The Somme (TV 2005)

Drama-documentary recounting the events of the 1st July 1916 and the Battle of the Somme on the Western Front during the First World War. Told through the letters and journals of soldiers who were there.

Director:

Carl Hindmarch

Writers:

Mark Hayhurst, Carl Hindmarch

Stars:

Tilda Swinton, Ed Stoppard, Paul Popplewell

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tilda Swinton	...	Narrator
Ed Stoppard	...	Captin Charlie May
Paul Popplewell	...	Greenhalgh
Patrick Kennedy	...	Sergeant Richard H Tawney
Ewan Stewart	...	Rawlinson
Nick Figgis	...	Burke
Andrew Turner	...	Dunscombe
Oliver Jones	...	Cyril Jose
Martin Hancock	...	Andrews
Raymond Waring	...	Lance-Corporal Sidney McCoy
Ralf Rueller	...	Eversmann
Rupert Procter	...	Sergeant Major
Robert Cambrinus	...	Franz Cassel
David Bertrand	...	Fraisse
Jean-David Beroard	...	Barberon

Storyline

Drama-documentary recounting the events of the 1st July 1916 and the Battle of the Somme on the Western Front during the First World War. Told through the letters and journals of soldiers who were there.

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Plot Keywords:

world war one | trench warfare | mowing down | infantryman | british soldier | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 November 2005 (UK)

Also Known As:

Die Schlacht an der Somme

Filming Locations:

France

Company Credits

Production Co:

Darlow Smithson Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

At least some of the rifles carried by the British soldiers in this production were Lee-Enfield No.4s, which didn't enter service until 1940. They should have been SMLEs, later known as the Lee-Enfield No.1 MkIII.

User Reviews

Death toll to TV poll

This was a quite entertaining TV show on channel 4. It had good actors, quite accurate information and wasn't boring. The only bothering thing about this show was that it did not seem as dangerous and as depressing as it was. When the first man got shot in the head you did not feel quite moved. There could of been dramatic sequences as them watching their friends get killed in front of their eyes. Also I expected there to be shells which exploded and sent out fatal shards and iron balls at the British and French but just saw a small explosion in the ground. The build up of the movie was very big but the actual battle was not brilliant. An entertaining experience but could of been better.