'Oh! What a Lovely War'

The theatrical production-turn film, Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), is a refreshingly cheery satirical depiction of the First World War, in which we experience its development, as well as the social and political aspects, through the relaying narrative between the Smith family and the European leaders/British aristocracy.

'World War One' in glitzy lights is one of the first scenes we see - it is the first sign the audience sees of the glamorization of war. Propaganda is shown to be an essential link in the process of war; the public is sweetened through marching bands, parades and plays, producing a huge surge of patriotism, thus convincing many to sign up.

The Richard Attenborough film remains intact with its theatrical roots, with most scenes taking place in a simplified reproduction of the Brighton pier, with a backdrop that emulates a misty seaside morning, and has the cast singing sickly sweet songs. Yet its Alice in Wonderland-like twists and seamless transition from scene to scene gives Oh! What a Lovely War a dreamlike quality, in which soldiers horse around on carousels - a scene which is also mainly metaphoric, to symbolize the men galloping into battle. Such scenes of singing and dancing are often interrupted by the reality of war, and there is a constant juxtaposition of the 'keep smiling' and 'keep normal' attitude back home (which reminds me of the scene in Carry On Up the Khyber!) and the facts of the situation; that the soldiers were challenged physically and mentally, driven mad by the experiences they had witnessed, deafened by gunshots and in some cases severely hurt or even dead. Though the upbeat songs of the trenches tend to mask this reality, yet it is only upon listening to the lyrics that one realises the truth. 

Carry On Up the Khyber (1968)

I found this film quite eccentric, which is a quality I enjoy, I had never before seen a film that had theatre as such a huge influence to its final outcome, combined with its almost comic outlook on war. It is also a reasonably easy film to follow, especially in the progression of the First World War, which meant that you needn't know each and every event to enjoy Oh! What a Lovely War. Throughout watching it, I began to gain many ideas for my upcoming props project, which were influenced by the many objects featured in the film.