The Way Ahead | David Niven | Classic Drama Movie | Film Noir | British Draftees

The Way Ahead - World W*r II drama that follows a group of British draftees, starting with their rigorous basic training, and ending with their deployment in North Africa.

The Way Ahead (1944)
Director: Carol Reed
Writers: Eric Ambler(original story), Peter Ustinov(screen play)
Stars: David Niven, Stanley Holloway, James Donald
Genre: Drama, War
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English, French, German
Also Known As: The Immortal Battalion
Release Date: 6 June 1944 (UK)
Duration: 114 min
Filming Location: Pirbright Army Camp, Pirbright, Surrey, England, UK

Storyline:
A group of draftees are called up into the infantry during World War II. At first, they appear to be a hopeless bunch, but their Sergeant and Lieutenant have faith in them and mould them into a good team. When they go into action in North Africa, they realize what it's all about.

Reviews:
"This is a film about a seemingly run of the mill sort of group. After the Brits were involved in WWII and saw how bad the going would be, the government was forced to draft men who would traditionally have been exempt. Men who were a bit old or involved with careers that might be deemed 'useful' to the effort were suddenly being called to duty, as times were dire. The beginning of the film shows these men being selected for service.

Unfortunately, this is a rather motley group and they tended to complain quite a bit as well (mostly by Stanley Holloway's character). How they could become a productive unit seemed pretty doubtful and I doubt if such an unimpressive group of men would have been used as actors had this propaganda film been made a few years earlier--when things looked really bad for the British. However, now that the war was appearing win-able, I can understand the choices of actors.

There is nothing particularly magical about any of the film--their selection, their training or their combat experience in North Africa. However, all of it was very well handled and excelled because they tried to make it believable--normal, everyday men rising to the occasion. In many ways, it reminded me of a landlocked version of "In Which We Serve"--with fine acting and writing instead of jingoism and super-human exploits. Very well done.

There are a few interesting actors in the film. Peter Ustinov is in his first film and he plays a French-speaking man. While his French isn't 100% fluid, it was decent and a bit of a surprise. Apparently, he was in real life David Niven's assistant in the British Army and somehow ended up in the film--and thus began his career. Also, Dr. Who fans will appreciate that the Sergeant is played by Dr. #1, William Hartnell.

By the way, this is a little explanation for those who are not British or familiar with British history. Early in the film, someone asks Stanley Holloway's character who he liked in Parliament. Holloway indicates the only one he liked was Guy Fawkes! Fawkes was part of a plot to blow up Parliament in 1605, but was caught and executed--and the Brits celebrate this to this day with Guy Fawkes Day--as day of merry-making, bonfires and fireworks! Obviously Holloway's character wasn't exactly fond of the government, eh?!" -Written by MartinHafer on IMDb.com

Also Known As (AKA):
(original title) The Way Ahead
Belgium (Flemish title) De weg die voor ons ligt
Belgium (French title) Le chemin du devoir
Brazil (alternative title) Caminho das Estrelas
Brazil Têmpera de Aço
Canada (English title) The Way Ahead
Czechoslovakia Cesta vpred
Denmark Vejen frem
Finland Kohtalon miehiä
France L'héroïque parade
Greece (transliterated title) O dromos pros ti doxa
Italy La via della gloria
Japan (Japanese title) 最後の突撃（1944）
Netherlands De weg die voor ons ligt
Norway Veien fram
Poland Droga przed nami
Portugal O 7º. de Infantaria
Romania Calea înainte
Soviet Union (Russian title) Путь вперед
Spain Hacia adelante
Sweden Ödets män
Turkey (Turkish title) İleri - Ölmek Var, Dönmek Yok
UK The Way Ahead
USA (cut version) The Immortal Battalion
USA The Way Ahead
West Germany (alternative title) Der Weg nach vorn

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