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The World At War - Complete TV Series (11 Disc Box Set)


RRP: £99.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

When this epic series was first broadcast in 1973 it redefined the gold standard for television documentary; it remains the benchmark by which all factual programming must judge itself. Originally shown as 26 one-hour programmes, The World at War set out to tell the story of the Second World War through the testimony of key participants. The result is a unique and unrepeatable event, since many of the eyewitnesses captured on film did not have long left to live. Each hour-long programme is carefully structured to focus on a key theme or campaign, from the rise of Nazi Germany to Hitler's downfall and the onset of the Cold War. There are no academic "talking heads" here to spell out an official version of history; the narration, delivered with wonderful gravitas by Sir Laurence Olivier, is kept to a minimum. The show's great coup was to allow the participants to speak for themselves. Painstaking research in the archives of the Imperial War Museum also unearthed a vast quantity of newsreel footage, including on occasion the cameraman's original raw rushes which present an unvarnished and never-before-seen picture of important events. Carl Davis' portentous main title theme and score underlines the grand scale of the enterprise. The original 26 episodes were supplemented three years later by six special programmes (narrated by Eric Porter), bringing the total running-time to a truly epic 32 hours. --Mark Walker


AWE INSPIRING TV
Review date: 2008-07-28 Rating: 10 out of 10

I remember watching this as a kid and recently saw parts of it again on the History channel and have found it incredibly moving - just the theme music with a series of shocking pictures culminating in the gaunt face of a young girl at the end, is truly chilling. The series examines every aspect and angle of the war in great detail. It does not shy away from some shocking footage and yet never feels like it is revelling in it. It is a serious historical work and yet it never drags. Watching it again I was struck by how many of those interviewed are long dead now, and how lucky I have been to never experience anything like the suffering they endured, and how future generations should never forget the price of their freedom.

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Reviews


The Greatest History Series Ever made even if it misses a big bit
Review date: 2008-07-23 Rating: 10 out of 10

The World at War should be shown to all children in School it is that good. It showsus how the world came to be after WW2 and offers the chance to see through the eyes of those who were there. Some episodes are brilliant for the drama others are the stuff of nightmares. A note to the clearing up of the concentration camps the plant drivers were issued a Bottle of Whisky a day that is the only way they could do that. i have relatives who were there (British army).
The only problem with the World at war is that it was made before Station X was revealed to the world. The story of Enigma, Colossus, Alan Turine, ?Tommy Flowers, etc were hidden till after the world at war was made though some hints are shown only other sources such as the extra features tell the Story of the broken codes that took a year or two off WW2.

Incomparable...
Review date: 2008-02-18 Rating: 10 out of 10

Incomparable. Moving. Poignant. Horrific. There are not enough superlatives for this series. If it was up to me, I'd make every teenager in the Uk watch it - just to make them realise what sacrifices our ancestors had to make so that they can enjoy their much taken for granted freedom.

The Best Visual History Of The Period That You Can Possilbly Own
Review date: 2008-02-08 Rating: 10 out of 10

In excess of 30 years on this sprawling documentary series still thoroughly deserves watching. Put simply there is no better visual history of this period. Not only does this tell the story but does so through first hand accounts of people who were involved at all levels. The testaments are revealing and give this series a real visceral power.

The story itself is told with some sense of chronology but also gives background too. So the story of the American intervention is told by giving you the view from before the war despite appearing in the narrative only at the point when Pearl Harbour has been bombed. It's a clever device which helps to focus each seperate part clearly on its subject.

There are some who will site the presentation as rather old fashioned but this documentary avoids summarising itself every 10 minutes, assuming instead that we have a decent attention span. Laurence Olivier's narration may also detract as he uses his naturally stagey voice throughout although this somehow provides just the right level of gravitas to my ears.

Finally there's the images. Many were taken from the enormous archive held by The Imperial War Museum and never before screened, or seen, since they were captured. At times shocking and unsettling they help tell the story with a powerful clarity.

A moving, informative, and lasting testament this has lost none of its impact and probably never will. It is deserving of a place amoungst the finest documentaries ever produced. There are few which deserve the epithet "definitive" but this is one.

WWII DVD Bible
Review date: 2008-02-02 Rating: 10 out of 10

There is little else that I can say than "this is the DVD boxset Bible for the Second World War". Absolutely genius series.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Laurence Olivier

Creators:
Laurence Olivier (Primary Contributor)

Recording label: Fremantle Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: Fremantle Home Entertainment
EAN: 5030697081933
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 11
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2005-04-25
Audience rating: Exempt
Region code: 2
Running time: 999 minutes
Language: English (Original Language)

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