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DramaWar

The Way Ahead

- From Workers — To Warriors

A mismatched collection of conscripted civilians find training tough under Lieutenant Jim Perry and Sergeant Ned Fletcher when they are called up to replace an infantry battalion that had suffered casualties at Dunkirk.

Release Date : 1944-06-09

Language :GermanEnglishFrench

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Two Cities Films

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles : The Immortal Battalion

Cast

David Niven

Character Name : Lieutenant Jim Perry

Original Name : David Niven

Gender : Male

Stanley Holloway

Character Name : Pvt. Ted Brewer

Original Name : Stanley Holloway

Gender : Male

James Donald

Character Name : Pvt. Evans Lloyd

Original Name : James Donald

Gender : Male

John Laurie

Character Name : Pvt. Luke

Original Name : John Laurie

Gender : Male

Leslie Dwyer

Character Name : Pvt. Sid Beck

Original Name : Leslie Dwyer

Gender : Male

Hugh Burden

Character Name : Pvt. Bill Parsons

Original Name : Hugh Burden

Gender : Male

Raymond Huntley

Character Name : Pvt. Herbert Davenport

Original Name : Raymond Huntley

Gender : Male

Jimmy Hanley

Character Name : Pvt. Geoffrey Stainer

Original Name : Jimmy Hanley

Gender : Male

William Hartnell

Character Name : Sgt. Ned Fletcher

Original Name : William Hartnell

Gender : Male

Reginald Tate

Character Name : The Training Company Commanding Officer

Original Name : Reginald Tate

Gender : Male

Leo Genn

Character Name : Captain Edwards

Original Name : Leo Genn

Gender : Male

John Ruddock

Character Name : Old Chelsea Soldier

Original Name : John Ruddock

Gender : Male

A. Bromley Davenport

Character Name : Old Chelsea Soldier

Original Name : A. Bromley Davenport

Gender : Male

Renée Asherson

Character Name : Marjorie Gillingham

Original Name : Renée Asherson

Gender : Female

Mary Jerrold

Character Name : Mrs. Gillingham

Original Name : Mary Jerrold

Gender : Female

Raymond Lovell

Character Name : Mr. Jackson

Original Name : Raymond Lovell

Gender : Male

Jack Watling

Character Name : Sgt. Buster

Original Name : Jack Watling

Gender : Male

Peter Ustinov

Character Name : Rispoli

Original Name : Peter Ustinov

Gender : Male

Lloyd Pearson

Character Name : Sam Thyrtle

Original Name : Lloyd Pearson

Gender : Male

Penelope Dudley-Ward

Character Name : Mrs. Perry

Original Name : Penelope Dudley-Ward

Gender : Female

Esma Cannon

Character Name : Mrs. Ted Brewer

Original Name : Esma Cannon

Gender : Female

Eileen Erskine

Character Name : Mrs. Bill Parsons

Original Name : Eileen Erskine

Gender : Male

Grace Arnold

Character Name : Mrs. Ned Fletcher

Original Name : Grace Arnold

Gender : Female

Tessie O'Shea

Character Name : Herself

Original Name : Tessie O'Shea

Gender : Female

Trevor Howard

Character Name : Officer on Ship (uncredited)

Original Name : Trevor Howard

Gender : Male

George Merritt

Character Name : Sergeant Major (uncredited)

Original Name : George Merritt

Gender : Male

Tracy Reed

Character Name : Perry's Daughter (uncredited)

Original Name : Tracy Reed

Gender : Female

A.E. Matthews

Character Name : Colonel Walmsley

Original Name : A.E. Matthews

Gender : Male

John Boxer

Character Name : Soldier in Pub Talking to the Chelsea Pensioners (uncredited)

Original Name : John Boxer

Gender : Male

Peggy Carlisle

Character Name : Minor Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Peggy Carlisle

Gender : Male

Alf Goddard

Character Name : Instructor (uncredited)

Original Name : Alf Goddard

Gender : Male

David Hutcheson

Character Name : Garage Customer in Car (uncredited)

Original Name : David Hutcheson

Gender : Male

Benita Lydal

Character Name : ENSA Artist (uncredited)

Original Name : Benita Lydal

Gender : Female

Andreas Malandrinos

Character Name : Gendarme in Café (uncredited)

Original Name : Andreas Malandrinos

Gender : Male

John Salew

Character Name : Sam - Friend of Pvt. Lloyd in Pub Scene (uncredited)

Original Name : John Salew

Gender : Male

Johnnie Schofield

Character Name : Lewis Gun Instructor (uncredited)

Original Name : Johnnie Schofield

Gender : Male

Winifred Willard

Character Name : Minor Role (uncredited)

Original Name : Winifred Willard

Gender : Male

Ben Williams

Character Name : Pessimistic Man Talking to the Chelsea Pensioners (uncredited)

Original Name : Ben Williams

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-06-30

David Niven heads the cast in this engagingly quirky tale that amusingly and poignantly depicts just how the British Army managed to fight during WWII. He is the officer in charge of a collection of men of all ages and from many different backgrounds as they are slowly, but surely, coaxed, cajoled and bullied into a fighting unit that has cohesion, loyalty and friendship. Their training regime would test the best of us, and is carried out with a decent smattering of whinging and groaning, but also with strong senses of humour and of purpose before they are eventually deployed overseas and meet up with bar-owner Peter Ustinov in North Africa as the rout of Rommel's Nazi forces nears it's completion. This has a solid cast - Raymond Huntley, Stanley Holloway, John Laurie, Sam Kidd and Leo Genn to name but a few of the characters who give this much more depth than many of the more propagandist efforts made in the UK (and the USA) during the latter stages of the War. Carol Reed and Eric Ambler have created a great story that showcases perseverance and courage as well as quite a considerable degree of humanity.