Oh! What A Lovely War!

Today we watched the 1969 musical film 'Oh! What a Lovely War', directed by Richard Attenborough, and adapted from the stage musical of the same name. The film is a comic satire of the events of the first world war, with the songs parodying the popular songs of the time.

Personally I enjoyed this film. Out of all of the ones we have watched, this has been a favourite of mine. I think is because it reminded me of the humour used in Monty Pythons work. This scene came to mind immediately when a similar scene played in Lovely War.

The strategic events of the war and decisions of authority are set in a pavilion on a fictional pier-head commonly found in seaside towns popular with tourists. This is used to show how different and distant away the figures of power in the war were from the trenches and battlefields, safe and sound in friendly territory. The film also uses quotes from the diplomatic figures of the time at the beginning to show how relations between them were generally favourable and not wanting to go to war. It also shows how each country entered the war without realising the seriousness of the issue,expecting it to be over within a few months. Because of this, the war was 'marketed' as a vacation or trip that everyone should see, and the public ate into it. When the pier-head for the first world war, everyone buying a ticket at the booth to get into the war. Towards the end of the film, we see how the attitude of the soldiers has changed dramatically. Most having seen the brutality of the war, but also the pointlessness of it. Jack's last battlefield shown to be the first he entered 3 years prior, designating the lack of progress made in territory gained. After his death we are also shown the end of the war, summarized as 4 figures representing the allies and Germany sitting around a table signing the Armistice of Germany.

Although I did find some of the remarks and satire about the war a bit too obvious. Such as the Staff Sergeant discussing comparing the difficulties they were having in the war room (Pier-head pavilion) to the men on the front lines.

An interesting coincidence about this film is the way it links to my client Orientated brief. Maggie Smith's music number shows how men were pressured and blackmailed by propaganda and the public (women primarily) to enlist and fight. Although I cannot work what I gained from this film into my work at this point, it was useful for the motivation I gained to work on the film and convey the message these boys were forced to enlist, even before conscription.