Movie review - They Shall Not Grow Old

[Robin Lewis]

I just saw the movie "They Shall Not Grow Old" :corn:and I think it was outstanding!

But, just so you understand, I don't think its for everyone. If you are a history buff, interested in our past Wars or are into old photographs, I think you will enjoy it.

It's a two hour movie made up entirely of original WWI film and the original voices from interviews of survivors of "The Great War". The original film has been processed to remove jitter and get the speed correct so it looks like something done today. It was colorized in some cases and parts are even in 3D. They used lip readers to put sound to some of the people too! The original photographers used a wide view and the production here focused in, and panned the scene to make it even better than original. How they improved the original film, which was in some cases so dark that it wasn't worth looking at and brought it back so fine detail like small nuts & bolts are plainly visible is simply amazing.

The use of original material (100% original video and voice) makes this absolutely unique and, to me, extremely interesting.

But after it concludes, stay seated through the lengthy credits at the end because the production methods are explained afterward and that amounts to another 20 - 30 min. The production technique used is as interesting as the film itself.:bowdown:

Based on the very limited attendance, I don't think this will be in theaters very long, so if you have an interest I suggest you see it soon.:corn:

[Dean Romig]

I’ve seen trailers and it looks amazing.





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[Eric Estes]

Saw it earlier this week and highly recommend it.

[Daniel Carter]

Went to see it Mon. and agree with Robin. It starts with original film and slowly you notice it getting better until the restored film takes over. The theater was occupied by 4 people so I don't think it will have a wide audience. If you are into history you will have seen a lot of the film before but will see it in a totally different way. Well worth it.

[Harry Collins]

I was in Vietnam for Tet in 1968. There were a number of things I took away from this film and in no particular order that applies to WWI and Vietnam veterans. No one cares that you were in the war, what you did, who died, or how you survived. It is best to fit in with society and avoid any personal association with the war. The din of war will drive you crazy. There is no one to talk to about your experiences except other veterans. Family and friends will discount and marginalize you and most anything they say even to be helpful will hurt.

[Richard Flanders]

Harry, I think you're in a crowd here that cares, but I'd guess you know that already.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Going to make an effort to see that one

[Robin Lewis]

I was in Vietnam for Tet in 1968. There were a number of things I took away from this film and in no particular order that applies to WWI and Vietnam veterans. No one cares that you were in the war, what you did, who died, or how you survived. It is best to fit in with society and avoid any personal association with the war. The din of war will drive you crazy. There is no one to talk to about your experiences except other veterans. Family and friends will discount and marginalize you and most anything they say even to be helpful will hurt.
I must say I had the same take-a-way! Given that the voice was from a WWI vet and the view was the same as what I experienced in 1970 when I finished my 4 year tour of duty, I took note that he could have been talking about current events and his comments hit home for me?!

[Daniel Carter]

Robin and Harry some of the commentary spoke to me in the same way. The accounts of their return home and the indifference shown them.

[Mike McKinney]

I hope this comes out as serious as I mean it. I didn’t serve, I never picked up nerve to join, but then and now I appreciate everyone who has and is serving, without service folks we wouldn’t have a country to be proud of. I get pretty discouraged with all the rhetoric but I’ve never heard or seen evidence of a better place. I appreciate my granddaddy, a WWI vet, and my dad, a WWII vet, and all the vets before and since. I hope I qualify as a patriot but I thank the vets and the folks serving today and have full gratitude for what you have done.

[Brett Hoop]

Mike

I wish I could give that about 4 thumbs up!

[Harry Collins]

I was at the VA’s mental health clinic yesterday and met a man about my age who told me of his son. The young man is a Purple Heart Iraq and Afghan veteran and is an alcoholic. Two divorces and one wife told him that when he was in the Army he didn’t have to work. So many misconceptions of the military and war. Two weeks of hard work and boredum interrupted by two hours of shear terror.

[allen newell]

Harry, i was there for Tet also. Thank you for your service.

[Dean Romig]

I joined up in ‘66 very shortly after HS graduation. I was never sent to Viet Nam but deeply admire the courage and patriotism of those who did. I lost 7 of my HS friends over there.
For those who served anywhere in overseas conflict - Welcome Home! Your country is proud of your service!





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[Garth Gustafson]

There’s a high cost for our country’s freedom and security. And of course it falls disproportionately on the shoulders of our servicemen and women - the 1% who serve. My sense is today with our all volunteer military the country is more appreciative and supportive of our servicemembers. Sadly, that wasn’t the case in past conflicts and it breaks my heart to think about all the men and women, past and present who live with their physical and emotional wounds every day.

Thank you all for all you have done.

[Robin Lewis]

There’s a high cost for our country’s freedom and security. And of course it falls disproportionately on the shoulders of our servicemen and women - the 1% who serve. My sense is today with our all volunteer military the country is more appreciative and supportive of our servicemembers. Sadly, that wasn’t the case in past conflicts and it breaks my heart to think about all the men and women, past and present who live with their physical and emotional wounds every day.

Thank you all for all you have done.

Its getting better…..

On June 17, 1783, Congress received a message from soldiers of the Continental Army stationed in Philadelphia, which demanded payment for their service during the American Revolutionary War. The soldiers threatened to take action that day if their complaints were not addressed. Congress ignored their message, but the soldiers did not act on their threat. Two days later, however, the Congress received word that a group of about 80 soldiers had left their post at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, approximately 60 miles (97 km) west of Philadelphia, and had joined with the soldiers stationed at the city barracks. The group of approximately 500 men had effective control over the weapons stores and munition depot.

George Washington, on hearing of "the mutiny" on the 24th June, sent 1500 troops under the command of Major General William Heath and General Robert Howe, who came out of retirement, to suppress the mutiny. Some of the mutineers ended up in a state of arrest, and Congress called an investigation into the event.

https://medium.com/war-is-boring/when-patton-rolled-tanks-over-veterans-in-washington-d-c-77fdc23a1159 Every generation of soldiers has problems, but most haven’t left the military only to later be attacked by it. But that’s what happened to thousands of veterans who served in the trenches of World War I. In 1932, 17,000 former soldiers marched on Washington, D.C. to demand wartime pay owed to them.

Hoover ordered the military to remove the protesters from the city at once. Gen. Douglas MacArthur — then the U.S. Army’s Chief of Staff — led the 12th Infantry Regiment and the 3rd Cavalry Regiment into the fray.

The cavalry regiment contained six Renault FT tanks commanded by Maj. George Patton. The Army troops, with bayonets affixed to their rifles, charged into the shanty town and launched tear gas into the crowds.

Patton’s tanks crushed the makeshift buildings.

The veterans fled across the Anacostia River, and Hoover ordered the assault to stop. But MacArthur saw the protesters as communist agitators intent on overthrowing the U.S. government, and continued the operation.

More than 1,000 injured veterans ended up in area hospitals. One veteran died and a veteran’s wife miscarried.

MacArthur ....... in my opinion he was a terrible man. Sure he and his father both were awarded a Congressional Medal Of Honor but I always suspected they were given because of connections. He did this and then in WWII cost many men their lives because his ego had to fight for the Philippine islands when he could have gone around them with the same outcome.

[Garth Gustafson]

I think William Manchester, the brilliant author and a Marine rifleman who lived through hell in the Pacific, and carried those scars for the rest of his life said it best about MacArthur;

"He was a great thundering paradox of a man, noble and ignoble, inspiring and outrageous, arrogant and shy, the best of men and the worst of men, the most protean, most ridiculous, and most sublime. No more baffling, exasperating soldier ever wore a uniform. Flamboyant, imperious, and apocalyptic, he carried the plumage of a flamingo, could not acknowledge errors, and tried to cover up his mistakes with sly, childish tricks. Yet he was also endowed with great personal charm, a will of iron, and a soaring intellect. Unquestionably he was the most gifted man-at-arms this nation has ever produced".

[Steve Cambria]

[QUOTE=Daniel Carter;265060] The theater was occupied by 4 people so I don't think it will have a wide audience.

No surprise there. It's a shame one of the Kardashian's never served, the line would have wrapped around the building!! My heart goes out to all the high school history teachers still pitching today. I'm sure they'd have an easier time selling payphones. :banghead:

[Jay Gardner]

[QUOTE=Daniel Carter;265060] The theater was occupied by 4 people so I don't think it will have a wide audience.

No surprise there. It's a shame one of the Kardashian's never served, the line would have wrapped around the building!! My heart goes out to all the high school history teachers still pitching today. I'm sure they'd have an easier time selling payphones. :banghead:

Many times I have thought about making a career change and teaching History or Civics (or what ever they call it today) but I can imagine the guidelines that teachers have to teach through today and given the political sensitivity today, I doubt it would take long for parents to take offense for something said or discussed in class.

It's easy to talk about how ignorant of history and civil procedure "kids are today" but let's be honest, there are a lot of parents who are pretty ignorant themselves. In fact, I wonder how many people could actually pass the US Citizenship Test, immigrants are required to pass. Regardless, it is only through personal curiosity that we can understand the complexities and nuisances that are part of our history. In short: it takes time and effort to really cover, let alone comprehend the long term implication of historical events.

"They Shall Not Grow Old" is an impressive demonstration of how modern technology can give us a new perspective of events (without re-writing history) and I enjoyed watching it and I thought it humanized trench warfare, but it isn't groundbreaking in terms of learning new information about WW1. If you are interested in WW1 I recommend the book "A World Undone" a comprehensive history of the war. I also recommend watching the PBS documentary "The Great War." https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/great-war/

JDG

[Daniel Carter]

I have been a history nut from the time of my first library card. Have had the good fortune to be surrounded by WW2 vets growing up and hunted from the camp of a WW1 vet until he died at 101. His stories were hilarious and then he would throw in one about the rats. Those men had a profound influence on my life. Not a one ever complained of his lot or regretted it. My dad said many times that he would not take a million dollars for the experience nor give a nickel to do it over again. I have said the same thing of my own experiences.

[allen newell]

At least we now have an Administration that appreciates the past and on going contributions of our vets and in addition is trying hard to improve VA services.