Overlord / Janus Films ; The Imperial War Museum presents ; produced by James Quinn ; a film by Stuart Cooper ; original screenplay by Christopher Hudson & Stuart Cooper ; directed by Stuart Cooper ; a Joswend Limited Production.
Publisher:
Criterion Collection
Copyright Date:
2007
Description:
1 videodisc (84 min.) : sound, black and white ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 booklet (28 pages : black and white illustrations ; 19 cm.)
Originally produced as a British motion picture in 1975. Special features include: Commentary [optional audio feature with director Stuart Cooper and actor Brian Stirner]; Theatrical trailer (3 min.); Mining the archive [featurette] (24 min.); Soldiers' journals [audio feature]; Capa influences Cooper [photo essay/slide show] (8 min.); Germany calling [featurette] (2 min.); Cameramen at war [featurette] (15 min.); A test of violence [featurette] (14 min.); booklet includes the essays "Man versus machine" by Kent Jones, "The Imperial War Museum" by Roger Smither, and excerpts from the Overlord novelization, by Stuart Cooper and Christopher Hudson ; scene selections. Brian Stirner (Tom), Davyd Harries (Jack), Nicholas Ball (Arthur), Julie Neesam (the Girl), Sam Sewell (the Trained Soldier), John Franklyn-Robbins, Stella Tanner.
Contents:
Opening credits -- Air raid -- Private Beddows -- "I hate this war" -- Nightmares -- Assault training -- Dance -- "Where are we going?" -- Forms and francs -- Letter home -- "I've got nothing now" -- Initiative test -- Closing -- Color bars.
Summary:
Drafted into the British army, young Tom Beddows leaves his parents and his beloved cocker spaniel and reports for military duty, arriving late because of a German air raid. In training camp, he makes friends with Jack and Arthur. They all wish the war would go away, so they could return to their parents and girlfriends. Finally ordered into combat, a sense of impending doom prompts Tom to write a consoling letter to be delivered to his parents instead of the official military notice. Stoic and fatalistic, he will be among the first troops to land in Normandy at the launch of Operation Overlord, the Allied offensive to push the Nazis out of France.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.