Documentary on BBC1 with Ewan McGregor looking at Bomber Command....
Started at 9pm
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PSA - Bomber Boys, BBC 1
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Posted 3 months ago #
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I know its a jolly for Ewan Macgregor and his brother, but looks to be good...
Posted 3 months ago # -
"She's like a lady...
...treat her right and, you know, she goes"
Posted 3 months ago # -
For got about this, cheers.
Posted 3 months ago # -
It's not really a documentary though is it? Just McGregor playing in aeroplanes. I started but switched it off.
Liked the old-timers though, brave men.
APF
Posted 3 months ago # -
alexpalacefan - Member
It's not really a documentary though is it? Just McGregor playing in aeroplanes. I started but switched it off.Well, it's described on my freeview box as:
".....explore Bomber Command, a rarely told story from World War II. The film focuses primarily on the men who fought and died in the skies above occupied Europe."
But, yeah they do seem to be spending a lot of the time with the famous one's brother flying a plane.....
Back in the documentary mode now though....
Good book to read about Bomber Crews & Bomber Command is Tail End Charlies by John Nicol & Tony Rennell.
Posted 3 months ago # -
No ta.
I'm watching 'A history of Zooroastrianism with Roy 'Chubby' Brown' on the History Channel.
Seriously - pointless slebs in documentaries make me want to commit mass murder.
Apparantly we need them, because we're too thick and fickle to be arsed to tune in without them.Yes I know his brother is a pilot - there are other pilots.
Posted 3 months ago # -
maybe. I'm enjoying it though, thanks
Posted 3 months ago # -
Interesting to see how much he struggled to fly that DC3 - just getting it down the runway looked a bit manic!
And Ewan's navigation skills look slightly dodgy......it's quite an interesting insight to how they operated....and Ewan is navigating in daylight!
Posted 3 months ago # -
The bits with the old boys are good. The rest is boring. Will head off to bed soon.
Posted 3 months ago # -
My very first instructor was an ex-Lancaster pilot. He shared very little about his days, however what little he did say brought tears to my eye.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Old timers, very brave men, very few indeed like that today.
Posted 3 months ago # -
the old guys are just brilliant.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Plenty like that still - prepared to give their life in conflict zones.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Amazing how low the the fatality rate is in the city bombings !
Posted 3 months ago # -
"Sheets with your blanket" and your wings get you the birds. Classic. The old footage of the Lancs was beautiful. My Grandfather was a rear gunner in Lancasters and his stories were amazing.
Posted 3 months ago # -
F00k me these guys are nails.
Posted 3 months ago # -
An old girlfriend's grandad was a pilot. Never once would he talk about his experiences.
It is quite upsetting seeing how some of them are still driven to tears recalling their stories after all this time.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Its good what Ewan does for family/friends - look at Charlie now
Posted 3 months ago # -
They can't help themselves bringing up Dresden can they ffs.
Only the bloody Brits can look back at what those guys did for us then cry shame.
Like the old boys said, they bloody started it, we finished it.
Quoting Bomber Harris, they sewed the wind, they're going to reap the whirlwind.
And everyone conveniently forgets whilst Dresden was going on V1 & V2 rockets were still hitting London.
Posted 3 months ago # -
I thought it was excellent. The fact that they didn't forget to also talk about the the human cost to the German people impressed me, programmes of that sort tend to avoid/ignore that issue. All in all an excellent reminder of the bravery, determination, and appalling human cost, which so many endured. I don't think we have yet reached a point where we can be reminded too often of that.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Amazing documentary and a story well told.
It's no surprise that some of you weighed down by the chip on your shoulder still find something negative to say about it. Ewan's brother has fought for the RAF in conflict and his insight was interesting.
Great TV, very moving.
Posted 3 months ago # -
nice to see one of these programmes and actually touch on the German side of things rather than just focusing on the stiff upper lip etc.......looked great in HD too
(and I think the McGregors did an ok job, It could have been Dale Winton or Michael Macintyre)
Posted 3 months ago # -
Posted 3 months ago # -
derekrides - Member
They can't help themselves bringing up Dresden can they ffs.Only the bloody Brits can look back at what those guys did for us then cry shame.
Was this aimed at the pilots/aircrew or those that came up with the strategy?
Just saying, like.
Posted 3 months ago # -
"They can't help themselves bringing up Dresden can they ffs."
Yes, best we don't mention the unsavoury bits eh? Shall we get the history books changed as well so the innocent little kiddie winkles don't read about it at school either?
I agree with Ernie, good that the whole story was covered, but I don't think it left any doubt about the bravery of the men, or lessened their sacrifice. My Grandpa was an Engineer on a Lancaster, very moving programme.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Have we apologised yet for bombing them while we were at war?
Just saying like
Posted 3 months ago # -
Well i thought it was a brilliant bit of telly. The interview with the Hamburg survivors told the story from both sides, and the brothers were clearly moved by that.
As for Dresden.. The Russians asked for help and we gave it to them.
Humbling listening to the old lads.. Theres a bloke who lives in Belmont called Ron, we often chat to him after our Thursday night ride finishes in the pub.. he was parachuted into Arnham (sp). God has he got some stories!
Posted 3 months ago # -
bloodynora - Member
Have we apologised yet for bombing them while we were at war?
Just saying like
Thanks for pointing out what you're "saying". Did you see the programme ? What did you think of it ?
Posted 3 months ago # -
i thought it was an excellent idea to employ to ewan mcgregor to present a history.
next................louis spence narrates the importance of inland waterways to russian imperial expansion.
Posted 3 months ago # -
slimjim78 - Member
Amazing documentary and a story well told.
It's no surprise that some of you weighed down by the chip on your shoulder still find something negative to say about it. Ewan's brother has fought for the RAF in conflict and his insight was interesting.
Great TV, very moving.
I'd like a programme about history to be presented by a historian, instead of an actor.
Why does that mean I've got a chip on my shoulder?Posted 3 months ago # -
Because it's TV viewing for a TV audience and not a history lecture for history students ?
Posted 3 months ago # -
I only caught the last 15 mins or so unfortunately, but what I did see was great TV - something of a rarity these days.
Posted 3 months ago # -
Because it's TV viewing for a TV audience and not a history lecture for history students ?
so history needs to be dumbded down so tv audiences can take it ?
what about natural history ? frozen planet with ant and dec maybe ?
Posted 3 months ago # -
so history needs to be dumbded down so tv audiences can take it ?
It wasn't billed as a 'history lesson'. According to the BBC :
"The film focuses primarily on the men who fought and died in the skies above occupied Europe, with numerous examples of individual heroism and extraordinary collective spirit"
Since when do you expect history lessons to focus primarily on "individual heroism" ?
The BBC does also produce history programmes, for those they often use highly qualified historians such as Simon Schama in A History of Britain.
If you wanted to watch only a history programme, then this was clearly not what you should have been watching.
I suspect though trailmonkey, you weren't much bothered what you were watching, just as long as you could have a good ol' whinge and moan afterwards about 'dumbing down'. And tell us how British TV audiences should only watch programmes which have been approved by you.
Posted 3 months ago #
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