WelshGoat Review of 1914 All Out

1914 All Out (1987 TV Movie)

Nostalgic look at the effects of the Great War

[7/10 · 6 April 2006]

I remember this appearing in the schedules with quite a bit of publicity in the late '80's as a Saturday evening offering. It was a nostalgic look at the effects of war on a northern rural village. The first army volunteers leave in a blaze of glory and they include Tom Houghton and the village Doctor. Later Tom returns on leave and explains to his family that a big push is planned to end the war (Somme). During this push he is killed and the focus shifts to his younger brother who then courts Tom's great love. He in turn returns from war confident that he is a better bowler than their arch rivals' star Sebastian only to learn from his father that he too has been killed. The film ends with a poignant look at the village cenotaph in modern surroundings with the name of some of the character upon it. Not a challenging drama but effortless viewing.