Outstanding collection of British news reel material
Student of History | La Grange, IL United States | 02/05/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
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This DVD collection, which includes all six volumes of the original VHS release from MPI Media Group, includes a comprehensive selection of British-source news reels and other material. The producer obviously knows his military history and it shows in the diversity of subject matter: everything from World War One veterans suffering from "shell shock", to rare footage (at least to US audiences) of French military operations in Vietnam.
As I mentioned in my other review on "Archives of War," this material is not interpreted via narration and is not a conventional documentary. Rather, it provides teachers and students alike an excellent opportunity to interpret original news reel coverage of warfare in the 20th century. So if you're looking for a program that offers heavy interpretation, then look elsewhere. However, "Archives of War" is valuable as a rich visual supplement for anyone with an interest in military history."