Passchendaele

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by jammies

I misinterpreted this the first time, and now my voyeuristic side is disappointed.

I thought the same thing and was equally disappointed. Ive never been this excited to watch a canadian film.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

To me, WWI was is more interesting than WWII and I have been itching to see a good WWI movie... There seem to be surprisingly few of them.

It's not surprising at all. Most movies (or movies with budgets enough to be period war pieces) are made in Hollywood. As the US did not enter WWI until very near the end, there is not a whole lot interest in the Great War for Americans. Thus, movies on WWI just don't get made. How many war movies can you think of that don't focus on American troops?

My great-grandfather's brother was nominated for the DCM (Distinguished Conduct Medal) at Passchendaele, and it was here that he earned his Belgian Croix de Guerre, although the records are silent on for what and when he earned it.

Here is one mention of him at Passchendaele in October 1917 from New Brunswick's Fighting 26th (MacGowan et al.). Sgt. Palmer is mentioned on Pg 223 of the History of the 26th Battalion.:

"The 26th Bn. was to attack on a three company front with B Coy in the centre, D Coy on the Left, A Coy on the right, and C Coy in support." p221

"C Coy was shelled heavily in its support position some 500 yards behind the line. A direct hit on the C Coy HQ killed Capt. Lawson's batman and had wounded company commander Capt. W. C. Lawson, 3 signallers and 3 runners. Capt. Lawson was evacuated and Lieut. M. C. Buchanan took command of the company." p222

B Coy continued to be subjected to enemy machine gun and sniper fire and at 0900 hrs because of accumulated losses, Lieut. Kelly requested reinforcements. The request was acted upon at once and Lieut. H. W. Allingham was sent forward with No 11 Pl. from C (Support) Coy. Unfortunately, as they made their way across the open toward the B Coy front line, they were subjected to enemy fire. This resulted in Lieut. Allingham and about ten of his men being wounded. Under the leadership of 412830 Sgt E. A. V. Palmer, the remaining twenty-eight reinforcements pressed on and reached their destination at about 1100hrs. The reinforced Company continued to consolidate and hold the line. "

Here also is mention of him from November 1917 at Passchendaele. Looks like a shell landed in his platoon's trench at 5:45am. (Change the last digit on the URL of the image to '3' to see the following page where his name appears.)


Sgt. Palmer was killed in action at Arras in 1918 after surviving the Somme, Vimy, Passchendaele, and Amiens. He was 24.

[narbeZ]

Pretty cool seeing posters that know of people that fought in this war. My family was still in italy until 1935, I still consider myself a "Canadian" but with these people that have familys dating back to the pre 1900's here, its hard to truley see yourself in this light... that is pretty awesome.

[looooob]

assuming the movie is at all good, which it likely is....I'd like to see every grade 9 social studies class schedule time to go watch it. important part of history

[WesternCanadaKing]

Has anyone seen this yet?

Is it any good? I'm going to see it tonight and am not sure what to expect.

[bigtmac19]

Originally Posted by looooob

assuming the movie is at all good, which it likely is....I'd like to see every grade 9 social studies class schedule time to go watch it. important part of history

The Grade 10 history classes at our local high school are going

[Resolute 14]

Having seen the movie on the weekend, I'm not sure why a school class would go see it. There isn't all that much historical about it, aside from the text opening and closing.

I liked it overall, though it had probably the sharpest lines between being a war movie and a romance movie I've ever seen. Gross basically cut an entirely different movie into the middle of his war film. Some really witty dialogue at times, but a lot of places where better writing would have helped.

Gotta say though, Gross really upstaged hollywood when it comes to the quality of the battle scenes. He did more with a $25 million budget than most hollywood war movies do with $150 million.

It was strange watching a movie mostly set in Calgary, where Calgary is Calgary and not Denver.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by icarus

It's not surprising at all. Most movies (or movies with budgets enough to be period war pieces) are made in Hollywood. As the US did not enter WWI until very near the end, there is not a whole lot interest in the Great War for Americans. Thus, movies on WWI just don't get made. How many war movies can you think of that don't focus on American troops?

Pretty much bang on. I was telling a friend of mine in Tampa about this movie, and while was interested in it, he agreed that there is no way Americans would accept a movie like this. I don't think the words "United States" were mentioned once.

And cool on your great-great uncle's history at Passchendaele. My grandfather served in the Soviet army in WWII, but never talked about it. Ever. He did have a fascination with war movies though... go figure.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

My grandfather served in the Soviet army in WWII, but never talked about it. Ever. He did have a fascination with war movies though... go figure.

Wow, I would love to hear his stories.......I can't believe that was much fun......

[Resolute 14]

Yeah, it would have been interesting, no doubt. Shame he never did share any of em. I'm guessing he was the man with the bullets, rather than the man with the gun, otherwise he probably wouldn't have made it to Canada after the war.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by icarus

It's not surprising at all. Most movies (or movies with budgets enough to be period war pieces) are made in Hollywood. As the US did not enter WWI until very near the end, there is not a whole lot interest in the Great War for Americans. Thus, movies on WWI just don't get made. How many war movies can you think of that don't focus on American troops?

My favourite non-American war movie was Enemy at the Gates, which focused on the Battle of Stalingrad between the Russians and the Germans. The fact that it did provide an alternate point of view was one of the things that made it interesting for me (Rachel Weisz being cast didnt hurt either).

But it is true though, if there are no Americans or jews in the movie, it's pretty hard to find anything from Hollywood when it comes to war.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

Originally Posted by Table 5

My favourite non-American war movie was Enemy at the Gates, which focused on the Battle of Stalingrad between the Russians and the Germans. The fact that it did provide an alternate point of view was one of the things that made it interesting for me (Rachel Weisz being cast didnt hurt either).

But it is true though, if there are no Americans or jews in the movie, it's pretty hard to find anything from Hollywood when it comes to war.

Try:

Iron Cross or Stalingrad

From the German perspective, the eastern front is something that scares me.

[Table 5]

thanks, i'll have to add those to my Netflix pile...

[kermitology]

Originally Posted by Table 5

My favourite non-American war movie was Enemy at the Gates, which focused on the Battle of Stalingrad between the Russians and the Germans. The fact that it did provide an alternate point of view was one of the things that made it interesting for me (Rachel Weisz being cast didnt hurt either).

But it is true though, if there are no Americans or jews in the movie, it's pretty hard to find anything from Hollywood when it comes to war.

Yeah it's a cool movie, with obvious liberties taken with the truth about Vasily Zaitzev. He was a Hero of the Soviet Union though. But there is no record of a sniper battle, and snipers wouldn't generally be members of the SS.

Someone needs to make a movie out of the book Three Day Road. That is one of the best books I've ever read about a couple of Cree snipers in the First World War. Based on the life of Francis Pegahmagabow. AMAZING story.

[bigtmac19]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Having seen the movie on the weekend, I'm not sure why a school class would go see it. There isn't all that much historical about it, aside from the text opening and closing.

I liked it overall, though it had probably the sharpest lines between being a war movie and a romance movie I've ever seen. Gross basically cut an entirely different movie into the middle of his war film. Some really witty dialogue at times, but a lot of places where better writing would have helped.

Gotta say though, Gross really upstaged hollywood when it comes to the quality of the battle scenes. He did more with a $25 million budget than most hollywood war movies do with $150 million.

It was strange watching a movie mostly set in Calgary, where Calgary is Calgary and not Denver.

Well for grade 10 Canadian history, I suppose they thought it was relevant, but their reasons for showing kids movies in high school classes, I find suspect at times for sure. Actually my older son found that class interesting, which was amazing for him, the Canadian military history in WWI and WWII is pretty cool, plus of course his Grandpa, my Dad, is a veteran of WWII who was captured at Dieppe.

[icarus]

Originally Posted by bigtmac19

...plus of course his Grandpa, my Dad, is a veteran of WWII who was captured at Dieppe.

Wow that's a pretty lucky fate for a CEF soldier unlucky enough to have taken part in the Dieppe raid.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by kermitology

Yeah it's a cool movie, with obvious liberties taken with the truth about Vasily Zaitzev. He was a Hero of the Soviet Union though. But there is no record of a sniper battle, and snipers wouldn't generally be members of the SS.

Someone needs to make a movie out of the book Three Day Road. That is one of the best books I've ever read about a couple of Cree snipers in the First World War. Based on the life of Francis Pegahmagabow. AMAZING story.

True words. Love that book, and it would make an amazing movie.

[bigtmac19]

Originally Posted by icarus

Wow that's a pretty lucky fate for a CEF soldier unlucky enough to have taken part in the Dieppe raid.

yes, a POW for 3 years, but made it home out of that disaster

[SportsJunky]

Hmm, I've heard great things about the book Three Day Road, I think I'll check it out.

[ShaolinFlame]

Bump.

This was one of the corniest movies I have ever seen. Lost a little respect for Mr Gross. Me and my lady wanted desperately for it to be good, but it was very tough to sit through.

I have to go now. (Possibly the worst line ever)