"1915" (1982) TV mini-series

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Directors:

Di Drew
Chris Thomson

Writers:

Roger MacDonald (novel)
Peter Yeldham (writer)

Release Date:

27 June 1982 (Australia)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

Another war. Another time. Nothing changes.

Plot:

Two young men from the country join the army and leave for World War I.

Plot Keywords:

Anzac | Period Drama | TV Mini-Series | WWI | Based On Novel

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Scott Burgess	...	Billy Mackenzie
Scott McGregor	...	Walter Gilchrist
Lorraine Bayly	...	Helen Gilchrist
Gary Holmes	...	Douggie Gilchrist
Bill Hunter	...	Alan Gilchrist
Jackie Woodburne	...	Dianna Bendetto
Arna-Maria Winchester	...	Brigid Scott
Russell Newman	...	Dave Scott
Revelly Jones	...	Henry Scott (as Rev Jones)
Sigrid Thornton	...	Frances
Bill Kerr
Anne Haddy	...	Mrs. Gillen
Gerard Kennedy	...	Dent
Serge Lazareff	...	Blackly Reid
Richard Moir	...	Rev. Fox

Runtime:

50 min (7 episodes)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Forbes, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

Stupendous work, a commemmoration of Aussie guts and heroics!

Staggering that there appears to be so little interest in this great mini-series. Has everyone forgotten so soon the debt they owe to a country's fighting men just a few generations back? Is freedom taken so lightly?

A superb companion-piece to Peter Weir's GALLIPOLI, 1915 tells its story through the eyes of the Gilchrist family, specifically their son Walter, so well played by Scott McGregor. As war bites deep into the comfort zones of Aussie families on the home front, there comes a realization that freedom might have to be both defended and even paid-for with lives. Walter and his best mate Billie MacKenzie (Scott Burgess) sign up and head out to Europe full of patriotic pride but with no conception of the horror that awaits them.

The scenes of death and destruction are painstakingly recreated in this seven part series and viewers are left in no doubt as to what the actuality of war is/was. It would not be until SAVING PRIVATE RYAN that the realism of war would be even more graphically displayed on screen.

Absolutely superb cast, with old pro's Lorraine Bayly and Bill Hunter as Walter's parents and Anne Haddy, Bill Kerr, Sigrid Thornton and Martin Vaughan (to name but four), in supporting roles. Excellent musical score from Bruce Smeaton further complements the drama.

Mini-series viewing at its best. Highly recommended!