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The First World War

  • TV Mini Series
  • 2003
  • 8h 20m
IMDb RATING
8.6/10
1.5K
YOUR RATING
The First World War (2003)
To honor the service and sacrifice of those who have bravely served their country, we have three titles to stream for free on IMDb TV, including a family drama that digs into the effects of war, a WWI documentary that holds relevancy today, and an empowering character-driven series set in WWII.
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Watch What to Watch: Three Series to Stream in Honor of Veterans
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History DocumentaryMilitary DocumentaryDocumentaryHistoryWar

A comprehensive survey of the history of World War I.A comprehensive survey of the history of World War I.A comprehensive survey of the history of World War I.

  • Stars
    • Jonathan Lewis
    • Voja Tankosic
    • Andrée Bernard
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.6/10
    1.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • Jonathan Lewis
      • Voja Tankosic
      • Andrée Bernard
    • 23User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Episodes10

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated1 season2003

    Videos1

    What to Watch: Three Series to Stream in Honor of Veterans
    Clip 2:17
    What to Watch: Three Series to Stream in Honor of Veterans

    Photos12

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    Top cast8

    Edit
    Jonathan Lewis
    • Narrator
    • 2003
    Voja Tankosic
    • Self
    • 2003
    Andrée Bernard
    • Narration
    Archduke Franz Ferdinand
    Archduke Franz Ferdinand
    • Self
    Queen Marie of Romania
    • Self
    • 2003
    Jan Smuts
    Jan Smuts
    • Self
    King Ferdinand of Bulgaria
    • Self
    Erich Ludendorff
    Erich Ludendorff
    • Self
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews23

    8.61.5K
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    Featured reviews

    8drosett

    Where are the real credits for this documentary?

    This IS a very well done documentary. In fact, it is so well done that it leaves me speechless that the credits are so poor, both in the original 10 episodes and at IMDb.com. Who, for example, actually wrote the series? At the closing of each episode, the series is credited as being "based on a book by Hew Strachan." Does this mean he actually wrote the script? If not, who did? Was it Jonathan Lewis, who was credited as the series narrator? Even more irritating is that NONE of the actors who read from diaries and other primary source material are credited at all. The IMDb site credits the actual historical figures, as if they were still alive to read out loud material that is now almost 100 years old! Very weird at best, and unnecessarily dodgy at worst.
    10davidm923

    Brilliant: An Fitting Tribute For the Last WW I Veterans

    Given my love of history, the cataclysmic, foolhardy nightmare that this represents was something I wanted to investigate further. Video could add a dimension that even a brilliant book could not illustrate.

    Lucky me, and fortunate viewer, who took the time to watch this dazzling miniseries! I rented this a few days after the UK's last veteran, and world's oldest man, passed away. He had been in many ways a guardian, helping others comprehend the nightmare, and was so forgiving as to insist on adding German pallbearers at his funeral, age 114.

    The miniseries is expansive (as others have mentioned), fascinating, and most importantly, brings the horror to life (and death). A great compliment - it had me racing back to read more about the conflict, especially the myriad ideas on WHY it began.

    There are so many memorable scenes! The use of personal memoirs, and the film footage, then and now, are wonderful.

    Most highly recommended!
    10SpanishInquisitionMP

    Probably the best documentary ever on the great War

    There have been some pretty good documentary series on World War One - like the BBC's '1914-18' and 'The Great War,' which inspired 'The World at War' - but this Channel Four series is the best ever. Unlike almost all of the others it gives you a look at the WORLD war aspect of it, not just focusing on the Western Front or (like most poor US documentaries) on the last year when America was involved, you also see the war in Russia, in Arabia, in Africa to get a real sense of the scale. Unlike 1914-18 it takes a chronological look at the war, but does it in a riveting way: the first episode plays like a thriller, while others are like tragedies. And it doesn't fall in for clichés or easy targets. It dispels a lot of myths along the way (for example, did you know the assassinated Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand was anti-militarist and had actually prevented war breaking out several times? I didn't) and holds your attention throughout. And the haunting end title music written by a composer who died in the war is unforgettable.

    One of the greatest TV shows ever, it's a crime this is so little known and failed to win any major awards. It's on DVD and if you've any interest in the subject at all, it's the only WW1 doc you need to buy.
    Movie_Man111111

    Great Doc

    All aspects are very good. Music, narration, animation and script. Best WW 1 doc by far.
    10rkehler3

    Terrific

    I discovered this program on TubiTV, a free video streaming service, and as some of the other reviewers have mentioned, this is, without a doubt, one of the best WWI documentaries produced to-date. At over eight hours in length, it is a comprehensive and balanced look at the Great War for those of us who did not live through it and do not fully understand the political and social contexts of the day. Unlike most others, it examines not only the causes of, events, and impact of the war as it pertains to western Europe, but also, in great detail, the war's global impact on all the major players, their allies, and colonies around the world. A commendable effort is made to present the narrative from a neutral point of view and and avoid being just another sentimental British or American war documentary. It's not perfect--there are a few topics that probably could have been expanded upon-but this is still an outstanding and informative production and a must-watch for anyone studying WWI or 20th century history.

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    War

    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Goofs
      Some of the video footage, such as a clip showing dead bodies being unloaded from a wagon, is reused multiple times to depict different events of the war.

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    FAQ14

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 22, 2003 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Primera guerra mundial
    • Filming locations
      • Amiens, Somme, France
    • Production companies
      • Channel 4 Television Corporation
      • Channel 4 Television
      • Channel 4
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 8h 20m(500 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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