Oh! What a Lovely War: Special Collector's Edition

Marking the 1969 directorial debut of British actor Lord Richard Attenborough, Oh! What a Lovely War—a musical satire about war (with a strong antiestablishment tone)—was greeted with shrieks of delight by hyperbolic critics, who called it “stupendous,” “exhilarating,” “brilliant,” and “fabulous,” among other things. Today, the film doesn't seem quite as daring as it must have been at the height of the Vietnam War, but it's still quite entertaining, thanks in large measure to the virtuoso performances of an all-star cast that includes Ralph Richardson, Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, John Mills, Ian Holm, Maggie Smith, Michael Redgrave, and his daughter Vanessa. Based on Charles Chilton's play, Oh! What a Lovely War aims its satirical sights at jingoism, false heroics, and stupidity in high places as it tells the story of the humble Smith family, whose sons all go to war and are senselessly killed. Somehow, the film manages to make war seem like a foolish enterprise without denigrating the bravery or sacrifices of those who fought in real-life conflicts, thanks to Attenborough's skillfully maintained balance between sobriety and absurdity. DVD extras include an audio commentary by Attenborough and a three-part documentary about the film and the era it depicts. Recommended. (E. Hulse)