Battle of the Somme DVD to be released

The Imperial War Museum are to release the DVD of the 1916 film of the Battle of the Somme in time for Armistice Day 2008. The film, digitally restored by Dragon DI, has had a newly commissioned orchestral score composed by Laura Rossie and performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra. The DVD, which will be released on November 3rd, contains numerous special features including a weblink and booklet with information on the film.

The Battle of the Somme gave its 1916 audience an unprecendented insight in to the realities of trench warfare, controversially inlcuding the depiction of dead and wounded soldiers. As a pioneering battlefield documentary, its very concept outraged commentators on its release, creating a debate about the on-screen depiction of combat that continues to this very day.

This priceless piece of work conveys the horrors of war as well as the humanity of those involved, and is as unmissable today as it was almost a hundred years ago.

www.iwm.org.uk