WWI, German TV, Books
R. C. Sheriff served as a Captain in WWI. Despite the horrors he experienced, he went on to a successful career as a writer, responsible at least in part for screenplays such as The Invisible Man (1933), The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939), among many others. His first work, Journey’s End, which he did as both a novel and play, has been filmed at least four times, 1954, ’83, ’88 and 2017. I watched the latter last night courtesy of Netflix. It’s a bleak portrayal of the experiences of a British unit in The Great War, commanded to hold its position at all costs. All wars seem mad, but WWI seems the maddest. Most folks would agree that WWII was necessary, despite the unbelievable carnage, for the eradication of the evil with which Germany and Japan threatened the planet. The trench warfare of WWI, its continuation despite the stalemates, appears utter insanity. And to what end? I’ll let historians debate that. This blog concerns the latest adaptation of Sheriff’s work, which is well executed, the sets smacking of authenticity, the actors excellent. Still, it isn’t something I would view again, unlike many war movies I love. Everyone knows war is hell, and that is the narrative’s major point. Young men courageously do battle at the peril of loss of life and limb. It is sad, depressing even. There is not a single uplifting moment in the film, despite the devotion to duty. To its credit, it concentrates more on the psychological horrors than the physical. The gore is kept to a minimum. It was directed by Saul Dibb, my first encounter with his work. The screenplay was adapted by Simon Reade. I’m not surprised that it failed miserably at the box office, bringing in only $161,796 in the USA. I think it’s appeal is restricted to die-hard lovers of war films or those interested in WWI. Fans of action would likely be disappointed, as there is a long, tense build up before the fireworks begin, and they don’t last long. 5400+ users at IMDb have rated Journey’s End, forging to a consensus of 6.7 on a scale of ten. It runs 1:47. Here’s a still from it:
I’ve been watching another Euro TV series airing on PBS affiliate WNDT, channel 14–1 on over the air antennas in NYC. Weissensee is a 24-part saga of an East German family in the 1980’s. The father and eldest son are high ranking officers in the notorious Stasi. I’m not alone in my admiration. 1100+ users at IMDb have rated it, forging to a consensus of 8.2 on a scale of ten. It is absorbing and powerful. Here is the cast:
It was one of those sessions where the floating book shop resembled an actual business. My thanks to the kind folks who bought, swapped and donated books, especially Danny who, as usual, overcompensated me for the cache of non-fiction he selected, as did Bay 37th alum Lorraine, who chose a beautiful little pictorial on butterflies. I also sold a copy of Five Cents to a young man with a heavy Russian accent. He asked the significance of the nickel on the cover. I explained that it has to do with how the main characters met in college, and how it’s a metaphor for the five senses. He appeared to understand. I also got a hug from Dee, LHS class of ’67, who was late for an appointment, and a handshake from Ralph, another LHS alum. I don’t know that I deserve to be treated so well, but I appreciate it.
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