirk
  • Writer: David Haig
  • Producers: David Haig, Douglas Rae, James Flynn, Mary Alleguen, Michael Casey
  • Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
  • Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
  • Subtitles: English
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: April 22, 2008
  • Run Time: 120 minutes



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            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

     
        Format: Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: BBC Home Entertainment
  • DVD Release Date: September 16, 2014
  • Run Time: 118 minutes

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            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 prior to World War I. King George V of England and Tsar Nicholas II of Russia had a solid relationship, and despite the Queen of England being of German descent, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany quickly became the outcast of the family. Although the actions of these men following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand are well known, it is the personal stories prior to any conflict which makes this a fascinating documentary.

     

    Entertainment Value: 7/10

    Quality of Filmmaking: 7/10

    Historical Significance:  5/10

    Special Features: 0/10




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