Introduction

At the outbreak of war, two teenage boys – one German and one British – defy their parents to sign up, but their enthusiasm is tested when they get their first taste of battle.

Outline

Tommy and his friends are ordered forward wearing cumbersome gas masks which they tear off as they restrict their vision. However there is a gas attack and, having being rescued by a married soldier who takes a bullet, Tommy recuperates in a field hospital where he falls for Joanna, a Polish nurse. After hand to hand fighting against the Russians on the Eastern front Michael returns for a three day leave with his parents, who are suffering the privations of the war. He marries his sweetheart Katie but is soon back in France and for him, as with Tommy, the respite is …

The Passing Bells Series

You can find a full index of The Passing Bells here.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s): Brendan Maher.
• Producer(s): Zbigniew Adamkiewicz, Andrew Boswell, Belinda Campbell, Andrew Chapman, Den Donald, Peter Hampden, Dariusz Jablonski, Betham Jones, Tony Jordan, Violetta Kaminska, Norman Merry, Nick Pitt, and Izabela Wojcik.
• Writer(s): Tony Jordan.
• Music: John Lunn.
• Cinematography: Tomasz Naumiuk and Jacek Petrycki.
• Editor(s): Celia Haining.
• Production: Red Planet Pictures.
• Distributor(s): BBC Worldwide and TVP (Poland).
• Original Network: BBC One and TVP 1 (Poland).
• Release Date: 04 November 2014.
• Running Time: 30 minutes.
• Country: UK.
• Language: English.