Rent The Battle of Vimy Ridge (1997)
3.9 of 5 from 46 ratings
1h 36min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
For two years, the Germans had been preparing the deep fortifications along Vimy Ridge, a natural defensive position that rose to 500 feet and stretched for five miles North of the French city of Arras. They thought it was impregnable. At dawn on Easter Monday, April 9th 1917, four Canadian divisions went "over the top" and stormed the ridge. Having proved themselves exceptional fighters on The Somme, they had now been tasked with one of the most dangerous offensives of the war. Combining original archive footage with dramatic reconstructions and the letters and diary entries of the soldiers who fought there, 'Vimy Ridge' is a meticulously detailed and informative account of the preparations for the battle, the assault itself and its aftermath. Vimy Ridge was no ordinary battle. Indeed it was the most rehearsed battle in military history, meticulously planned by two quite exceptional Allied commanders, Lt. General Julian Byng and General Arthur Currie. For once, every soldier knew the plan and his own map of the battleground. Every soldier had rehearsed "The Vimy Glide", advancing at just the right speed to keep behind the rolling barrage. New tactics were evolved for the battle which have since become part of standard military planning. This extra-length video covers these extraordinary new battlefield developments in full as well as looking at the use of tunnels at Vimy Ridge, commando-style trench raids, snipers, artillery suppression and the air war over the Ridge. Authoritative, exciting and compelling, it is one of the finest documentaries ever made about the Great War. - Actors:
- Craig Williams, Lt. General Julian Byng, General Arthur Currie
- Directors:
- John Bradshaw
- Producers:
- Don Haig, Kenneth Hirsch, Deanne Judson, Richard Nielsen, Doug Steeden
- Narrated By:
- Paul Gross
- Writers:
- Richard Nielsen, James R. Wallen
- Studio:
- Simply Home Entertainement
- Genres:
- Children & Family, Documentary, Special Interest
- Countries:
- Canada
