They Were Not Divided
Encyclopedia
They Were Not Divided is a 1950
British war film
, which depicted the Guards Armoured Division in Second World War Europe
. It was written and directed by Terence Young, a former Guards officer who served in the campaigns depicted in the film.
The cast consisted of little known professional actors, and real soldiers with speaking parts. The male leads were Edward Underdown
and Ralph Clanton
.
Two supporting actors who became famous later on were Christopher Lee
as a tank commander, and Desmond Llewelyn
as a tank gunner.
R.S.M., Sergeant Major Brittain
) they find themselves receiving emergency promotions. Philip and David are promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and Smoke to Corporal and now attached to a tank company of the Welsh Guards
, were Philip and David command their own tank and Smoke is part of David's crew. Months of 'real' training follow, where they learn about tank warfare and also their comrades. The film follows the three main characters as the Guards Armoured Division lands at Normandy weeks after D-Day, and on into combat as part of the break-out. We see how they cope with different aspects of fighting a war on another continent, such as being separated from family and loved ones and coping with the loss of comrades. The film follows the events of Operation Market Garden
and The Battle of the Bulge but with the Welsh Guards as the pivotal British Army unit. During Market Garden we see the Welsh Guards link up with American paratroopers at the Grave bridge before moving on to Nijmegen and the failure of the operation. The film ends with the Ardennes Offensive and the Guards' unknown operations around the east side of the river Meuse
, and only Smoke is left alive from the three friends.
and Jagdtiger
.
1950 in film
The year 1950 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* February 15 - Walt Disney Studios' animated film Cinderella debuts.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:*Ambush...
British war film
War film
War films are a film genre concerned with warfare, usually about naval, air or land battles, sometimes focusing instead on prisoners of war, covert operations, military training or other related subjects. At times war films focus on daily military or civilian life in wartime without depicting battles...
, which depicted the Guards Armoured Division in Second World War Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It was written and directed by Terence Young, a former Guards officer who served in the campaigns depicted in the film.
The cast consisted of little known professional actors, and real soldiers with speaking parts. The male leads were Edward Underdown
Edward Underdown
Edward Underdown was an english theatre, cinema and television actor. He was born in London.Early theatre credits include: Words and Music, Nymph Errant, Stop Press and Streamline ....
and Ralph Clanton
Ralph Clanton
Ralph Clanton was an American character actor. Although his name is not familiar to audiences, he did play a significant supporting role in a classic film which is revived regularly...
.
Two supporting actors who became famous later on were Christopher Lee
Christopher Lee
Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee, CBE, CStJ is an English actor and musician. Lee initially portrayed villains and became famous for his role as Count Dracula in a string of Hammer Horror films...
as a tank commander, and Desmond Llewelyn
Desmond Llewelyn
Desmond Wilkinson Llewelyn was a Welsh actor, famous for playing Q in 17 of the James Bond films between 1963 and 1999.-Early life:...
as a tank gunner.
Plot summary
During the middle years of the war, three men are called up to serve in the British Army. The Englishman Philip Hamilton, the American David Morgan and the Irishman Smoke O'Connor are drafted into the Guards Division and report to their barracks at Caterham, Surrey. After going through strict training (including real Coldstream GuardsColdstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
R.S.M., Sergeant Major Brittain
Ronald Brittain
Ronald Brittain MBE was well known during his lifetime as an archetypal Regimental Sergeant Major and for having possibly the loudest voice in the British Army. He was often featured in World War II training films and was reported on widely in the newspapers of the day. On retirement from the...
) they find themselves receiving emergency promotions. Philip and David are promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and Smoke to Corporal and now attached to a tank company of the Welsh Guards
Welsh Guards
The Welsh Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division.-Creation :The Welsh Guards came into existence on 26 February 1915 by Royal Warrant of His Majesty King George V in order to include Wales in the national component to the Foot Guards, "..though the order...
, were Philip and David command their own tank and Smoke is part of David's crew. Months of 'real' training follow, where they learn about tank warfare and also their comrades. The film follows the three main characters as the Guards Armoured Division lands at Normandy weeks after D-Day, and on into combat as part of the break-out. We see how they cope with different aspects of fighting a war on another continent, such as being separated from family and loved ones and coping with the loss of comrades. The film follows the events of Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden
Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....
and The Battle of the Bulge but with the Welsh Guards as the pivotal British Army unit. During Market Garden we see the Welsh Guards link up with American paratroopers at the Grave bridge before moving on to Nijmegen and the failure of the operation. The film ends with the Ardennes Offensive and the Guards' unknown operations around the east side of the river Meuse
Meuse
Meuse is a department in northeast France, named after the River Meuse.-History:Meuse is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
, and only Smoke is left alive from the three friends.
Featured vehicles
This film is notable for the remarkable number of actual WWII armored vehicles that are featured, or make brief appearances, including scenes featuring a disabled German JagdpantherJagdpanther
The Jagdpanther was a tank destroyer built by Nazi Germany during World War II based on the chassis of the Panther tank. It entered service late in the war and saw service on the Eastern and Western fronts...
and Jagdtiger
Jagdtiger
Jagdtiger is the common name of a German tank destroyer of World War II. The official German designation was Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf. B. The ordnance inventory designation was Sd. Kfz. 186. It saw service in small numbers from late 1944 to the end of the war on both the Western and Eastern Front...
.