Recently I noted the centennial of the Battle of Beersheba. Shortly after that, I started re-reading the history of that battle in Anglesey's multi volume A History Of The British Cavalry and was struck by how accurate this film was. It's then when I noted that I'd never reviewed it.
It's great.
This 1987 Australian move presents the story of a collection of actual Australian (and one English) figures in the context of the War In The Desert and, more particularly, the events leading up to the 4th and 12th Lighthorse's mounted charge at Beersheba. While a film, and therefore a drama by its very nature, the film is remarkably accurate in all of its significant details making it a true rarity in films of this type.
The film culminates, of course, in the charge itself. That could hardly fail to be highly dramatic and the movie at least matches our expectations in these regards, if not grossly exceeding them.
That addresses, of course, the historical details, but we'd note that in material details this movie is equally as good. Uniforms, equipment, etc., are all correct.
Indeed this movie is so good that it may legitimately contend for the being the best movie set in World War One. It's far better than most, and perhaps only Lawrence of Arabia, which of course is set in World War One but which is oddly not considered by many to be a film about the Great War, is better.
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