Oh! What A Lovely War.

[sandyRoe]

I was looking at some clips on youtube and was surprised to see that the film is nearly 50 years old. I remember seeing it when it first came out in The Ritz in Belfast.
Would it be considered suitable to be shown on TV tomorrow?

[jno]

well... it isn't actually very good. I'm told the original stage version was much better; but this seems to show the director at his most Attenboroughish, giving the entire British acting profession 30 seconds each on screen and not prodcuing much of a story arc... the last scene is very good, though.

[sandyRoe]

I think it originated in the East End under Joan Littlewood's direction. And plenty of stars got a brief moment or two before the camera.
I would like to see it again.

[Buenchico]

>>>Would it be considered suitable to be shown on TV tomorrow?

Well, the play was considered suitable for broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on 14 March this year, so I can't see why the film version couldn't be shown.

However much of the message of the play was about how key military decisions were taken by officers who'd gained their commission through their social class and had no real idea about military tactics. Perhaps that message has already been conveyed on television by Black Adder Goes Forth?

Incidentally, I remember seeing the play at the Ipswich Arts Theatre around 1967. I enjoyed the evening but it certainly wasn't one of the repertory company's greatest triumphs.

[HansUrbancka]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oh,_What_a_Lovely_War!

[stuey]

Sandy, check out my latest addition to your "Cassandra" thread.