Gossip from the Forest (29 Jul. 1979)

Director:

Brian Gibson

Writers:

Brian Gibson (screenplay), Thomas Keneally (book)

Stars:

Hugh Burden, Ronald Hines, Michael Mellinger

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Hugh Burden	...	Marshal Foch
Ronald Hines	...	Admiral Roslynn Wemyss
Michael Mellinger	...	General Weygand
John MacGregor	...	Admiral Hope
John Shrapnel	...	Matthias Erzberger
Michael Jayston	...	Alfred Maiberling
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	General Von Winterfeldt
Constantine Gregory	...	Captain Vanselow (as Constantin de Goguel)
David Swift	...	General Groener
Frank Crompton	...	Premier Clémenceau
David Calder	...	Major Von Helldorff
John Hollis	...	Barricade Colonel
Hugh Thomas	...	First German Officer
George Hagan	...	French Priest
Michael Syers	...	Captain de Mierry

Storyline

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 July 1979 (UK)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

User Reviews

Men Thrust Into The Historical Cauldron

I recall seeing this outstanding film more that 20 years ago. In the events of those few days, the German Armistice Delegation, led by the well-meaning liberal German politician Erzberger of the Catholic Zentrum (Center) Party, while intending to put an end to one human catastrophe, was unwittingly involved in creating an avalanche of events that led to an even greater catastrophe, the Second World War. The German High Command, led by Field Marshal Hindenburg and Quartermaster General Ludendorff, pushed off on the liberal, socialist government that replaced the Military Dictatorship nominally headed by Kaiser Wilhelm II the onus of agreeing to an Armistice with the Allies that severely damaged Germany's position. Unscupulous politicians (among them Hitler and the Nazis) falsely accused those in the Armistice Delegation and the new republican government of "stabbing Germany in the back". This film shows the events of those fateful days and how it affected those involved. Erzberger both wanted to end the slaughter, but at the same time was an ambitious politician who viewed the collapse of the monarchy as an opportunity for himself to get ahead. Tragically, his role as one of the so-called "November Criminals" caught up with him in the Black Forest where he was murdered.

I hope this film will be re-released on DVD---everyone interested in the critical events of the 20th century would be interested.