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November 10th, 2009
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| Manufacturer: WGBH BOSTON |
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| List Price: $19.95 |
| Sale Price: $17.49 |
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Product Description |
| In 1915, during World War I, a doomed campaign was fought by the Allies against German-affiliated Turkish forces in the Dardanelles. (This devastating conflict was also the inspiration for the 1981 Australian film Gallipoli.) The Fifth Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment, composed wholly of servants, grooms, and gardeners from King George V's estate at Sandringham, was sent into the fray and, legend has it, vanished without a trace into a mysterious mist. This deeply affecting Masterpiece Theatre production, All the King's Men, tells the horrifying true story of what really happened to these men. From paradise on an English country estate, we follow them into the chaotic hell of war on blistering foreign shores. The pathos of the innocence and optimism of these boys, some as young as 14, as they march off to battle is tremendous. Before shipping out, Sergeant Ted Grimes (William Ash) celebrates a joyous wedding to his childhood sweetheart, plucky Peggy Batterbee (Emma Cunniffe), assuring her of his swift return. Gallant Captain Frank Beck (David Jason) has trained his boys well in the principles of loyalty and duty. Tragically, they soon learn that these niceties are worse than useless during wartime. Performances by a large ensemble cast are superb in this engrossing TV film. Dame Maggie Smith is a standout, exuding marvelous warmth and wisdom as the Queen Mother Alexandra, who mounts an extensive inquiry to determine the real fate of her beloved lads. --Laura Mirsky |
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Customer Reviews |
 British Drama at its very best |
| Review Date: November 27, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Roger Boon, Dundee, UK |
"All the King's Men" is a richly textured piece of television drama, sensitively directed by Julian Jarrold. Its carefully nuanced script explores the horrors of the Gallipoli campaign in Turkey in World War One and the myth surrounding the mysterious "disappearance" of the Sandringham Regiment, who were drawn from King George the Fifth's estate.The men are led by Captain Frank Beck,the agent on the estate, who with the support of the Queen Mother defies the King and, despite his age, leaves Sandringham to lead the men who he has trained and whose lives he has been intimately involved with on the estate. Through the excellent performance of David Jason we see a man of some nobility of spirit,used to respecting his superiors all his life,trying to do his best in a situation where his superiors got it completely wrong.His idealism is nicely contrasted with the humane pragmatism of the regimental doctor who has no such illusions.
The truth of a body of men ineptly led and totally unprepared for fighting in an unknown and hostile terrain with appalling logistical support is graphically portrayed and echoes the much better known Australian film, "Gallipoli." The deliberate burying of the truth of what happened(which involved large numbers of men being shot in the head rather than taken prisoner)in order to protect social sensitivities and preserve morale is nicely dealt with through the superbly restrained performance of Maggie Smith as the Queen Mother who is clearly not fooled but never betrays the fact.
The film also sympathetically explores the social values of the English class system and particularly the close knit generation of Sandringham workers who made up the regiment. Their naive and in some cases romantic confidence in the right of King and Country fighting with God on their side(despite the fact that they were invading another country)is believably portrayed.
The perfornances of the cast are without exception of a very high class with some excellent cameos. This is the BBC at its very best and I thoroughly reccomend it to you! |
Heartbreaking
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| Review Date: July 13, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Mark E. Lehde, St. Louis, MO |
| Outstandingly done story of the famous Lost Company. Not a happy story, well it couldn't very well be now could it, but very compelling and well acted and directed. A must for those who have an interest in and wish to better understand that time period of history. |
The Butcher's Bill
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| Review Date: May 23, 2009 |
| Reviewer: James P. Quinlan, Caledonia,MI |
All the King's Men is a poignant and graphic account of village males ripped from a pastural, buccolic life of another time into the horrors of the 20th century's World War I.
This could easily be a companion piece to the film Galippoli where the futility of the 'well laid plans of mice and men ' come to naught in the early battles on the continent [Ypres,Passendale].
I was impressed with the strides taken to re-create this incredible saga with fidelity of authenticity and realism. |
All the King's men
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| Review Date: November 22, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Douglas Cox, trinidad |
| To much emphasis was placed on the private lives of the soldiers. David Jason, although a good actor, was mis-cast. His age and physique was not in keeping the era portrayed. Another thing was that there was too much supposition on the fate of the soldiers ending. Were they killed in cold blood or was that theory. |
All the King's men
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| Review Date: May 7, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Jean H. Laprime, Boston, MA USA |
| A thoughtful speculation on one of the great mysteries in WWI's forgotten war in the Dardanelles. |
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Categories: DVD
Tags: kings, masterpiece, theatre
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