Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)

Oh! What a Lovely War
Directed by Richard Attenborough
Charles Chiton based on Joan Littlewood’s Theatre Workshop Production by, and the members of the original cast
1969/UK
IMDb page
First viewing/Netflix rental

Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig: Grant us victory, O Lord, before the Americans get here.

This, Richard Attenborough’s directorial debut, is unique among legit anti-war movies in being playful, theatrical, and full of good music.

Takes place from just before the First World War to its dismal end in 1918.  The production includes many songs of the era.  These range from the sentimental and patriotic to the graveyard humor of the songs sung in the trenches.  The style moves fluidly between frankly stylized theatrical sets and presentation to vivid realism several times.  Death is portrayed by the appearance of red poppies.  Not a drop of blood is shed.

The plot, such as it is, has at its center the patriotic Smith family and their three enlistment-age sons.  In Britain’s homes, streets and popular culture, there is great enthusiasm and enlistment is seen as heroic. The boys eagerly sign up and only too soon are exposed to the horrors of war.

Maggie Smith sings “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” while transitioning from an elegant chanteuse to a common prostitute.

Throughout the film vingnettes follow the fates of our heroes while teaching bigger history lessons along the way.  With performances by:  Michael, Corin, and Vanessa Redgrave; Ralph Ricardson; Ian Holm; Edward Fox; Dirk Bogarde; Jack Hawkins; John Gielgud; Kenneth More; Laurence Olivier; Susannah York; and Maggie Smith among others

I liked this quite a lot.  The unique storytelling style worked well with the equally unique staging.  The songs, which are all original to the period, are wonderful.  The relevance to the Vietnam War raging at the time was laid on with a very light touch, I thought.  Recommended.