Introduction

The Passing Bells is a five-part British-Polish television drama that was first broadcast on BBC One in 2014.

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.

The series is set during World War I and was a part of the BBC First World War centenary season.

It shows events through the eyes of two very ordinary teenagers, one from England and one from Germany, who enlist in the war, which they expect will be over within months.

Outline

The series operates in parallel as it follows two teenagers in two countries, one German (Jack Lowden) and one British (Patrick Gibson), who sign up as soldiers at the outbreak of the First World War. The plot covers the time period from just prior to the war to its conclusion.

The story includes the boys’ families, their love interests, and the friends and comrades they make during the war. It reveals the toll the war takes on the two young men and their fellow soldiers as it lasts far longer than expected, and grows harsher and more meaningless. The two soldiers encounter each other at certain points, including at the conclusion of the war.

Cast

• Patrick Gibson – Tommy Edwards, a teen in England who enjoys sketching birds.
• Jack Lowden – Michael Lang, a carefree teen in Germany.
• Erika Kaar – Joanna, a young Polish nurse Tommy meets when wounded.
• Sabrina Bartlett – Katie, Michael’s girlfriend in Germany.
• Brian Fletcher – Derek, a frightened underage British recruit Tommy takes under his wing.
• Jennifer Hennessy – Susan Lang, Michael’s mother.
• Simon Kunz – William Lang, Michael’s farmer father.
• Amanda Drew – Annie Edwards, Tommy’s mother.
• Alex Ferns – David Edwards, Tommy’s father.
• Hubert Burton – Cyril, a young British soldier who tries to keep things humorous.
• Matthew Aubrey – Kenny Bond, a British soldier who becomes a corporal.
• Wilf Scolding – Freddie, a young German soldier.
• Mark Burghagen – Erich, a gruff and defeatist German soldier.
• Adam Long – Anthony, a young British soldier.
• Ben McGregor – Kevin, a young British soldier.
• Felix Auer – Lanzo, a young German soldier.

Trivia

• The series was announced by the BBC in October 2013, along with other programmes that played a part in the BBC World War I centenary season.
• Filming took place in Poland. Telewizja Polska and Apple Film Production were co-producers.
• The series aired in the pre-watershed time-slot of 7pm, and the script was written for a younger audience and family viewing.
• The title was taken from the first line of Wilfred Owen’s 1917 poem, “Anthem for Doomed Youth”: “What passing-bells for these who die as cattle?”

The Passing Bells Series

• Episode 01.
• Episode 02.
• Episode 03.
• Episode 04.
• Episode 05.

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: 03 November 2014 to 07 November 2014.
• Running Time: 30 minutes (per episode).
• Country: UK.
• Language: English.