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The World at War

  • TV Series
  • 1973–19741973–1974
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 52m
IMDb RATING
9.2/10
26K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,536
35
The World at War (1973)
DocumentaryHistoryWar
A groundbreaking 26-part documentary series narrated by the actor Laurence Olivier about the deadliest conflict in history, World War II.A groundbreaking 26-part documentary series narrated by the actor Laurence Olivier about the deadliest conflict in history, World War II.A groundbreaking 26-part documentary series narrated by the actor Laurence Olivier about the deadliest conflict in history, World War II.
IMDb RATING
9.2/10
26K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,536
35
  • Stars
    • Laurence Olivier
    • Averell Harriman
    • Albert Speer
  • Stars
    • Laurence Olivier
    • Averell Harriman
    • Albert Speer
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 121User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Top rated TV #14
    • Won 1 BAFTA Award

    Episodes26

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    1 Season

    Photos56

    The World at War (1973)
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    The World at War (1973)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Laurence Olivier
    Laurence Olivier
    • Self - Narrator
    Averell Harriman
    Averell Harriman
    • Self - Roosevelt's Roving Ambassador…
    Albert Speer
    Albert Speer
    • Self…
    Anthony Eden
    Anthony Eden
    • Foreign Secretary 1940…
    Siegfried Westphal
    • Self - Afika Korps, Rommel's Chief of Staff…
    Lawrence Durrell
    Lawrence Durrell
    • Self…
    J. Lawton Collins
    • Self…
    Toshikazu Kase
    • Self - Cabinet Secretariat…
    Louis Mountbatten
    Louis Mountbatten
    • Self…
    Wynford Vaughan-Thomas
    • Self - War Correspondent
    Walter Warlimont
    • Self - German High Command
    J.R. Colville
    • Self - Chamberlain's Private Secretary…
    Minoru Genda
    • Self - Planned Midway Invasion…
    Mitsuo Fuchida
    Mitsuo Fuchida
    • Self - Aerial Commander…
    R.A. Butler
    • Self - Foreign Affairs…
    Hans Kehrl
    • Ministry of Armaments 1943-45…
    John J. McCloy
    John J. McCloy
    • Self - Assistant Secretary of War 1945…
    Adolf Galland
    • Luftwaffe Wing Commander 1941…
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Albert Speer's testimony in the series is now considered highly unreliable. Speer considerably downplayed his involvement in Nazi atrocities. After his death a letter he wrote in December 1971 proved he had full knowledge of the Holocaust throughout its course, despite his repeated public denials.
    • Connections
      Edited into Screenwipe: Episode #3.1 (2007)

    User reviews121

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    The Ultimate World War Two Documentary Series
    Although too young to remember the first showing of the series (being just a baby) I later caught repeats of it on television in the late 80's, just when I was getting interested in the war and all of its aspects. It was my grandfather who first showed me the series and also gave me my first interests, relating tales of his time in the Royal Navy at Malta and later in the Pacific. Since then I have devoured many books and seen many television series about the World War Two era, with mixed opinions. The British television stations are generally very good at producing these, as The World At War can easily attest, with many gems made by both the BBC and independent companies. I strongly recommend such titles as "The Nazis - A warning From History", "Blitz" and the BBC series about Dunkirk. "Britain At War In Colour", with its companion series "Japan", "Germany" and "America" are of a very high standard. The World At War is by far the best and, despite its age, never fails to deliver. There will always be new revelations about the war that will keep cropping up that obviously aren't included in the series and of course World War Two took place over such a large canvas that to produce a series with EVERY detail would take more time and money then any other, even if such an undertaking was even possible. What I feel I must say to those who decry that it does not include everything is that The World At War can't physically do that as a series but it sure as heck can prompt you to do further research - and make it enjoyable. That certainly worked for me: I now have a very comprehensive library of books, videos, DVDs and tapes and CDs. Recommend to anyone with even a passing interest. The series was so well made that they'd find it hard not to agree that it is quality programming and highly informative.
    helpful•56
    8
    • trickyascupart
    • Nov 24, 2005

    Details

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    • Release date
      • September 14, 1973 (United States)
      • United Kingdom
      • English
      • German
      • French
      • Japanese
    • Also known as
    • Production companies
      • Imperial War Museum
      • Thames Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 52 minutes
      • Black and White
      • Color
      • Mono

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