MovieChat Forums > Sea of Sand (1961) Discussion > Question from America.

Question from America.

posted 16 years ago by mike-848
6 replies | jump to latest

Why are the cigarettes in the round container called what sounds like flairs?

Is that a brand name or slang?

I wish this movie was on Region 1 DVD.

Thanks!

[–] raven_1-1 16 years ago

Hello mike-848,

The cigarettes you are referring to are called 'Players' (a popular and well known brand in the UK, usualy Player's Navy Cut - which featured a picture of a jolly jack tar on the packet) that were made to pre-war standards using virginia tobacco.

In the western desert the only cigarettes available to the troops were called 'Victory Vs' and were made in Eygpt from inferior tobacco. Victory Vs were very harsh and disliked by the troops. Players, when avaialable, were a real treat. So when someone turned up from England with a supply of Players then they became very popular!!!

How do I know? My father spent the majority of the war in the western desert and told me about them.

Regards

David

[–] mike-848 16 years ago

Thanks David! It was worth the wait for your answer. Attenborough's accent made it sound like 'flairs'.

I love this film and so wish it was available here in the states. Just in the past 2 yrs. I've gotten into the British war films which I discovered are very fine productions such as Ice Cold in Alex (also not available in Region 1) and Play Dirty which has been released here recently.

You must be proud of your dad.

[–] raven_1-1 14 years ago

Mike,

Thanks for your comment on my dad; I was proud of him and found his descriptions of conditions interesting.

Why don't you but a DVD player that can play both Region 1 & 2 DVDs? You could then buy the films from Amazon UK or somewhere. I would also recommend 'The Cruel Sea' and 'The Way Ahead'.

Sorry for the delay in replying; this is the fist time I have ever looked at my posts and their responses.

Regards

David

[–] michael-3530 15 years ago

They are Players, short for Players Navy Cut, a very popular but slighhtly more expensive brand.Very difficult for the military to get during WWII.

[–] screenman 13 years ago

Hello Yank. I'm glad you're into old Brit war movies because they really were great little dramas in their own right, quite apart from the war aspect. Most were made on a shoestring as well, which is why the drama had to be so good - there wasn't much money for pyrotechnics.

Here's a very belated list of some of my favourites:

The Cruel Sea.
The Gift Horse.
The Sea Shall Not Have Them.
We Dive At Dawn.
Morning Departure.
Sink The Bismarck.

Ice Cold In Alex.
Danger Within.
The Wooden Horse.
A Town Like Alice.
The Colditz Story.
Went The Day Well?

Appointment In London.
The Dambusters.
Reach For The Sky.
Angels One-Five.

All in glorious black & whuite.

[–] london777 8 years ago

Good list, Screenman, but you omitted my favorite:

The Way to the Stars (1945) re-titled Johnny in the Clouds for the US market.