ANZACS is a bloody brilliant series, I remember it showing onthe BBC in the mid 80s. I've recently bought it on DVD from Australia and it's as good, maybe even better, as I remember it. My question, though, is why has no British broadcaster commissioned a series like ANZACS or Band of Brothers? Gosh, the UK has enough military history to support a 6 x 90 series surely?
shareI often find myself asking the same question.Fully agreed it`s an entertaining series.I expect you`ve seen Gallipoli but a couple of Oz war films worth checking out are:Lighthorsemen(WW1 Palestine),Odd Angry Shot(Vietnam),Attack Force Z(WW2).
shareDidn't know Odd Angry Shot, will check it; cheers. Have you seen the miniseries 'Vietnam'?
"Someone has been tampering with Hank's memories."
I can recall Nicole kidman in her school uniform(i`ll stay with that image a bit longer!) & a little guy on a scooter called Serge but that`s about it.Does it focus more on the people left at home rather than the conflict abroard?
Odd Angry Shot is quite a low budget affair with one or two small action sequences.It focuses more on characterisation & definitely has a place alongside the more well-known Hollywood Vietnam films in my view-out on Aussie R4 DVD.
Sounds rather like Odd Angry Shot, in fact. Low budget with some combat sequences in Vietnam (but no helos, no budget!). Lot about hearts and minds and pacification. A lot in Oz - anti-war movement, Labor coming to power etc. Serge is the son of plucky immigrants who dodges the draft. It's as much a social commentary on 60s and 70s Australia as anything. It's good, though - well worth a watch, if only for Nicole in that uniform!
"Someone has been tampering with Hank's memories."
I saw Odd Angry Shot on cable years ago and thought it was great, My introduction if you will to the talented Bryan Brown. Another good Oz film I didn't see mentioned was Breaker Morant, also with Bryan Brown, takes place during the Boer war. As for a good British mini-series, I enjoyed Danger UXB years ago, about a WWII unexploded ordinance unit in England during the Blitz.
shareI would agree there are plenty of British small units whose course through the war or a campaign would make a superb mini series.
shareJust found ANZACS site been trying to get it on VHS or DVD here in UK for ages to no avail. I Can't understand why nobody here has put it on Region 2 DVD (Not even the BBC who aired the series in the first place).
I would really like to get hold of a copy as it was a brilliant series when shown in the mid 80's. I don't really want to fork out for an all region player as i have recently bought a DVD/VHS combi and is only region 2 compatible. Any suggestions would be welcome.
Well for us brits there is the sharpe series, obviously not for real just based in the time line of the napoleonic war, also check out warriors from the early 2000s, about a british un force in serbia i think it was, that was good, but i agree i want to see a ww1 or ww2 series
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There is a reason there are no British "ANZACS" in this film....
ANZACS - stands for Australian New Zealand Army Corps.
There is no "B" in ANZACS
Do you always get so lost watching movies, that you have to ask others...
There were British units in the corps as well as units from other places in the Commonwealth.
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I think UK broadcasters would make a series from a British angle unless they can be involved in an International co production such as Band of Brothers which had Spielberg behind it.
Its that man again!!
You've misread the question. The OP didn't ask why there were no "British ANZACs" they asked why was there no British equivalent TV series, since the British had a huge presence in the first world war.
shareSomebody should make a mini-series of 'Covenant With Death', a novel by Johh Harris. It's based on the Sheffield City Battalion, 12th York and Lancaster Regiment, and covers two years from the outbreak of the Great War and the formation of the battalion to the Battle of the Somme. Brilliant book and would make a superb series. Come on Spielberg, what are you waiting for?
shareI thought it was common knowledge that the only troops serving at Gallipoli were Anzacs! At least Anzacs didn't give the impression that the British Army just sat around drinking tea, (See Peter Weir's Gallipoli).
shareWhat are you talking about?
shareI don't remember the scene exactly, it's some years since I saw the film, but some Australian officers are talking in a trench about the British landings. One officer says something like "What are they doing now?" Another officer replies "Sitting on the beach making tea!"
Presumably the scriptwriter and director had not heard of The Lancashire Fusiliers who were awarded six Victoria Crosses during the landings at Helles on 25th April, a date made much of by the Australians as Anzac Day.
Oh ok, I misread your post. The movie you were talking about was Gallipoli.
shareI don't remember the scene exactly, it's some years since I saw the film, but some Australian officers are talking in a trench about the British landings. One officer says something like "What are they doing now?" Another officer replies "Sitting on the beach making tea!"
"Presumably the scriptwriter and director had not heard of The Lancashire Fusiliers who were awarded six Victoria Crosses during the landings at Helles on 25th April, a date made much of by the Australians as Anzac Day."
The quote about drinking tea relates to the Anzac attacks in part to cover for the British Landings at Suvla in August 1915, they were asking if they should go ahead with another attack given the British were ashore after meeting light resistance at Suvla. Note covering for the landings was not the only objective of the Anzacs attacks that day.
The movie does Pommie bash a bit but you are relating the quotes to the wrong landing.
The post is to do with no British Series similar to ANZACS not why no British troops in ÄNZACS".
Obviously you've not watched the series, "Bill Harris/Wallace" is English!
What we are talking about is an equivalent series, Sharpe and soldier soldier have been close. But I'd like to see Stephen Ambrose best book turned into a Mini Series or Movie for Next year (2014) it would be great to see "Pegasus Bridge" on the Tele or big screen!
I have watched the series, several times. I watched it when it first broadcast in the UK and I had it mailordered on DVD from Australia to the UK when it came out.
I am not asking 'why no depiction of British members of the AIF' but rather 'why hasn't a British broadcaster commissioned a story of similar high production values to tell the story of British units in the Great War'.
"Someone has been tampering with Hank's memories."
It's not box office to contradict the mud, blood and poetry version of the war.
Marlon, Claudia and Dimby the cats 1989-2005, 2007 and 2010.