Inspired by this year’s surprise Oscar favorite 1917, we’re digging down into the trenches and slogging through the mud and blood of World War I, with two films centering on young soldiers delivering crucial messages that decide the fates of thousands of other young men. First up this week is Peter Weir’s 1981 film GALLIPOLI, which stars a shockingly young Mel Gibson as one half of a pair of Australian mates who join the war effort out of a mixture of patriotism, pride, and recklessness; we dig into the emotional effects of film’s unusual structure, which saves the wartime action for its final moments, how its Australian provenance makes it stand out among other WWI films, and how it indulges Weir’s affinity for wide open spaces and historical authenticity. Plus, we tackle a listener question about ideal movie-watching conditions whose response may prove the undoing of Scott and Keith’s long and amicable relationship.

Please share your comments, thoughts, and questions about GALLIPOLI, 1917, or anything else in the world of film, by sending an email to [email protected], or leaving a short voicemail at (773) 234-9730.

Show Notes

Works Cited:

• “Before 1917: revisiting the greatest first world war movies,” by Scott Tobias (theguardian.com)

• “The 50 Greatest War Movies Ever Made,” by Keith Phipps (vulture.com)

• Strange Stars: How Science Fiction and Fantasy Transformed Popular Music, by Jason Heller

Outro music: “Adagio in G Minor”

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