I you expect all the fear and wondrous suspense this kind of plot/theme could bring you, you will be largely disappointed. A journey like this could well have been an emotionally terrifying personal experience, yet it became a continuous parade of semi humorous and would be heroic encounters by a bunch of unyielding shallow characters, which left me totally unsatisfied and - after a while - starting to skip scenes. I applaud any attempt to get a movie project together - not a easy task and I must say that technically this movie has a nice continuity, but, nothing gets to me more than having to listen to well-meaning attempts at speaking a foreign language that fail miserably. At least hire real Germans and French or use native voice overs to do the job. What also sort of perplexed me was the lack of realism. In a particular scene, for example, our heroes are sharpshooting moving German targets from quite a distance - one shot - one hit... I must admit never having seen the end of the movie - I could not come up with a good excuse to stay with it.
22 Reviews
Very slow film not the best Overlord film
kate-436-23204225 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I bought this film because it was cheap (£3 on DVD) and I am glad I didn't spend more. The story line has potential but was not used to its fullest potential at all. The British weapons were wrong. It looked like they used M1 Garrands (standard US issue) rather than the Short Magazine Lee Enfield Mk4 (SMLE) and I also very doubt that a private (craftsman) in the REME would have been issued with a Tommy Gun. He would have been issued with either a Sten or SMLE.
The acting was wooden and the obvious tension between Barrows and Murphy could have been made more of. The scene where the captured SS officer translates the French to the English for the squad is laughable. The actor playing Rock who is suffering from shell shock played that really well. I have seen shell shock and it does manifest itself in this way.
This film claims to be based on truth. If so then they need to apologise. They claim the Johnny Barrows won the VC. There is no record of anyone of that name winning a VC ever let alone in the Normandy Campaign (I have a book that lists every VC winner. In fact the only VC won by a member of the REME was in WW1 by a Lt Graham Lyall VC on 28th September 1918). I think it is sad and insulting for that claim to be made by the producers of the film that claims to be based on real events.
The acting was wooden and the obvious tension between Barrows and Murphy could have been made more of. The scene where the captured SS officer translates the French to the English for the squad is laughable. The actor playing Rock who is suffering from shell shock played that really well. I have seen shell shock and it does manifest itself in this way.
This film claims to be based on truth. If so then they need to apologise. They claim the Johnny Barrows won the VC. There is no record of anyone of that name winning a VC ever let alone in the Normandy Campaign (I have a book that lists every VC winner. In fact the only VC won by a member of the REME was in WW1 by a Lt Graham Lyall VC on 28th September 1918). I think it is sad and insulting for that claim to be made by the producers of the film that claims to be based on real events.
Routine World War II Maneuvers
zardoz-131 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Amateurish writing, directing, and editing undermine director Ian Vernon's "D-Day Survivor," an interesting, low-budget World War II indie epic about a 'lost patrol' during the historic Normandy Invasion. A staple of war movies is the saga about soldiers separated from their command with no idea where they are in the general scheme of things. Clocking in at a sluggish 95-minutes, "D-Day Survivor" generates occasional bursts of violence, but the film loiters all the way to its explosive finale. The first third introduces the offbeat characters, with a minor skirmish involving attempted homosexual rape. Eventually, the last third drums up some traditional combat, with an assault on a German pillbox. Independent filmmakers deserve more leeway because they have nowhere near the resources of their major studio counterparts. Compensating for his tight-budget, Vernon breaks new ground in "D-Day Survivor" with the depiction of deviant sexuality in the ranks. Meantime, cinematographer Ivan D. Rennov, who has worked with Vernon on three earlier films, exploits the lush color and idyllic rural setting to make everything appear scenic. Despite its picture-postcard splendor, "D-Day Survivor" suffers from a hopeless lack momentum, until an inevitable rendezvous with the French Resistance. Predictably, the underground allows filmmakers to send a woman into combat and add a trifling romantic subplot. Vernon's lack of creative polish undercuts his best intentions, but his thematic concerns redeem his derivative narrative.
Mind you, a title with "D-Day" in it conjures up images of Darryl F. Zanuck's "The Longest Day" (1962), Robert Parrish's "Up from the Beach (1965), Samuel Fuller's "The Big Red One" (1980), and Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan" (1998). Sadly, we see only the "Survivor" and nothing of "D-Day." You won't see any big ships and landing craft with soldiers scrambling across barb-wired beaches while machine guns stitch the sand. Once you get over missing the historic, June 1944, Allied beachhead landings, you can understand the different direction that Vernon pursues because he lacked the budget to recreate the landings. Instead, he presents an obnoxious, homosexual, British soldier who holds his unwilling prey at gun point and threatens to rape him. Nothing like "Deliverance" occurs, but the gay soldier's aggression makes homosexuals look depraved. You won't find material like this in most traditional World War II movies, apart from "The Imitation Game" (2014) with Benedict Cumberbatch. Classic novelist James Jones depicted instances of this in his World War II book trilogy that contained "From Here to Eternity" and "The Thin Red Line." Vernon scores a first with this unsavory subject matter which would have been objectionable in traditional World War II movies. Happily, Vernon's use of the initiation theme, plunging innocents into combat for their first baptism under blood on the battlefield, bolsters "D-Day Survivor." These characters and their actions stand out in "D-Day Survivor," especially a reflective U.S. Army private. The quartet of young men who constitute the collective protagonist here face a gauntlet that shapes their respective fates. Some characters can be annoying, particularly a vulnerable soldier who repeats virtually every word uttered by the other characters. A hopeless cretin who comes through at the least expected moments, he provides comic relief that is rarely humorous.
British Army Paratrooper Private Johnny Barrows (newcomer Paul Harrison) finds himself alone in a field somewhere in France. He bailed out over France with his battalion of paratroopers, but they missed their drop zone (like so many did on D-Day), and the Germans wiped out his comrades, leaving him the sole survivor. Barrows crosses paths briefly with an affable German soldier, and they swap candy. Our hero differentiates Germans from Nazis later during a discussion with an arrogant Gestapo officer, Sturmbannfuhrer Dishelm (Richard Dobson of "Brood Parasite") that they have captured. Our heroes ambushed a German Army squad car on an open road and kill the driver. Anyway, as they go their separate ways, the German soldier dies from a bullet in the back. A British soldier shot the German after Barrows allowed him to leave. Reluctantly, Barrows joins up with two other lost British soldiers, Private Murphy (television actor James Boyland), his moronic, simple-minded friend, Private Fily (Guy Wills of "Looking for Eric"), and a taciturn American paratrooper, Private George (Adam Woodward of "The Black Prince"), who is suffering from shell shock. This quartet trudge through rural France, with Murphy behaving like a bully. Eventually, they come upon a U.S. Army jeep, with a dead driver and a defunct American general. Since both jeep passengers are dead, Barrows suggests that they appropriate the vehicle. They cruise down a road with Barrows behind the wheel. Little do they know a German sign warning them about land mines on the road has been knocked down. They hit a land mine, but they survive the explosion.
Eventually, our heroes ambush three Germans in a staff car and capture a Gestapo officer. Since he is carrying a satchel of papers, they decide to bring him back alive. Later, they encounter the French Resistance, and Margaret (Sophie Skelton of "Another Mother's Son") helps Barrows and his men launch an attack on a German outpost with a Tiger tank parked nearby. Tactlessly, the Tiger tank is never utilized. Presumably, not only Vernon but also our heroes are searching for bigger game. They find it after they confront a German pillbox that has kept American troops pinned down. The problem with Vernon's pillbox is that it isn't as sturdy as the pillbox that is devastated in an infinitely better World War II movie, Don Siegel's "The Hell with Heroes" (1962), where exhausted G.I.s sought to stay alive under worse circumstances. The destructive toll that the pillbox exacts in "The Hell with Heroes' is extreme. Comparatively, the "D-Day Survivor" pillbox is a picnic. Hampered by his shoe-string budget, Vernon focuses on how these young, inexperienced soldiers cooperate to accomplish their objectives. Only after they succeed as a team are they prepared to destroy the pillbox. Nevertheless, "D-Day Survivor" qualifies as a routine World War movie.
Mind you, a title with "D-Day" in it conjures up images of Darryl F. Zanuck's "The Longest Day" (1962), Robert Parrish's "Up from the Beach (1965), Samuel Fuller's "The Big Red One" (1980), and Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan" (1998). Sadly, we see only the "Survivor" and nothing of "D-Day." You won't see any big ships and landing craft with soldiers scrambling across barb-wired beaches while machine guns stitch the sand. Once you get over missing the historic, June 1944, Allied beachhead landings, you can understand the different direction that Vernon pursues because he lacked the budget to recreate the landings. Instead, he presents an obnoxious, homosexual, British soldier who holds his unwilling prey at gun point and threatens to rape him. Nothing like "Deliverance" occurs, but the gay soldier's aggression makes homosexuals look depraved. You won't find material like this in most traditional World War II movies, apart from "The Imitation Game" (2014) with Benedict Cumberbatch. Classic novelist James Jones depicted instances of this in his World War II book trilogy that contained "From Here to Eternity" and "The Thin Red Line." Vernon scores a first with this unsavory subject matter which would have been objectionable in traditional World War II movies. Happily, Vernon's use of the initiation theme, plunging innocents into combat for their first baptism under blood on the battlefield, bolsters "D-Day Survivor." These characters and their actions stand out in "D-Day Survivor," especially a reflective U.S. Army private. The quartet of young men who constitute the collective protagonist here face a gauntlet that shapes their respective fates. Some characters can be annoying, particularly a vulnerable soldier who repeats virtually every word uttered by the other characters. A hopeless cretin who comes through at the least expected moments, he provides comic relief that is rarely humorous.
British Army Paratrooper Private Johnny Barrows (newcomer Paul Harrison) finds himself alone in a field somewhere in France. He bailed out over France with his battalion of paratroopers, but they missed their drop zone (like so many did on D-Day), and the Germans wiped out his comrades, leaving him the sole survivor. Barrows crosses paths briefly with an affable German soldier, and they swap candy. Our hero differentiates Germans from Nazis later during a discussion with an arrogant Gestapo officer, Sturmbannfuhrer Dishelm (Richard Dobson of "Brood Parasite") that they have captured. Our heroes ambushed a German Army squad car on an open road and kill the driver. Anyway, as they go their separate ways, the German soldier dies from a bullet in the back. A British soldier shot the German after Barrows allowed him to leave. Reluctantly, Barrows joins up with two other lost British soldiers, Private Murphy (television actor James Boyland), his moronic, simple-minded friend, Private Fily (Guy Wills of "Looking for Eric"), and a taciturn American paratrooper, Private George (Adam Woodward of "The Black Prince"), who is suffering from shell shock. This quartet trudge through rural France, with Murphy behaving like a bully. Eventually, they come upon a U.S. Army jeep, with a dead driver and a defunct American general. Since both jeep passengers are dead, Barrows suggests that they appropriate the vehicle. They cruise down a road with Barrows behind the wheel. Little do they know a German sign warning them about land mines on the road has been knocked down. They hit a land mine, but they survive the explosion.
Eventually, our heroes ambush three Germans in a staff car and capture a Gestapo officer. Since he is carrying a satchel of papers, they decide to bring him back alive. Later, they encounter the French Resistance, and Margaret (Sophie Skelton of "Another Mother's Son") helps Barrows and his men launch an attack on a German outpost with a Tiger tank parked nearby. Tactlessly, the Tiger tank is never utilized. Presumably, not only Vernon but also our heroes are searching for bigger game. They find it after they confront a German pillbox that has kept American troops pinned down. The problem with Vernon's pillbox is that it isn't as sturdy as the pillbox that is devastated in an infinitely better World War II movie, Don Siegel's "The Hell with Heroes" (1962), where exhausted G.I.s sought to stay alive under worse circumstances. The destructive toll that the pillbox exacts in "The Hell with Heroes' is extreme. Comparatively, the "D-Day Survivor" pillbox is a picnic. Hampered by his shoe-string budget, Vernon focuses on how these young, inexperienced soldiers cooperate to accomplish their objectives. Only after they succeed as a team are they prepared to destroy the pillbox. Nevertheless, "D-Day Survivor" qualifies as a routine World War movie.
Do Not Waste 90 Minutes.
paulusmorris17 March 2016
Appalling. Amateur. Aggravating.
I have an historical interest and basic understanding of D-Day and it's era. I was therefore genuinely amazed after checking several 'reasonable' reviews, before deciding to endure this travesty.
Such a disappointing interpretation of a good WW2 story, at every level.
A missed opportunity. Cringeworthy.
I have an historical interest and basic understanding of D-Day and it's era. I was therefore genuinely amazed after checking several 'reasonable' reviews, before deciding to endure this travesty.
Such a disappointing interpretation of a good WW2 story, at every level.
A missed opportunity. Cringeworthy.
If this were a car it would be a Trabant – on bricks
t-dooley-69-3869169 April 2016
This is one of those films that is hard to describe without employing inventive expletives of the most Anglo Saxon nature. However, I shall try – the synopsis is a British paratroop squad are dropped miles from their drop off point and all but one are wiped out and then the sole survivor, Jonny, has to get back to his lines and grow a pair etc.
Now the mistakes pile up faster than an Enron executive planning excuses. He stops to bury the dead, carries a Luger (that always goes down well if one is captured) and wanders about in the 'French' countryside in the total open. Then he meets some other lost solders and they have some unconvincing and lack lustre japes in the Lancashire countryside. Yes that is where this guffathon was filmed North England which surprisingly does not make a good double for Normandy.
The special effects are excruciatingly bad. Some of the acting raises a smile but to be extremely fair there are some reasonable performances here ostensibly from Paul Harrison as Jonny, James Boyland as Murphy (don't even get me started on the gay sub plot though) and the American Adam Woodward. Others are less convincing but I think that is mostly because the script is soo contemptibly awful. Language often used is of a modern vocabulary and seems totally incongruous for some Brit Tommies in WW2.
It was originally called 'The War I Knew' and is based on actual 'accounts' what are they then? I think it must be that some men dressed up and did some fighting ? Am I even close – well we will never know as these priceless sources are yet to be revealed. I tried to find some positives and apart from the acting – in places – the only other one I can think of is that this is easy to watch on fast forward as you will miss nothing. Not the worst war film ever but one that should be given very serious consideration – avoid like a drunken dance off in a mine field.
Now the mistakes pile up faster than an Enron executive planning excuses. He stops to bury the dead, carries a Luger (that always goes down well if one is captured) and wanders about in the 'French' countryside in the total open. Then he meets some other lost solders and they have some unconvincing and lack lustre japes in the Lancashire countryside. Yes that is where this guffathon was filmed North England which surprisingly does not make a good double for Normandy.
The special effects are excruciatingly bad. Some of the acting raises a smile but to be extremely fair there are some reasonable performances here ostensibly from Paul Harrison as Jonny, James Boyland as Murphy (don't even get me started on the gay sub plot though) and the American Adam Woodward. Others are less convincing but I think that is mostly because the script is soo contemptibly awful. Language often used is of a modern vocabulary and seems totally incongruous for some Brit Tommies in WW2.
It was originally called 'The War I Knew' and is based on actual 'accounts' what are they then? I think it must be that some men dressed up and did some fighting ? Am I even close – well we will never know as these priceless sources are yet to be revealed. I tried to find some positives and apart from the acting – in places – the only other one I can think of is that this is easy to watch on fast forward as you will miss nothing. Not the worst war film ever but one that should be given very serious consideration – avoid like a drunken dance off in a mine field.
Poor attempt
antongellard15 March 2016
I love a good war movie but unfortunately this isn't one.
From the opening sequence's where the British "Para's" are about to make a suicidal attack I could tell this was a poorly researched piece of film. The whole production is full of glaring historical mistakes that set the film up to be a massive failure.
British Paratroopers wearing R.E.M.E blouses, brodie helmets and using American issued rifles.... 5 minutes on Wikipedia could have saved this productions team some embarrassment and myself 15 minutes of my life I can never get back.
1/10
From the opening sequence's where the British "Para's" are about to make a suicidal attack I could tell this was a poorly researched piece of film. The whole production is full of glaring historical mistakes that set the film up to be a massive failure.
British Paratroopers wearing R.E.M.E blouses, brodie helmets and using American issued rifles.... 5 minutes on Wikipedia could have saved this productions team some embarrassment and myself 15 minutes of my life I can never get back.
1/10
Such a wasted opportunity
oldvinyl22 March 2016
I was hoping for so much more. The opening scene, at night, was so grainy and purple I felt sure it was shot on a cheap smartphone. There is a huge "leap from nowhere" after a completely inadequate "action" scene, in which the protagonist mysteriously teleports from behind a tree into a barn. Rather like the "with one bound, he was free" writing of Edgar Rice Burroughs. Most of the rest seemed to have been borrowed from a tourist promotion for walks in rural France, with the exception of some dreadfully acted scenes which frankly were annoying because I felt that they were on the edge of belittling those who actually were in the war. My overwhelming impression is that it had a budget of about a hundred quid.
Shockingly bad, one of the worst I've ever seen.
craig-fraser8713 August 2018
After a few days of watching back to back WW1 and WW2 films both blockbuster and independent, I eventually got down my list to The War I Knew.
I wish I never knew this film existed!
From the very start the script and acting are cheesy, wooden and what you'd expect from a high school drama group, and a bad one at that.
I'm not even being picky about the uniforms, weapons or the landscape chosen for the filming. I'll give them some slack on that front as these things cost money. But to get the colour or consistency of blood is one of the easiest and cheapest things to do, I'll give you a head start! it's not one shade of pink or looks like coloured water.
The acting and the script come across as a mixture of a really bad episode of Dad's Army meets a Carry On film and then all of a sudden they try acting with some seriousness and grit...to be honest, I've felt more real emotion from a episode of the teletubbies when there's no tubby toast.
If they intended to show respect to those who fought in the war then they did the complete opposite. No group of soldiers, behind enemy lines would jump up in the air shouting and whooping, high fiving each other after shooting a German soldier.
This should really be in a spoof comedy genre just so viewers know to avoid it.
I wish I never knew this film existed!
From the very start the script and acting are cheesy, wooden and what you'd expect from a high school drama group, and a bad one at that.
I'm not even being picky about the uniforms, weapons or the landscape chosen for the filming. I'll give them some slack on that front as these things cost money. But to get the colour or consistency of blood is one of the easiest and cheapest things to do, I'll give you a head start! it's not one shade of pink or looks like coloured water.
The acting and the script come across as a mixture of a really bad episode of Dad's Army meets a Carry On film and then all of a sudden they try acting with some seriousness and grit...to be honest, I've felt more real emotion from a episode of the teletubbies when there's no tubby toast.
If they intended to show respect to those who fought in the war then they did the complete opposite. No group of soldiers, behind enemy lines would jump up in the air shouting and whooping, high fiving each other after shooting a German soldier.
This should really be in a spoof comedy genre just so viewers know to avoid it.
Worst Nightmare
alfred_mand20 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I created an IMDb account just to say something about this film. First of all, the whole film is about the 3 stooges and the dumb and dumber combined. Though not as funny as the latter. They begin the story with the man in the machine gun, and some e dude told this johnny boy to stay alert because the krauts are all over the place. At that instance, I almost throw my coffee cup at our smart TV. Thankfully I didn't. After some hassle and haggle with the bullets flying all around, only johnny boy survived the carnage. The stupid dude, together with the royal forces were wipe out. So johnny went for a walk and stumble upon a homo krauts along the way, there they exchange pictures of their love ones and parted ways, then suddenly an English homo shot the homo krauts. From then on, a series of homo story begin with plenty of ridiculous moments in between. To make the story short, the war ended, and one of the stooges married the leader of the french resistance, whose weapon is her twinkling eyes. Sooooo stupid......
The movie is HORRIBLE and ANNOYING! A complete waste that shouldn't be recycled.
The movie is HORRIBLE and ANNOYING! A complete waste that shouldn't be recycled.
Rubbish
tyljam12 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I bought this DVD in Asda for £5 under the renamed title D day survivors with a different cover photo so don't be fooled into thinking it is a different film. It is a low budget film and that shows as everything about the film is wrong. The landscape is nothing like Normandy or any part of Northern France. The uniforms are wrong the guns are wrong and a scene near the end where they attack a pill box which looks 70 years old is just unbelievable. In fact there isn't any scene in this film that is believable walking through fields in broad daylight and why would a German soldier have been out in the fields on his own. the sounds of gun shots travel far in open space yet no one heard any shots in an area far from the invasion areas and investigated. It is supposed to be based on true events which i find highly unlikely. How film makers get away with making such rubbish is a travesty to all the millions who died during WW2. The soundtrack is also awful and in parts has an opera style female vocal in the background which is totally put of place. I regret squandering my money on this rubbish.
A Truly Original War Film
deangeli31 March 2016
As one of the team that runs The Fleapit Cinema Club in Westerham, Kent we have got to know writer/director Ian Vernon well. To date, we have screened three of his films including The War I Knew which was the second showing at our recent UK Independent Film Festival. All three have been extremely well received by our audiences. The dismissive reviews, or rather their tone, are therefore at odds with the response of over 100 people.
True independent films often have to look through the other end of the telescope and their joy and incidental purpose is to offer a counter-perspective to blockbuster spectacle. So I will not patronise either Ian or his film by evoking the no-money argument, too often used to justify independent films. While a tight budget (and they don't come tighter than his) can explain the necessity of a certain historical laissez faire when it comes to, say, props and costume, it can never excuse either a poor script or poor acting. So, yes, the uniforms and guns in The War I Knew are not exactly right. If you really want to be picky, some don't even fit – and the guns don't fire. Nor was it shot in France anymore than Star Wars was shot in a galaxy far, far away. But does any of this matter? Of course not – it's a feature film, not a documentary. Besides, these inaccuracies compromise neither the emotional truth of the piece (its great achievement), nor our understanding of its narrative. Are we ever in doubt as to who is English, French or German? But what of the stuff that actually matters? Well, if assessed objectively, the script emerges as crisp, engaging and textured; the story undoubtedly compelling and the acting forceful yet nuanced. When you watch it, look into the actors' eyes, not down at their belt buckles. Do that and you'll find a rewardingly original and revealing take on what happens when people are sent to war.
Of course, you may not like it but I know enough people who do to recommend it. Watching any film is a gamble and no film is ever enjoyed by everyone but just because you don't like broccoli, doesn't make it a bad vegetable.
True independent films often have to look through the other end of the telescope and their joy and incidental purpose is to offer a counter-perspective to blockbuster spectacle. So I will not patronise either Ian or his film by evoking the no-money argument, too often used to justify independent films. While a tight budget (and they don't come tighter than his) can explain the necessity of a certain historical laissez faire when it comes to, say, props and costume, it can never excuse either a poor script or poor acting. So, yes, the uniforms and guns in The War I Knew are not exactly right. If you really want to be picky, some don't even fit – and the guns don't fire. Nor was it shot in France anymore than Star Wars was shot in a galaxy far, far away. But does any of this matter? Of course not – it's a feature film, not a documentary. Besides, these inaccuracies compromise neither the emotional truth of the piece (its great achievement), nor our understanding of its narrative. Are we ever in doubt as to who is English, French or German? But what of the stuff that actually matters? Well, if assessed objectively, the script emerges as crisp, engaging and textured; the story undoubtedly compelling and the acting forceful yet nuanced. When you watch it, look into the actors' eyes, not down at their belt buckles. Do that and you'll find a rewardingly original and revealing take on what happens when people are sent to war.
Of course, you may not like it but I know enough people who do to recommend it. Watching any film is a gamble and no film is ever enjoyed by everyone but just because you don't like broccoli, doesn't make it a bad vegetable.
Worth the watch
dagallop26 March 2016
This is no Saving Private Ryan, but a) I don't think that is what they were trying to achieve and b) I bet the budget for the entire movie was equal to the lowest paid extra in Saving Private Ryan!
It has all of the qualities of a plausible set of events, and I believe that short of the one scene (you'll know it when you see it), I doubt the plot is far from how it really happened.
The acting was good, although the fatalities in the flying bullets scenes need to refine the 'sack of spuds' principal, it actually looked more like they were coached to 'tuck and roll'!
I particularly liked the fact that they didn't try and add too many people in the 'events'. I personally find it unrealistic in some movies that you don't see the individual vehicle traveling along the road. I believe that Rommel was actually wounded because a pilot did see a single staff car opportunity and took it! Not everywhere was full on convoys.
To sum up; great story line and very believable (on the whole), good acting and most of all entertaining as well as having realistic characters. I would suggest to anyone that enjoys a 'based on true events' movie, this is a good watch.
It has all of the qualities of a plausible set of events, and I believe that short of the one scene (you'll know it when you see it), I doubt the plot is far from how it really happened.
The acting was good, although the fatalities in the flying bullets scenes need to refine the 'sack of spuds' principal, it actually looked more like they were coached to 'tuck and roll'!
I particularly liked the fact that they didn't try and add too many people in the 'events'. I personally find it unrealistic in some movies that you don't see the individual vehicle traveling along the road. I believe that Rommel was actually wounded because a pilot did see a single staff car opportunity and took it! Not everywhere was full on convoys.
To sum up; great story line and very believable (on the whole), good acting and most of all entertaining as well as having realistic characters. I would suggest to anyone that enjoys a 'based on true events' movie, this is a good watch.
One of the worst insults to real soldiers!
peterburton-2672026 August 2017
Poor movie, none of the surrounds look like France, only of England. Also very poor acting. What is appalling is at the end it mentions Johnny Barrows received a Victoria Cross for his bravery. This is an insult for the real hero's that earn't the VC during wartime. The producers should face legal action for this insult!!
YOU ARE THE VOICE OF REASON
nogodnomasters25 April 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This is based on a true story about Pvt. John Barrows (John Harrison) a British paratrooper separated from Normandy on D-Day. He is portrayed as someone who is not cut out for war. He manages to meet some allies, but they are portrayed in such a manner to make Barrows, the "voice of reason" giving a deeper meaning to the film, one that I didn't quite grasp. Murphy (James Boyland) is the overbearing leader of the group and at one time is called worse than the Nazis. Private Filey took a shot to the head and is not all there repeating the last word of other people's statements like Dim from "Clockwork Orange." American George Summers, nicknamed "Rock" (Adam Woodward) is a mute, suffering from shock and stress.
The action at times is surreal with the classical music and whimsical soundtracks. This was clearly supposed to something besides a war film, considering how it failed on that point. Was it an anti-war film? Was it supposed to show 4 natures of man? Was it a plug for Cream of Mushroom soup? Unless you want something other than a war film, you might look somewhere else.
The action at times is surreal with the classical music and whimsical soundtracks. This was clearly supposed to something besides a war film, considering how it failed on that point. Was it an anti-war film? Was it supposed to show 4 natures of man? Was it a plug for Cream of Mushroom soup? Unless you want something other than a war film, you might look somewhere else.
An great story badly portrayed
jonathon-3624226 December 2020
I know a little about The Normandy Invasion (Summer 1944) and was saddened to see how very badly this story was portrayed. The landscape looked nothing like Normandy; was it The Brecon Beacons? The behaviour of the four allied soldiers was very unlike any military unit I have worked with and there were few signs or sounds of airborne activity. Lastly the film claims that Jonny Barrows was awarded The VC. I cannot find any record of such an award being made. I would welcome any comments from the producer so I could explain why he did not make a better job of an interesting story.
A boring, low budget mess
danny-dubs19 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Let me stop you right here: if you're considering watching this or just turned it on and pulled up IMDb, this is your warning. Don't waste the next 90 minutes of your day.
"The War I Knew" also titled "D-Day Survivor" doesn't depict D-Day at all, as far as the viewer can tell. It's often cringeworthy with its acting, script, soundtrack and cinematography. The music may be the worst element of this project - it alternates between famous classical songs (perhaps so old they're public domain and were free to use in this super-low-budget film) and completely out of place whimsical-type background music. The music alone ruins this movie.
But there's plenty of other terrible stuff going on. A cartoonish bully of a British paratrooper who randomly attempts to rape a fellow soldier was probably the low point. A similarly cartoonish German SS officer who speaks three languages and isn't believable in any of them. A comically brain damaged sidekick. Slow-motion black-and-white action sequences, as if it's supposed to crank up the suspense. Grenades that look like toys. An American soldier who gets shot in the helmet, and instead of them actually puncturing a hole in his helmet, they literally just took some paint or a marker and drew a dark circle on the front lol Seriously. And despite getting shot in the forehead, he wakes up without a blemish
A British soldier shoots a German and than celebrates, shouting and pumping his hands in the air like he's a Tusken Raider in Star Wars
This film is supposedly based on a true story. I've found no evidence that George Summers, the American paratrooper, ever existed (there was a US soldier with the same name but in the Army Air Force). The main character, Jonny, transforms literally overnight from a terrified private to the leader of a dysfunctional group of allied soldiers; he wanders aimlessly through open fields in bright sunshine, supposedly in Normandy on D-Day +1, never hearing any gunshots, explosions, planes, ships or anything else reminiscent of the invasion. He eventually joins a small group who stumbles their way toward allied forces. The English countryside used for filming looks nothing like Normandy. In one scene, they drive a Jeep down a road littered with German mines - the same road a German officer is driving on without concern
Let's look at the American character for a moment. Based on his uniform and helmet, he's part of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, the famed "Band of Brothers" 101st Airborne unit. Pretty ballsy of the producers to go there. Easy landed around Ste. Mère-Église on June 6, which is about 50 miles north of where the group in this film end up (Champ-du Boult, according to a sign in one scene). His uniform shows no signs of overnight combat and yet he's inexplicably comatose for much of the film despite the 506th's years of intense training.
The best part of this movie is probably the uniforms and Sophie Skelton - I'm biased because I'd be content watching Sophie Skelton read a phone book. That being said, seeing her here isn't worth watching the entire film. They could have easily, even with a low budget, found an actual French actress to play her part. The best scene is probably when the main character encounters a similarly overwhelmed German soldier early on. The film goes downhill from there.
"The War I Knew" also titled "D-Day Survivor" doesn't depict D-Day at all, as far as the viewer can tell. It's often cringeworthy with its acting, script, soundtrack and cinematography. The music may be the worst element of this project - it alternates between famous classical songs (perhaps so old they're public domain and were free to use in this super-low-budget film) and completely out of place whimsical-type background music. The music alone ruins this movie.
But there's plenty of other terrible stuff going on. A cartoonish bully of a British paratrooper who randomly attempts to rape a fellow soldier was probably the low point. A similarly cartoonish German SS officer who speaks three languages and isn't believable in any of them. A comically brain damaged sidekick. Slow-motion black-and-white action sequences, as if it's supposed to crank up the suspense. Grenades that look like toys. An American soldier who gets shot in the helmet, and instead of them actually puncturing a hole in his helmet, they literally just took some paint or a marker and drew a dark circle on the front lol Seriously. And despite getting shot in the forehead, he wakes up without a blemish
A British soldier shoots a German and than celebrates, shouting and pumping his hands in the air like he's a Tusken Raider in Star Wars
This film is supposedly based on a true story. I've found no evidence that George Summers, the American paratrooper, ever existed (there was a US soldier with the same name but in the Army Air Force). The main character, Jonny, transforms literally overnight from a terrified private to the leader of a dysfunctional group of allied soldiers; he wanders aimlessly through open fields in bright sunshine, supposedly in Normandy on D-Day +1, never hearing any gunshots, explosions, planes, ships or anything else reminiscent of the invasion. He eventually joins a small group who stumbles their way toward allied forces. The English countryside used for filming looks nothing like Normandy. In one scene, they drive a Jeep down a road littered with German mines - the same road a German officer is driving on without concern
Let's look at the American character for a moment. Based on his uniform and helmet, he's part of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, the famed "Band of Brothers" 101st Airborne unit. Pretty ballsy of the producers to go there. Easy landed around Ste. Mère-Église on June 6, which is about 50 miles north of where the group in this film end up (Champ-du Boult, according to a sign in one scene). His uniform shows no signs of overnight combat and yet he's inexplicably comatose for much of the film despite the 506th's years of intense training.
The best part of this movie is probably the uniforms and Sophie Skelton - I'm biased because I'd be content watching Sophie Skelton read a phone book. That being said, seeing her here isn't worth watching the entire film. They could have easily, even with a low budget, found an actual French actress to play her part. The best scene is probably when the main character encounters a similarly overwhelmed German soldier early on. The film goes downhill from there.
You are the voice of reason
nogodnomasters19 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This is based on a true story about Pvt. John Barrows (John Harrison) a British paratrooper separated from Normandy on D-Day. He is portrayed as someone who is not cut out for war. He manages to meet some allies, but they are portrayed in such a manner to make Barrows, the "voice of reason" giving a deeper meaning to the film, one that I didn't quite grasp. Murphy (James Boyland) is the overbearing leader of the group and at one time is called worse than the Nazis. Private Filey took a shot to the head and is not all there repeating the last word of other people's statements like Dim from "Clockwork Orange." American George Summers, nicknamed "Rock" (Adam Woodward) is a mute, suffering from shock and stress.
The action at times is surreal with the classical music and whimsical soundtracks. This was clearly supposed to something besides a war film, considering how it failed on that point. Was it an anti-war film? Was it supposed to show 4 natures of man? Was it a plug for Cream of Mushroom soup? Unless you want something other than a war film, you might look somewhere else.
The action at times is surreal with the classical music and whimsical soundtracks. This was clearly supposed to something besides a war film, considering how it failed on that point. Was it an anti-war film? Was it supposed to show 4 natures of man? Was it a plug for Cream of Mushroom soup? Unless you want something other than a war film, you might look somewhere else.
Not a good war movie
commanderdale17 June 2020
Enjoyable. Non-typical WWII movie.
jjackson196821 March 2016
My wife and I attend many film festivals, we love independent films. With this being a WWII story, my wife didn't want to see this movie. By the end she enjoyed it more than I did (and I thought it was a good movie). It was very entertaining and- to use her words -"not a typical war film". We can not understand why some of these reviews have been very dismissive. It may be because this movie has a small portion of dialogue in German and French. As we don't speak these languages we don't know if the actors were doing a good job or not at speaking correctly. I guess that was the intention -to put the audience into the shoes of the English speaking soldiers. We found it very enjoyable.
Not your typical war movie - Better!
bernice-506114 April 2016
My husband loves World War II movies, I think they are OK. He bought this DVD under its UK title of D-Day Survivor because of the action packed cover. When he watched it he complained to me that the cover was misleading (I agree) because he felt it was lacking in the action and battles that he loves, but the kind of movie I would like.
I watched it and really enjoyed it. I thought the characters were very engaging and believable. It even had moments that made me chuckle. This is not a typical war movie. I would say it's a very entertaining, intelligent drama. So if you are looking for the typical action packed, battle after battle war flick this may not be your cup of tea.
I watched it and really enjoyed it. I thought the characters were very engaging and believable. It even had moments that made me chuckle. This is not a typical war movie. I would say it's a very entertaining, intelligent drama. So if you are looking for the typical action packed, battle after battle war flick this may not be your cup of tea.
Lest we forget
r-wills322 March 2016
Warning: Spoilers
A great film, and a great cast, about kids ,most of whom had never been away from home before their basic training, we forget the youngsters that were parachuted in and lost behind enemy lines and the fact that some of them never got back. Have jut read a couple of previous reviews that seem quite negative, and just wanted to try to pull the storyline to pieces, quite amazing considering the film is based on true events. I strongly advise that you trust the Canadian film festival which awarded it the Rising star award, the Palm beach film festival and the London independent film festival and watch it yourself. If we want a film industry in Great Britain, it's in our hands. Otherwise knock yourself out with Revenant.
Intimate micro-story on countryside ww2
GianfrancoSpada2 August 2023
Wars are not just big battles and intense military challenges. The majority of the daily life during a war is composed of micro-stories, of ordinary people with their trivialities, fears, and aspirations. In Hollywood films, soldiers magically transform into bloodthirsty heroes, killing machines. However, in reality, those poor young men, taken out of their daily context, find themselves having to confront situations in which, despite their training, they don't lose their human essence.
This is an intimate film, devoid of the grand special effects of war productions, and probably not appreciated by genre purists. The very low budget perfectly aligns with the story being told; there are no frills, just pure and simple everyday life for a small improvised platoon. The music also avoids the bombastic clichés of grand fanfares and frenetic rhythms, relying mainly on significant compositions of classical music, which is likely the music that these young men have in their imagination when lost in the bucolic countryside. The American paratrooper from the 101st Airborne Division might have had different rhythms in his head-jazz, rhythm & blues-but the poor soul, shocked by some bombardment, perhaps only has a profound and immense silence in his mind.
The low budget also forgives a few equipment errors; the German officer clearly has an outdated and mismatched insignia from the time the film is set. The merit of this production is not falling into a simple reenactment of World War II; the gap is truly narrow.
I would have given it an 8 if only a little more had been invested in post-production special effects, which are ultimately the most economical (explosions, gunfire sounds), and a bit more realism in the makeup. I've seen too many clean-shaven and neatly groomed faces, and well-combed hair even after several nights out in the open.
This is an intimate film, devoid of the grand special effects of war productions, and probably not appreciated by genre purists. The very low budget perfectly aligns with the story being told; there are no frills, just pure and simple everyday life for a small improvised platoon. The music also avoids the bombastic clichés of grand fanfares and frenetic rhythms, relying mainly on significant compositions of classical music, which is likely the music that these young men have in their imagination when lost in the bucolic countryside. The American paratrooper from the 101st Airborne Division might have had different rhythms in his head-jazz, rhythm & blues-but the poor soul, shocked by some bombardment, perhaps only has a profound and immense silence in his mind.
The low budget also forgives a few equipment errors; the German officer clearly has an outdated and mismatched insignia from the time the film is set. The merit of this production is not falling into a simple reenactment of World War II; the gap is truly narrow.
I would have given it an 8 if only a little more had been invested in post-production special effects, which are ultimately the most economical (explosions, gunfire sounds), and a bit more realism in the makeup. I've seen too many clean-shaven and neatly groomed faces, and well-combed hair even after several nights out in the open.
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