Intro & Outro - The World At War

The World At War is a 26 part series offering a comprehensive history of the second world war, and the years leading up to it. Narrated by Laurence Olivier, the series has a particular tone.

Here I'm specifically looking at the intro and outro sequences, scored by Carl Davis, and how the rousing images and music bookend each episode.

[bashisobsolete.pythonismyn]

By the time the war was over, my grandparents generation were mostly murdered. My family tree has dozens of hanging branches. Ordinarily, It's not something I feel personally as it was well before my time. However that documentary and that ending gets me in the feels. It allows me to feel that I am the product of great suffering and endurance. That I can be grateful to be alive in this part of the world during peacetime.

[battra]

"Down this road on a summer day in 1944, the soldiers came. Nobody lives here now. They stayed only a few hours. When they had gone, the community, which had lived for a thousand years, was dead."

[IDaveCouch]

It's the quintessential World War Two documentary. The intro and outro never cease to give me goosebumps and or makes me cry.

[SHINYREDBULLETS]

"the outro music.. a catharsis.. " - absolutely the most on-point statement. After a full episode of borderline clinical, cold portrayals of the events, the sudden change of tone, the *permission* it grants to allow the viewer to emotionally experience what they've absorbed, is what makes The World At War one of the most impactful documentary series ever

[E-stylz-]

When I was a boy in the early 70's this was one of the shows that changed my life and view of our world.

[StreetsOfVancouverChannel]

The entire series was painstakingly remastered a few years back and released in Blu-ray format... **HIGHLY RECOMMENDED**

[DeltaAssaultGaming]

Lol loved that Prince Andrew snipe at the end.

[curiousworld]

What a fantastic documentary series. And, it was made back in the early '70s, when many of the people in charge were still alive, which was very helpful in understanding why and how decisions were made and actions taken.

[Fortigurn]

This is the greatest documentary series ever. It's horrifying, terrifying, brilliantly informative, and utterly sobering. The tone is absolutely on point every step of the way.

[chrislondo]

Out of all the World War II documentaries out there. This is probably the best that’s ever been made.

[traceyreid]

I was 9 when this first aired on TV... It was compelling even for me as a child. When I hear the music now I get an overwhelming sensation of sadness as it always makes me think of the children's faces in the title sequence.

[Garylpool]

That haunting look in the eyes of children in the opening titles was so powerful when I first saw them and still is today

[ginghamt.c.]

I honestly believe this was Lawrence Olivier's finest hour ; He uses his FULL acting range to powerfully convey emotion. For instance, a very soft, fatherly tone on occasion, and on others, where needed, the full "Richard III" to to make a cold, deadly point. He had me gripped, age 9, along with the haunting theme music. Modern narrators could learn a thing or two...

[me-uslw]

Quite simply a stunning piece of television documentary making. A real Must watch

[NathanLindsay]

Hey, loved the vid. Also, that kid in the intro and thumbnail is not dead, he’s my Grandfather. Paul Kirk. He has two children (my mother and Uncle). He was born in 1939 in Bath (England), and moved to Australia when my mother was 6yo and Uncle 2yo. Google ‘Paul Kirk Snake man’, thats him now. A happy and very healthy 80yo old man. He lives in Dubbo, regional NSW, with his wife (my grandmother). You cannot understand my shock when I saw his picture in my subscription list. Thank you for the video.

[Ryoufriggingserious]

That intro haunted me when i was young. Dam it, it still does!

[julianraiders]

I remember watching this in the early 80s when it came on Australian TV for the first time, the sound tracks is without doubt the most memorable part of it, then the narration, and the burning flames of the intro.

[charles]

It still gives me chills...anytime I hear Thames T.V. station theme, I hear Neville Chamberlin's radio broadcast in my head "and consequently this country is at war with Germany" and then the flames burst upon the screen and that forlorn Word at War theme plays. It was seared into my grade school brain...

[MrSteveC]

Best war doc ever made and all 26 full length episodes are on Daily Motion, in case anyone is interested.

[silverspike]

God I adored this series. Made a great impact on me as a teenager and the haunting opening titles still do. To use that well used phrase they don't make them like this anymore. Proper grown up telly for those who actually have a brain.