Passchendaele became infamous not only for the scale of casualties, but also for the mud. This was actively promoted as a canadian wwi movie however, i felt there. The term vanity project is often used when describing failed movies, but it seems particularly applicable here. Passchendaele lies on the last ridge east of ypres, 5 mi from roulers junction of the bruges. The events of 1917 take place prior to the battle of poelcappelle, a smaller skirmish in the larger battle of passchendaele, or the third battle of ypres, but were heavily inspired by the campaign. One of the most stirring and ambitious films ever made in canada, paul grosss passchendaele recounts what may have been the most savage battle of the first world war. Is it different from what you have been learning about battle in world war one. Free state of jones the introduction battle movie clip matthew mcconaughey war drama 2016 duration. If you want to understand the why and how of the battle of passchendaele, this is the place to visit. These photographs show the damaged caused by not only the war fare but heavy, continuous rain. Passchendaele, based off of paul gross screenplay is a book written about the movie and not a movie created from the book. The movie passchendaele brings to life the battle of passchendaele ridge near ypres in the belgian province of west flanders, one of the major battles of the great war.
In 2008 renowned canadian actor and director paul gross released passchendaele, illustrating the battle of passchendaele, or the 3 rd battle of ypres, the 1917 engagement on the western front where canada suffered extreme causalities but distinguished itself as a formidable foe against the german army. Battle of passchendaele dc extended universe wiki fandom. In battles canadian soldiers distinguished themselves at the somme, the second battle of ypres, vimy ridge, and passchendaele. Whether it is the heavy use of tired cliches or the offensively bad dialogue, passchendaele is a real slog to get through. This video below shows a slideshow of photographs taken during the battle of paschendaele. The battle of passchendaele, fought july 1917, is sometimes called the third battle of ypres. Memorial museum passchendaele 1917 discovering belgium. After more than three months of bloody combat, the third battle of ypres effectively comes to an end on november 6, 1917, with a hardwon victory by british and. Passchendaele battle honour, a battle honour awarded to units of the british and imperial armies passchendaele film, a canadian film paschendale song, a 2003 song by iron maiden from dance of death passchendaele, nova scotia paschendale, victoria, a locality in australia passchendaele, a village in granite belt area of queensland, australia.
The third battle of ypres, also known as the battle of passchendaele, was a campaign of the first world war, fought by the allies against the german empire. A movie based on the famous first world war battle heroically ought by 50,000 canadians in the bloodied fields of ypres, belgium, in 1917. Jul 30, 2017 events began on the eve of the anniversary of the start of the battle which lasted over three months and claimed more than 500,000 lives. However, the movie still suffers from bad dialogue, throwing in ridiculous symbolism as well. Ever since 1917, passchendaele has been a byword for the horror of the great war. What is the historical significance of passchendaele. General haig was criticized for his persistence in spite of the fatigue of his men. Dc extended universe wiki is a fandom movies community.
Called mmp17 for short, the museum is housed in the attractive zonnebeke chateau. Battle of passchendaele july 31november 6, 1917, world war i battle that embodied the senseless slaughter of the western front. In the battle of passchendaele canadian soldiers succeeded in the face of incredible challenges and showed that they could stand up to the imperial german army. Soldiers pictured during the first world wars battle of passchendaele. The battle of passchendaele 100th anniversary of the great war documentary timeline. Two of these men, mckenzie and robertson, sadly lost their lives in the battle. The film, which was shot in calgary, alberta, fort. The tyne cot cemetery in passchendaele, belgium pictured in an undated photo taken either during or after the passchendaele battle. Im a fan of war movies, and it was this fact that led me to first watch passchendaele. Paul gross, who directs as well as plays dunne, used wwi photos to recreate the battle field. It is one of the few movies that showcase the battles canadians fought in. The german fourth army held off the main british advance and restricted the british to small gains on the left of the line. The allied victory was achieved at enormous cost for a piece of ground that would be vacated the next year. This disease is enhanced by fungus and other dirty bacteria.
Passchendaele internet movie firearms database guns in. According to martin marix evans passchendaele and the the battles of ypres 191418, during the poelcapelle battle in early october, sergeant t berry of 1 rifle brigade was alerted to the plight of one wounded man who appeared to have sought shelter in a shell hole. Dec 23, 2016 the battle of passchendaele is shown with as much accuracy as possible. This snippet of the movie passchendaele, shows the circumstances of soldiers fighting in the battle of passchendaele and the conditions they had to fight through. Whilst the battle sequences are reasonably accomplished the rest of the film is pretty terrible. Few battles encapsulate world war one better than the battle of passchendaele. Canadas first big budget war movie effort, the film follows canadian sergeant michael dunne of the 10th battalion cef during the battle of passchendaele and while recruiting on the home front. Unfortunately, the scenes on the homefront just drag. Battle of passchendaele 1917 summary 3rd battle of ypres. Passchendaele is a map featured in the battlefield 1. The british expeditionary force lost 310,000 soldiers. The making of passchendaele paul gross remembers the moment distinctly. The making of passchendaele the canadian encyclopedia.
At the beginning of the movie a few facts pop up on the screen, and then we are taken to. Although, not having watched the movie myself, one can only assume the book could not be any better than the movie. In canada, meanwhile, paul gross launches passchendaele, his strained but valiant attempt to honour canadian heroism in the first world war. It is a love story not so cleverly disguised as a war movie. I learned more about how foolish the commanders were in using 19th century battle tactics to fight a modern. The script is so cheesy and bad that even james cameron would say. The first battle of passchendaele took place on 12 october 1917 during the first world war, in the ypres salient on the western front. Passchendaele is a film directed by paul gross with paul gross, caroline dhavernas, gil bellows, joe dinicol, year. Tanks were effective battle tools in some cases, depending on the terrain they were in.
He was a 16yearold kid, fishing for pike with his grandfather on a lake in southern alberta. The battle of passchendaele 100th anniversary of the great war documentary timeline duration. Passchendaele is a throwback to the kind of war movies made by john. Passchendaele is a movie set in world war one, as history enthusiasts may know.
It is a story of passion, courage and dedication, showing the heroism of those that fought in battle. Passchendaeles untold army of women nurses bbc news. The battle of passchendaele is shown with as much accuracy as possible. The scars that the region still bears are illustrated by a collection of important memorial sites and historic photographs. The battlefield and the battlefield fighting come across as gritty and authentic, and the movie finally has a theatrical feeling to it. The battle of passchendaele is one of the deadliest battles in history. His preparations ready, currie launched a deliberate or setpiece attack on 26 october, the first of four phases in a battle he estimated might cost 16,000 canadians killed or wounded. Set during the height of the first world war, passchendaele tells the story of sergeant michael dunne paul gross, a soldier who is brutally wounded in france and returns to calgary emotionally and physically scarred. The second half of the movie moving to the passchendaele battlefields is a bit more successful than the first half. Passchendaele is less about passchendaele and more of a love story. Passchendaele is a solid antiwar film with a romantic subplot that does nothing to detract from the movie as a whole. Apocalypse expansion the map is set during the infamous battle of passchendaele, also known as the third battle of ypres.
Michael and david, like thousands of canadians, are sent to fight in the third battle of ypres, a battle against impossible odds, commonly known as passchendaele. The characters who act out their personal conflicts in canada end up at passchendaele within a few feet of one another. The name, along with the somme, has come to symbolise the great war for many. The american agent steve trevor participated to the battle and survived it. The canadian corps entered the battle of passchendaele in october 1917 after a largely successful spring and summer of victories at vimy and hill 70. It has been 100 years since the start of wwi and i enjoyed this movie. The christ symbolism is a writerdirectors excess, rightly criticized. Passchendaele is a 2008 canadian war film, written, coproduced, directed by, and starring paul gross. The third battle of ypres is launched by britain to take control of. The germans atop passchendaele ridge fired continuously on these efforts, killing or wounding hundreds. When sergeant michael dunne paul gross, gunless is wounded in battle during. On this day in 1917 26 october, the canadians launch their attack on passchendaele. It hindered the plans of attack for the soldiers approaching the enemy lines.
It is basically a tv movie with a decent budget but sadly all that money has gone on the occasional action set piece rather. What makes it a powerful and engaging way to begin the film. The battle of passchendaele historical sheets the first. The third battle of ypres, known in later years as passchendaele, was not as bloody as the somme the year before, but would achieve its own notoriety. Lees ons privacybeleid voor meer informatie over hoe moviemeter met je privacy omgaat. The battle was fought for control of the village of passchendaele a village is near t. For example, when tanks were brought in to attempt to break the stalemate at passchendaele, they simply got stuck in the thick mud and had very little effect. Written, produced and directed by due south actor paul gross who also stars in the lead role, the film follows a war veteran who. The opening scene of the movie was a flashback of the main characters time at war. The battle of passchendaele may be one of the contexts surrounding the characters, but it is the characters that predominate the emotional ebb and flow of the film. Allied troops were exhausted and morale had fallen. The 100th anniversary of the battle of passchendaele the. Meeting at chantilly, france, in november 1916, allied leaders discussed plans for the upcoming year.
The germans were using this coast as bases for their submarine offensive against british seaborne trade. It is brought on by the constant exposure of your foot to water or wet conditions. Heavy rain and mud again made movement difficult and little artillery could be brought closer to the front. The attack at passchendaele was sir douglas haigs attempt to break through flanders. New zealands blackest day at passchendaele nzhistory. The germans lost about 260,000 soldiers for a total of more than 570,000 lives in one battle. This infection was common throughout world war i, especially throughout the battle of passchendaele because of the heavy and constant rain that bombarded majority of passchendaele s land. What took place was officially known as the third battle of ypres, but history recalls the horror in one word. This movie is amazing in that it is a war epic quite literally made by one man, paul gross. While in the military hospital in calgary, he meets sarah caroline dhavernas, a mysterious and attractive nurse. In terms of lives lost in a single day, the failed attack on bellevue spur on 12 october was probably the greatest disaster in new zealands history. This sad battle, if it even can be called that, deserves a better telling. Released to the general public on october 17, 2008, it was the most expensive movie. The battle took place on the ypres salient on the western front, in belgium, where german and allied armies had been deadlocked for three years.
A copy of this newspaper can be obtained from historic newspapers. The battle of passchendaele half a million men from. A selfdrive tour around this small area of flanders, allows you to explore the area behind the lines in poperinge as well as where it happened, visit some of the cemeteries and find out about the battle of passchendaele in passchendaele memorial museum 1917. The battle of passchendaele occurred 31 july 6 november 1917, but it was the site of heavy fighting throughout ww1. The battle took place on the western front, from july to november 1917, for control of the ridges south and east of the belgian city of ypres in west flanders, as part of a strategy decided by the allies at conferences in november 1916 and may 1917.
Land battles passchendaele canada and the first world war. Officially known as the third battle of ypres, passchendaele became infamous not only for the scale of casualties, but also for the mud. Australian war memorial the aim was to capture high. The battle of passchendaele begins the british commanderinchief, sir douglas haig, led the british army as they began their attack on the belgian coast.
This was how minnie wood, a 36yearold matron, comforted the parents of one of her young nurses, nellie spindler, who was killed by a shell during the first world wars battle of passchendaele in. Mar 18, 2019 the battle of passchendaele was fought july 31 to november 6, 1917, during world war i 19141918. Passchendaele became a pile of mud and some soldiers even ruled the mud to be more of an enemy than their actual enemies. Canada and the battle of passchendaele the canadian. Day by day description of battle with maps battle of passchendaele at the internet movie database canadian made movie of the battle historical film documents on the battles of ypres at. Passchendaele film passchendaele is a 2008 canadian war film, written, coproduced, directed by, and starring paul gross. The first battle of passchendaele on 12 october was another allied attempt to gain ground around passchendaele. The battle of passchendaele or the 3rd battle of ypres was a battle that had taken place on the village of passchendaele, though strategically inconclusive, the battle of pachendaele was a tactical victory to the allied army, as the germans had taken unraplaceable losses. Although passchendaele is a war movie, most of the story takes place in alberta, presumably because the budget could only afford one battle sequence. Passchendaele 2008 is a canadian film set during the events of the battle of passchendaele during world war i. Toronto international film festival, opening night toronto the raison detre for passchendaele is a savage world war i battle by that. World history archive alamy german and british forces became locked in a muddrenched stalemate for a month and a half, with australian and new zealand divisions.
The battle of passchendaele has come to symbolise the horrors and the great human costs associated with the major battles of the first world war. The allies objective in the summer of 1917 was to break through the german defenses, seize the highlands of passchendaele ridge and from there, capture the germanoccupied. The battle of passchendaele by ben johnson on 6th november 1917, after three months of fierce fighting, british and canadian forces finally took control of the tiny village of passchendaele in the west flanders region of belgium, so ending one of the bloodiest battles of world war i. Battle of passchendaele timeline timetoast timelines. The duke and duchess of cambridge attended the last post ceremony at the menin gate in ypres, which has taken place every night since 1928. In this activity you will examine canadas contribution at the battle of passchendaele and view a major film depicting the event, as well as answering questions based upon the film. Ypres was the principal town within a salient or bulge in.
Passchendaele is a 2008 world war i film that is the brainchild of directorwriterstar paul gross. The battle of passchendaele was a long battle occurred during world war i in passchendaele, belgium. The efforts of all these men were truly remarkable, but it has been said that the battle of passchendaele could not have been won if it were not for the heroic actions of major george pearkes of the 5 th canadian mounted rifles. The daily mirror reporting the battle of passchendaele 6th september, 1917. This is a portrayal of human beings fallible human beingswho are thrust onto the battlefield abroad and at home while still remaining human. The film, which was shot in calgary, alberta, fort macleod, alberta, and in belgium, focuses on the experiences of a canadian soldier, michael dunne, at the battle of passchendaele, also known as the third battle of ypres. Oct 17, 2008 the second half of the movie moving to the passchendaele battlefields is a bit more successful than the first half. Gross, wrote, solicited funding, produced, directed, starred, and even wrote the song after the war for this movie. The battle of passchendaele is commonly remembered for the heavy rains, mud and barbed wire which created a very dangerous and unhygienic environment for soldiers to live in affecting the physical appearance of the men as described by lieutenant sheriff below.
601 1299 21 1291 847 459 284 1240 512 279 948 1424 823 752 1026 1039 657 1070 342 982 1464 1443 1452 779 1248 343 1397 1331 547 1306 1115 95 1057 596 206 1114