Band of Brothers series

[kzollitsch]

And on the special features of the blu-ray edition, the veterans apparently provide an alternate audio track.

In other words, the HBO folks found a way to make me buy it a second time!

The blu-ray is fantastic. I picked it up a couple of weeks ago. I'm watching everything and they have the option of a timeline along the bottom so you can see the exact date of what they're showing and they have also included facts on the military and soldiers, maps, and original war news clips. Haven't gotten to the veteren's takes yet.

I highly recommend it even if you already had the DVD (which I did), plus it just looks great in high def.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks for the info Jack. Well done for getting involved. It sounds like it will be a great DVD.

Were these guys from Easy Comapnay well known to the public before the Amrose Book and the TV series, or have they suddenly found themselves the centre of attention late in life? I suspect the latter.

There are of course thousands of veterans around the world who never get the recognition that these men have had, I wish there was money and enthusiam enough to make a similarstyle series on some of New Zealand's fine men and women who did their bit in the war effort. Sadly there doesn't seem to be, even the Charles Upham VC* film has folded due to lack of funding. But I think it's wonderful that the Easy Company men have been immortalised in such a great way and in a sense they represent all the other Allied men who fought for freedom against the Axis.

[Hal B]

IMHO, BOB is with-out a doubt the best series and best war story ever produced. The attention to detail is superb and it will be tough for another show to surpass it.

A great tribute to all the vets of WWII!

[CAPFlyer]

I have to say the casting looks excellent already. I personally can't think of anyone (that wouldn't cost the entire production cost...times 3...) to play "Chesty" Puller better than Bill Sadler. The guy just exudes the kind of imposing presence and Marine attitude that "Chesty" was famous for. In addition, he makes for a very convincing Puller during WWII when he was a bit thinner than on the more famous images of him (which were taken during Korea).

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

Please pray for Darrel "Shifty" Powers , who passed away late last night.

He was one of the best. May he rest in peace.

[John Dupre]

""Were these guys from Easy Comapnay well known to the public before the Amrose Book and the TV series, or have they suddenly found themselves the centre of attention late in life? I suspect the latter.""

I am a pretty complete history and WW2 buff, though by no means an expert on any particular unit, and I can say that I had never heard of the men of Easy company in any distinct way before Band of Brothers. I read all of the Cornelius Ryan books, [/i] The Longest Day, A Bridge Too Far etc. [i] I will have to revisit his books and see if the Easy Co. men are mentioned.

[mustangdriver]

Please pray for Darrel "Shifty" Powers , who passed away late last night.

He was one of the best. May he rest in peace.

That is sad. I will think of him today.

[Holedigger]

I assume that they had some historian(s) sitting in on production to help get the series made. Is there a directors cut or other version DVD (BoB) with the historians Point of View? I really enjoyed the DVD "The Alamo" the track with the films two historians bantering back and forth over the how and whys of the film. Gave great insights. Sorry, no airplanes in that film, but they did have rockets!

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

""Were these guys from Easy Comapnay well known to the public before the Amrose Book and the TV series, or have they suddenly found themselves the centre of attention late in life? I suspect the latter.""

I am a pretty complete history and WW2 buff, though by no means an expert on any particular unit, and I can say that I had never heard of the men of Easy company in any distinct way before Band of Brothers. I read all of the Cornelius Ryan books, [/i] The Longest Day, A Bridge Too Far etc. [i] I will have to revisit his books and see if the Easy Co. men are mentioned.

You won't find them in any of Corneilius Ryans books. Stepehen Ambrose was a neighbor of Walter "Smokey" Gordons'. The Easy reunion was in New Orleans and Mr Gordon invited teh author to come to it. Dr Ambrose was beggining work on what was to become D-Day. he had written Pegusus Bridge as an exercise for the D-Day opus.

A company of Paratroopers who jumped on D-Day was just what Ambrose was looking for.

He was amazed to find a company of men who encompassed the whole ETO. From Omaha to Bertchesgaden these men took part in every phase of the campaign.

Major Winters had kept a meticulous record of war and had all the company records and years of letters from the men. These were from only one company out of the 9 infantry companies in the 506th PIR. The basis for a book was established just by the depth of the Major's records. Meeting the men and the personal letters gave Ambrose a trove of material to personalize the narrative.

I won't go into it , but the good Dr A, had a nack of finding material that he could use as a "Blueprint" for his work. The combination along with the accessibility of the men and written narrative of Major Winters made his efforts much easier.

Thus began the start of the Easy saga. Band of Brothers the book came out in 1992. The story if Dick Winters and Easy is mentioned in the major works about the 101st since the end of WW2. SLA Marshall interviewed the major in Normandy in 1944 and mentions the Brecort Mannor assault in "Night drop", his 1962 work about the airborne invasion of Normandy. The narrative by Ambrose much like Connie Ryans, is easier to read.

The 1949 book called "Rendevous with Destiny" By Rappport and Norwood also has intel about the company's exploits

the story was always out there , but it took Tom Hanks to bring it to fruition form his experience in developing Saving Private Ryan.

The Niland story was a personal one to Don Malarky of Easy. He was best friends with Skip Muck who grew up with the Niland family. The research for Ryan led to the idea of a bigger story. From there the mini series was an no brainer , Just as Appolo 13 led to the Space miniseries by Hanks so did Private Ryan lead to BOB.

Thats it in a nutshell.

[vg-photo]

I agree with the others about the series. It is fantastic and the acting and cinematography were first rate. In the episode "Day of Days", during the battle of Brecourt Manor, the handheld camera running along with the team really made you feel like you were in the thick of the action.

The casting, acting and everything else makes this one a must have in your collection. I look forward to the Pacific series. I had heard a rumor about it just after Band of Brothers was released, then nothing. Glad to hear that it is near.

[Jerry O'Neill]

RIP "Shifty".

[Lightjug]

RIP "Shifty".

Ditto. One of things I LOVED about Band of Brothers was the preface with the veterens and... well... in the REMOTE case that anyone reading this has not seen the DVDs I'll refrain form saying anymore.
I have been through the set three times and it does get better each time.

[Ian Quinn]

If you are interested click on the link and scroll down to the photos I took when I flew into Upottery on the 7th...this is where they embarked for Normandy...

http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.o ... 3&start=15

They go to a lot of trouble to preserve this field and have the co-operation of the three farmers that own sections of it.

Hope the kid in the photo made it...

[Jerry O'Neill]

I don't think there will ever be a "Directors Cut" nor a "Commentary Track" version on future BOB DVD sets. Spielberg dosen't believe in them and only wants you to see the finished product as he meant it to be seen. He doesn't mind doing the "Making of" segments, but nothing extra while watching the film.
Sad, because I really like to hear a discussion about the film while it's going on. One of the best is "Apollo 13". It's got Ron Howard on one track and a second track with Jim and Marylin Lovell.
Jerry

[Jiggersfromsphilly]

RIP "Shifty".

Ditto. One of things I LOVED about Band of Brothers was the preface with the veterens and... well... in the REMOTE case that anyone reading this has not seen the DVDs I'll refrain form saying anymore.
I have been through the set three times and it does get better each time.

Tom Hanks just took 8 of the Easy vets to Normandy for teh 65th Anniversary. They interviewed them much like they did for We Stand Alone Together, and had it filmed for an upcommming documentary.