Can you recommend a good World War I & II documentary? (1 Viewer)

[Dave H]

...on DVD, of course.

I am looking for a good, LONG documentary with interviews, real footage, etc. Thanks.

 

[Patrick McCart]

The World At War.

 

[Sam Owens]

Second The World At War on DVD for WW2...

 

[Jeff_HR]

I'll third "The World At War" on DVD.

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

If you want something shot during WWII, try the Frank Capra "Why We Fight" series. Get the Goodtimes DVD, the Madacy is terrible. This about half documentary and half propaganda about us good guys.

 

[Zane Charron]

I fourth 'The World at War'. It's bar none the most comprehensive WWII doc out there. It ain't cheap, but what 5 disc boxset is?

 

[andrew markworthy]

There's a special anniversary edition of The World at War coming out on R2 with extra interviews, stuff about the making of the series, etc. However, it certainly isn't cheap. I don't know about a R1 release of this.

Regarding WWI, there is a very good R2 boxed set release called 'The Great War'. This was made during the 60s (i.e. when a lot of the veterans were not only alive by relatively young) by the BBC, and follows the same format at TWAW (indeed, TWAW was based on it). This is superb and can be safely recommended to any of you that can play R2/PAL. I don't know if a R1 release is planned.

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

Andrew,
I think that the R1 version of The World At War does have all that "extra stuff" as it were.

That Great War series does sound interesting, but I see no evidence that it's going to be released R1 anytime soon. (The R2 set is 99GBP! Ouch.) I'd guess that there isn't a lot about WWI for several reasons. Film was in it infancy then and there weren't small cameras for journalists to carry. And WWI was basically a bunch of guys sitting around in holes in the mud for 5 years while they shelled each other. This didn't make for any dramatic film footage.

 

[Andy_MT]

WWII - the lost color archives (from the history channel series)

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In the 1980s determined researchers began scouring the world for color film shot during World War II, and the result of their quest is spectacular. Seeing the war through the ubiquitous black-and-white footage has always made the experience somewhat distant, but in clear, crisp color, the enormity of the war and its horrors is startling and dramatic. Films of Nazi rallies are all the more disturbing; a viewer seeing the scene in color realizes the massive crowds saluting Hitler are no longer gray and faceless masses, but gatherings of well- dressed civilians. Color combat footage, from across Europe and the Pacific, is frighteningly immediate, and some of it, showing the wounded, the dead, and even prisoners being executed, will no doubt be disturbing for many viewers. Violence and destruction on an unimaginable scale is vividly put on display, as are smaller moments of soldiers smiling for the camera or liberated prisoners from the concentration camps staring in pained bewilderment. The episodes, produced by the History Channel, are introduced by veteran journalist Roger Mudd, and the narration for each individual segment typically contains excerpts from letters and diaries describing events close to those depicted in the film footage. The footage used is of a surprisingly high quality (much of it was shot and stored away, virtually unseen for decades), and it provides a stunning look at how the war appeared to those fighting it. --Robert J. McNamara

 

[Jonathan Burk]

Another vote for "The World at War". It is outstanding, and a value at twice the price. Make haste, and add it to your collection!