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But, perhaps the really important factor between this series
and other documentaries, is that it tends to focus on the
personal experiences of the war as witnessed - and unofficially
filmed - by civilians and lower-ranked soldiers.
Britain at War In Colour began life as a three-part TV series
and has now been combined on to one DVD. It is broken up into
three parts that examine various periods of the war.
The first, the Darkest Hour, focuses upon Britain's preparations
for war with Germany, life on the home front, and the difficulties
the British civilians and troops faced in surviving the terrors
thrown at them by Hitler, his bully boys and their allies.
Following that comes the chapter, The Beginning Of The End,
which has the fortunes of war turning and now Britain and
her allies are able to tighten the screws upon their enemies.
Lastly, there is the chapter called Unknown Warriors, which
allows you to meet and listen to many of the people whose
film and personal stories were used. This is a terrific bit
of documentary making and the insights you get into what it
was like to be alive during World War 2 are excellent.
Included is film footage of British fascists marching in
London before the war, the D-Day landings and the liberation
of British survivors of a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp.
Some of the footage is very graphic - body parts and the
like - but this is because the censors couldn't get to and
restrict what people filmed on personal equipment.
The quality of the original film is up and down, but this
adds to the realism of Britain at War In Colour and the feeling
that it was gathered from many different sources.
The transfer on to DVD, however, is very good and if there
are blemishes then they are not serious enough to notice.
If you have an interest in history or, like me, had grandparents
and a parent who went through wartime England, then this is
a real eye opener. It will give you another, more personal
perspective upon a war that claimed so many lives.
I do have one moan, however, and that is the appalling faux-Australian
accent used in portions of the series. Strewth, mate, bonza,
beauty, put a shrimp on the barbie, cobber, dinky-di, digeridoo
..... It would be laughable if it wasn't for the fact it's
probably done by some tosser from London who thinks he does
a beautiful Aussie accent and then, when going back to his
own accent, replaces his THs with FFs. Grrrrrrrrrrrr.
Conclusion: Movie 85%, Extras 85%
Continued:
DVD details at a glance >
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