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IMDbPro

Oh! What a Lovely War

  • 19691969
  • GG
  • 2h 24m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
3K
YOUR RATING
Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)
  • Comedy
  • Musical
  • War
The working-class Smiths change their initially sunny views on World War I after the three boys of the family witness the harsh reality of trench warfare.The working-class Smiths change their initially sunny views on World War I after the three boys of the family witness the harsh reality of trench warfare.The working-class Smiths change their initially sunny views on World War I after the three boys of the family witness the harsh reality of trench warfare.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
3K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Richard Attenborough
  • Writers
    • Charles Chilton(based on Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop Production by, and the members of the original cast)
    • Ted Allan(after a stage treatment by)
    • Len Deighton(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Wendy Allnutt
    • Colin Farrell
    • Malcolm McFee
Top credits
  • Director
    • Richard Attenborough
  • Writers
    • Charles Chilton(based on Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop Production by, and the members of the original cast)
    • Ted Allan(after a stage treatment by)
    • Len Deighton(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Wendy Allnutt
    • Colin Farrell
    • Malcolm McFee
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 71User reviews
    • 28Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 6 BAFTA Awards
      • 8 wins & 8 nominations total

    Photos52

    "Oh What A Lovely War" John Gielgud
    "Oh What A Lovely War" John Gielgud
    "Oh What A Lovely War" John Gielgud
    Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)
    Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)
    Dirk Bogarde and Susannah York in Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)
    Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)
    Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)
    John Mills in Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)
    Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)
    Maggie Smith in Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)
    Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Wendy Allnutt
    Wendy Allnutt
    • Florence Victoria 'Flo' Smithas Florence Victoria 'Flo' Smith
    Colin Farrell
    • Harry Arnold Smithas Harry Arnold Smith
    Malcolm McFee
    • Frederick Percy 'Freddie' Smithas Frederick Percy 'Freddie' Smith
    John Rae
    • Grandpa Smithas Grandpa Smith
    Corin Redgrave
    Corin Redgrave
    • Bertram Biddle 'Bertie' Smithas Bertram Biddle 'Bertie' Smith
    Maurice Roëves
    Maurice Roëves
    • George Patrick Michael Smithas George Patrick Michael Smith
    Paul Shelley
    Paul Shelley
    • Jack Henry Smithas Jack Henry Smith
    Kim Smith
    • Richard 'Dickie' Smithas Richard 'Dickie' Smith
    Angela Thorne
    Angela Thorne
    • Elizabeth May 'Betty' Smithas Elizabeth May 'Betty' Smith
    Mary Wimbush
    Mary Wimbush
    • Mary Emma Smithas Mary Emma Smith
    Vincent Ball
    Vincent Ball
    • Australian Soldieras Australian Soldier
    Pia Colombo
    • Estaminet Singeras Estaminet Singer
    Paul Daneman
    Paul Daneman
    • Czar Nicholas IIas Czar Nicholas II
    Isabel Dean
    Isabel Dean
    • Sir John French's Ladyas Sir John French's Lady
    Christian Doermer
    Christian Doermer
    • Fritzas Fritz
    Robert Flemyng
    Robert Flemyng
    • Major Mallory - Staff Officer in Gassed Trenchas Major Mallory - Staff Officer in Gassed Trench
    Meriel Forbes
    Meriel Forbes
    • Lady Pamela Greyas Lady Pamela Grey
    Ian Holm
    Ian Holm
    • President Raymond Poincaréas President Raymond Poincaré
    • Director
      • Richard Attenborough
    • Writers
      • Charles Chilton(based on Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop Production by, and the members of the original cast)
      • Ted Allan(after a stage treatment by)
      • Len Deighton(screenplay) (uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The song "La Chanson de Craonne" ("Adieu la Vie"), sung by Pia Colombo (Estaminet Singer) in this movie, commemorates a mutiny in 1917 by French troops. Merely singing it was considered an act of mutiny, and it was banned in France until 1974. During the war, a reward of one million francs and immediate honorable release from the Army was offered for the identity of the author, but never claimed.
    • Goofs
      Sir Edward Grey (Ralph Richardson) is shown early in the film being accompanied by his wife, described in the credits as Lady Pamela Grey. In fact, Grey did not marry Pamela (nee Wyndham, and the widow of Lord Glenconer) until 1922.
    • Quotes

      Soldier Singer: It was Christmas Day in the cookhouse, the happiest time of the year, Men's hearts were full of gladness and their bellies full of beer, When up popped Private Shorthouse, his face as bold as brass, He said We don't want your Christmas pudding, you can stick it up your... tidings of co-omfort and joy, comfort and joy, o-oh ti-idings of co-omfort and joy. It was Christmas Day in the harem, the eunuchs were standing 'round, And hundreds of beautiful women were stretched out on the ground, Along came the big bad Sultan, and gazed on his marble halls, He said Whaddya want for Christmas boys, and the eunuchs answered... tidings of co-omfort and joy, comfort and joy, o-oh ti-idings of comfort and joy.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits prologue: The principal statements made by the historical characters in this film are based on documentary evidence and the words of the songs are those sung by the troops during the First World War
    • Connections
      Featured in Love Tory: A Film Portrait of Alan Clark (1993)
    • Soundtracks
      Oh, It's a Lovely War
      (uncredited)

      Written by John Long and Maurice Scott

      Performed by John Mills and chorus

    User reviews71

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    the futility of war
    A clever piece of work, this film - Richard Attenborough's first as director and an adaptation of the production by Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop - considers the pure futility and waste of World War One by presenting it as a 'war game' based in and around Brighton; on the West Pier, atop a Helter Skelter, etc.

    The central characters are the Smith family - several sons and nephews, a grandad, mother, wives and younger children. All have tickets for the game, welcomed in at Douglas Haig's booth (Haig puts his own words to 'I do like to be beside the seaside' = 'I do love to see a man in khaki'). They are the routes by which we follow the various battles and conflicts through the war, punctuated by a soundtrack of popular songs of the period ('It's a Long Way to Tipperary', 'Keep The Home Fires Burning', 'and so on).

    Oh! What a Lovely War manages to be daring, funny, and moving, and boasts a starry set of cameos including Olivier, Gielgud, Richardson, Maggie Smith, Dirk Bogarde, Kenneth More, Ian Holm, and Vanessa Redgrave. It covers all of the conflict, from the assassination of the Archduke of Austria, through to the Christmas truce in the trenches, to the war's conclusion. Poppies play their part, as well they might, to indicate the scale of loss of life; and a final tracking shot on the Sussex Downs attempts to give some indication of the wanton destruction of 'cannon fodder' by the powers-that-be.

    As a pure war film, this would never work. As a satirical musical, it stands up extremely well, and has many memorable moments to reward the viewer when they see the film again and again. Attenborough himself of course would go on to greater things, culminating in the Oscar-winning Gandhi some 13 years later, but this is an excellent debut, sure of itself and without getting bogged down in cloying sentimentality.
    helpful•14
    2
    • didi-5
    • Nov 21, 2006

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 3, 1969 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Oh! Bu Ne Güzel Savaş!
    • Filming locations
      • Bayham Abbey, Lamberhurst, Kent, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Accord Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $801,591
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 24 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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