My grandfather fought in WW1 and was captured by the Germans on the Western Front in 1918. His Great Grandson, my son, is in these scenes as a soldier , dressed in exactly the same uniform as his Great Grandfather would have worn. A special film for many reasons.
My Great Grandfather Parachuted into war in WW2, he got his chute stuck on something and germans were marching under him. If the germans would of looked up and saw him, he Would of got shot to death
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My three great uncles fought (and died) in that war...Many years later I joined the Army Apprentices School...and wore exactly the same type of uniform...a fourth Great Uncle who'd survived that war saw me from his death bed and assumed I was one of his "lost" brothers, wished me luck...and then died...
Seven minutes into the film, we’ve been introduced to the main characters, we’re shown a bit of their lives and environment, the whole plot has been set into motion, and we understand exactly what’s at stake. Bloody efficient screenwriting.
@@TheWriteFiction I agree, 1917 is phenomenal, but 1917 was made by Universal Studios, which is a Hollywood company. This is a Hollywood movie. A good one.
@@boggybeard well, when they're not pandering or falling into the black hole of pushing political agendas and social commentary over good story telling, they can still make something good like they used to.
@@rachaeldangelo1337 there was one scene near the end where some guy ran into schofield and he thought he screwed up the whole thing so he just laid there in the ground ashamed lol. But schofelds actor kept going and just played it off
@@rachaeldangelo1337 Whenever someone walks across the camera, that is when the scene changes, its not actually filmed in one part, it just looks like it
@@christallgeyser He didn’t give up though because he got badass soon Blake was dying. I remember dreaming about Schofield taking me on the mission instead of Blake and they were fighting over me along the mission
The background imagery is the star of this scene. Love how it opens with the picturesque countryside and slowly devolves into the mud and dirt of the trenches as they walk forward.
tyman I felt I was right there with them, receiving the mission from Generals: and saying I cannot do this when crossing No Mans land. And see Blake dying again; god No I can’t handle it still
“War isn’t about who’s right, it’s about who’s left.” A quote that makes you scratch your head even after you know what it means, stays true until the end.
Its like the old Quote" There is no such thing as a winnable war." The real winners are those who survive one. I have known plenty of people who are broken by war in one way or another. From the Vietnam Vets of my fathers era the ww2 and Korean War Vets to the Vets of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. And Numerous civilians whos only fight is to survive life in a war zone. For Me the Most apt quote comes from a disillusioned US Marine corps Maj.General. Smedley Butler. "War is a Racket. It has always been. It is possibly the oldest ,surely the most Vicious. it is the only one with an international scope. It is the only one in which profits are reckoned in dollars AND the loss of lives." Maj. General Smedley Darlington Butler USMC 1881-1941. Two times Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
@@MrJamieFRESH for example you can hear low music notes the entire time (for the most part) which you might not consciously hear but they are underneath and supporting the scene/tension being built up
All the extras, the set design, the acting, the timing, etc. What a logistical nightmare they were able to pull off just in this shot alone. Phenomenal.
I always admired the soldiers in ww1 but this movie did something special. I live in Belgium and i remember driving to Ypres, and my dad passing by a grave of about 30000 British soldiers including colonial soldiers. We stopped the car to have a look and pay our respects, and I passed by the first row and remember reading a grave that said the British soldier that was killed was only 16 years of age and he was killed about 3 weeks before ww1 ended... we can’t be thankful enough for what these soldiers did and what they left to run straight into a hell of loud bangs, death, machine gunfire and god knows what else... we will remember them!
The British said they would come to Belgium's aid and they did. Thousands of Belgians were taken to the UK for the duration of the war. Several of them came to my village. About 350 men and boys (10% of the village at that time) went to war and 70 did not come back. Many of them who did come back had life changing injuries or died young because of the effects of war. Some gave all, all gave some. We were lucky in that we weren't invaded. The least we could do was come to the aid of allies who were. I have been to the area may times and I love Belgium and France.
My great grandfather enlisted underage to serve in the British Army for this war, he was wounded multiple times and lost his brothers. He then came home and worked for the rest of his life in the pits
Hugh Morris have a similar story, my grandfather was a resistance fighter in Algeria in 1954-1962 fighting against the French colonization, he never said much about what he did in the resistance. But in 1997 they took a Ct-scan because he fell on his head, the doctor noticed lots of tiny pieces of metal and asked him what it was. My dad was shook too, he told them it was from a French soldier that shot him in the head because he sabotaged a Captain’s car, he fell down because of the bullet He held his breath and the soldier kicked him in his stumach but he didn’t flinch and the soldier thought he had killed him. He stayed there until it became nighttime, when he moved he said that it was hard to get his head of the rock because of the blood on his head he got stuck on the rock. He moved to Belgium, worked till his pension and died after getting hit by a dump truck in 1998. But if he didn’t survive than our 3rd generation wouldn’t have even existed and I wouldn’t have been here. War really is gruesome and a matter of luck...
This camera work is absolutely breathtaking, the little things like this that people usually miss(myself included) is what we should appreciate when we are given something like what we just saw.
@@Oikos1602 That is why I used the word "usually" in case you didnt know the definition for this word is 'under normal conditions; generally' meaning not including this 🙃
@@EverydayBladeCollector yeah real fucking obscure camera work if I had an extra chromosome like you I'd also "usually" not notice these kinds of things
I’ve been in combat and I can’t even imagine being in combat like this. What these men endured is beyond imaginable. It must have been a living nightmare that never stopped. I’m a firm believer that if anyone wants to declare war on another country, they need to be in the first wave and on the front lines. I’m confident they will reconsider, but that’s the ultimate problem with war. The rich wage war and send off the poor to fight them.
You never said a truer word my grandfather was in the trenches. The filth, dysentery, the maggots, flees, flys, the endless mud, and death. My Grandfather would not speak about his time there, no adventure this. My neighbor suffered from being Gassed and died as a result in about 1954. 11 of my relatives died, as a result, of WW1. The war to end all wars a land fit for heroes.
It's a great movie that explores the dynamics of relationships as they evolve and change under duress. If you've not seen it already, I highly recommend it.
@@bcarss1970 I don't think Schofield is a coward, he just wanted to do what made tactical sense. However Blake was motivated by the urgency. At the end of the day, Schofield didn't abandon his buddy Blake.
@@bcarss1970 Schofield is set up to be the more experienced soldier. He was decorated at the Battle of the Somme and has the mindset of someone who probably learned a lot of hard lessons in the process, hence his more tactical mentality.
this movie perfectly showed that entering the trench area (and beyond-no man's land) was like entering a whole different (and horrid/hellish/gray) world/dimension
I was drawn in completely, after about 5 minutes. Just a genius film. The way the scenery seamlessly transitions from lush, peaceful countryside, to walking back to the front lines, I was like "Oh...this is different."
Spoiler > > > > > > I love how right at the beginning there’s a hint that Blake isn’t the main character. When he gets up the camera doesn’t follow him. Instead it stays at Schofield’s level. It’s only when Schofield takes Blake’s hand to pull himself up that the camera moves up to show Blake’s face again. Love these small details I missed the first time around.
Also Schofield, in the very beginning shot, was sitting against a tree. In the last shot of the movie when he's looking at the picture of Blake's family, he's sitting against a tree again.
Mark Patino Wait until the dvd comes out then you’ll be able to see it without copyright or blocking it all that’s why I buy dvds. I brought like 4 War movies over the years from 2017 until now
I just found out that four major Hollywood stars were in the same group in WW1: Claude Rains, Ronald Coleman, Basil Rathbone, and one other Scot well known in thirties movies. Rathbone would scout out into no mans' land and co;me back with logistics in the dark, but then recommended daylight recons. as he could get better infor. My evaluation of these guys just went through the roof.
I found it so interesting that the director wanted two actors who are unknown to a lot of viewers in the world. Whereas a lot of the generals and captains are played by well-known actors. I may be wrong, but it could also be referencing to the thousands of soldiers that fought in the war that were unknown to the world. Yet most generals and captains seem to be mostly the ones known through the world and history books. I have no idea who these two soldiers are nor have I seen these actors before, but now seeing both now makes me more interested in learning about not just the actors, but also appreciating the unsung heroes of the war.
Using unknown actors is a technique to make the viewer focus on what's happening and not on the actor who plays the person It was used when Daniel Craig was picked for James bond
@@BleedingUranium Yeah it was a great idea, not only does it fixate you on the situation and not the actor, but it also adds that sense of reality, 99% of the men fighting this war and many after it, are unnamed to the public, I wonder how many heroic deeds where done similar to this or even sporadically (Not via orders), I saw someone talking about it once, how many stories there will have been for each individual person involved, those lost stories we will never hear.
This movie has the best examples of "show, don't tell". The story in the landscapes, the emotions in the lead's expressions and interactions, and holy hell the cinematography is fantastic! Loved every second watching this masterpiece.
"Down to gehenna or up to the throne, he travels the fastest who travels alone." Kipling's poem 'The Winners' (where this quote originates) lauds the works of the individual, claiming that far more can be achieved if one abandons those with him. But when he describes what is 'won', it is merely loot, plunder and spoil... "It's just a scrap of tin." In fact, Schofield and George rely on many others through their journey, and couldn't have possibly succeeded alone. At the end of the day, 'Gehenna' symbolizes biblical Hell and the Throne symbolizes the 'throne of God', heaven. The general knows this: he wants them to succeed and he knows their odds will be greater with just the two of them. But at the same time, the faster they travel to the medal they'll receive (heaven), the faster they travel towards their own demise (hell). Down to hell or up to heaven's throne, he travels the fastest who travels alone.
the last line of your 2nd paragraph is a far fetched interpretation. Hell/the underworld was the town ablaze if anything. Throne is victory/them fulfilling their mission, duh.
And what was great in the clip was how it was clear the soldiers misinterpreted the poetry, taking it to mean that others will slow you down in achieving your objective.
I love that Schofield is in the front from the beginning - even though Blake is presented as the "hero" of the film for half the movie, Schofield is the true protagonist from the outset.
That's I loved about this film. On first viewing, you're initially led to believe that Blake is the main character and that Schofield would die. But then on rewatches, you notice so many things at the beginning that made it clear that Schofield was the main character
There are some hidden cuts to be honest (for example at 2:41) but you are absolutely right. It is an worldclass work and I’ve never seen such a film before
Ahmad Danial Basaruddin I’m getting just the dvd, I cannot wait to play it on my big screen at home again. Full volume and everything is still experienced
@Behind You It’s implied at 8:30 that Schofield was at the Somme, which means he would've been there since at least July 1916. Blake probably arrived in early 1917.
People always talk about the insane cinematography, but I rarely see people talking about the phenomenal editing. This isn't one 9-minute take. It's a lot of much shorter shots that use editing magic and a little bit of visual effects to make it look like one shot. Anytime something crosses the height of the frame from one side to another, fills the frame, or there's a severe motion blur of some kind, I can guarantee you that's likely a cut. I counted 9, but it's entirely likely I missed a couple or saw some that weren't actually cuts.
When people try to deny this, I love to point out the bit at 8:00 where the Bois go behind the soldiers. That is the most obvious cut in the entire scene. Once I give them that one, you can then usually point other ones out, like entering/leaving the bunker.
@@DamienDarksideBlog True, but that's also a good example of the sound design of the scene helping to hide the cut, since our brain is trying to process too much information, it just compensates with creating a motion blur in our mind. Good catch on that one
True, but nevertheless, the impression of one take throughout was a wonderful self-imposed challenge for Mendes, and Photographer Deakin (and their Editor), and brilliantly executed!
Bold statement, but this is my favorite military film. Raw, engaging, heartbreaking, and touching all at once -- without trying too hard. A masterpiece.
I don't want to say it is my favourite but it isvery high on my list of militairy films. Same as saving private ryan, hacksaw ridge and American sniper
I'm in my late 70's, and have watched thousands of documentaries, and excellent feature War films, but this short clip gave me a sense of fear, of what I know is to come.
Your fathers generation, and your grandparents... My grandfather never told me stories of WW2. He flew a b17 with Hell’s Angels. But his friend, the pilot, did. It was far worse than any war movie can display. The saving private Ryan opening scene apparently missed the fact that people were being cut in half by machine gun, the deafening sound of mortars, the smell, and the fear of knowing you have no say in your death. It was luck. Pray to god for good luck, as you watch your friends get blown out of the sky and suicide dive bomb German fortifications as their last stand.
Hands down the best cinematography, how the camera passes through the crowd to get in front was awesome. The background score when he hurries to save his brother, sudden stopping of the camera when an array of soldiers comes in their way in the alley and the use of the gray and yellow color template to show the seriousness and urgency of the matter.
@K K It's not about action. The movie feels soulless and rushed. Spoiler Alert from now on : Take for example the scene with the french lady : the fact that both characters managed to understand each other perfectly while speaking different languages was absurd. Sam Mendes should have focused on the visual and signs language. The whole scene felt out of place. Also the fact that Blake dies prematurely was a "mistake" IMO. Yes, it does serve the plot but the issue here is that we don't get to know the character, what he thinks, what he feels about the war... I mean we don't have time to bond with this character. Furthermore, it also breaks the bond he had with Schofield and we're left with a bland character. Schofield repeats that he wants to go back home but we don't truly know why; well it's a matter family and safety I guess but this could've been a discussion subject between him and Blake. If the duo had broken out right before the ending, after all the tension and a reinforced bond between the two main characters, it would have given so much depth and substance to the movie. Anyways great movie but kinda overrated.
Schofield is an interesting character, throughout the movie i found that hes actually an incredible fighter who basically given up and became cynical because of the war. However he finds a reason to fight and you see what kind of will power he actually has.
be sure to check out "they shall not grow old" by Peter Jackson (Lord of the Ring). It is a restored documentary with colour and sound, perfect companion with this movie depicting the Great War. It's an amazing movie on its own!
Similarly (although about WWII) check out a Polish movie called Powstanie Warzsawskie that is made entirely from contemporary colorized footage from the Warsaw Uprising
@@seraphim9090 Check out 'The Somme Then and Now' here on TH-cam. In it, actual WW1 footage is superimposed over modern footage captured at those same camera positions. It's rather haunting at times.
The whole movie was edited to seem like a continuous shot. It was really well done. It aids the storytelling and adds to the tension. I absolutely loved this movie. Someone commented it was a cinematic masterpiece and I agree.
I don't normally give a jot when it comes to the Oscars. This year however I find myself absolutely gutted for Sam Mendes that he didn't win either the best film or more apt, the best director. At least this wonderful movie is there for all to see and conclude that he was extremely hard done by.
fun fact: theres a hidden cut at 2:41 where they could easily make a hidden cut. You can also notice that Blakes face changes position before and after the hidden cut.
The shot probably ended at approximately 7:17. Hitchcock's _Rope_ had long, unbroken scenes that appeared continuous but end when there was a few seconds of filmed darkness, such as character entering an unlit room, dark for a few seconds until a light switch is flipped.
IIRC, they break with wall edges, crates moving (as pointed out at 2:42), etc. because computer editing and compositing allows more seamless dynamic cuts than before.
My 14 year old daughter constantly raves about this movie, considering it to be her favourite, and I honestly cannot fault her in this, as it is an undeniable Masterpiece of the Cinematic Art.
I’m constantly talking about it again now too and I’m turning 20 in a weeks time. I remember being 17 when it came out and 1917 scared the heck out of me because of my fallouts I had with No Mans Land 2 years ago but we’re back to normal
****SPOILER ALERT**** view at your own will**** One of the best turns this story took was when Corporal Blake bleeds to death, who I thought would be the lone survivor and obviously the main character. I think this shows the unexpected turn of events that occurred in such wars and how tables have always suddenly turned, when you least think of it to.
If you rewatch the beginning of the scene, the camera actually focuses more on Schofield. Somehow the dialogue tricked us into thinking Blake is the main character instead.
V B Deakins obviously shines in certain aspects. The blocking, lighting, and camera angles are all his. The crew fills the roll of executing the labor to pull of stuff like this. Props to both
@Louise X I think Jarhead and Skyfall have scenes that are distinctly Deakins, specifically scenes like the burning oilfield and the Shanghai rooftop fight.
When watching this scene, you occassionally forget that this is UNCUT, and it's magnificently well acted, shot, edited and the timings of everything is so syncronised yet so natural. My hat comes off to the team behind this film.
Its not uncut. There are actually three scenes in here. The first cut is the transition from the dug out to them going back outside, the second cut takes place at about 08:04, as they pass behind the gathered soldiers.
It’s a bit of editing magic. It’s a bunch of very long scenes expertly stitched together to appear as one continuous shot (well two if you count the blackout in the middle).
@@tonyflamingo8113 @Tony Flamingo I reckon there's a cut just as they enter the trench and the soldiers and the crate pass in front of the scene , at about 2:40
The camera work is well done. How the scenes shift easily into each other. Very good movie. Especially among the carcasses of other crap movies. I'm really hoping for a movie about the footsoldier in the Napoleonic Wars. Perhaps in Russia or even Spain.
@@Noah-nv6vr The whole movie is not one long continuous shot. The beginning scene and many other scenes are long and how the camera sweeps from behind the characters to the side and then in front of them. While sweeping around them you see the scenery around them. Crazy...where are all the sound crew and the camera crew and director. Insane.
This movie truly captures the dramatic, visceral, clumsy and unexpected aspects of war. It felt very real and intense. One of the best war movies I have seen, period.
Trench warfare is pointless on so many levels. Most of WW1 was just back and forth stalemates. Only in 1917 did things really start to change in favour of the British, French and US.
@@minimusmax Trench warfare continued in the 1980s also in the Iran-Iraq war. A war that was almost entirely plagued by stalemates also. Goes to show people never learn from the past.
@@TawnyRain2332 of course, but the main aspect which made the Iran-Iraq war so gruelling and plagued with stalemates was both sides use of trench warfare. Im not talking about other complicated factors like sectarianism, Arab and Persian nationalism etc which also made the war more complicated which youre right about. I just dont see any sane person after WW1 using trench warfare as a military tactic. Anyway Iran-Iraq war ended in a stalemate as neither side got what they wanted. Arab or Persian nationalists will argue otherwise though.
@@georgedelorean344 Parasite a deserved winner. Frankly, cannot understand the fuss about 2017 - technically excellent but a very obvious story, twenty minutes from the end you knew exactly what would happen. He was soaked in the river yet the letter was still readable? (Would also have had "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood", "Hustlers" and "Ash is the Purest White" ahead of it.)
my grand-grandfather was into this ( on the German side ) he said: All these young man marched proudly in; and later you could here one common word everywhere in the shooting from all sides: "Mama"
The lighting in this movie is so interesting. Throughout almost the whole film, the colors are muted, there's very little light and the night scenes you can barely seen. But at the end when Schofield delivers the message, sees Blake's brother, and goes to sit by the tree and look at the photos of his wife and daughters, he is bathed in sunlight. The colors are bright, and you feel an element of hope by the end.
Pay attention to the cinematography as the early scenes progress. Notice how they are walking along a grassy field. Down into a verse allow trench. As they walk, the trench becomes deeper and better fortified. Those are the subtle things that a filmmaker throws in and nobody notices.
Breaking Bread together is a symbol of brotherhood and forgiveness. When Schofield breaks bread and gives some to Blake, there may be some symbolism within the act. Schofield is subtly forgiving Blake for choosing him for the 'task'. Then again, it may just be some stale bread. I'm just observing possible symbolism, not stating what I believe.
@@TraustiGeir Directors do not put things like this in their movie by accident. EDITED TO ADD: Even small details in a film like this have meaning. In fact, you could actually say that ESPECIALLY small details in a film like this have meaning.
When schofield says last time he was told the Germans are gone it didn’t end well do you think he’s referencing the Somme when the british army got massacred by machine guns
Sounds about right. The Germans hid their machine guns in underground bunkers while they were being shelled by the British, and brought them out when the infantry advanced.
0:25 I like how it subtly indicates that Schofield is the main character. Blake's hat over his face is kind of foreshadowing. 😢 And I like Scho's hand tucked into his uniform. 😉❤
It isn’t actually uncut, it uses good editing to hide the cuts and make it seem like one shot. One cut takes place when they leave the bunker thing where the general is, and another takes place later on when they pass behind the soldiers.
I’m in film school we are currently reviewing this movie as the best way to do exposition. Most movies take exposition to an extreme while this movie keeps it sweet and simple. We find out everything we need to know without the exposition making the scene less tense.
One of the best Movies Ever! Thanks 2 Sam Mendes and Thomas Newman for this Masterpiece of Soundtrack! Thanks 2 the Actors and all they Work on this Movie!
"He who travels the fastest, travels alone." This is because the group always has to wait for some ones delay, and we have many of them; It could be as simple as a pee break. They only take a minute though right? But if each man has to wait a minute for the other man, they add up quickly. "Blake, lets talk about this for a minute."
This film had me emotional from the beginning. I literally started to tear up at the beginning when they were just walking through the trenches in the mud and nothing else. i can't explain why.I felt like i was there. I can honestly say that has never happened to me in a movie since where the redfern grows when i was a kid. lol. this film to me is one of the best of all times. this movie is gripping from the beginning. If you haven't watch this........you must.
I love how they used two actors for the main roles who were relatively unknown. Feels a lot more like you’re watching just ordinary soldiers, not some big man celebrity actor
I'm gonna be honest- I saw Universal as this huge disgusting studio (for no reason whatsoever)- a corporate monstrosity that cared about nothing but profits akin to a Disney. Y'all might still be heartless corporate pariahs, and most likely are, for all I know. But then, I saw that you brought this amazing, immersive, and beautiful film into the world. I have seen 1917 only once, yet I feel I've seen it a million times. World War 1 was the quintessential conflict of the 20th Century, if not of the entire human species, and 1917 treats it with dignity, grace, and respect. There aren't very many films which explore World War 1, even though the story is more pertinent than any when it comes to lessons from History. Sure, 1917 isn't a fact-rich overload, (which, as a WW1 buff, feels like a necessary component of the conflict, but I guess that's why you make the films, and I watch them) but that's what makes it such an amazing WAR film. They say the best war films are also the best anti-war films. And I must say, this is a wholly unique anti-war film. I saw 1917 two months ago with my girlfriend, a History novice (for lack of a better term)- basically she knew nothing about WW1 going in. As we were leaving, and talking about how we felt about the film, she could not stop mentioning how she really FELT the experience of WW1. I kept on trying to give her context, going over the nature of WW1 in 1917 and sharing factoid after factoid, but none of my words did the job that 1917 did. Not to say we didn't have a riveting and engaging conversation- we did. But something happened in that theatre- the film changed us. For real. Me, the History buff, and my girlfriend, the History novice- we both finally understood. What we understood, in a million words, I cannot say, but in a few words, I can- War is evil. I almost wish I was as much of a novice as my girlfriend, because in that case I would be able to LEARN the way she did. Films have the capacity to transport, to change, to COMMUNICATE, and that's what 1917 did. I must say, this film is not only an aesthetic achievement, but a historical one. I cannot thank everyone involved in this film- from the Catering Staff to the Executive Producers- enough for bringing this tour de force into the world. Universal, you have shown that major movie studios can still produce compelling, intimate stories. Bravo, bravo, bravo.
Fantastic critique I love your take of the movie. Thank you for posting I am a marine Corps veteran and I know that most civilians don't understand the great sacrifice that soldiers and sailors go through But you putting your self into their shoes and trying to understand makes me think that the movie hit its mark.
There's nothing "historical" about it. Or do you actuslly think the British trenches in WWI were teeming with Africans? Maybe you really are that thick.
excellent critic ! I think, as you and you girl, that this film made a great job of realism and allow to us to really felt the reality of war. I can only add one thing : for me, 1917 show us not only the evil of the war but also the great stupidityé of all this thing. A lot of scene show us all the nonsense of the war and it's horrors...the best example is the death of blake, stabbed trying save a man, just before a whole english company appears...a few minutes more, a few minutes less....a lot of "if"...and if they wait for the night, if they cover more distance, if these tow planes don't crash...all of this so stupid in fact, like the whole war :s And the movie shows that very very very well...Love it. (sorry for my english, i'm a french girl :) )
I love this movie's singular unbroken shot. It's incredible. I can't imagine how much work must've been put into it to make it all go seamless like this.
My grandfather fought in WW1 and was captured by the Germans on the Western Front in 1918. His Great Grandson, my son, is in these scenes as a soldier , dressed in exactly the same uniform as his Great Grandfather would have worn. A special film for many reasons.
Sunny Quackers
My grandfather is a Second World War survivor
My punjabi grandfather was captured by the japanese in malay.
My grandfather was forced to fight by the nazis in the 21st mountain Waffen SS division in Albania
My Great Grandfather Parachuted into war in WW2, he got his chute stuck on something and germans were marching under him. If the germans would of looked up and saw him, he Would of got shot to death
My three great uncles fought (and died) in that war...Many years later I joined the Army Apprentices School...and wore exactly the same type of uniform...a fourth Great Uncle who'd survived that war saw me from his death bed and assumed I was one of his "lost" brothers, wished me luck...and then died...
Seven minutes into the film, we’ve been introduced to the main characters, we’re shown a bit of their lives and environment, the whole plot has been set into motion, and we understand exactly what’s at stake. Bloody efficient screenwriting.
This... THIS is the way to write good movies. Not those sad excuses coming out of Hollywood these days.
@@TheWriteFiction This came out of Hollywood these days ;)
@@Gachmara Please. That trash is garbage compared to this. This is real art. Real film. A real movie with a true vision and a voice.
@@TheWriteFiction I agree, 1917 is phenomenal, but 1917 was made by Universal Studios, which is a Hollywood company. This is a Hollywood movie. A good one.
@@boggybeard well, when they're not pandering or falling into the black hole of pushing political agendas and social commentary over good story telling, they can still make something good like they used to.
Something about uncut shots just make me feel like I'm not blinking
Can you imagine if one of the actors screwed up a line, would that mean they would have to redo the entire movie
@@rachaeldangelo1337 there was one scene near the end where some guy ran into schofield and he thought he screwed up the whole thing so he just laid there in the ground ashamed lol. But schofelds actor kept going and just played it off
@@rachaeldangelo1337 Whenever someone walks across the camera, that is when the scene changes, its not actually filmed in one part, it just looks like it
If you see uncut scene, your brain starts saying "IT'S IMPORTANT". There's the reason not blinking. have it too Mate :)
@Freedom is over sad opinion
I love schofield’s character development. He goes from “I don’t want to do this” to “I HAVE to do this”. Absolutely phenomenal movie!
And he gets badass without Blake (spoilers) I’ll make him more insane if I want too
@@nicolelawless3199 yeah cuz he has to carry out the mission for Blake
@@christallgeyser
He didn’t give up though because he got badass soon Blake was dying. I remember dreaming about Schofield taking me on the mission instead of Blake and they were fighting over me along the mission
Boring film
@@adamstephens6050 it’s ok some people just aren’t intelligent enough to understand it
The background imagery is the star of this scene. Love how it opens with the picturesque countryside and slowly devolves into the mud and dirt of the trenches as they walk forward.
Louise X
He made the best war movie ever to make me cry
Louise X
I need it after everything I’ve gone through watching movies of war that caused me to stress out at everyone
1917 hasn’t yet because I’m finally telling my family first time
tyman
I felt I was right there with them, receiving the mission from Generals: and saying I cannot do this when crossing No Mans land.
And see Blake dying again; god No I can’t handle it still
100%. I loved this transition. The whole film was genious
*gets woken up* "Hey you. Grab a buddy"
this is basically the most accurate military movie that's out right now.
Emo asassin5
Me: haha 1917 doesn’t come out until 2 months time that’s to long.
@@nicolelawless3199 what? I don't get it
WORK PARTY!
Nicole Lawless actuallt its out, just not on DVD/ Bluray
@@nicolelawless3199 i watched it online
“War isn’t about who’s right, it’s about who’s left.”
A quote that makes you scratch your head even after you know what it means, stays true until the end.
omg this is so deep omg omg omg wow omg
"...last man standing".
Its like the old Quote" There is no such thing as a winnable war." The real winners are those who survive one. I have known plenty of people who are broken by war in one way or another. From the Vietnam Vets of my fathers era the ww2 and Korean War Vets to the Vets of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. And Numerous civilians whos only fight is to survive life in a war zone. For Me the Most apt quote comes from a disillusioned US Marine corps Maj.General. Smedley Butler. "War is a Racket. It has always been. It is possibly the oldest ,surely the most Vicious. it is the only one with an international scope. It is the only one in which profits are reckoned in dollars AND the loss of lives." Maj. General Smedley Darlington Butler USMC 1881-1941. Two times Awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
I didn’t get it at first but at the part when Blake dies I understand
So fighting against the nazi savages isn't right.
This film blew my mind in the theater. The continuous shot technique and supporting score had me floored.
Yea, I can’t believe it’s 11 months ago since my first viewing that’s insane
I actually cried so much on this freaking amazing movie
Hi, sorry what does supporting score mean??
@@MrJamieFRESH the music that goes along with the scenes
@@MrJamieFRESH for example you can hear low music notes the entire time (for the most part) which you might not consciously hear but they are underneath and supporting the scene/tension being built up
All the extras, the set design, the acting, the timing, etc. What a logistical nightmare they were able to pull off just in this shot alone. Phenomenal.
I’ve commented to a few extras recently and they thanked me for saying to them ‘you’ve done well’
The movie is not 1 shot dude lmfao
The group of soldiers standing at 8:00 that Our Bois go behind is one of many times in this scene alone there was a cut. Still phenomenal though.
@@shawnt5205 who mentioned that?
@@claymore7315 the movie wasn't actually 1 take, it was multiple uncut takes that were edited together very skillfully
This movie was absolutely incredible. It’s a cinematographic masterpiece.
I’m watching every night this week without fail
It was ok... Calm down...
Mark Davis
Who me?. I used to be obsessed with this but need to get obsessed again
Most people don't even know what that is they are just latching on to what a critic said.
@@markdavis8657 it was far better than "ok"
I love how it’s one continuous shot, feels as though you’re going with them
It was a experience I never had before
So true.
TraustiGeir
Even at home I still feel I’m with them
Felt like a video game cutscene as you pan left and right while someone in front of you talks .
It's such a nice change from super hero action movies cutting to a different frame so much that I feel like I might be developing epilepsy sometimes
This movie is a GIANT emotional rollercoaster. Whoever directed this movie is a GENIUS man
Sam mendes mate
Yes, Sam Mendes! He dedicated the film to his grandfather- a WW1 foot messenger. I absolutely love this movie
@@melaniepineyro7664
What I loved about it was, I loved how Schofield showed how tough he is halfway through
Sam’s brain is probably freakishly large.
@@anomalocaristheabnormalshr3248 u didn't mention the great sir Roger Deakins
I always admired the soldiers in ww1 but this movie did something special. I live in Belgium and i remember driving to Ypres, and my dad passing by a grave of about 30000 British soldiers including colonial soldiers. We stopped the car to have a look and pay our respects, and I passed by the first row and remember reading a grave that said the British soldier that was killed was only 16 years of age and he was killed about 3 weeks before ww1 ended... we can’t be thankful enough for what these soldiers did and what they left to run straight into a hell of loud bangs, death, machine gunfire and god knows what else... we will remember them!
Well said! Thank you.
The British said they would come to Belgium's aid and they did. Thousands of Belgians were taken to the UK for the duration of the war. Several of them came to my village. About 350 men and boys (10% of the village at that time) went to war and 70 did not come back. Many of them who did come back had life changing injuries or died young because of the effects of war. Some gave all, all gave some. We were lucky in that we weren't invaded. The least we could do was come to the aid of allies who were. I have been to the area may times and I love Belgium and France.
Thank you for your post. This can be said with all the young soldiers in all the wars of all the ages.
My great grandfather enlisted underage to serve in the British Army for this war, he was wounded multiple times and lost his brothers. He then came home and worked for the rest of his life in the pits
Hugh Morris have a similar story, my grandfather was a resistance fighter in Algeria in 1954-1962 fighting against the French colonization, he never said much about what he did in the resistance. But in 1997 they took a Ct-scan because he fell on his head, the doctor noticed lots of tiny pieces of metal and asked him what it was. My dad was shook too, he told them it was from a French soldier that shot him in the head because he sabotaged a Captain’s car, he fell down because of the bullet He held his breath and the soldier kicked him in his stumach but he didn’t flinch and the soldier thought he had killed him. He stayed there until it became nighttime, when he moved he said that it was hard to get his head of the rock because of the blood on his head he got stuck on the rock. He moved to Belgium, worked till his pension and died after getting hit by a dump truck in 1998. But if he didn’t survive than our 3rd generation wouldn’t have even existed and I wouldn’t have been here. War really is gruesome and a matter of luck...
This camera work is absolutely breathtaking, the little things like this that people usually miss(myself included) is what we should appreciate when we are given something like what we just saw.
SFMF RMDQ
I lost my words during 1917, it’s Amazing and bloody insane
Except you didn't miss it because you're fucking talking about it, didn't you?
@@Oikos1602 That is why I used the word "usually" in case you didnt know the definition for this word is 'under normal conditions; generally' meaning not including this 🙃
@@EverydayBladeCollector yeah real fucking obscure camera work if I had an extra chromosome like you I'd also "usually" not notice these kinds of things
@@Oikos1602 Did you mean "also say" ??
I’ve been in combat and I can’t even imagine being in combat like this. What these men endured is beyond imaginable. It must have been a living nightmare that never stopped. I’m a firm believer that if anyone wants to declare war on another country, they need to be in the first wave and on the front lines. I’m confident they will reconsider, but that’s the ultimate problem with war. The rich wage war and send off the poor to fight them.
You never said a truer word my grandfather was in the trenches. The filth, dysentery, the maggots, flees, flys, the endless mud, and death. My Grandfather would not speak about his time there, no adventure this. My neighbor suffered from being Gassed and died as a result in about 1954. 11 of my relatives died, as a result, of WW1. The war to end all wars a land fit for heroes.
Read Smedley Butler's War is a Racket. Marine Maj. Gen. and TWO Medals of Honor.
Harry Facey
No Man’s Land was awful
Harry Facey geez dude respects for all of them
Yup your right, my old man was drafted to Vietnam (4th ID Army) WHILE in college.... unlike OTHERS who ran or were excused for whatever reason.
8:03 - 8:07 a seamless transition of filming from behind to filming in front. Fantastic directing, camerawork, etc.
@@gingerpeachy3044 95 thumbs up = stop being an a*hole !!
@@gingerpeachy3044Just appreciate the scene, misery-guts 😊
Flawless.
I loved being an extra in this film! I'm on the left chewing at 07:46 ;)
WachtAmWeb
Was that you leaning towards the side of the trench
@@nicolelawless3199 yep - only a few seconds, but nearly a week of filming!
WachtAmWeb
Can’t believe I seen you wow! Wish me luck because I’m getting 1917 on Monday
Chewing the scenery I see :P
KAMIKAZE
Yep, when seeing the movie I seen him
Love how Blake and Schofield's friendship is immediately established. Their camaraderie and how much they know about each other.
It's a great movie that explores the dynamics of relationships as they evolve and change under duress.
If you've not seen it already, I highly recommend it.
I assume it gets better as Schofield is pissing me off with "let's wait till later" bullshit.
@@bcarss1970 I don't think Schofield is a coward, he just wanted to do what made tactical sense. However Blake was motivated by the urgency.
At the end of the day, Schofield didn't abandon his buddy Blake.
@@bcarss1970 Schofield is set up to be the more experienced soldier. He was decorated at the Battle of the Somme and has the mindset of someone who probably learned a lot of hard lessons in the process, hence his more tactical mentality.
TheeYellowDart
Schofield tried to save Blake’s life but he couldn’t
this movie perfectly showed that entering the trench area (and beyond-no man's land) was like entering a whole different (and horrid/hellish/gray) world/dimension
Can you just immagine on top of that the ever present rats and body lice , Jesus Christ it doesn't bare thinking about .
@@geraldswain3259 what freaks me out the most is the feet slowly rotting....
Tolkien served at the Somme, and based the Dead Marshes in LOTR on no man's land.
The film is a retelling of Dantes Inferno. Spot on with the other horrid dimension
Gehenna: the ancient Israelite dumping ground ...fires burned constantly and it stood for decay, desolation and destruction.
I was drawn in completely, after about 5 minutes. Just a genius film. The way the scenery seamlessly transitions from lush, peaceful countryside, to walking back to the front lines, I was like "Oh...this is different."
Spoiler
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I love how right at the beginning there’s a hint that Blake isn’t the main character. When he gets up the camera doesn’t follow him. Instead it stays at Schofield’s level. It’s only when Schofield takes Blake’s hand to pull himself up that the camera moves up to show Blake’s face again. Love these small details I missed the first time around.
Bro never would of realized it! Good eyeA
*eye
Also the way Blake is lying down with his helmet covering his face hints at his fate
Also Schofield, in the very beginning shot, was sitting against a tree. In the last shot of the movie when he's looking at the picture of Blake's family, he's sitting against a tree again.
I missed that.
SPOILER!!!! FOR YOU CRYBABYS:.......I love how he started and ended his journey resting on a tree
Zac Thomson
But without Blake
Mark Patino lol go watch the movie get off TH-cam and don’t get on until you finish the movie that’s an order
Mark Patino
Wait until the dvd comes out then you’ll be able to see it without copyright or blocking it all that’s why I buy dvds. I brought like 4 War movies over the years from 2017 until now
@@817zac4 still
Zac Thomson
It’s an order Alright seen it too many times I’ve become obsessed
"Down to Gehenna, or up to the throne, he travels the fastest who travels alone"
that foreshadowing tho...
thanks for spoiling
@@Fakeslimshady I mean with a film this sensational you should've watched it by now.
@@maxb9547 yeah ikr, how dare he not watch a famous film. Let's spoil it for him
I just found out that four major Hollywood stars were in the same group in WW1: Claude Rains, Ronald Coleman, Basil Rathbone, and one other Scot well known in thirties movies. Rathbone would scout out into no mans' land and co;me back with logistics in the dark, but then recommended daylight recons. as he could get better infor. My evaluation of these guys just went through the roof.
Wishing America all the luck for getting the movie today
I found it so interesting that the director wanted two actors who are unknown to a lot of viewers in the world. Whereas a lot of the generals and captains are played by well-known actors. I may be wrong, but it could also be referencing to the thousands of soldiers that fought in the war that were unknown to the world. Yet most generals and captains seem to be mostly the ones known through the world and history books. I have no idea who these two soldiers are nor have I seen these actors before, but now seeing both now makes me more interested in learning about not just the actors, but also appreciating the unsung heroes of the war.
Using unknown actors is a technique to make the viewer focus on what's happening and not on the actor who plays the person
It was used when Daniel Craig was picked for James bond
Yep, that's my feeling on all the officers being known actors too. Fantastic casting decision, it really added a lot to the film.
@@BleedingUranium Yeah it was a great idea, not only does it fixate you on the situation and not the actor, but it also adds that sense of reality, 99% of the men fighting this war and many after it, are unnamed to the public, I wonder how many heroic deeds where done similar to this or even sporadically (Not via orders), I saw someone talking about it once, how many stories there will have been for each individual person involved, those lost stories we will never hear.
That's a great observation.
You've seen Blake before in GAME OF THRONES. He was the King who jumped from the Red Keep and killed himself.
This movie has the best examples of "show, don't tell". The story in the landscapes, the emotions in the lead's expressions and interactions, and holy hell the cinematography is fantastic! Loved every second watching this masterpiece.
"Down to gehenna or up to the throne, he travels the fastest who travels alone."
Kipling's poem 'The Winners' (where this quote originates) lauds the works of the individual, claiming that far more can be achieved if one abandons those with him. But when he describes what is 'won', it is merely loot, plunder and spoil... "It's just a scrap of tin." In fact, Schofield and George rely on many others through their journey, and couldn't have possibly succeeded alone.
At the end of the day, 'Gehenna' symbolizes biblical Hell and the Throne symbolizes the 'throne of God', heaven. The general knows this: he wants them to succeed and he knows their odds will be greater with just the two of them. But at the same time, the faster they travel to the medal they'll receive (heaven), the faster they travel towards their own demise (hell).
Down to hell or up to heaven's throne, he travels the fastest who travels alone.
the last line of your 2nd paragraph is a far fetched interpretation. Hell/the underworld was the town ablaze if anything. Throne is victory/them fulfilling their mission, duh.
“Either hell or heaven , you get there faster if you’re on your own”
Or in other words..
“You’ll achieve death quicker if you reject help”
Thanks for the well written explanation!
And what was great in the clip was how it was clear the soldiers misinterpreted the poetry, taking it to mean that others will slow you down in achieving your objective.
the general does show a deal of care that you often dont see ww1 generals do in movies. I mean he really wants them to get out of it alive.
2:22
“Cheer up, this time next week will be chicken dinner!”
Oh man...
Sucks but it makes sence! They knew the war was ending the newer recruits felt optimism. Poor kids man
German Pilot: “I’m about to ruin this man’s whole career”
He played too much Pubg i guess
@@holstfly1 wait till ww2 electric boogaloo
Next week would start the Battle of Arras.
I love that Schofield is in the front from the beginning - even though Blake is presented as the "hero" of the film for half the movie, Schofield is the true protagonist from the outset.
Albeit somewhat reluctant in that role.
That's I loved about this film. On first viewing, you're initially led to believe that Blake is the main character and that Schofield would die. But then on rewatches, you notice so many things at the beginning that made it clear that Schofield was the main character
The effort behind doing this scene in one take absolutely amazing probs to all the actors and the camera crew
OD3
Yes good on Sam Mendes, it made me attempt my 3rd time which will be Friday next week if me and Nanny sneak off to my final day there
There are some hidden cuts to be honest (for example at 2:41) but you are absolutely right. It is an worldclass work and I’ve never seen such a film before
@@marvin1271 and at 7:18 but still. Absoultely amazing work
*Lots* of compositing shenanigans. Not a single take, by any stretch of the imagination.
It's not a one take shot.
First time I'm actually thinking of buying a blu ray. Movie is absolutely worth keeping a copy of.
Interstellar is worth keeping a copy of as well
@@Young_Dab hell ya dude! Not just blu-ray, but 4k HD
Ahmad Danial Basaruddin
I’m getting just the dvd, I cannot wait to play it on my big screen at home again. Full volume and everything is still experienced
@@nicolelawless3199 if you haven't gotten it yet get the blue ray trust me it's worth it
@@Young_Dab Still one of my favs
i like how blakes outfit is less worn compared to schofields, amazing detail
Ikr Blake's kit is more glossy and new while Schofield's is more worn in
Goes to show how much attention was given even to the styling of the actors
SagiriEro did Blake just arrive or something how long has Blake and schofeild been there
@Behind You It’s implied at 8:30 that Schofield was at the Somme, which means he would've been there since at least July 1916. Blake probably arrived in early 1917.
Timo van Galen
Maybe, I’m surprised Schofield didn’t remember it
Hannah Dyson
Same here, I even couldn’t go to the cemetery during lockdown and that made me upset
People always talk about the insane cinematography, but I rarely see people talking about the phenomenal editing. This isn't one 9-minute take. It's a lot of much shorter shots that use editing magic and a little bit of visual effects to make it look like one shot. Anytime something crosses the height of the frame from one side to another, fills the frame, or there's a severe motion blur of some kind, I can guarantee you that's likely a cut. I counted 9, but it's entirely likely I missed a couple or saw some that weren't actually cuts.
When people try to deny this, I love to point out the bit at 8:00 where the Bois go behind the soldiers. That is the most obvious cut in the entire scene. Once I give them that one, you can then usually point other ones out, like entering/leaving the bunker.
@@DamienDarksideBlog True, but that's also a good example of the sound design of the scene helping to hide the cut, since our brain is trying to process too much information, it just compensates with creating a motion blur in our mind. Good catch on that one
True, but nevertheless, the impression of one take throughout was a wonderful self-imposed challenge for Mendes, and Photographer Deakin (and their Editor), and brilliantly executed!
@@DamienDarksideBlog if that's the most obvious then I'm blind cuz I didn't notice at all. I THINK I saw it but I can't trust myself
Okay, Mr Vibe McKillington.
"It's easier not to go back at all" The foreshadowing in this line...
all the hidden cut
2:41
the box
4:09 (probably) Dark room
7:17
Dark room
8:03 that guy face
Yeeaaaahhh exacty
So subtle and yet so effective. Thanks for pointing this out!
well done, ,noticed some but not there lol
Cool
Still 3-4 cuts in 9 minutes is few
This was exactly the kind of movie that made me fell in love with movies as a child, a masterpiece like this gives me some hope that cinema isnt dead.
Bold statement, but this is my favorite military film. Raw, engaging, heartbreaking, and touching all at once -- without trying too hard. A masterpiece.
I don't want to say it is my favourite but it isvery high on my list of militairy films. Same as saving private ryan, hacksaw ridge and American sniper
that is bold
This and They Shall Not Grow Old are definitely two of the best films about WW1 ever made.
Thank god I found this scene. I went to the movies recently but missed 5 mins of the beggining
WoahZoeyy
Aw. When Blake and Schofield appeared, I said to Nanny ‘Holy cow, that’s George Mackay!’
MICHAEL SCOTT people have own beliefs calm down
If you miss 1 minute of this movie, you won’t know how they got there.
MICHAEL SCOTT ...wars exist because of people like you!
This movie was really overrated :/
How many bad days started with an officer telling you not to worry, there shouldn't be any resistance?
You can count Peleliu as one of those days
little resistance they said...
What could possibly go wrong? :D
lol
Thibault Derese
I wish they would make a 1918 one
lexwaldez Stalingrad '42
I'm in my late 70's, and have watched thousands of documentaries, and excellent feature War films, but this short clip gave me a sense of fear, of what I know is to come.
Did you see the full movie yet?
Your fathers generation, and your grandparents...
My grandfather never told me stories of WW2. He flew a b17 with Hell’s Angels. But his friend, the pilot, did.
It was far worse than any war movie can display. The saving private Ryan opening scene apparently missed the fact that people were being cut in half by machine gun, the deafening sound of mortars, the smell, and the fear of knowing you have no say in your death. It was luck. Pray to god for good luck, as you watch your friends get blown out of the sky and suicide dive bomb German fortifications as their last stand.
Chev Preston
My grandfather was also in the war, but never talked about it. In WW2 because I just found out in 2020
D. F.
I have many times
For them to avoid looking at the camera in that opening deserves praise
2019 was such a refreshing year for cinema.
Hemp Rope
2020 isn’t
Hemp Rope
It’s the worst year ever apart from 1917
Superdude70
We got a lot of great original films though
Bugsy!
I’m glad 1917 was done, cinema was the experience I will never forget
I’m surprised Nanny didn’t cry but I did
Hands down the best cinematography, how the camera passes through the crowd to get in front was awesome. The background score when he hurries to save his brother, sudden stopping of the camera when an array of soldiers comes in their way in the alley and the use of the gray and yellow color template to show the seriousness and urgency of the matter.
That was perfect!! Now please show us the next 120 minutes 🤩
Go purchase the movie like the rest of us.
@@Algernon7 it's still two days before you can get it online. I've been waiting almost two months to buy online.
You should've seen this in the theater
@eating sugar no papa some of them are really poor, dont criticize them
John Wray it’s out on itunes
amazing how the movie starts in a peaceful meadow and then slowly turns into the trench by following the characters walking, outstanding work
This was the best movie I've seen in a very long time...
Radical RIGHT
Agreed
Radical RIGHT
No movie this year beats 1917
@@nicolelawless3199 le man's 66
@K K It's not about action. The movie feels soulless and rushed. Spoiler Alert from now on :
Take for example the scene with the french lady : the fact that both characters managed to understand each other perfectly while speaking different languages was absurd. Sam Mendes should have focused on the visual and signs language. The whole scene felt out of place.
Also the fact that Blake dies prematurely was a "mistake" IMO. Yes, it does serve the plot but the issue here is that we don't get to know the character, what he thinks, what he feels about the war... I mean we don't have time to bond with this character. Furthermore, it also breaks the bond he had with Schofield and we're left with a bland character. Schofield repeats that he wants to go back home but we don't truly know why; well it's a matter family and safety I guess but this could've been a discussion subject between him and Blake. If the duo had broken out right before the ending, after all the tension and a reinforced bond between the two main characters, it would have given so much depth and substance to the movie.
Anyways great movie but kinda overrated.
@@ramus2027 you think you're special lol
Schofield is an interesting character, throughout the movie i found that hes actually an incredible fighter who basically given up and became cynical because of the war. However he finds a reason to fight and you see what kind of will power he actually has.
@McLarenBMW when did you serve?
AKA a specialist in the US Army
@McLarenBMW Oh because you'd be such a badass in the trenches right?
@McLarenBMW How would you react? can you even imagine how terriffying that situation would be?
McLarenBMW
Jesus, I’ll take Schofield with me away from the Germans
be sure to check out "they shall not grow old" by Peter Jackson (Lord of the Ring). It is a restored documentary with colour and sound, perfect companion with this movie depicting the Great War. It's an amazing movie on its own!
i love that documentary! Sadly there isn't that much other ww1 documentaries
@@seraphim9090 check out" the great war" yt chanel lots of videos about ww1.
Similarly (although about WWII) check out a Polish movie called Powstanie Warzsawskie that is made entirely from contemporary colorized footage from the Warsaw Uprising
@@seraphim9090 Check out 'The Somme Then and Now' here on TH-cam. In it, actual WW1 footage is superimposed over modern footage captured at those same camera positions. It's rather haunting at times.
I didn't see any black or Sihk soldiers so it's all fake
The whole movie was edited to seem like a continuous shot. It was really well done. It aids the storytelling and adds to the tension. I absolutely loved this movie. Someone commented it was a cinematic masterpiece and I agree.
I don't normally give a jot when it comes to the Oscars. This year however I find myself absolutely gutted for Sam Mendes that he didn't win either the best film or more apt, the best director. At least this wonderful movie is there for all to see and conclude that he was extremely hard done by.
I was happy for Bong Joon-Ho, but man I wanted Sam Mendes to win so bad. I couldn't believe it that he didn't. He made a straight up masterpiece.
The feminist hated if for its lack of 'inclusivity'. God alone knows where they're going to have Victorian ladies prancing around the trenches.
@@MegaTj1981 Yeah I thought parasite was great, but this was a beautiful movie that personally for me should've won, or maybe joker.
Marcus Gilbert yeah I saw parasite last night, it’s not as good as people say.
NuxVom yeah, cuz women fought in WWI according to feminists.
"We'll be home by Christmas"
"Just two weeks to flatten the curve"
Too true
This comment is one of the dumbest things I've ever read
@@schwaben4120 ok
@@schwaben4120 How? They're both underestimations of how long something will take.
@@schwaben4120 ok trash
fun fact: theres a hidden cut at 2:41 where they could easily make a hidden cut. You can also notice that Blakes face changes position before and after the hidden cut.
I don't see it. Therefore I don't believe it.
When the crate covers them he's right 😂
Yeah! His helmet has shifted as well!
What a tiny detail. No way I’d notice that in real time unless I was actively looking for it
They even added that step to the side with CGI. Any cut they couldn’t achieve hidden was just CGI merging 2 shots.
A clever trick to imply who’s the real main character is that the camera lifts as Sco stands up.
7:23 and they're off, the journey and race against time has begun. I love how the sudden intense rythem of the music shows that after he says "why?".
Less than 7 minutes to meet the characters, get the call to action and begin the quest.
@@joltman81 If only more movies could make such an effective and succinct introduction.
joltman81
I already fell in love with them
The shot probably ended at approximately 7:17. Hitchcock's _Rope_ had long, unbroken scenes that appeared continuous but end when there was a few seconds of filmed darkness, such as character entering an unlit room, dark for a few seconds until a light switch is flipped.
The funny thing is you missed the other 2 takes before that :D The first one is before 3 minutes.
@eating sugar no papa Are you sure?
@@jimm.1013 Look at his bags below the right arm! ;-)
@eating sugar no papa yea, his head slightly moved
IIRC, they break with wall edges, crates moving (as pointed out at 2:42), etc. because computer editing and compositing allows more seamless dynamic cuts than before.
As a filmmaker I cannot tell you how much I can appreciate these unbroken shots. Truly amazing.
My 14 year old daughter constantly raves about this movie, considering it to be her favourite, and I honestly cannot fault her in this, as it is an undeniable Masterpiece of the Cinematic Art.
I’m constantly talking about it again now too and I’m turning 20 in a weeks time. I remember being 17 when it came out and 1917 scared the heck out of me because of my fallouts I had with No Mans Land 2 years ago but we’re back to normal
Your 14 year old daughter has impeccable taste for her age, sir.
Good taste
Watch all quiet on the western front. Also a great movie.
The way the shot follows them, Kinda feels like games like with the interactive scenes you know?
@Ryan M so it's bad?
@Ryan M Hm, I see.
Ryan M
I did but it’s getting used to the experience and I never felt the same again after watching it
@Ryan M just watch the whole masterpiece and then comment pls
Ryan M
It’s the experience that changed me for a long time and I’ll never forget it
****SPOILER ALERT**** view at your own will****
One of the best turns this story took was when Corporal Blake bleeds to death, who I thought would be the lone survivor and obviously the main character. I think this shows the unexpected turn of events that occurred in such wars and how tables have always suddenly turned, when you least think of it to.
If you rewatch the beginning of the scene, the camera actually focuses more on Schofield. Somehow the dialogue tricked us into thinking Blake is the main character instead.
@@MagicalKid Interesting, yes i can see it now...very attentive!
He’s a Lance corporal
Thanks for the spoiler.
@@theenglishalpinist5031 yeah, don't have an excuse for that, hope you enjoyed the film mate
'Roger Deakins' is an emotion.
Thank the camera operators. Deakins was pretty useless here
V B Deakins obviously shines in certain aspects. The blocking, lighting, and camera angles are all his. The crew fills the roll of executing the labor to pull of stuff like this. Props to both
V B I don’t think you know how much deakins contributed to the making of this film... he planned almost everything for the shooting this film.
@@vb8428 The same vital crew works laboriously on various films. But it is Roger Deakins's vision that made it to the Oscars.
@Louise X I think Jarhead and Skyfall have scenes that are distinctly Deakins, specifically scenes like the burning oilfield and the Shanghai rooftop fight.
When watching this scene, you occassionally forget that this is UNCUT, and it's magnificently well acted, shot, edited and the timings of everything is so syncronised yet so natural. My hat comes off to the team behind this film.
Its not uncut. There are actually three scenes in here. The first cut is the transition from the dug out to them going back outside, the second cut takes place at about 08:04, as they pass behind the gathered soldiers.
It’s a bit of editing magic. It’s a bunch of very long scenes expertly stitched together to appear as one continuous shot (well two if you count the blackout in the middle).
@@tonyflamingo8113 @Tony Flamingo I reckon there's a cut just as they enter the trench and the soldiers and the crate pass in front of the scene , at about 2:40
My great grandfather was a portuguese soldier who fought in the battle of la lys...He survived and he's the reason im alive today.
I felt like I was in a car accident after the movie.
I felt I was there because of the cinematography
How so? Sorry, but I just don't get it. Did you hate this film?
@@masterpenguin8472 I loved it. It was just very emotionally draining!!
Amen. I felt the same. A bit of cathartic shell shock.
And every time I look at Schofield, I go all hot
The camera work is well done. How the scenes shift easily into each other. Very good movie. Especially among the carcasses of other crap movies.
I'm really hoping for a movie about the footsoldier in the Napoleonic Wars. Perhaps in Russia or even Spain.
R. F. Delderfield's "Seven Men of Gascony" would make a pretty decent film.
The Sharpe series comes close...but I'd love to see something with the greater historical accuracy that the Internet and a large budget would offer.
@@mysss29 The Sharpe series are just ok, in my opinion. No, we need a sweeping story like Gone With The Wind or Dr. Zhivago.
This is all long shots or one long continuous shot?
I’m referring to the whole movie
@@Noah-nv6vr The whole movie is not one long continuous shot. The beginning scene and many other scenes are long and how the camera sweeps from behind the characters to the side and then in front of them. While sweeping around them you see the scenery around them. Crazy...where are all the sound crew and the camera crew and director. Insane.
Such a vastly underrated movie. One of the best I've seen in years.
This movie truly captures the dramatic, visceral, clumsy and unexpected aspects of war. It felt very real and intense. One of the best war movies I have seen, period.
“Down to Gehenna or up to the Throne...He travels fastest who travels alone.”
Trench warfare is pointless on so many levels. Most of WW1 was just back and forth stalemates. Only in 1917 did things really start to change in favour of the British, French and US.
@@maxezaz7694 hindsight is 20/20 >.>
@@minimusmax Trench warfare continued in the 1980s also in the Iran-Iraq war. A war that was almost entirely plagued by stalemates also. Goes to show people never learn from the past.
@@maxezaz7694 the iran-iraq war is more complicated than it just being trench warfare. Theres a lot of factors at play
@@TawnyRain2332 of course, but the main aspect which made the Iran-Iraq war so gruelling and plagued with stalemates was both sides use of trench warfare. Im not talking about other complicated factors like sectarianism, Arab and Persian nationalism etc which also made the war more complicated which youre right about. I just dont see any sane person after WW1 using trench warfare as a military tactic. Anyway Iran-Iraq war ended in a stalemate as neither side got what they wanted. Arab or Persian nationalists will argue otherwise though.
Don’t get me wrong, Parasite is a fantastic film, but this is just on another level
Frank Smith
Yep 1917 beats WarHorse totally
Not all the well done movies are appreciated by Oscars juryies
Parasite was picked to send a message. The hollywood elite wanted to convey the message of diversity. So i guess the best movie did not win.
This move was just to ..
@@georgedelorean344 Parasite a deserved winner. Frankly, cannot understand the fuss about 2017 - technically excellent but a very obvious story, twenty minutes from the end you knew exactly what would happen. He was soaked in the river yet the letter was still readable? (Would also have had "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood", "Hustlers" and "Ash is the Purest White" ahead of it.)
This movie felt like an in engine video game cinematic. Absolutely incredible cinematography.
my grand-grandfather was into this ( on the German side ) he said: All these young man marched proudly in; and later you could here one common word everywhere in the shooting from all sides: "Mama"
That's straight to the heart Tritop. My relatives were one on each side. Stupid eh?
I just watched this with my mouth open, totally drawn in.
Spencer Frank Clayton
When 1917 appeared on the screen I said ‘oh god I cannot do this!’ Then cried
Spencer Frank Clayton
I wish it all wasn’t over
Gigaty
I see your comment in every video related to 1917. You must be a huge fan!
Ziad Explains Yes, I am!! ❤❤
Excellent movie, cinematography, sound, picture, acting, all top notch. The savagery of WWI and the duality of man. Great movie!!
The lighting in this movie is so interesting. Throughout almost the whole film, the colors are muted, there's very little light and the night scenes you can barely seen. But at the end when Schofield delivers the message, sees Blake's brother, and goes to sit by the tree and look at the photos of his wife and daughters, he is bathed in sunlight. The colors are bright, and you feel an element of hope by the end.
Pay attention to the cinematography as the early scenes progress. Notice how they are walking along a grassy field. Down into a verse allow trench. As they walk, the trench becomes deeper and better fortified. Those are the subtle things that a filmmaker throws in and nobody notices.
Breaking Bread together is a symbol of brotherhood and forgiveness.
When Schofield breaks bread and gives some to Blake, there may be some symbolism within the act. Schofield is subtly forgiving Blake for choosing him for the 'task'. Then again, it may just be some stale bread. I'm just observing possible symbolism, not stating what I believe.
It's an interesting detail, I thought it was just a simple gesture of camraderie.
@@TraustiGeir Directors do not put things like this in their movie by accident. EDITED TO ADD: Even small details in a film like this have meaning. In fact, you could actually say that ESPECIALLY small details in a film like this have meaning.
@@JamieTransNyc I wouldn't expect them to.
Later Schofield gets angry at Blake for picking him to go with him
@@norfangl3480
And then gets mad at Blake again for not listening to him
When schofield says last time he was told the Germans are gone it didn’t end well do you think he’s referencing the Somme when the british army got massacred by machine guns
Sam Ellery if I am correct, most likely. I think they also mentioned a part about him getting a ribbon or medal for the battle but he didn’t keep it.
Faithful Till The End Series
He told Blake he swapped it with a french captain for bottle of wine
Sounds about right. The Germans hid their machine guns in underground bunkers while they were being shelled by the British, and brought them out when the infantry advanced.
Yes Will was in the Somme
Laila McManus
But tells Blake he doesn’t remember it
6:16 Schofield reaction When General said "any question" and Blake replied "no sir" was just spot on....
He knew what to expect when they’re out there and he gets badass halfway through
0:25 I like how it subtly indicates that Schofield is the main character. Blake's hat over his face is kind of foreshadowing. 😢 And I like Scho's hand tucked into his uniform. 😉❤
Spencer Frank Clayton
I noticed, Schofield is like an obsession I have on him
Spencer Frank Clayton
He’s George Mackay that’s why
The way how blake is sleeping in the start is his death pose
"let's talk about this for a minutes..."
"why?"
*Sudden hand drums and my anxiety shoots up with theirs* OH MY GOD YES
Can you imagine the rehearsal for this uncut footage and having to remember your lines and cues, absolutely amazing.
@Pie man sorter Then you explain how you can make a uncut scene cut? Don't be daft of course this is a uncut scene!
It isn’t actually uncut, it uses good editing to hide the cuts and make it seem like one shot. One cut takes place when they leave the bunker thing where the general is, and another takes place later on when they pass behind the soldiers.
Basically theater in a nutshell
i am SO glad Universal posted this, and that YT then recommended it, bc i purchased the movie thanks to this 9 minute clip! absolute masterpiece!
Behold a movie that should have won Best Picture. This instantly became my favourite movie of all time. What a masterpiece.
I’m in film school we are currently reviewing this movie as the best way to do exposition. Most movies take exposition to an extreme while this movie keeps it sweet and simple. We find out everything we need to know without the exposition making the scene less tense.
Show, don't tell. That used to be the norm, now it's the exception.
“Down to Gehenna or up to the throne, he travels fastest who travels alone”. Some crazy foreshadowing if you think of it.
I love how seamless perspective change is at 3:06. This film has some of the best camera work ever.
The part when they poke their heads above the trench was the part we’re my jaw dropped
One of the best Movies Ever! Thanks 2 Sam Mendes and Thomas Newman for this Masterpiece of Soundtrack! Thanks 2 the Actors and all they Work on this Movie!
It’s working because they’re walking off
Your doing an amazing job my beloved 1917
The one shot method makes it feel like a computer game, something by Valve, especially with the little bit of exposition near the beginning.
"Is that why he gave us grenades?"
Yeah they never use those. Including the time when they had a guy trapped in a room whom they needed to kill.
It starts with him sitting under a tree and ends with him doing the same
Mr. Fantastic
Don’t want to spoil it but without Blake
Your spoiling it
George McGovern
Me? Uh oh I’m screwed
George McGovern
I’ve seen the movie like 5 times
No it ends with him going through the trenches...Oh wait did you just reveal the end of the movie ?
My grandfather was gassed then sent back to the front and got shot and then sent back home.that bullet saved his life.
I’m guessing he survived the war and was on medication leave
What do you mean he was gassed? You mean like in a gas chamber? Don't people usually die because of that?
@@wolfbrigade8042 both sides used gas to try and clear out enemy trenches so they wouldn’t have to attack them
@@wolfbrigade8042 armies used poisonous gas on each other
Greatest cinematography I’ve ever seen. Children of Men is the last movie that I was absolutely blown away with the camera work
good call, love that movie
This a brilliant way of getting people invested in a story, because it feels like you're walking with them.
"He who travels the fastest, travels alone." This is because the group always has to wait for some ones delay, and we have many of them; It could be as simple as a pee break. They only take a minute though right? But if each man has to wait a minute for the other man, they add up quickly. "Blake, lets talk about this for a minute."
This film had me emotional from the beginning. I literally started to tear up at the beginning when they were just walking through the trenches in the mud and nothing else. i can't explain why.I felt like i was there. I can honestly say that has never happened to me in a movie since where the redfern grows when i was a kid. lol. this film to me is one of the best of all times. this movie is gripping from the beginning. If you haven't watch this........you must.
It was in No Mans Land I started crying but I got through
But when the film came up I turned to Nanny and said ‘oh my god I can’t do this’
I cried when Blake bled to death after getting stabbed. I know it’s a movie and I know I don’t know the person but I bloody cried when I saw him die.
Loved being an extra in this film, great memories.
Liam Edwards
It’s an amazing movie honestly, thank you for everything you’ve done remembering those who died in the war it’s a way to remember them x
Liam Edwards
My grandfather never talked about his WWII survival story
O God mate you're everywhere
So tell us about it how was it then? Did you mess up too
Iam coronavirus
My dvd is finally here
I love how they used two actors for the main roles who were relatively unknown. Feels a lot more like you’re watching just ordinary soldiers, not some big man celebrity actor
I'm gonna be honest- I saw Universal as this huge disgusting studio (for no reason whatsoever)- a corporate monstrosity that cared about nothing but profits akin to a Disney. Y'all might still be heartless corporate pariahs, and most likely are, for all I know.
But then, I saw that you brought this amazing, immersive, and beautiful film into the world. I have seen 1917 only once, yet I feel I've seen it a million times. World War 1 was the quintessential conflict of the 20th Century, if not of the entire human species, and 1917 treats it with dignity, grace, and respect. There aren't very many films which explore World War 1, even though the story is more pertinent than any when it comes to lessons from History.
Sure, 1917 isn't a fact-rich overload, (which, as a WW1 buff, feels like a necessary component of the conflict, but I guess that's why you make the films, and I watch them) but that's what makes it such an amazing WAR film. They say the best war films are also the best anti-war films. And I must say, this is a wholly unique anti-war film.
I saw 1917 two months ago with my girlfriend, a History novice (for lack of a better term)- basically she knew nothing about WW1 going in. As we were leaving, and talking about how we felt about the film, she could not stop mentioning how she really FELT the experience of WW1. I kept on trying to give her context, going over the nature of WW1 in 1917 and sharing factoid after factoid, but none of my words did the job that 1917 did. Not to say we didn't have a riveting and engaging conversation- we did.
But something happened in that theatre- the film changed us. For real. Me, the History buff, and my girlfriend, the History novice- we both finally understood. What we understood, in a million words, I cannot say, but in a few words, I can- War is evil. I almost wish I was as much of a novice as my girlfriend, because in that case I would be able to LEARN the way she did.
Films have the capacity to transport, to change, to COMMUNICATE, and that's what 1917 did.
I must say, this film is not only an aesthetic achievement, but a historical one. I cannot thank everyone involved in this film- from the Catering Staff to the Executive Producers- enough for bringing this tour de force into the world. Universal, you have shown that major movie studios can still produce compelling, intimate stories. Bravo, bravo, bravo.
Fantastic critique
I love your take of the movie.
Thank you for posting
I am a marine Corps veteran and I know that most civilians don't understand the great sacrifice that soldiers and sailors go through
But you putting your self into their shoes and trying to understand makes me think that the movie hit its mark.
There's nothing "historical" about it. Or do you actuslly think the British trenches in WWI were teeming with Africans? Maybe you really are that thick.
@@TomorrowWeLive today we poop
@@TomorrowWeLive
encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/colonial_military_participation_in_europe_africa
excellent critic ! I think, as you and you girl, that this film made a great job of realism and allow to us to really felt the reality of war. I can only add one thing : for me, 1917 show us not only the evil of the war but also the great stupidityé of all this thing. A lot of scene show us all the nonsense of the war and it's horrors...the best example is the death of blake, stabbed trying save a man, just before a whole english company appears...a few minutes more, a few minutes less....a lot of "if"...and if they wait for the night, if they cover more distance, if these tow planes don't crash...all of this so stupid in fact, like the whole war :s And the movie shows that very very very well...Love it. (sorry for my english, i'm a french girl :) )
I saw this in the cinema. I still think this is probably the best film I have EVER seen. Just gripping.
How did this not win Best Movie 2019? Still coming back to see 1917 clips in 2021.
The other movies that were nominated were better.
The winner, Parasite, was pretty terrific as well.
I swear 2021 just gets better and better even though I’m still in grief after what happened on April 9th. I still try to love this year
@@nicolelawless3199 wait what happened on April 9th ?
@@anshumannayak1765
Prince Philip sadly died and it was unexpected and I’m sweating so much from the grief
I love this movie's singular unbroken shot. It's incredible. I can't imagine how much work must've been put into it to make it all go seamless like this.