Review of First World War In Colour, The (Two Discs)

Introduction

Despite everything you may have been led to believe the First World War really did take place in full Technicolour.

Technology not being available at the time to record said war has possibly resulted in us all feeling rather distant from the black and white jerky pictures of a war that took place nearly 90 years ago. They all walked funny in those days obviously.

This project has given us the opportunity to view it as it really happened or at least as much film that is left in a watchable state. A team of several hundred colourisers have brought long dead people to life. Churchill`s astrakhan coat and his florid features are strangely familiar to us but there is also Tsar Nicholas who was murdered in the cause of history.

On the two-disc set there are 6 films about different aspects of the war.

The second disc sent for review

4 Killers of the Sea
What happens when you both have big expensive ships you don`t want to lose? The rise of the submarine.

5 Mayhem on the Eastern Front
The Russian Revolution puts a spanner in the works of the War.

6 Victory and Despair
Defeat is a real possibility for the Allies.

Video

The colorization of old films is not always my cup of tea. Films like `Metropolis` were made in black and white and tinkering with them is of debatable interest.
In this case we are looking at documentary footage that was filmed using the only technology available. But what kind of new light does colouring in the frames shed on these films?

To me it is like switching a light on. Those jerky black and white images are transformed into living and once breathing people. Adding the memories of the soldiers as they are now enhances this. The two images are tied together reminding us what the statistics mean. If there had been coverage of World War One as today`s conflicts are covered how long would it have lasted? Perhaps it would have been declared a draw two years earlier; perhaps Germany would not have become trapped in its past leading to the disaster of the rise of the Nazis.

Audio

The films do have added sound effects, which enhance the film. The effects are not intrusive and it does have more interest when battleships are blowing seven bells out of each other when they do it with sound.

Kenneth Branagh provides narration. His voice is getting ubiquitous, taking over from Olivier as the ominous voice of the wars.

The narration includes extracts from memoirs from all sides in the War. It also includes the memories of some very old soldiers.

The music is suitably portentous and reminiscent of `World at War`.

Features

Excellent animated menus.

Disc Two

An additional documentary called `Strategies and Tactics` narrated by Robert Powell. A general overview that uses CGI graphic to explain various battles and the reasons behind them.

Biographies-the key players from all sides. Some names will be familiar.


Time Line-major events in the War

General facts-the casualty list for all the factions involved. A blandly horrific table of statistics

Conclusion

Lest we forget…

These events could have happened yesterday and in terms of the history of the world it did. The First World War was the start of modern warfare that made it possible to kill even more people in a short a time as possible.

This is really an excellent series and will intrigue younger members of the family as well. Although the footage is limited the documentary style is cohesive, presented in an easily understandable format. Having the images in colour definitely has a positive effect. It proves how powerful pictures can be. The last five minutes of the documentary looks at the thousands of names on the Menin Gate. All the names are men who buried where they fell. Following that with footage of these soldiers `going over the top` and the bodies in various states of decay makes a chilling epitaph. A survivor contemplates whether we have failed those who made the ultimate sacrifice and concluding. Well see for yourself. If you go to the Imperial War Museum in London look for the First World War Exhibition and ask what you would do for your country?