Oh! What a Lovely War (1969)
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- G
- 2h 24min
- Comedy, Musical
- 03 Oct 1969 (USA)
- Movie
The working-class Smiths change their initially sunny views on World War I after the three boys of the family witness the harsh reality of trench warfare.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Won 5 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 3 wins & 8 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Wendy Allnutt | ... |
Florence Victoria 'Flo' Smith
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Colin Farrell | ... |
Harry Arnold Smith
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Malcolm McFee | ... |
Frederick Percy 'Freddie' Smith
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John Rae | ... |
Grandpa Smith
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| Corin Redgrave | ... |
Bertram Biddle 'Bertie' Smith
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| Maurice Roëves | ... |
George Patrick Michael Smith
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| Paul Shelley | ... |
Jack Henry Smith
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Kim Smith | ... |
Richard 'Dickie' Smith
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| Angela Thorne | ... |
Elizabeth May 'Betty' Smith
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| Mary Wimbush | ... |
Mary Emma Smith
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| Vincent Ball | ... |
Australian Soldier
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Pia Colombo | ... |
Estaminet Singer
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| Paul Daneman | ... |
Czar Nicholas II
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| Isabel Dean | ... |
Sir John French's Lady
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| Christian Doermer | ... |
Fritz
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| Robert Flemyng | ... |
Major Mallory - Staff Officer in Gassed Trench
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| Meriel Forbes | ... |
Lady Pamela Grey
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| Ian Holm | ... |
President Raymond Poincaré
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| David Lodge | ... |
Recruiting Sergeant at Music Hall
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| Joe Melia | ... |
The Photographer
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| Guy Middleton | ... |
General Sir William Robertson
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| Juliet Mills | ... |
Nurse
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| Nanette Newman | ... |
Nurse
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| Cecil Parker | ... |
Sir John
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| Natasha Parry | ... |
Sir William Robertson's Lady
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| Gerald Sim | ... |
Chaplain
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| Thorley Walters | ... |
Staff Officer in Ballroom
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| Anthony Ainley | ... |
3rd Aide
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| Penelope Allen | ... |
Solo Chorus Girl
(as Penny Allen)
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Maurice Arthur | ... |
Soldier Singer at Chaplain's Address
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Freddie Ascott | ... |
'Whizzbang' Soldier
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| Michael Bates | ... |
Drunk Lance Corporal
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Fanny Carby | ... |
Mill Girl
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Cecilia Darby | ... |
Sir Henry Wilson's Lady
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| Geoffrey Davies | ... |
Aide to Field-Marshal Haig
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| Edward Fox | ... |
Aide to Field-Marshal Haig
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George Ghent | ... |
Heckler at Pankhurst Speech
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| Peter Gilmore | ... |
Private Burgess
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| Ben Howard | ... |
Private Garbett
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| Norman Jones | ... |
Scottish Soldier
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| Paddy Joyce | ... |
Irish Soldier
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| Angus Lennie | ... |
Scottish Soldier
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Harry Locke | ... |
Heckler at Pankhurst Speech
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| Clifford Mollison | ... |
Heckler at Pankhurst Speech
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| Derek Newark | ... |
Shooting Gallery Proprietor
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| John Owens | ... |
Seamus Moore
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Ron Pember | ... |
Corporal at Railway Station
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| Dorothy Reynolds | ... |
Heckler at Pankhurst Speech
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| Norman Shelley | ... |
Staff Officer in Ballroom
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| Marianne Stone | ... |
Mill Girl
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John Trigger | ... |
Officer at Railway Station
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Kathleen Wileman | ... |
Emma Smith - Age 4
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| Dirk Bogarde | ... |
Stephen
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| Phyllis Calvert | ... |
Lady Dorothy Haig
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| Jean-Pierre Cassel | ... |
French Colonel
(as Jean Pierre Cassel)
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| John Clements | ... |
General Helmuth von Moltke
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| John Gielgud | ... |
Count Leopold von Berchtold
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| Jack Hawkins | ... |
Emperor Franz Joseph
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| Kenneth More | ... |
Kaiser Wilhelm II
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| Laurence Olivier | ... |
Field-Marshal Sir John French
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| Michael Redgrave | ... |
General Sir Henry Wilson
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| Vanessa Redgrave | ... |
Sylvia Pankhurst
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| Ralph Richardson | ... |
Sir Edward Grey
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| Maggie Smith | ... |
Music Hall Star
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| Susannah York | ... |
Eleanor
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| John Mills | ... |
Field-Marshal Sir Douglas Haig
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Band of the Irish Guards | ... |
Military Band in Brighton
(as The Band of the Irish Guards)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Pamela Abbott | ... |
Czarina Alexandra (uncredited)
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Jack Armstrong | ... |
British Officer (uncredited)
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| Charlotte Attenborough | ... |
Emma Smith - Age 8 (uncredited)
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Roy Beck | ... |
American GI (uncredited)
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Annie Bee | ... |
Girl Friend in 'Goodbyee' (uncredited)
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| Norman Bird | ... |
Training Sergeant (uncredited)
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Joanne Brown | ... |
Singer (uncredited)
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Christopher Cabot | ... |
Soldier in Shell Hole (uncredited)
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| Jeremy Child | ... |
Wealthy Young Man (uncredited)
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Frank Coda | ... |
Soldier in 'Goodbyee' (uncredited)
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Ambrose Coghill | ... |
His Father (uncredited)
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| Kenneth Colley | ... |
Irish Soldier (uncredited)
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Maurice Connor | ... |
New Recruit (uncredited)
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Stella Courtney | ... |
Poincaré's Lady (uncredited)
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Sheila Cox | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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Elizabeth Craven | ... |
Kaiserin Augusta (uncredited)
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| Richard Davies | ... |
Sergeant in Burial Party (uncredited)
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| John Dunn-Hill | ... |
Irish Soldier (uncredited)
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Ray Edwards | ... |
3rd Staff Officer in Ballroom (uncredited)
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| Charles Farrell | ... |
Policeman (uncredited)
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Hermione Farthingale | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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| Frank Forsyth | ... |
President Woodrow Wilson (uncredited)
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Joyce Franklin | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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John Gabriel | ... |
Nikolai Lenin (uncredited)
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Zeph Gladstone | ... |
Sir John's Chauffeuse (uncredited)
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Ruth Gower | ... |
General von Moltke's Lady (uncredited)
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Kim Grant | ... |
Soldier in 'Goodbyee' (uncredited)
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| Carole Gray | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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Paul Hansard | ... |
German Officer (uncredited)
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Kathleen Helme | ... |
Berchtold's Lady (uncredited)
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Richard Howard | ... |
Young Soldier at Mons (uncredited)
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| John Hussey | ... |
Soldier on Balcony (uncredited)
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| David Jason | ... |
Sergeant (uncredited)
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Dinny Jones | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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Lind Joyce | ... |
Scoreboard Girl (uncredited)
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Dolores Judson | ... |
Haig's Girlfriend (uncredited)
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Ruth Kettlewell | ... |
Duchess Sophie (uncredited)
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| Stanley Lebor | ... |
Soldier in Gassed Trench (uncredited)
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Delia Linden | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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Richard Loring | ... |
Soldier in 'Goodbyee' (uncredited)
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| Tom Marshall | ... |
Soldier in 'Goodbyee' (uncredited)
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Stanley McGeagh | ... |
Soldier in Gassed Trench (uncredited)
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Jay McGrath | ... |
British Officer (uncredited)
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Isabelle Metcalfe | ... |
Girl Friend in 'Goodbyee' (uncredited)
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Jenny Morgan | ... |
Girl Friend in 'Goodbyee' (uncredited)
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| Anthony Morton | ... |
Italian Military Attaché (uncredited)
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| Christine Noonan | ... |
Mill Girl (uncredited)
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Wensley Pithey | ... |
Archduke Franz Ferdinand (uncredited)
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| Steve Plytas | ... |
Turkish Military Attaché (uncredited)
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| Andrew Robertson | ... |
2nd Scottish Soldier (uncredited)
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Sue Robinson | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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David Scheuer | ... |
French Soldier (uncredited)
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| Jane Seymour | ... |
Chorus Girl (uncredited)
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| Tina Simmons | ... |
Theatre Guest (uncredited)
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Valerie Smith | ... |
Girl Friend in 'Goodbyee' (uncredited)
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Alecia St Leger | ... |
British Officer's Wife (uncredited)
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| Guy Standeven | ... |
American Officer (uncredited)
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Pippa Steel | ... |
Scoreboard Girl (uncredited)
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P.G. Stephens | ... |
Irish Soldier (uncredited)
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| Tony Thawnton | ... |
Officer on Telephone (uncredited)
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Christian Thorogood | ... |
Irish Soldier (uncredited)
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Brian Tipping | ... |
4th Scottish Soldier (uncredited)
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Colin Vancao | ... |
Officer (uncredited)
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Bette Vivian | ... |
Heckler at Pankhurst Speech (uncredited)
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| Tony Vogel | ... |
German Soldier (uncredited)
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Arthur White | ... |
Sergeant in Dugout (uncredited)
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| Ian Wilson | ... |
Salvation Army (uncredited)
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| Michael Wolf | ... |
German Officer (uncredited)
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| John Woodnutt | ... |
British Officer (uncredited)
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Julia Wright | ... |
Haig's Secretary (uncredited)
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Mary Yeomans | ... |
Scoreboard Girl (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Richard Attenborough | ||
Written by
| Charles Chilton | ... | (based on Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop Production by, and the members of the original cast) |
| Ted Allan | ... | (after a stage treatment by) |
| Len Deighton | ... | (screenplay) (uncredited) |
Produced by
| Richard Attenborough | ... | producer |
| Mac Davidson | ... | associate producer (as Mack Davidson) |
| Len Deighton | ... | producer (uncredited) |
| Brian Duffy | ... | producer |
Cinematography by
| Gerry Turpin | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Kevin Connor | ||
Editorial Department
| Peter Hollywood | ... | assistant editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Miriam Brickman | ||
Production Design by
| Donald M. Ashton | ... | (as Don Ashton) |
Art Direction by
| Harry White | ||
Costume Design by
| Anthony Mendleson | ||
Makeup Department
| Biddy Chrystal | ... | chief hairdresser |
| Stuart Freeborn | ... | makeup supervisor |
Production Management
| John Comfort | ... | production manager |
| Paul Hitchcock | ... | executive in charge of production (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Claude Watson | ... | assistant director |
| Nicolas Hippisley-Coxe | ... | second second assistant director (uncredited) |
| Drummond Riddell | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Ron Baker | ... | property buyer |
| Albert Blackshaw | ... | construction manager |
| Peter James | ... | set dresser |
| Jack Towns | ... | stand-by propertyman |
| Peter Wood | ... | scenic artist |
| Tim Hutchinson | ... | draughtsman (uncredited) |
| Maurice Stewart | ... | props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Tom Buchanan | ... | boom operator |
| Don Challis | ... | sound editor |
| Peter Handford | ... | special sound effects |
| Brian Holland | ... | sound editor |
| Gerry Humphreys | ... | dubbing mixer |
| Simon Kaye | ... | sound mixer |
| Bill Barringer | ... | sound assistant (uncredited) |
| Robin O'Donoghue | ... | assistant dubbing mixer (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Ron Ballanger | ... | special effects |
| Brian Gamby | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| Fred Heather | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
| Garth Inns | ... | special effects (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Fred Anderson | ... | electrical supervisor |
| David Cripps | ... | photographer: title sequence |
| Pat Newman | ... | camera grip |
| Michael Sarafian | ... | camera assistant |
| Ronnie Taylor | ... | camera operator |
| Eddie Collins | ... | clapper loader: second unit (uncredited) |
| Michael Garfath | ... | clapper loader (uncredited) |
| Ian McMillan | ... | camera operator: helicopter (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Brian Owen-Smith | ... | wardrobe master |
| Eileen Sullivan | ... | wardrobe mistress |
Location Management
| Bryan Coates | ... | location manager |
Music Department
| Michael Clifford | ... | music editor |
| E.G. Horabin | ... | director of music: The Orchestra of the Corps of Royal Engineers [Aldershot] (as Captain E. G. Horabin L R A M A R C M p s m R E) |
| C.H. Jaeger | ... | director of music: The Band of the Irish Guards (as Lieut-Colonel C. H. Jaeger O B E Mus Bac L R A M A R C M p s m) |
| Alfred Ralston | ... | composer: incidental music / conductor: incidental music / the songs orchestrated by |
| Eric Tomlinson | ... | music recordist |
Script and Continuity Department
| Ann Skinner | ... | continuity |
Additional Crew
| Douglas Campbell | ... | military adviser (as Major-General Sir Douglas Campbell KBE CB DSO MC) |
| Eleanor Fazan | ... | choreographer |
| Raymond Hawkey | ... | titles designed by |
| Joan Littlewood | ... | producer: Theatre Workshop production |
| Ann M. Paterson | ... | production secretary (as Ann Paterson) |
| May Routh | ... | production research |
| Derek Tarrant | ... | production accountant |
| Ron Bareham | ... | assistant accountant (uncredited) |
| Pam Rose | ... | stand-in/double (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Paramount British Pictures (1969) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Paramount Pictures (1969) (United States) (theatrical) (as Paramount A Gulf+Western Company)
- Les Films Paramount (1969) (France) (theatrical)
- Film AB Paramount (1969) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1969) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Paramount-Films (1970) (Finland) (theatrical)
- TV3 (1990) (Finland) (tv)
- Warner Home Video (2015) (United States) (DVD) (dvdr)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (2020) (Finland) (tv)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- The Engineer-In-Chief Royal Engineers (director of music: Captain E. G. Horabin, L R A M, A R C M, p s m, R E appears by kind permission of)
- The Officer Commanding Irish Guards (director of music: Lieut-Colonel C. H. Jaeger O B E, Mus Bac, L R A M, A R C M, p s m appears by kind permission of)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A movie about World War I based on a stage musical of the same name, portraying the "Game of War", and focusing mainly on the members of the Smith family who go off to war. Much of the action in the movie revolves around the words of the marching songs of the soldiers, and many scenes portray some of the more famous (and infamous) incidents of the war, including the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, the Christmas meeting between British and German soldiers in no-man's-land, and the wiping out by their own side of a force of Irish soldiers newly arrived at the front, after successfully capturing a ridge that had been contested for some time.
Written by Sonya Roberts |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | The ever popular war game with songs battles & a few jokes See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | The song "La Chanson de Craonne" ("Adieu la Vie"), sung by Pia Colombo (Estaminet Singer) in this movie, commemorates a mutiny in 1917 by French troops. Merely singing it was considered an act of mutiny, and it was banned in France until 1974. During the war, a reward of one million francs and immediate honorable release from the Army was offered for the identity of the author, but never claimed. See more » |
| Goofs | Sir Edward Grey (Ralph Richardson) is shown early in the film being accompanied by his wife, described in the credits as Lady Pamela Grey. In fact, Grey did not marry Pamela (nee Wyndham, and the widow of Lord Glenconer) until 1922. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Love Tory: A Film Portrait of Alan Clark (1993). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Oh, It's a Lovely War See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Opening credits prologue: The principal statements made by the historical characters in this film are based on documentary evidence and the words of the songs are those sung by the troops during the First World War See more » |
| Quotes |
Soldier Singer:
It was Christmas Day in the cookhouse, the happiest time of the year, Men's hearts were full of gladness and their bellies full of beer, When up popped Private Shorthouse, his face as bold as brass, He said We don't want your Christmas pudding, you can stick it up your... tidings of co-omfort and joy, comfort and joy, o-oh ti-idings of co-omfort and joy. It was Christmas Day in the harem, the eunuchs were standing 'round, And hundreds of beautiful women were stretched out on the ground, Along came the big bad Sultan, and gazed on his marble halls, He said Whaddya want for Christmas boys, and the eunuchs answered... tidings of co-omfort and joy, comfort and joy, o-oh ti-idings of comfort and joy. See more » |