Western Approaches (1943) Dvd

[JamesM]

I have just noticed that a DVD of the acclaimed colour (filmed by Jack Cardiff) wartime documentary on the subject of the Merchant Navy, Western Approaches (1943), has been recently released on DVD by DD Video. It has been remastered and comes with a short film called "A Seaman's Story" made in 1942. Better still, there is also an audio commentary with the film's director, 88-yr-old Pat Jackson no less.



Did anyone else know about this?

[Steve Crook]

JamesM:

I have just noticed that a DVD of the acclaimed colour (filmed by Jack Cardiff) wartime documentary on the subject of the Merchant Navy, "Western Approaches" (1943), has been recently released on DVD by DD Video. It has been remastered and comes with a short film called "A Seaman's Story" made in 1942. Better still, there is also an audio commentary with the film's director, 88-yr-old Pat Jackson no less.



Did anyone else know about this?

Yes, it's been out for a few months.

And very good it is too



Steve

[Freddy]

Have alook at



http://www.bbc.co.uk/liverpool/localhistor...ches/tour.shtml



If ever you are in Liverpool have a visit if possible, its in the city centre.



My old neighbour in Liverpool is Dutch, served in their Merchant Navy during the war. Was torpedoed three times. He was payed throughout unlike our poor lads whose wage was stopped as soon as they abandoned ship.



regards

FReddy

[JamesM]

I read it was released on October 4th this year. Here is a link to one sight selling it, not the cheapest but at least it has paid it some attentiom



http://www.moviemail-online.co.uk/films/8322



DD Video have their own site (www.ddvideo.co.uk) but there is no info about it on their site!

[DB7]

Is it me or are amount of new 1930-60 British titles released on DVD waning significantly?

[JamesM]

Studio Canal+ Image are leting smaller companies, like Momentum Classics, release their films on DVD but they have poorer distribution and little self promotion (not a single title is mentioned on Momentum's website). The classic US and UK films are fine titles but there are no exras on them.



Carlton has been taken over and all their titles are now owned by Granda Int'l, who have not decided what to do with their UK films. I have been trying get licenses to release their films here on DVD but they have considred letting me use a single title.



DD Video have a few titles and have just released (or are about to release) "Silver Fleet", "Morning Departure", "Millions Like Us", "Sea of Sand" and "Waterloo Road" on DVD.

[JamesM]

I looked in both HMVa and a Vrigin Megastore for the Western Approaches DVD but could not find it.

[Hackett]

JamesM try Sendit.com. They have "WESTERN APPROACHES" the DVD for sale £15.99p. I buy a lot of DVD's from them and they have never let me down. They have a good site full of new release details.

[JamesM]

I might go for moviemall, seing as they were the company that brought the DVD to my attention, or Bensons World who sell it for £10.99.

[JamesM]

I wanted to buy thye Survivors series 2 DVD set so I used Benson's World. I have just opened the Western Approaches DVD (unwrapping the original celophane) to discover the disc is missing! How unlucky. An error by the people who originally packaged the DVD most likely.



I have heard that Network Video will be releasing all future Garnada Int'l film collection titles here in the UK. Shall keep you informed of future releases.

[longford]

Hello



My father, now aged mid 80s, was the young radio officer (his profession since 1936) - filmed during leave in 1942 at Pinewood. Most were serving men and dad went back to the Atlantic Convoys shortly after.



Worth looking at the Imperial War Musium archive - (Cut and paste to your browser)



http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/dbtw-wpd/...F=&MQ=&TI=0&DT=



Also, see Pat Jackson's (D) Autobiography, 'Western Approaches, published in 2002 I think.



Mark Longford

[Steve Crook]

Originally posted by longford@Mar 26 2005, 04:53 PM

Hello



My father, now aged mid 80s, was the young radio officer (his profession since 1936) - filmed during leave in 1942 at Pinewood. Most were serving men and dad went back to the Atlantic Convoys shortly after.



Worth looking at the Imperial War Musium archive - (Cut and paste to your browser)



http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/dbtw-wpd/...F=&MQ=&TI=0&DT=



Also, see Pat Jackson's (D) Autobiography, 'Western Approaches, published in 2002 I think.



Mark Longford

What is your father's name Mark?



Steve

[JamesM]

I got my replacement copy. It was interesting to learn that Jack Cardiff had trained up C.M. Pennington-Richards in the fileld of Technicolor but Pennington-Richards had to abandon the project when his wife became ill.

[Marky B]

I would like to try and get this DVD for my dad,who himself served in the Merchant Navy during World War II crossing the Atlantic a few times with the wolf packs beneath the fleet. We'll never know what it was like apart from their stories.

Ta Ta

Marky B

[longford]

Originally posted by SteveCrook@Mar 26 2005, 06:22 PM

What is your father's name Mark?



Steve

Hi Steve



Sorry for the delay, Dick Longford



Kind wishes.



Mark

[Marky B]

I must admit,I had never heard of Western Approaches until I read about it in this website. So I took the gamble of buying a DVD at Virgin (£17.00),with the hope that I would enjoy it. It was well worth the gamble. What a terrific film it was,using real life sailors and not actors,keeping their dialects,and still having a good storyline with an exciting climax.

My only disappointment - and it was aimed at the makers of the DVD,not the film makers - was the lack of subtitle facilities as my dad is deaf. Nonetheless,he enjoyed it too.

Ta Ta

MArky B

[Marky B]

Having watched it again,I offer the question:Who played the Germans? Prisoners of War,German dissidents Etc?

Ta Ta

Marky B

[Steve Crook]

Originally posted by Marky B@Aug 28 2005, 04:28 PM

Having watched it again,I offer the question:Who played the Germans? Prisoners of War,German dissidents Etc?

Ta Ta

Marky B

More than likely German (or other European) dissidents or refugees.

There were quite a lot that came to Britain at the time either because of Jewish family connections of because they just didn't like the Nazi regime.



Not just actors but film-makers of all professions as well.



Anton Walbrook & Hein Heckroth to name just two fine examples.



Steve

[Marky B]

Originally posted by Steve Crook@Aug 30 2005, 01:58 AM

More than likely German (or other European) dissidents or refugees.

There were quite a lot that came to Britain at the time either because of Jewish family connections of because they just didn't like the Nazi regime.



Not just actors but film-makers of all professions as well.



Anton Walbrook & Hein Heckroth to name just two fine examples.



Steve

Thanks,Steve

I am surprised it is a rarely mentioned film as it is certainly one of the finest war films ever made.

Ta Ta

Marky B [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[JamesM]

Future releases of DD titles appear to have subtitles.