1917 is a 2019 American epic war drama film directed by Sam Mendes and produced by Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris, Jayne-Ann Tenggren, Callum McDougal and Brian Oliver. The screenplay was written by Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns.
Rated: R (movie contains violence, some disturbing images and language)
Run Time: 1h 59min
Release Date: December 25, 2019 (USA)
Genre: Drama, War
Director: Sam Mendes
Studio: Universal Pictures
Budget: $100 Million
Box Office: $249 Million
1917 stars Dean-Charles Chapman, George Mackay, Daniel Mays, Colin Firth, Pip Carter, Andy Apollo, Benedict Cumberbatch, Richard Madden, Andrew Scott, Mark Strong, Adrian Scarborough, Clair Duburcq and Richard McCabe.
1917 is the story of Lance Corporal Will Schofield (George MacKay) and Lance Corporal Tom Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman), who are ordered by General Erinmore (Colin Firth) to carry a message across enemy lines to Colonel Mackenzie (Benedict Cumberbatch) of the Second Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment, calling off a scheduled attack at dawn that would jeopardize the lives of 1,600 men, including Blake’s brother Lieutenant Joseph Blake (Richard Madden).
On April 6, 1917, British aerial reconnaissance observed the German army pulling back from a sector of the Western Front in Northern France. However, they later determine that it is not a retreat and the German’s had made a tactical withdrawal to re-position to the New Hindenburg Line, where they have been building up troops in an attempt to overwhelm the British battalion with artillery. Meanwhile, a British regiment assembles to wage war deep in enemy territory. With the new intelligence, now time is of the essence to get a warning message to the Second Battalion to call off their attack. If the regiment does not receive the message in time they will walk into a trap and be massacred.
Now its up to Schofield and Blake to cross no man’s land to what they have been told are now the abandoned German trenches to get the orders to MacKenzie to abort his attack before dawn tomorrow.
Movie Quotes
“I hoped today might be a good day. Hope is a dangerous thing.” – Colonel MacKenzie
“Three miles deep, field fortifications, defenses, artillery, the like of which we’ve never seen before. The 2nd are due to attack the line shortly after dawn tomorrow. They have no idea what they’re in for. And we can’t warn them. As a parting gift, the enemy cut all our telephone lines. Your orders are to get to the 2nd at Croisilles Wood, one mile south east of the town of Ecoust. Deliver this to Colonel MacKenzie. It is a direct order to call off tomorrow morning’s attack. If you don’t, it will be a massacre. We will lose two battalions. Sixteen hundred men, your brother among them. You think you can get there in time?” – General Erinmore
“I’m bloody starving, aren’t you? I thought we might get some decent grub out here. It was the only reason I decided against the priesthood.” – Lance Corporal Tom Blake
“There is only one way this war ends. Last man standing.” – Colonel MacKenzie
Official Movie Trailer
Movie Stars
Dean-Charles Chapman as Lance Corporal Tom Blake
George MacKay as Lance Corporal Will Schofield
Daniel Mays as Sergeant Sanders
Colin Firth as General Erinmore
Pip Carter as Lieutenant Gordon
Andy Apollo as Sergeant Miller
Benedict Cumberbatch as Colonel MacKenzie
Richard Madden as Lieutenant Joseph Blake
Andrew Scott as Lieutenant Leslie
Mark Strong as Captain Smith
Adrian Scarborough as Major Hepburn
Claire Duburcq as Lauri
Richard McCabe as Colonel Collins