heresmo

... that it's on again now - even as I post? OK it's on every year, but is that really an excuse for broadcasting it yet again? In today's world? where none of it is relevant...

Makes me cross.

Mo

__________________

RADIOTWO

Whats not relevent ?

Radiotwo

heresmo

Latitude of movement, no cameras, likelihood of non-detection - prisoner escape? I don't thnk so.

More particularly, it refers to Germany as the enemy - which they are not in today's world (they are EU's presidency from today).

Brits coming out on top? Does not compute in the roles that our troups are playing as that is not the intention; it will be good if they come out alive though.

Mo

__________________

Kandy

There wouldn't be many films you could show if being anachronistic/unrealistic etc. ruled them out. It is taking the p though, the frequency with which these 'classics' are trotted out.

Zulu was on again too, interesting in that we English have learnt nothing in nearly 130 years, but at least we can declare 'our boys' heroes and suspend sympathy for the 'enemy'.

Chris.G

Have not seen "The Towering Inferno" this year, another Christmas regular.

akron

What is wrong with films that celebrate our Nations history? Personally I have no problem with them. Or we could live in a fantasy world and pretend it all never happened?

Kentish

Change chanel, or turn the tv off.

__________________
Andy

Owner of a sense of humour.

blackmagic

I think we need to remember our history and the sacrifices that our forces and our allies made over 60 years ago, this is just another way of doing it. Try telling the veterans that survived and lost comerades that it is now not relevant and see what kind of response you get from them. As mentioned above, if you dont like it change channel.
Those who do not remember the past are condemned to re live it.

fatbob

deleted

heresmo

I suppose my argument is that it isn't representative of prisoners of war, probably on any side of any war at any time. Certainly not from what my dad told me anyway. It's not put out as a "learn history" programme - it's put out as "entertainment" every Xmas - and that's what I don't understand, hence original post.

Yes, I know I could switch it off. It's even more strange that it was put on by the BBC though IMO - as if the right hand (as world reporter) didn't know what the left hand (as Goodness knows what) was doing.

Mo

__________________

Kandy

Oh well, Easter Eggs in the shops now, must be time to show ...................................Escape to Victory

yashicamat

For what it's worth, still one of my favourite films.

__________________
Rob

Nissan Primera GT in Silver
'56 Octy 2 2.0TDi Elegance . . . also gone but not forgotten
2002 Fabia 1.9TDi . . . . gone but not forgotten

http://uk.youtube.com/yashicamatonline

tfboy

The Great Escape was on?!? Wow, I wouldn't have guessed. It's either that or Bridge over the river Kwai or the Dirty Dozen.

I've given up on war films which tend to tell a story and make us believe that that's what really happened. Just take U576 as an example. The next thing we'll hear is a new film picturing how the second world war ended when the Brits dropped bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Sorry for the rant. It just gets me how kids today watch the war fillums they see on TV and take them as historic fact.

__________________
Xavier

heresmo

I believe one of the reasons Star Trek became and remained popular was because the writers could take any situation which paralleled current thinking, whether it be regarding enemies, political correctness (whatever) and were able to display it in a nameless and timeless fashion.

Star Trek also had a mix of "we win over adversity / evil" and also "meeting of minds" reflecting the wishes of those who believe in amelioration and negotiation.

Perhaps Star Trek episodes will be our history lessons of the future if we look at conflicts around the world and how they were dealt with (interventionist or lack of intervention), for better or worse.

That's probably a bit serious, but I suppose it serves to emphasise that no single attitude can be correct depending on the circumstances.

Regards
Mo

__________________

S41NT

Just watch something else.
You never know, you have to watch it again in case more of them escape this time

__________________
Present: Octavia II vRS Diesel 170 CR, Race Blue.
Gone but not forgotten: Fabia vRS, Black,OEM Armrest, OEM Front&Rear CupHolders, OctyII vRS Badge Central.

heresmo

I didn't switch it on as I've already seen it I recall the spoof of the soldiers standing in a line and the one who escaped being made up from a turnip head, uniform and shoulder supports from the two either side and the guards sort of -er- noticed. Can't remember if that was a UK or US spoof though

Re more of them escaping: Is there a computer game out?

Mo

__________________

RobClubley

SWMBO and I were discussing this the other day - they don't seem to trot out the same christmas films here and we were a little bit disappointed as neither of us remembers seeing The Great Escape all the way through!
They did show Four Weddings and a Funeral last night though - still funny, and still has the cheesiest film line in history near the end!!

__________________

Dr Zoidberg

So presumably you'd be against any other film that isn't historically accurate or that doesn't show the world as it currently is?

__________________
Alex

"I laugh in the face of danger, then I hide until it goes away"

www.drzoidberg.co.uk

ZootyRS

Heh. On NYE I turned the TV on just in time to catch the last half hour of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Normally I fall asleep about an hour and a half into it. Was nice to see the end. Maybe one day I can do it all it one sitting

heresmo

Quite the reverse really. We now live in a world with the internet and where most people have access to TV and newspapers of both persuasions (left and right, for and against whichever side). Films made in the war years were blatant unashamed propaganda and those made later were "jolly good adventures" I suppose since the outcome by then had been determined. Both are actually a history lesson in themselves as to the thinking of the time and that put forward at the time.

Going back a step - I originally asked why the film was broadcast around this time every year. Do you know why that is? No-one seems to have come up with an answer yet.

Regards
Mo

__________________

RobClubley

Maybe because it's become a tradition to show it.

Or something

__________________

Mr Grumpy

It's shown because it's already in the archives, so it costs nothing to broadcast, and it appeals to the target audience at the time they broadcast it.
Simple really.

__________________
S50 VRS Number Plate for sale..ffs someone must want it....

Big A

As a massive Steve McQueen fan I think it is an excellent film, although unfortunately it wasn't shown here in Scotland, we got some other rubbish. Good job I have it on DVD

__________________
www.cosmicroughriders.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsRKrTyYqjo click here to see the amazing Cosmic Rough Riders latest video.
"Woodbines a rare wee fag", "G'ees a light, G'ees a light, G'ees a light"

monkeychild

Classic Film end of!!! I guess you are all for them changing the name of Guy Gibsons dog in Dam Busters???? Not PC nowadays is it (even though most gangster rappers say it enough)

__________________
My Brum Brums: 2002 Silver MKI Octy vRS standard apart from an APR R1 DV 2002 1.4 Tdi Polo
My Pedal Pedals: 2008 Gary Fisher Hookooekoo, 2008 Genesis io Singlespeed 2003 Kona Lavadome Single speed goodness

RobClubley

I wonder if Peter Jackson will change its name? I suspect so, can't offend anyone!

__________________