Island at War (new ITV series)

[angie999]

What did you think of this new series based in the fictional island of St Gregory in the Channel Islands?

It got a fairly poor preview in the Observer Magazine, but I thought it wasn't bad and I plan to keep watching.

Why do you think they created a fictional island? My thoughts are that it allows them to introduce real life incidents from throughout the Channel Islands and also avoid opening any old wounds of the many who still remember those days.

Incidentally, I recently read that over 21,000 Channel Islanders were evacuated to Britain.

[CROONAERT]

Originally posted by angie999@Jul 17 2004, 12:43 PM
What did you think of this new series based in the fictional island of St Gregory in the Channel Islands?

It got a fairly poor preview in the Observer Magazine, but I thought it wasn't bad and I plan to keep watching.

Why do you think they created a fictional island? My thoughts are that it allows them to introduce real life incidents from throughout the Channel Islands and also avoid opening any old wounds of the many who still remember those days.

Incidentally, I recently read that over 21,000 Channel Islanders were evacuated to Britain.

It was OK (ish), I suppose.

I found the cheesy German accent a little grating and who was he supposed to be (The German commander), with all those decorations at that stage of the war? (I know the Iron Cross II ribbon was WW1, but the (WW2) wound badge, the WW2 Iron cross bar and the Knights Cross ? - a little far-fetched I thought.).

Also, the policeman had his WW1 medal trio ribbons on the wrong way round. (Sorry, I'm getting too picky here -my wife bans me from watching war documenteries/films etc, while she's around for just this reason!! )

B.

[morse1001]

Sorry, I'm getting too picky here -my wife bans me from watching war documenteries/films etc, while she's around for just this reason!! )

I have the same sort of thing, except it is threats of physical violence by my mates etc. A recent example was going to see a amdram production of the sound of music!!! I had to point out that admiral was wearing the uniform of a captain in the german merchant navy and the "solidiers" were dressed in East German uniforms and carrying Ak47s, and that the gauliter was carrying a Webley MK1A!!!

[BeppoSapone]

Originally posted by BAYERNWALD@Jul 17 2004, 07:33 PM


I found the cheesy German accent a little grating and who was he supposed to be (The German commander), with all those decorations at that stage of the war? (I know the Iron Cross II ribbon was WW1, but the (WW2) wound badge, the WW2 Iron cross bar and the Knights Cross ? - a little far-fetched I thought.).

B.

Also, the "good" German, Bernhard, was afraid of being sent to the Eastern Front. When was this? July, August 1940? Russia was still allied to Germany!

[DirtyDick]

I noticed many of the same things; sometimes I am too pedantic for my own - and others' - good.

I think it is typical ITV Sunday viewing; probably with scarcely more realism than is portrayed in Heartbeat etc.; an amalgam of actual recorded occurrences, the overlaying of multiple events from the period in a less than chronological order, a straight forward and palatable storyline - and no doubt a bit of love interest. For this reason, the fictitious island can have all of these events occurr without risking giving offence etc. or risk falling foul of the claim of re-inventing or denigrating the past for commercial reasons.

As they say, never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Richard

[angie999]

I suppose I can just about tolerate historical errors in fictional drama, although the Eastern Front howler was a real classic.

What gets me is bad captioning of photographs in history mags. History Today, for instance, is far from immune from this sort of error. Examples include the labelling of a Ju87 as a German "fighter", and a German WWI soldier as carrying a machine gun when it was clearly a K98 rifle. The author probably put a lot of work into those articles and then some stupid assistant in the picture editor's office went and spoilt it, probably by knowing nothing about the subject matter.

[morse1001]

What gets me is bad captioning of photographs in history mags. History Today, for instance, is far from immune from this sort of error. Examples include the labelling of a Ju87 as a German "fighter", and a German WWI soldier as carrying a machine gun when it was clearly a K98 rifle. The author probably put a lot of work into those articles and then some stupid assistant in the picture editor's office went and spoilt it, probably by knowing nothing about the subject matter.

You think of war films that use stock footage and still get it wrong! I noticed that the Island at war used footage from the film "Battle of Britain"

next they will be showing the scene with susanne york in Shirt, tie and webbing.....

Quick nurse the cold shower!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Graham McAdam]

You might like to know that 'St Gregory' is actually the Isle of Man! The main town square where the Germans are billetted is Castletown - looks good doesn't it. Must have cost a fortune to the Manx economy. And where did the sunshine come from!
It's providing great fun for my ex-pat Manx wife on sundays, trying to spot the locations! Takes her mind off the script.

[salientpoints]

Originally posted by Graham McAdam@Jul 20 2004, 08:44 AM
You might like to know that 'St Gregory' is actually the Isle of Man! The main town square where the Germans are billetted is Castletown - looks good doesn't it. Must have cost a fortune to the Manx economy. And where did the sunshine come from!
It's providing great fun for my ex-pat Manx wife on sundays, trying to spot the locations! Takes her mind off the script.

See this previous post for the full detail

http://wwiiforum.com/index.php?showtopic=688

Ryan

[angie999]

Originally posted by morse1001@Jul 19 2004, 11:07 PM
next they will be showing the scene with susanne york in Shirt, tie and webbing.....

Control yourself! Get in that cold shower immediately!