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Unlike many other series on The Diggers, however, ANZACs
went further than the heroic debacle of Gallipoli and followed
the Australians into the hell of the Western Front.
There they made life hard for the British officers and even
harder on the pointy-helmeted Germans.
Despite being regarded as untried against European troops,
the ANZACs acquitted themselves so well they were rarely out
of the action and over the war some 60,000 men died and more
than 160,000 wounded.
The mini-series is very much an ensemble-acting affair with
some very well known faces in the line-up. Andrew Clarke,
Paul Hogan (in his first dramatic role), Tony Bonner, Jon
Blake, Megan Williams, Ilona Rogers and Robert Coleby among
many others.
It runs for almost 9 hours and is a pretty damn good look
at that period and that war.
The battle scenes are terrific and the muddy trenches of
the Western Front look acceptably cold and horrible.
Some of the acting goes a bit astray and there is sometimes
a bit too much play on larrikinism and Ockerness, but overall
it sits well as a quality drama with good characters.
I say this only because I really rated ANZACs highly
when I originally saw it on the box, but since then TV perfection
in the shape of Band of Brothers has come along and
blown almost everything else out of the water.
The DVD transfer for ANZACs is pretty good, considering
its age, although it does suffer a little from graininess
(not in itself a bad thing for a gritty period piece) and
it lacks sharpness and contrast.
Still, it is a good yarn and one Australians should take
the time to watch.
DISC 1:
Episode 1: Australia in 1914… Outbreak of war… Recruitment…
Training… Gallipoli: Landing/stalemate/withdrawal.
Episode 2: Arrival in France (1916)… Nursery Sector… The Battle
of the Somme… Pozieres.
DISC 2:
Episode 3: The Somme Winter (1916-17)… The Hindenberg Line…
Bullecourt… Blighty Leave… Third Battle of Ypres begins (July
1917)… Menin Road… Broodseinde Ridge…
Episode 4: Third battle of Ypres bogs down (November 1917)…
The German Offensive (March 1918)… The Battle of Amiens… Hazebrouk…
Battle of Nieppe Forest.
DISC 3:
Episode 5: The Yanks are coming… "Peaceful Penetration"… Monash
appointed Commander of the 5 Australian Divisions… Battle
of Hamel… The "Jack ups" Monash's Big Push (August 8, 1918)…
Armistice (November 11, 1918)… Back Home.
Conclusion: 85% Extras 60%
Continued: DVD
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