Will there ever be a British version of Band of Brothers?

If we ever see anything - we're going to see a story LIGHT on armour or vehicles in general, something like the Crete episodes of The Sullivans years ago...

Forgot the "The Sullivans" was shown over there. Was it very popular?

I know the Australian forces who served overseas throughout the war loved it as it showed what they had missed while they were away.

The series started 34 years ago..........How time flies!

YouTube - The Sullivans - Opening - UK TV

 

At the time it was, was shown as an early afternoon "soap". Largely forgotten now tho.

 

Can anyone come up with a hisorically accurate storyline that could link many Commonwealth and US forces (and individuals) from N Africa (or even BEF and Dunkirk) through to NWE or Italy/Med operations?



Well, yes - what about the wartime career of BL Montgomery??? Let's face it, there's enough back-room infighting between various commanders and generals to pad out between the fighting scenes...!

 

The Sullivans is the story of a typical family in 1939 and follows the life of the family members and friends during the years of the Second World War both at home and in several theatres of war, including Yugoslavia, Holland, Greece, the deserts of North Africa and the jungles of South-East Asia. When the war ends, we follow the family and friends as they adapt to peacetime.


Imagine putting all the WW2 scenes together with all those campaigns.

 

With the large area fighting and manervering in North Africa, to include as many nationalities as possible to satisfy target audiences, the scope of the production would probably have to be in Tunisia. Of course that would include the debacle of Kasserine Pass for the US troops, but everyone takes a good a$$-kicking every now and then, right? The 1970 movie "Patton" covered some action there, but it did not include the 8th Army's approach from the south chasing the Germans from Libya. The 1980 movie "The Big Red 1" covered the landings in Nortwest Africa, and some fighting there as well as at Kasserine.

I really don't care about spotlighting the generals or the politicians, which is a popular theme in big war movies. I like the small stories, the things that really happened involving the "little people" so to speak, like in "The Longest Day". "A Bridge Too Far" followed that format, but all the big name actors save one (the James Caan charactor) were officers.

I like the idea of something set in 1940 France. You have the British, Canadians, French, Czechs, Poles, Dutch, Belgians, and of course lots of Germans. Later on there's some Italians right at the end, which would satistfy a large market audience. Not sure how it would play down under though. The few Americans involved can be cast as volunteers in the Canadian Army. It happened, on a small scale of course, but a big name actor could give it some credibility.

Casting for such a production would be another thread altogether.

 

A-58, Phylo,
I was more thinking of a docu/film type thing based around a multinational group (not necessarily Officers) from several units ranging from the 'phony war' to Dunkirk, N Africa, Med, NWE, end of war.
A bit like Band of Brothers but covering a wider group that might coincide at particular times/operations. Is this feasible historically? There must be some squaddies/NCOs that must have served throughout that could be cast.

Mike

 

With the large area fighting and manervering in North Africa, to include as many nationalities as possible to satisfy target audiences, the scope of the production would probably have to be in Tunisia. Of course that would include the debacle of Kasserine Pass for the US troops, but everyone takes a good a$$-kicking every now and then, right? The 1970 movie "Patton" covered some action there, but it did not include the 8th Army's approach from the south chasing the Germans from Libya. The 1980 movie "The Big Red 1" covered the landings in Nortwest Africa, and some fighting there as well as at Kasserine.

I really don't care about spotlighting the generals or the politicians, which is a popular theme in big war movies. I like the small stories, the things that really happened involving the "little people" so to speak, like in "The Longest Day". "A Bridge Too Far" followed that format, but all the big name actors save one (the James Caan charactor) were officers.

I like the idea of something set in 1940 France. You have the British, Canadians, French, Czechs, Poles, Dutch, Belgians, and of course lots of Germans. Later on there's some Italians right at the end, which would satistfy a large market audience. Not sure how it would play down under though. The few Americans involved can be cast as volunteers in the Canadian Army. It happened, on a small scale of course, but a big name actor could give it some credibility.

Casting for such a production would be another thread altogether.

Maybe you could include the Aussies in the RAF. Plenty of them around in 39/40.

 

A-58, Phylo,
I was more thinking of a docu/film type thing based around a multinational group (not necessarily Officers) from several units ranging from the 'phony war' to Dunkirk, N Africa, Med, NWE, end of war.
A bit like Band of Brothers but covering a wider group that might coincide at particular times/operations. Is this feasible historically? There must be some squaddies/NCOs that must have served throughout that could be cast.

Mike

Would make it easier to slot in Aussies, NZ's, SA's, India etc in that format.

I was always hoping to see a movie of the Aussies from landing in North Africa to Bardia, Tobruk, Syria, Greece, Crete, El Alamein (1940 -1942) then the Pacific (1942 - 1945),

Maybe one day when there are a few more $'s around.

 

Maybe you could include the Aussies in the RAF. Plenty of them around in 39/40.
Thanks for pointing that out to me. It's not that I intended to omit their contributions, I wasn't aware of their presence in the RAF so soon in the hostilities. I did read about the Australians participating in the Battle of Britain, but like I mentioned, earlier in the Battle of France was unkown to me. Actually, I was thinking more of the lines of ground units, and not air and naval units. Good thing I am not director or producer.

And as far as your format suggestion above, I believe something like that would work just fine. Small unit actions, resistance, off-beat stories, such as that. All we can do is hope and pray!

 

Thanks for pointing that out to me. It's not that I intended to omit their contributions, I wasn't aware of their presence in the RAF so soon in the hostilities. I did read about the Australians participating in the Battle of Britain, but like I mentioned, earlier in the Battle of France was unkown to me.

I only have a list of the deaths of the Aussies in UK/Europe where 87 Aussie Flyers died between 3/9/1939 (first on the 14/9/39) and the end of December 1940.

How many were actually flying in the RAF at that time is not available.

Immediately after forming at Point Cook, Victoria, in July 1939, No 10 Squadron aircrew and ground staff departed for England to gain experience on Sunderland flying boats before ferrying them back to Australia. After war was declared, however, the squadron remained in England on active service with RAF Coastal Command, becoming the first Dominion squadron to go into action in World War II.

In the month of February 1944, No 10 Squadron accomplished a Coastal Command record by flying over 1100 hours - this remarkable rate of effort was only achieved through the dedicated efforts of aircrew and ground staff. Anti-submarine patrols continued throughout 1944 and by the end of hostilities, No 10 Squadron had destroyed six submarines and became the only Air Force squadron to see continuous active service throughout the war.

 

It will not be a suprise to anyone here that my choice would be a film about Operation Husky, Sicily 1943. To me it has everything, a compact campaign (38 days) With Montgomery, Patton and Simonds as the main players. Also many well known people such as Audie Murphy, Alec Guinness and Ernie Pyle involved. The landings by air and sea, the battles for the Malati and Primasole bridges, the Canadian1st Division's progress up the island via some very hostile terrain.
As the 'return to Europe' it has never received the recognition I feel it deserved, but then I have a reason for feeling this way!

 

Didn't they make a movie "How I Won the War" about a British unit, North Africa to Europe

 

But its totally fictional wierd off beat comedy thing...

 

It will not be a suprise to anyone here that my choice would be a film about Operation Husky, Sicily 1943...The landings by air and sea, the battles for the Malati and Primasole bridges...

The GPR took part in the taking and defence of the Primosole Bridge. Pilots helped their RA passengers work the guns.

Steve W.

 

There have in reality been many bands of brothers in the British army.

We were a band of brothers the real thing, The companies history of action from Sword to Bremen would make a wonderful film. We made a wonderful piratical crew, we also saw enough action to make it interesting`

 

I rather hope that they never do make such a thing. A bunch of pappy-faced, limp wristed modern actors who can't walk in anything apart from training shoes purporting to represent the taciturn, understated generation that grew up during the first half of the twentieth century.

Most of them would probably want danger money or a stunt double to use an outside privvy after dark.

 

Know what you mean Rich.
I was thinking something along the lines of the BBCs excellent Dunkirk production a few years ago. I thought that was suitably realistic and even 'gritty'.
Would love to see a similar but wider scope production.
As for 'wimpish' actors I believe before the making of 'A Bridge Too Far' Attenborough recruited a large group of actors and extras and got some veterans to train and drill them in Allied and German uniforms and tactics for several weeks. They became known as the APA (Attenborough's Private Army) and appeared in most of the combat scenes.
Sure I have an ATB book about it that I bought in Arnhem.

Mike

 

But its totally fictional wierd off beat comedy thing...

Your kidding me..........

 

I think we made it in 1944 in Australia.

 

Also of 1944 vintage: