A Frenchy reacts to Blackadder goes forth ! Let's see our dear friend Blackadder as he goes forth in the trenches! Original video: • Blackadder goes forth. #blackadder #rowanatkinson #ww1 #humor #bbc #britishhumour
So many but all the appearances of Flasheart are just brilliant. BTW After the first series Ben Elton joined the team of writers and was significant in the change of character for Blackadder himself.
When Blackadder describes the magazine as “soft, strong, and thoroughly absorbent” he’s referencing a 1980s advertisement for toilet paper: “soft, strong, and very, very long”!
8:42 the movie your thinking of is the final scenes of “All Quiet on the Western Front” the original couple not the newest one. After having survived the majority of the war, seen all its horrors and lost the last of his friends, our main character as you said sees a bird and goes to draw it and is sadly killed. - however, it’s also occasionally speculated that he knew the outcome of doing this and done it on purpose as a way of escape as he had already seen the home front and become completely sick of how he was treated there and how nobody seemed to take the hell the soldier went through seriously, just spouting war slogans and propaganda and any time he told the truth of the situation they ignored him or gave him hell for being anti-war.
Thank you very much, I don't think I've seen the film, but I read the book at school. I suspected it was the original reference (I probably saw that scene too at some point) but I wasn't sure
AND--he was a Butterfly collecter, (not a bird fancier, ) and when he attempted to reach out and catch one, he was shot dead. By the way, Hitler banned that film , because it was anti-War.@@buddyhek
For the sake of context, the oft repeated criticism of British and Commonwealth soldiers walking slowly over the battlefield is seldom explained. So, for the sake of balance, I will mention it here. The plan to assault the trenches involved an artillery offensive carried out over a period of days before the infantry were to venture out of our trenches. This offensive, of course, left all the ground in No Mans Land a lethal mass of barbed wire, deep craters, and mud that was pretty much quicksand. The orders for the infantry to walk slowly was so we didn’t lose masses of the soldiers to these dangers before reaching the enemy trenches. The problem was that the German soldiers had retreated into their artillery shelters and, thus, were physical unaffected by the softening up. The artillery stopped. The Germans emerged and re-manned their defence positions. This allowed their machine gun posts to take a terrible advantage of their enemies as they carefully manoeuvred their way through No Mans Land. The Great War was terrible. Blackadder Goes Forth is great, but I do feel for people just coming to the subject a lot of context is missed in being swept up in popular mythology. To help with understanding, I recommend reading, “Mud, Blood and Poppycock: Britain and the Great War” by Gordon Corrigan. If you use Kindle, that version is £1.99 currently. I thoroughly enjoy your reactions to Blackadder. Keep up the excellent work.
From what I've read, this order to march slowly only arrived at certain points in the battle, but it was so symbolic that it was widely reported in the press. As you mention, there was a terrible delay between the bombardment (which had been largely ineffective) and the attack, which allowed the Germans to reorganise and unleash hell on the poor soldiers. Thank you very much for your comment!
@ToonStory-fh4gn in the 1960s universities, In Britain as well as in France, history became viewed through a revisionist Marxist lens which is where the narrative of 'Lions lead by Donkeys' emerged. Haig, French, Foch, Petain all were smeared as butchers who didn't care about casualties. Unfortunately this entered the public conscience with the musical 'oh what a lovely war' which presented the General Staff as utterly incompetent. Unfortunately this was further promulgated by Blackadder 4. General Melchett, despite being one of the great comedy characters of television, bears little or no resemblance to the actual General officers. A commander of his rank would have been stationed at the front, not in a Chateau. And we see from casualty figures that Brigade and Division commanders didn't always escape unharmed the former, Brigadier Generals typically led attacks in person. If not in the first wave, in subsequent ones. Fortunately no serious modern historian of wW1 takes this myth seriously anymore and primary source material has been extensively studied that refutes the 1960s opinion. It will take a while to filter into the public conscience but Blackadder 4, despite being hugely entertaining, is about as historically representative of Ww1 as Braveheart is of the First Scottish War of independence or Shakespeare is about Agincourt and the 100 years war.
The audience laughed so much when Blackadder described the magazine as soft, strong and thoroughly absorbant because earlier, when talking to George, he said that it's good because they have run out of toilet paper. Dare I hope you recorded yourself watching season 1 and maybe there's more Blackadder content coming our way?
Thank you so much, that part of the video killed me with laughter! There will of course be more Blackadder, I'm not sure I'll be watching whole episodes but who knows? In any case you're more than welcome to make me suggestions, I'll read them with pleasure and try to deliver afterwards! All the best from Lyon :)
Thank you again for showing that a bridge is possible between British and French using humour. And of course your great understanding of the English language and sarcasm, helped by your study of la langue Anglaise. My French is schoolboy stuff, but it gets me a pint of beer in bars.
You looked confused so... "Short back and sides" is a basic haircut. So implying that he is not really bothered about his own men since he doesn't care enough to recognise the difference between his officer and the hair-dresser.
Ah okay, thanks! I actually have a double problem during these reactions: it's not my mother tongue, and half my cells tend to disappear (which unfortunately leaves me with only one). Thank you very much for taking the time to explain this to me, greetings from France :)
The metajoke is that each Blackadder interation _(which is supposed to be the descendants of the first season's original character)_ are getting smarter & shrewder than the last.
I recall going to a restaurant in MontMartre (Beautiful area of Paris) at 6 PM there was not a space to park a car, every pavement was blocked by them AND every one of them had a parking ticket on the windscreen... 8:30pm when we left, ALL the cars were gone and ALL the tickets where in the gutter... so French lol!
At 8.30 am, not a single Parisian has had dinner, and Parisians don't travel by car. But there are a lot of French tourists who come to visit this area by car, so it could be them too! In any case, I hope you enjoyed your visit, it's a lovely place!
What a perfect lunch time break! I'm really enjoying these videos, thank you for the introduction to them, I guess I need to get out more. Love the story and the fun way it's presented, thank you for the video and commentary, you do it right!
Gainsborough is a town in England 15 minutes from where I live. It's on the river trent In 1011 King canute who ruled Denmark Norway and England at the same time, made Gainsborough the capital of England for 6 weeks In 2011 there was big celebrations there for the 1000 year anniversary. You can access the trent via the river humber from the north sea. Canute and the vikings used the river trent to get to Nottingham. Everyday is a school day lol
@ToonStory-fh4gn here's some more local history from near where I live. I'm 15-20 minutes away from sherwood forest where Robin Hood lived. Theres a small village 1 mile away where the original Pilgrim fathers of America lived who sailed the mayflower to found the new world in America. Everything around here is named after William Bradford and William brewster. 5 minutes in another direction is a 1000 year old castle, go a bit further and there's a 900 year old huge castle built by the frenchy William the bastard aka the conquerer. William the conquerer built lots of castles in the 10th and 11th century. 1 miles from me is the old bomber command for ww2, a place where Lancaster bombers and spit fires would take off to bomb Germany. My neighbour who is 90+ tells me stories from when he was a boy, German doodlebugs long range bombs would fly over where we live trying to hit the runway. Near the bomber command hall they recently found a 2000 year old viking Fort in a corn field. Every town and village has an 800 year old church History is everywhere here It's great 👍🏻
It would be great to see your reaction to full episodes with your unique commentary and perspective. Series 4 is my most favourite, especially the encounter between Lord Flasheart and Baron Richthofen.
Interesting commentary as always. This is such a smart series. There is an amazing depth to it. As you said earlier, it is a completely new thing to see as an adult and now understanding the non spoken parts and the history referenced.
Thank you! It's overall Rowan Atkinson's acting which impresses me. It's the first time I've seen him in a role like this and realised how subtle the dialogue is, and it's a treat!
The movie with the soldier who watches a bird outside a treach only to shot is all quiet on the western front a German book banned by the Nazis. The movie was made in 1931 and 1979 by Hollywood.
seasons 2 , 3 and 4 all have Blackadder as the smartest most sarcastic man in the room, season 1 , Baldrick and Blackadder are reversed somewhat and it just does not work, but seasons 2 and 3 are great and season 4 is a masterpiece
I binged the entire first season over the weekend, and had a great time. Then I just watched the first episode of the 2nd season and it's a whole new level of quality. I didn't realize the role swap between Blackadder and Baldrick but you're right, and the dynamic works much better!
I can see that you know a lot about England and the English language. You might therefore like to see some of the 1960s-70s comedy series about ww2 called "Dads' Army" and "It Aint Half Hot Mum", - very amusing, but based on a lot of truths and experiences.
@@ToonStory-fh4gn Be careful if you react to 'It aint half hot mum', as its set in colonial India and made in the 1970s, from memory its not overly racist (but i last watched it as a kid 35 years ago, so....) and mostly uses humour to score points against colonialism, but still may upset younger modern viewers!
Haig wasn't the only controversial general in the British military and didn't always make mistakes. Like a lot of people in history, his career was complicated and not so black and white
I agree with you: he also brought new ideas around the use of tanks. We must never forget that these were intelligent men who did the best they could in an incredibly difficult and stressful situation.
Yes, I checked and that was it! Erich Maria was German, in fact, and we studied him at school to realise what the other side had gone through: exactly the same thing as our ancestors. Thank you :)
Well done for adding a bit of background to General Hague. Reality is rarely as "black and white" as history reports. Fry and Laurie had their own sketch comedy show. _The Treaty of Westphalia - Fry and Laurie_ ① seems like a good fit for your channel; a combination of European history and comedy. The treaties ended the 'Thirty Years' War (1618-1648). For context, "Stevenage" was a post WW11 "New Town", which are identified as bland and soulless. The pyramid of gold "balls" are 'Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Pralines', usually advertised on UK TV for Christmas. Their 1990s advertising was set at a party in a "European Ambassador's official residence", trying to create an impression of luxury, exclusivity and sophistication. They're OK, but the lustre is now thin and worn. Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy, Peaceful, and Laughter-filled 2024. ☮ ① ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hmEghLSWyUU.html
Thank you very much. History is complex because it is linked to human nature, which is complex. I'd seen this sketch and was planning to do it. We had the same idea! I wish you all the best
@@ToonStory-fh4gn I'm glad you intend to do the sketch. I enjoyed it. My Mum used to say "Great Minds think alike, but Fools seldom differ". 🤔 I'm nor sure which we qualify as 😀. Best Wishes. ☮
im intrested in the emblem on your superb 2nd world war french helmet, is it the same as the nepoleonic battalion of grenediers emblem.?. i know little of this.. great post..
It is the emblem of the infantry, a grenade, topped with a flame and decorated with the inscription "RF" (French Republic). Each weapon has a different emblem, for example for artillery there are two cannons, for engineers a breastplate, etc. Thank you so much!
It can sometimes be rewarding when you research one thing (eg. King and Country) and find another. I am not familiar with that film but will certainly seek it out. Another film which also deals with a WW1 Court Martial is 'Paths of Glory' - directed by Stanley Kubrick it is performed in English but concerns a suicidal 'push' by the French against the German lines. When the attack fails some of the survivors are tried for 'cowardice'. I dare say you have seen it but if you haven't it is well worth checking out.
No, I hadn't seen it (which I know is a shame)! I intend to put it right as soon as possible. As for King & Country, it's a total coincidence that I came across it and wanted to share it. Probably watch it too!
@@ToonStory-fh4gn How embarrassing, I meant 'A Very Long Engagement'. It would be the translated English title of the French film, my suggestion of the film you might be thinking of. Sorry about that! 😅
@@charleshowie2074 Ah thank you! You know what, I was thinking of this movie specifically, but it seems to be more "All Quiet on the Western Front"... But in any case “A Very Long Engagement” is a magnificent film and I would like to talk about it on my channel
Although Stephen Fry's character is a satirical generalisation of British Top Brass, in WW1, he is no doubt based on the image of General Haigh ( later Fieldmarshal.), a popular target of the Left. BUT, I have read a couple of books about Haigh, and he comes accross as being, not very self confident in his abilities He wrote constantly to his wife, worrying about his plans and the lack of progress He also revealed many top secet plans etc to her, and constantly ended by pleading to GOD, to look on his plans favourably. Post war, after retirement, he wrote his memoirs, in which, as an old Cavalryman, he made a remarkably strange assesment of the Wars greatest inventions/ developments. And I paraphraise; ''The Tank and Aeroplane, were remarkably useful additions to our attacking ability, BUT, they will never take the place of the Man on a Horse.
After reading your message, I'm thinking of two things: 1) The fact that he has doubts, uncertainties and is afraid of making mistakes is to his credit. I prefer that to Cadorna, who is totally out of touch with the realities of his time and has no sense of perspective. 2) A man has the right to make mistakes, we all make mistakes. And in this war, the norm for officers was to make mistakes, not out of incompetence but because they were overwhelmed by incredibly difficult circumstances.
This is a very funny series, but it isnt history. In the 1960s historians started to heavily criticise the strategy of WW1 generals, this culminated with the musical 'Oh what a lovely war' and the 'lions led by donkeys' myth. Blackadder 4 promulgated this idea. However, its a gross injustice and irs sad that this has become the default public popular narrative in Britain. The reality was that the majority of commanders, including Haig, were deeply aware and concerned of huge casualties and both strategy and tactics were constantly developed throughout the war by all sides to break the deadlock including combined operations, creeping barrarges, storm troopers and raiders, tanks. Modern historians have been re examining the actual history from primary sources and these dispel this idea that commanders were incompetent butchers. Yes, there were fools, but they existed in all armies, but the majority of General officers in the British Army were not only competent but actually fought in the front line with Brigadier Generals leading attacks in person. Like many theories developed in 1960s academia, the revisionism of the events of WW1 owe more to the political agenda of 1960s academics rather than the actual objective historical facts, which we know due to the superb state of the records kept by the War Office
Totally on the same line as you. The only thing I would add is that the officers were put in an extraordinarily complex situation and did the best they could with what they had. Thank you for your excellent comment
