Novelist Len Deighton, better known for his spy thrillers, wrote the screenplay but dissociated himself from the film.
The film that began Richard Attenborough's phenomenally successful new career as a director, following years of success as an acting star. Although he has difficulty in overcoming the unwieldy structure of Joan Littlewood's stage original, Attenborough conjures many vivid and poignant moments from this panoramic look at World War One from the end of Brighton's West Pier. Amid an enormous star cast, John Mills is outstanding as Sir Douglas Haig, and viewers will have fun spotting a multitude of stars in very tiny roles.
