It Happened Here

Starring:Bart Allison, Frank Bennett (II), Nicolette Bernard, Rex Collett, Peter Dineley, Honor Fearson, Frank Gardner, Miles Halliwell, Reginald Marsh, Derek Milburn, Andrew Mollo, Nicholas Moore, Pauline Murray, Michael Passmore, Barrie Pattison, Ronald Phillips, Bertha Russell, Sebastian Shaw, Chris Slaughter
Director: Andrew Mollo
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
British film historian Kevin Brownlow was all of 18 when he conceived the idea for this alternate-history film depicting what life in London would have been like if Nazi troops had conquered England in July 1940. Along with his friend and collaborator Andrew Mollo (only 16 at the time), he took eight years to piece the film together using borrowed equipment and begging scraps of film stock from established filmmakers such as Stanley Kubrick. The result owes much to Brownlow's penchant for silent films (he authored a classic text on the subject entitled The Parade's Gone By), and possibly to Italian neorealism, since the semidocumentary style bows in that direction. Good thing, too. The documentary feel captivates the viewer. The story follows an Everybrit named Pauline as she grows from complacence and resignation over the Nazi occupation of England to when she becomes a nurse for the Nazis and realizes the true horror of her and England's situation. Brownlow's pure desire for authenticity makes the film more chilling than it would otherwise have been. For instance, on the film's initial release, Jewish groups objected to a sequence involving a real-life fascist of the time, Colin Jordan, spouting his opinion of Jews and euthanasia. They feared people wouldn't pick up on the film's anti-Nazi stance, and would therefore take the comments seriously. So seven minutes of footage were cut that have now been restored, making the film scarier than ever. --Jim Gay
Description
The story of Hitler's England. In Kevin Brownlow and Andrew Mollo's brilliant and chilling re-write of history, Germany has won World War II and Nazi troops occupy England. Pauline, an apolitical nurse, hopes only that normal life will return to England. It is only after she accepts a nursing job with the Nazis that she slowly begins to realize the horrifying reality behind the occupation. "It Happened Here" is a masterful, terrifying vision of what might have happened if the Allied effort had failed. When first shown in 1964, seven minutes of controversial material was cut by the original distributor. This is the first presentation of the complete version, digitally remastered from the original 35mm materials.

It Happened Here
Average customer rating:

What if...

Fairly Amazing .."What If " Scenario in WW2 Britain..

An alternate history

A believable alternative history of World War II

1944 or 1984?

It Happened Here
Starring: Bart Allison , Frank Bennett (II) , Nicolette Bernard , Rex Collett , and Peter Dineley
Director: Andrew Mollo
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video
General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video
General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video
Classic Sci-Fi | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video
Futuristic | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video
General | British Cinema | By Country | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video
World War II | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video
Nazis | By Theme | Military & War | Genres | DVD | Video
Shaw, Sebastian | ( S ) | Actors & Actresses | Stores | DVD | Video
Used DVDs | Stores | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
General | British Cinema | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
Military & War | By Theme | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
( I ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The War Game/Culloden

Fatherland

Downfall

Come and See

Winstanley

ASIN: B00003XAMR
Release Date: 2000-02-15

Amazon.com

British film historian Kevin Brownlow was all of 18 when he conceived the idea for this alternate-history film depicting what life in London would have been like if Nazi troops had conquered England in July 1940. Along with his friend and collaborator Andrew Mollo (only 16 at the time), he took eight years to piece the film together using borrowed equipment and begging scraps of film stock from established filmmakers such as Stanley Kubrick. The result owes much to Brownlow's penchant for silent films (he authored a classic text on the subject entitled The Parade's Gone By), and possibly to Italian neorealism, since the semidocumentary style bows in that direction. Good thing, too. The documentary feel captivates the viewer. The story follows an Everybrit named Pauline as she grows from complacence and resignation over the Nazi occupation of England to when she becomes a nurse for the Nazis and realizes the true horror of her and England's situation. Brownlow's pure desire for authenticity makes the film more chilling than it would otherwise have been. For instance, on the film's initial release, Jewish groups objected to a sequence involving a real-life fascist of the time, Colin Jordan, spouting his opinion of Jews and euthanasia. They feared people wouldn't pick up on the film's anti-Nazi stance, and would therefore take the comments seriously. So seven minutes of footage were cut that have now been restored, making the film scarier than ever. --Jim Gay

Description

The story of Hitler's England. In Kevin Brownlow and Andrew Mollo's brilliant and chilling re-write of history, Germany has won World War II and Nazi troops occupy England. Pauline, an apolitical nurse, hopes only that normal life will return to England. It is only after she accepts a nursing job with the Nazis that she slowly begins to realize the horrifying reality behind the occupation. "It Happened Here" is a masterful, terrifying vision of what might have happened if the Allied effort had failed. When first shown in 1964, seven minutes of controversial material was cut by the original distributor. This is the first presentation of the complete version, digitally remastered from the original 35mm materials.

Customer Reviews:

What if..........2005-11-23

The Germans invaded England after the English evacuation from Dunkirk in World War II? What if they conquered England and installed a wartime puppet government? What if... IT HAPPENED HERE? Or there, as the case may be. I sit an ocean and half a continent away from London as I write this, and estranged by nearly half a century from when this was made. Estranged less by time and space than by the fact that IT HAPPENED HERE simply isn't very entertaining.

The movie follows Pauline (Pauline Murray) from rural England, where she's amongst a group of citizens become combed out a partisan infested area and herded toward London. Upon reaching London she applies for work as a nurse. Which mean she has to join the Party. And wear the collaborating-with-the-enemy armband and uniform. And creep out some of her pre-war friends in the process.

IT HAPPENED HERE doesn't really make drama of the promising premise. The actors are amateurs, there's no rhythm to the story, the sound is so bad that at times it hard to understand what anyone is saying. A cool idea shot down by poor execution.

Of course, IT HAPPENED HERE'S story isn't all on the screen. Filmmakers Kevin Brownlow and Andrew Mollo began this film in the mid-50s, when both were still in their teens. The lads seem to have been profoundly affected by Roberto Rossellini's Italian Neo-realist films like `Paisà' and `Open City,' two other low budget, amateur acted movies about World War II. One source says the budget for this movie was a meager $20,000, which, even accounting for inflation, makes IT HAPPENED HERE an amazing accomplishment. Although the story could have been more compelling - for instance, the sequence with real-life fascist Colin Jordan spouting his particular brand of garbage is more ridiculous than chilling - Brownlow and Mollo do some things remarkably well. Most notably incorporating German-uniformed actors in London, imparting a strong sense of characters in a real location. Also, there are some montage sequences and fake newsreels that work very well. Although I didn't much enjoy this one, I was mightily impressed with what the young filmmakers were able to do with enough money only for equipment and film stock.

Fairly Amazing .."What If " Scenario in WW2 Britain.........2005-07-06

If this was done on a shoe- string budget 39 years ago, one can only wonder what an updated version, in color, could be done nowadays. This 95 minute grainy black and white is sometimes just slightly hard to follow, probably only for a State Sider dealing with the "Brit" accents. Partly in documentary style, partly following a fairly naive, but good hearted nurse who finds the only way to assist her countrymen is to join the SS sponsored nursing service. Needless to say, some of her innocence is shattered. Some realistic fascist oriented discussions, funerals, reenactments of the Great War Christmas truce between the Brit and German soldiers, and some very daring battle and partisan scenes make this among the best War films ever. Shame it's not better known!

An alternate history.......2005-05-21

On a shoestring budget in 1956, directors Kevin Brownlow-now a preeminent film historian-and Andrew Mollo began work as teenagers on their Orwellian "It Happened Here"; with the help of hundreds of volunteers, they completed the film in 1964. In 1966 United Artists released the film with seven minutes of controversial material excised. In this version, Brownlow, having regained the rights to the film, restores the cut sequence-an ad-lib speech by Colin Jordan, head of the British National Socialist movement.

Brownlow and Mollo offer an alternate history of England, a vision of England under Nazi occupation after Germany has won World War II. Their use of grainy black-and-white photography and faux newsreel footage enhances the documentary-like realism.

The story follows an apolitical nurse, Pauline. Accepting a job with the Nazis in London, she comes to apprehend the ramifications of the occupation-radio stations, movies and magazines serving as propaganda organs for the Nazis and goose-stepping schoolchildren. Pauline finds herself caught between the galvanized resistance on one side and on the other, citizens who, for the sake of a quiet life, prefer to acquiesce.

A believable alternative history of World War II.......2005-01-04

If you liked Len Deighton's detective thriller, "SS GB", set in Nazi-conquered England, you might enjoy "It Happened Here." To my way of thinking, this black-and-white film has the feel of a documentary. Its story of one person's realization of the creeping social evil in which she now lives is at once riveting and chilling.

1944 or 1984?.......2004-03-21

This movie's lack of direction actually helps it's purpose. Four stars because overrating is too common.

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Tristan + Isolde/Romeo and Juliet

10,000 Black Men Named George

Doctor Who: Lost in Time - The Patrick Troughton Years 1966-

DVD: Shiver

Sirga - Die Löwin