The World at War

[brixtonA23]

Can anybody think of a better documentary series?

I would ask anybody with kids interested in history to let them watch this. And as a tie in, a Brighton resident is absolutely superb as narrator. Never seen, just heard, but a class apart.

 

[forrest]

Definately one of, if not the best documentary out there. At the time it cost about £900,000 to make, which is roughly £12 million in todays money!

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Great theme tune.

 

[Cheeky Monkey]

Was a docu series ever done for Vietnam? They'd have had more than enough footage.

 

[Boys 9d]

An equally good series was "The Great War" obviously covering WW1. Perhaps it may be shown again as the 100th anniversary of its start will soon be upon us.

 

[OzMike]

The series that was filmed every seven years and followed the progress of certain individuals would also be worth a mention.
A good one on development and on how environment and circumstances effect changes within people over time.
It could be somewhat depressing at times but I thought it was good.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

The Civil War by Ken Burns was an outstanding documentary series on the American Civil War.

 

[Man of Harveys]

It's the best TV programme ever made. No question in my mind: it's unsurpassed. The fact that it was on ITV should make the nation think hard, if not weep.

The fact that it was put together at a time when so many of the protagonists were still alive to be interviewed - assuming they hadn't bought it in 1945 - makes it hugely valuable artifact for that reason alone. But everything about it is brilliant. I want the box set.

 

[Doc Lynam]

A Passion for Angling.

Boom beat that! Great English countryside, well shot, good narration, what more do you need?

 

[JACKRUSSELL]

Vietnam in HD is worth a watch

http://www.history.com/shows/vietnam-in-hd

 

[Bladders]

Vietnam in HD is worth a watch

http://www.history.com/shows/vietnam-in-hd

It's a 4 parter and is excellent.

Here is Ep.1 if anyone is interested.

 

[Hillian1]

Brilliant Series, Laurence Olivier was a brilliant narrator, if I recall correctly the only one he didn't do was the last one.

I had the entire series on Video but somehow lost them all in a move, all 26 of them.

 

[Twizzle]

Was a docu series ever done for Vietnam? They'd have had more than enough footage.

The yanks' war, they lost, and had no idea wtf they were doing - then or even in hindsight.
Clueless, just like in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

It's the best TV programme ever made. No question in my mind: it's unsurpassed. The fact that it was on ITV should make the nation think hard, if not weep.

The fact that it was put together at a time when so many of the protagonists were still alive to be interviewed - assuming they hadn't bought it in 1945 - makes it hugely valuable artifact for that reason alone. But everything about it is brilliant. I want the box set.

Great documentary - here's your box set for only £16 ! http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-World-A...8&qid=1371627118&sr=8-1&keywords=world+at+war

 

[Dr NBC]

The yanks' war, they lost, and had no idea wtf they were doing - then or even in hindsight.
Clueless, just like in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Thanks for the history lesson.

 

[Twizzle]

It's a 4 parter and is excellent.

Here is Ep.1 if anyone is interested.

For all the drama, I cannot help but reflect on the futility of their useless effort, the obsession with communism, money, and disregard for human lives.
Personally I cannot listen to the cowboy bravado involved, the utterly convinced 'righteousness' and overall propaganda.
JFK is a martyr.... who stupidly wasted 55,000 of his own young men while keeping a Donny Osmond smile and a straight parting in his hair.

Bush and his c.i.a. "fought terror". Wtf does that even mean?? They created terror and the need to consider religion as a war - a throwback to medeival times!!

 

[Dave the OAP]

Does anyone remember " all our yesterdays "on a Sunday lunchtime.

That was an great series also, but op is right, the world at war is incredible....the episodes where the first troops encounter the death camps is ingrained on my memory

 

[Twizzle]

Thanks for the history lesson.

You're welcome.

They still think they saved the World in WWII by the way, ignoring their late late showing, Britain's tiny islands taking on the wave of fascism almost alone, and us declaring war on Japan before they allied with us v Germany and Italy (etc).

Vietnam has no glory, and all lessons have been ignored.

 

[Goldstone1976]

It is a brilliant documentary series, without doubt.

In the spirit of the OP's question, I offer the following series as alternatives, without saying that they are "better", merely brilliant too:

The Body in Question
Civilisation
Cosmos
Any natural history series with David Attenborough
7up etc (as already mentioned above) - I think the last one was 49up; a longitudinal study over 42 years and still going - an amazing achievement!

 

[Trufflehound]

7up etc (as already mentioned above) - I think the last one was 49up; a longitudinal study over 42 years and still going - an amazing achievement!

There's a 56 Up now. Came out last year.