They Shall Not Grow Old (2018)

A documentary about World War I with never-before-seen footage to commemorate the centennial of the end of the war.

Director:

Peter Jackson

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 win & 2 nominations.

Storyline

Through ground breaking computer restoration technology, filmmaker Peter Jackson's team creates a moving real-to-life depiction of the WWI, as never seen before in restored, vivid colorizing & retiming of the film frames, in order to honor those who fought and more accurately depict this historical moment in world history.

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Plot Keywords:

male rear nudity | world war one | 1910s | soldier | 20th century | 

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Genres:

Documentary | History | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for disturbing war images

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official Site

Country:

UK New Zealand

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 February 2019 (USA)

Also Known As:

They Shall Not Grow Old

Box Office

Gross USA:

$17,956,913, 9 May 2019

Company Credits

Production Co:

House Productions, Trustees of the Imperial War Museum, London, WingNut Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Dolby Atmos

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original footage was shot back in the 1910's before the ability to synchronise sound and pictures had been invented. At the time, the film was advanced by the cameraman turning handle at a roughly constant speed, whereas to synchronise with sound, a constant-speed clockwork or electric motor is needed. Consequently, every single sound effect was added later.

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Goofs

Several shots of tanks appear in the film, both Mark V (Mark Five) and Mark V* (Mark Five Star). They have been coloured green. In reality, tanks of these types were painted "a neutral brown colour". See the article by the British Tank Museum which states that. "Surrendering to the inevitable, towards the end of 1916 it was ordered that the tanks should be painted in a 'neutral brown colour' all over." The staff at the Museum told me they were surprised that the filmmakers didn't consult them.

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Quotes

Soldier: [waving at camera] Hi, mum.

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Crazy Credits

"Filmed on location on the Western Front, 1914 to 1918"

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Connections

Featured in Front Row: Episode #3.3 (2018)

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Soundtracks

"If You Want to Find
Traditional Trench Song
Performed by Plan 9 and Hamish McKeich

User Reviews

The most important documentary you'll ever see

100 years on from the Great War we cannot pretend to know what life was like serving in the trenches. This incredible film brings us as close to experiencing it as we are ever going to get.

It is harrowing, it is poignant, it is funny. Above all else this film is heartbreaking. No punch is pulled, no attempt is made to hide the brutality of war or the hardship of the common soldier.

Quite simply this amazing documentary should be made compulsory viewing in all schools and for every soapbox, warmongering politician that would send our youth into hell.