Perhaps more potent in the mid 1960's as the Vietnam war was unfolding and creating all sorts of protest, this musical revue today seems very much a product of its time and is a mixed bag. Veddy British in its themes, it has a music hall feel about it, and the individual sequences are more interesting than the film as a whole.
Stunningly photographed, this documents the events of what was to become known as "the great war", one that is greatly overshadowed by the memory of its sequel yet had a tremendous impact on Europe and lead to many changes, not only in the map of the world, but how governments were run. Subtle metaphors are tossed in to give a psychological view of historical incidents, and representations of real figures are added to make an interesting commentary. Red flowers are a symbolic prop throughout, with colorless battle scenes only given that touch of red to off-set the carnage.
A music hall number with a singing Maggie Smith sets off patriotism with cynical irony and a single scene with Vanessa Redgrave as an anti-war speaker is also very profound. The emotional highlight of the film is a battleground meeting between British and German soldiers on Christmas day where they each put aside their duty to share brief brotherhood and verbalize their own distaste over what they are forced to do. All of a sudden, bombs go off and they each rush back to their side, preparing for a battle where they just might end up killing each other after all.
There are certain scenes with representational sets that appear to be fantasies over an England that will never be again. At times profound, often perplexing, this may not appeal to general audiences. Interesting in a historical context, this is sort of a war-set "Cavalcade" where the life of one family, the plot box around which this is sent, is profoundly changed forever. Thanks to the artistic vision of first time director Richard Attenborough, this may not stand the test of time as a whole, but isn't quite a failure, either. The ending is a true heartbreaker.
Stunningly photographed, this documents the events of what was to become known as "the great war", one that is greatly overshadowed by the memory of its sequel yet had a tremendous impact on Europe and lead to many changes, not only in the map of the world, but how governments were run. Subtle metaphors are tossed in to give a psychological view of historical incidents, and representations of real figures are added to make an interesting commentary. Red flowers are a symbolic prop throughout, with colorless battle scenes only given that touch of red to off-set the carnage.
A music hall number with a singing Maggie Smith sets off patriotism with cynical irony and a single scene with Vanessa Redgrave as an anti-war speaker is also very profound. The emotional highlight of the film is a battleground meeting between British and German soldiers on Christmas day where they each put aside their duty to share brief brotherhood and verbalize their own distaste over what they are forced to do. All of a sudden, bombs go off and they each rush back to their side, preparing for a battle where they just might end up killing each other after all.
There are certain scenes with representational sets that appear to be fantasies over an England that will never be again. At times profound, often perplexing, this may not appeal to general audiences. Interesting in a historical context, this is sort of a war-set "Cavalcade" where the life of one family, the plot box around which this is sent, is profoundly changed forever. Thanks to the artistic vision of first time director Richard Attenborough, this may not stand the test of time as a whole, but isn't quite a failure, either. The ending is a true heartbreaker.