War Horse

[sigp220.45]

I'm watching War Horse (2011) again. I love this move.

It has everything. WWI, horses, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

It seems to be one of Spielberg's lesser films, but other than Schindler's List, it is my favorite.

The scene where the Brits and the Krauts work together to free Joey the horse from the barbed wire in no-mans-land gets me every time.

 

[Rustyt1953]

I, too, really like this movie. I don't see how anyone could watch the scene you are referring to and not be moved.

 

[tlawler]

The scene where the Brits and the Krauts work together to free Joey the horse from the barbed wire in no-mans-land gets me every time.

I love that part too. Especially when they ask for wire cutters and about 20 pairs come arcing up from the German trench.

Great movie. Now I want to watch it again.


ETA: Dang, just checked netflix and it’s not on there.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I need to see War Horse.

Please forgive my plug for Peter Jackson's WWI documentary, "They Shall Not Grow Old". It was the best thing that I have seen at the theater for some time. After three hours, I still wanted more. It focuses on the life of British soldiers in WWI. They did a great job with the old footage and used lip readers and military records to add the voices and comparable weapons for the sound. The narration was from recordings of WWI veterans. They even got the male staff at the British New Zealand embassy to sing a good version of Mademoiselle from Armentieres. Please pardon my intrusion.

 

[Rudi]

I enjoyed War Horse as well. Lots of correct details. I have read that it was a "box office flop". I love being the oddball.

 

[rockquarry]

I saw this several years ago; perhaps worth watching once. I'd call it a mediocre movie.

 

[Texas Star]

Haven't seen it and the plot seems a little childish, like an emotional film meant for women and children. If I can see it for free, I may. My Pisces brother might like it, although he isn't big on war films. "We Were Soldiers" just about astounded him. My son may have seen,"War Horse."

I do like that the captain in the photo has the correct M-1912 cavalry saber. The somewhat plainer enlisted version was adopted in 1908. I've handled one of fairly recent make by Wilkinson Sword. It was made for mounted use, the blade able to reach down from a horse and stab an enemy. On foot, the shorter Officer's Infantry sword of 1897 handles better.

I think the British cavalry sword of 1908 was the inspiration for the Patton sword.

As a cavalry officer, young Winston Churchill once found himself dismounted and going up a hill after Afghan or Pathan tribesmen. He mentioned that his long cavalry sword was in his hand, apparently to remind readers that it was not as handy on foot as was the infantry pattern.
His revolver was a Webley-Wilkinson .455, model of 1892. I think I read this account in his, "The Malakand Field Force". He was Mentioned In Despatches for bravery in that campaign. That was a considerable honor for a young officer.