World War I in color

Told through archival footage, interviews with veterans, detailed maps, and excerpts from participants' diaries and letters, World War I in Color, originally broadcast in the UK in 2003, provides a fascinating overview of the Great War. Expertly narrated by actor Kenneth Branagh, this three-disc set includes six episodes: Catastrophe, Slaughter in the Trenches, Blood in the Air, Killers of the Sea, Mayhem on the Eastern Front, and Victory and Despair. Perhaps most interesting are the segments dealing with air, submarine, and tank warfare, as these were all new technologies at the time. Among the more interesting of the wealth of bonus features are Tactics & Strategy, a 50-minute special on how new technology changed warfare, and Making the Series, a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process of the production team. Some of the footage is rather grainy, but it is acceptable given its age. Overall, the production quality is outstanding. This excellent series could stand on its own presented entirely in black and white; the colorized content, however, does add a dimension not seen in most other World War I documentaries. Recommended for general viewers and military history buffs.-Rod Bustos, Augusta State Univ. Lib., GA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.