Will there ever be a British version of Band of Brothers?

I think we made it in 1944 in Australia.

"Rats of Tobruk"
A little snippet. Was a bit "corny" which at least showed the job that was done.

IMDb Video: The Fighting Rats Of Tobruk

 

My favourite mini-series is still Anzacs:The War Down Under to this day!
It is very much a BoB style mini series only it follows a section of Anzac troops through the entire first world war.

Brilliant series, too bad theres no DVD release in N.America

 

My favourite mini-series is still Anzacs:The War Down Under to this day!
It is very much a BoB style mini series only it follows a section of Anzac troops through the entire first world war.

Brilliant series, too bad theres no DVD release in N.America

If you have a multi player region DVD, no problems

 

My favourite mini-series is still Anzacs:The War Down Under to this day!
It is very much a BoB style mini series only it follows a section of Anzac troops through the entire first world war.

Brilliant series, too bad theres no DVD release in N.America

The running time for the series was actually 480 minutes plus 44 minutes of extras and called simply "ANZACS"

It was run in (5) 90 minute episodes.

The one you mention "The war down under" was cut to death for the US market to 192 minutes.

I wish you could see the original that was shown on the Australian market.

To quote one of my mates who has seen the other version,
"they absolutely cut the guts out of it".

My copy is a number 4.

Cheers

Geoff

 

I think a campaign from NA to NWE is pretty unrealistic, especially over anything more than a Company, as you'd never get a feel of the units. The area I back the most is... (well guess, its dead easy what unit) and their run to Hamburg after Normandy. As it has the 'right' mix of Welsh, Scots, English, Norwegians, Canadians etc.

I think it'd be impossible to cover a Division properly without the right spread of time, showing the personalities at Division, Brigade and Battalion levels - with each episode making a certain focus on one or two aspects. With one episode focusing on the tank crew supporting them, and another on the Royal Engineers and ROAC boys. It'd show the full spectrum of combat and life behind the lines/ENSA/Div Concert Parties etc. You'd need to latch onto a few characters to follow it through on all levels, and focus on some remarkable personal stories, but I think it'd get the feel across.

 

Forgot to add re Anzacs that the Battalion they chose to depict in "Anzacs" was the 8th Battalion of the 1st AIF.



My fathers 8th battalion, as my signature represents, carried the same patch in WW2.

The red over white or "Blood over Bandages".

Seen above on Paul /Hogan's uniform.

 

Referring back to an earlier comment...just because a film scene may want to portray Tunisia doesn't mean it'll be filmed there, after all It'll be filmed somewhere where the producers can reconcile an appearance not TOO unlike the real thing - with cheap production costs, or cost/taxbreaks from a local government ilm industry etc. It would admittedly be GREAT to see a WWII series or film filmed in EXACTLY the places it's purporting to be - but for a whole variety of reasons it's very difficult, if not almost impossible. A few, yes...

After all, WWII battlefields were chosen more with an eye to fields of fire, not a camera's field of view...

 

1st post on this excellent forum I have discovered today whilst trying to research my great uncle.

Am loving this thread, and think it would be an excellent idea, as it seems that in hollywoods eyes, we were just waiting around to be saved!, so I think something pre December 1941 would be excellent, all the dark atmosphere of the U.K standing on the brink.

 

I've got ANZACS on DVD-I loved it.

 

The running time for the series was actually 480 minutes plus 44 minutes of extras and called simply "ANZACS"

It was run in (5) 90 minute episodes.

The one you mention "The war down under" was cut to death for the US market to 192 minutes.

I wish you could see the original that was shown on the Australian market.

To quote one of my mates who has seen the other version,
"they absolutely cut the guts out of it".

My copy is a number 4.

Cheers

Geoff
Indeed, however I am lucky enough to have seen the original series recently. I remember the old VHS movie version which wasn't bad though the mini-series is fantastic!

 

Indeed, however I am lucky enough to have seen the original series recently. I remember the old VHS movie version which wasn't bad though the mini-series is fantastic!

Guilty!

Seeing I had it out to scan, watched the first two episodes last night. Will watch the rest this week.

If you can shed a tear and laugh through the same movie, it has struck the right chord.

 

Part of the attraction of the 101st was that they were very busy
hopping from place to place.

The 82nd jumped in Sicily plus the two jumps that the 101st made. The US 1st ID fought in North Africa, Sicily and NW Europe, as did the 1st Armored.

What helped the 101st more was that a well known "author" had written a book about them already.

 

The 82nd jumped in Sicily plus the two jumps that the 101st made. The US 1st ID fought in North Africa, Sicily and NW Europe, as did the 1st Armored.

What helped the 101st more was that a well known "author" had written a book about them already.
So true. History by Hollywood is a terrible thing.

 

I think Jones'y is still around if they need a lead actor.

 

A few years back (in 1973) I posted an article on the BBC site regarding my own family's contribution to the war effort: BBC - WW2 People's War - One family, Five Sons, All Serving in H.M.Forces

I was delighted to get this response:

Sorry, Ron but you have a long way to go to match my family, I come from a family of 16, 12 boys and 4 girls.and 9 of us boys ALL served in the army and saw active service and whats more incredabale we all came back, only 2 recievd war injuries from which they soon recoverd. All so my sisters where all married to service men three Army one R.A.F. Only myself and one other brother who is 90yrs.old and two sisters still remain.


Imagine what a film about that family would have been like !

 

What helped the 101st more was that a well known "author" had written a book about them already.[/QUOTE]

the first book he wrote was about pegasus bridge, and the ox & bucks, its a very good book.

 

What helped the 101st more was that a well known "author" had written a book about them already.

the first book he wrote was about pegasus bridge, and the ox & bucks, its a very good book.


I'm guessing that you're referring to Ambrose, as I was. Pegasus Bridge, June 6th 1944 was not his first book, more like his 8th or 10th.

 

I know i am biased,but i do think my dads unit would make an interesting story
2nd Forward Observer Unit (airborne) RA.
This unit was made up from Canadians and British so would contrast on the differences between them.
Also it would be a perfect opertunity to tell the (oft neglected in the movies) story of the Rhine crossing and the march to the Baltic....(ruskies thrown in as well!!!)
All you have to do is start a WW2 Talk fund......collect about 30 million quid.......sent it to me ....and bingo! films as good as made......what could possibly go wrong

 

Theobob, I'll help you out. Think of the great holiday...I mean great film we could make with £30 Mill

Mike