"Isn't it time for a proper British WW2 series/movie" Topic

The americans have had saving private ryan, Band of Brothers and lastly Pacific. pluss Flags of our fathers, and sevral less known WW2 movies.

Isn't it time to make a band of brother type series about a British unit, While the Yanks only joined the last 3 years.

Following British soldiers let you see the whole of the war in the west and south, From battle of france, North Afirca, Italy/Sicily, then back to France and into germany.

I remember reading the longest day, were one British soldier had sevral dozen german kills on his records, and he had beeing fighting in all those places.

That would be an awesome series, especially once the Americans showed up to rescue those plucky Brits and save the war.

(ducks)

I agree absolutely. With all the dramatic material available (Dunkirk, Battle of Britain, North Africa, Arnhem, the LRDG, the Dam Busters, etc), I can't believe that something hasn't been done yet.

Of course, I'll be the first to complain if the United States Marine Corps is maligned by not being included in the mini-series about the fighting around Caen.

(also ducks)

As a Yank, I would like to see a series about a Brit soldier that was a WWI vet and the characters' views on going through another war, attitudes of the US and ex-patriates and Commonwealth soldiers.

The LRDG/SAS/SBS/Popski's Private Army would be a great series.

Sink the Bismarck could be redone.

The British D-Day, Caen and the drive up the coast is anothe.

The Italian Campaign.

And for a what-if, Monty and Patton racing for Berlin with a huge allied airdrop on Tempelhof Airport. And Hitler trying to get to the Alpine Redoubt.

but that's just me.

Well you do have this one.
imdb.com/title/tt0252223

once the Americans showed up to rescue those plucky Brits and save the war

Yes, thank you Christopher. So its definite then that it has to be prior to the US involvement. So that gives us a glorious 2 year start – thanks Uncle Sam

Europe, North Africa, Middle East, maybe even the Atlantic.

I'd go for North Africa and see some tank warfare.

Good post Gunfreak

After reading Ambrose's Peagus Bridge I thought that would make a good two or three parter, I doubt British TV could afford a huge BoB production unaided, so ambitions would have to be reigned in.

Credit where credit is due, the Americans did have some good ideas.
(DUKWs)

Could most of the parts be played by American actors doing British accents? seems only fair you got all the good parts in BoB

What I would like to see is a good WW II comedy, they haven't made any sense the 60s

It's certainly long overdue. '18 Platoon', 'By Tank Into Normandy', 'With The Jocks', 'Quartered Safe Out Here' and Spike Milligan's war diaries would all make superb TV series.

As previously discussed, this amazing ad demonstrates what might have been: vimeo.com/38227856

However, I'm often relieved that they don't make them, as if done by any British TV company or film-maker, it would undoubtedly be a sensitive portrayal of homo-erotic tension, racism, bullying and class division. Or in other words, total Bollock s.

GG,

We've had stacks of them over here: 'Dad's Army', 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum' and 'Allo Allo' being the Big Three.

Nice one darth…

I met Lt Winters (Damian Lewis) in a restaraunt here in Asheville NC about 2 months ago. He was here filming his series HOMELAND, which is great by the way. I didn't know he was a Brit.

We're always the baddies in Hollywood productions, so the only a series likely to be made staring British actors would be about Leibstandarte

Having read a number of books on WW2. I know the movies BOB, Flags, Longest Day, and A Bridge too Far are from specific books. The Pacific being an amalgam of 3 books. And Saving Ryans Privates is loosely written on a book.

I've written down Mr. Davies list for future purchase. Are there any other books in the same vein as above that cover specifically Brit or Commonwealth troops.

And as a side note….. I'd love to see a directors cut of the battle scenes from Flags and Letters combined into chronological sequence.

Do "Brazen Chariots"; you can have the war in N. Africa just before we annoying Americans showed up to ruin all the fun, but still have that weird mix of "native" Brit/Lend-Lease equpiment, plus you're fighting Rommel in the desert *and* it's written by a South African, involving S. African and Indian troops.

The Brits have "Battle of Britain", one the best WWII war movies ever.

R Mark Davies

"However, I'm often relieved that they don't make them, as if done by any British TV company or film-maker, it would undoubtedly be a sensitive portrayal of homo-erotic tension, racism, bullying and class division."

In other words, bang on for historical accuracy and a lot more interesting than Hollywood could ever do.

I agree, however with scrapping "sensitive portrayal"; it should be balls to the wall, in your face stuff.

Talvisota/The Winter War is also worth watching

imdb.com/title/tt0098437

And shows what can be done with a comparatively limited budget.

Isn't it time to make a band of brother type series about a British unit,

Sure. Are you going to finance it?
They only make series or movies that "they" think will make money.

He's right.

it's a niche interest – so who'll fund it ?

I would like to see it, but I love WW2 history. It is not like there have been no movies about British soldiers/servicemen…..Zulu, Waterloo, Battle of Britain, Bridge Too Far, Sink the Bismark, Khartoum, the list goes on an on. You do know that Hollywood is in the USA, right?

Savlon,

You clearly missed the bit where I said that would be total bollock s. Have a read of any of the books I've mentioned or talk to a few veterans if you don't believe me. In fact, add 'Sunset In The East' to the list.

There was "Danger UXB", a rather good little series.

Yes it was, made by Thames TV as I recall.

Heaven forfend the BBC would make anything that might be deemed to celebrate our recent past in a patriotic light…

Anyway wasn't the war really won by good old Uncle Joe Stalin?

Much better to make yet another program about Ghandi being locked up by the evil Brits.

We should all feel terribly guilty about our past, and thank heavens daily that people like Mr Mugabe and Field Marshal Dr Professor Idi Amin Dada, and the Burmese Junta managed to liberate the oppressed colonial masses.

Well, if you include Commonwealth troops, Attack Force Z was really well done. And it has Mel Gibson before Braveheart, Patriot, Passion of the Christ, Lethal Weapon,drunk driving, etc.

One of my favorite movies. Played with my Britains while watching it on HBO years ago.

There was a short Brit series – 6 episodes – about the Battle of Britain, titeld "Piece of Cake" from Derek Robinson's novel of the same name.

I have it on DVD and it's enjoyable – true, the Spits are not Mk. I or Mk. II and some of the other things are historically wrong, but it is good.

Especially when you consider that many of the pilots are jerks and/or have their mindsets firmly settled in "peacetime" activities.

I would love to see this, particularly something that covered one of the more neglected theatres, perhaps Norway, Iraq, Burma or the commonwealth forces in Malaya. Also plenty of scope for material with the various marine and paratroop deployed "commando" raids into occupied Europe. Or how about something following one of the more interesting characters like Ralph Bagnold or Jack Churchill?

Cheers, Andy

I've seen a significant number of WW2 movies, and read a large number of books about the war.

And I think a "fantasy WWII movie" would be a great idea!

British in WWII? What an imagination!

To a certain extent we did all our war film making back in the 40s and 50s.

You can't do much better than 'The Cruel Sea', 'The Way Ahead' or 'Hunt the Bismarck'.

Modern films and TV series tend to be more personal (Atonement, The English Patient, Sword of Honour, Enigma etc). I thought Sword of Honour was fabulous.

I'm not sure there would be much of a market for a British Band of Brothers, apart from among wargamers:)

"I didn't know he was a Brit"

LOL, it is the new thing to do for British actors, just look at House and the Wire.

For some reason our people seem to be able to do relatively convincing US accents.

Dad's Army. Written by someone who was there.

Could most of the parts be played by American actors doing British accents

or like a lot of shows they could just refilm it using US actors

For some reason our people seem to be able to do relatively convincing US accents.

Just like Kevin Costner's British accent! :P

To quote men in tights.

Becasue I can speak with an English accent.

North Afica would be really good but we have to have all the allies involved at the end when we squeezed the axis out.

Have a look at "Two Men Went to War" a cracking story and stranger than fiction.

I Think Martin Rapier may be right. Apart from us few old farts interested`in military history, there really wouldn't be a huge demand for such films from the general UK population.

However (message to any potential investors here) if you were to slant the film to portray Poles, Czechs or other Eastern Europeans in British service you might tap into a huge market.

So, Sir Peter Jackson, you can contact me here for details of my script for :

Popski's Private Army- the movie (£1m)

Prinses Irene Brigade – From The Netherlands and back again (£2m)

Draža Mihailović – Hero or traitor ? (£5m)

Did they ever make a movie of "HMS Ulysses"? Great Book, brave Brits.

There was a short Brit series – 6 episodes – about the Battle of Britain, titeld "Piece of Cake" from Derek Robinson's novel of the same name.

I have it on DVD and it's enjoyable – true, the Spits are not Mk. I or Mk. II and some of the other things are historically wrong, but it is good.

Especially when you consider that many of the pilots are jerks and/or have their mindsets firmly settled in "peacetime" activities.

I remember watching that series years ago on PBS. I recall some of the unusual characters among the RAF pilots. They were definitely not all your stereotypical hero types. I'd like to watch that show again.

Piece of cake is on DVD? I sat through the whole series in one night on ancient, grainy much played VHS tapes borrowed from a friend. I'd love to get it DVD

HMS Ulysses is a great book, but it always bums me out for days!

Close to Brits, there's the Australian series ANZACS with Paul Hogan. At least as good as BoB! Also Canada's movie Passchendaele with/by Paul Gross.

Netflix has "Piece of Cake" on DVD so it is out there.