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Band of Brothers (miniseries)

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Band of Brothers (mini)
File:Poster.jpeg
Directed byDavid Frankel, Tom Hanks
Written byStephen Ambrose(Book), Various for the Script
StarringDamian Lewis, Donnie Wahlberg, Matthew Settle
Release date
2001
Running time
600 min (10 parts)
LanguageEnglish
Budget$125,000,000

Band of Brothers is an acclaimed ten-part television miniseries about World War II, co-produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. Much of the action of the miniseries centers on the exploits of Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, U.S. 101st Airborne Division and one of its early platoon leaders, Lieutenant Richard Winters (later Major Winters). It is based on a book of the same name written by acclaimed historian and biographer Prof. Stephen Ambrose. The events portrayed in the miniseries are generally historically accurate and are based on Ambrose's research and recorded interviews with Easy Company veterans. All of the characters portrayed in the miniseries are based on actual members of Easy Company; some of them can be seen in prerecorded interviews as a prelude to each episode. The miniseries first aired in 2001 on HBO and is still run frequently on different channels.

Awards

The series was nominated for 19 Emmy Awards, and won six, including prizes for "Outstanding Mini-Series", "Outstanding Casting for a Mini-Series, Movie or a Special", and "Outstanding Directing for a Mini-Series, Movie or a Dramatic Special". It also won a Golden Globe for "Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television", an American Film Institute award, and was selected for a Peabody Award for "...relying on both history and memory to create a new tribute to those who fought to preserve liberty." It also won a Writers Guild Award for Episode Six and a Christopher Award.

Synopsis

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File:Poster 2.jpeg
Alternative poster for Band of Brothers

As an outline synopsis, the episodes in the series are as follows:

  1. Currahee (directed by Phil Alden Robinson) — Easy Company undergoes paratrooper training at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. The major characters are introduced, particularly Lt. Dick Winters and Lt. Lewis Nixon. The episode focuses largely on the men's reaction to Capt. Herbert Sobel, the egocentric and harsh original commander of Easy Company. However, Sobel's leadership during training exercises leave the men uneasy about following him into battle. The NCOs, in an act of mutiny, say they no longer wish to serve in Easy Company. As a result Col. Sink removes Sobel as company commander and replaces him with Lt. Thomas Meehan. At the end of the episode, the company is shipped to England and prepares to drop into Europe as a part of the Operation Overlord D-Day invasion.
  2. Day of Days (directed by Richard Loncraine) — D-Day arrives and Easy Company participates in the Battle of Normandy, including the Brécourt Manor Assault. With the loss of Lieutenant Meehan, Lt. Winters assumes command of the company during the assault. The episode ends with Winters and Nixon looking on at the bombardment of their next objective, Carentan. This episode is shown mainly from the perspective of Lt. Dick Winters and shows his attempt to reach his assigned target after being dropped several miles off course.
  3. Carentan (directed by Mikael Salomon) — The 3rd episode begins with Easy Company taking the French town of Carentan. Easy Company then moves east of the town to form a line of defense. After the counterattack is repelled, the Company is moved off the front lines, and returns to England. This episode is shown from the perspectives of Private Albert Blithe, who struggles with fear and feelings of letting his compatriots down, and Lieutenant Welsh, who becomes one of the most valuable leaders of the Company. The episode ends with Pvt. Donald Malarkey picking up his laundry from one of the local women, who inquires about laundry not yet picked up by some of his comrades - men who will never return to England, let alone pick up their laundry.
  4. Replacements (directed by David Nutter) — Back in England, Easy Company gets green replacements; Winters, now a captain, leads the company as it is air-dropped into the Netherlands in support of Operation Market Garden. The episode is shown mainly from the perspective of the new men. As well as the perspective of Sgt. "Bull" Randleman who is missing in action and takes shelter in a barn surrounded by German forces, before making it back to Easy Company in the morning.
  5. Crossroads (directed by Tom Hanks) — Still in the Netherlands, Easy Company takes on a German offensive, told in flashback from the perspective of Winters, now battalion XO. Easy Company is taken over by Lt. Heyliger then Lt. Dike.
  6. Bastogne (directed by David Leland) — Easy Company is holed up near the Belgian town of Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. This episode is shown from the perspective of Tech. 5 Eugene Roe, one of Easy company's two medics.
  7. The Breaking Point (directed by David Frankel) — Illustrates the stress felt by the men during the fighting in and around the town of Foy, Belgium. This episode is shown from the perspective of First Sergeant Carwood Lipton. Capt. Ronald Speirs becomes Easy's new CO when Lt. Dike breaks down during the assault on Foy.
  8. The Last Patrol (directed by Tony To) — Easy Company pushes on to the town of Haguenau. This episode is shown from the perspective of David Webster and a replacement lieutenant played by Colin Hanks, son of the executive producer, Hollywood actor Tom Hanks. Winters is promoted to Major, Lipton to 2nd Lt.
  9. Why We Fight (directed by David Frankel) — Easy Company crosses into Germany and discovers a Nazi concentration camp near Landsberg.
  10. Points (directed by Mikael Salomon) — Easy Company captures Hitler's Eagle's Nest and contemplates a possible redeployment in the Pacific Theater. The war ends and the men of Easy Company return home.

We Stand Alone Together (directed by Mark Cowen) is the companion documentary to Band of Brothers, featuring detailed interviews with the real members of Easy Company.

Historical Errors

  • The end of episode three states that Albert Blithe never recovered from the wounds he received in Normandy, and that he died in 1948. However, Albert Blithe did not die until 1967, after having two children, working for Westinghouse Electric, serving in the Korean War and achieving the rank of Master Sergeant. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. [1]
  • Approaching Normandy at night, the C-47 paratroop carriers are shown in a rather hodgepodge "formation." In fact, the formation was nine planes wide and some 300 miles long (considering those that had not yet taken off when the first troops jumped). Also, they were all at pretty much the same altitude - varying altitudes would be quite risky for the descending troops.
  • In preparation for Operation Market Garden, Sergeant "Bull" Randleman tells a new soldier to "drop your reserve chute - you won't need it - we'll be jumping low." This is incorrect for Market Garden, but had been correct for Normandy: on D-Day most troops jumped at 600 feet or less - barely enough for the main chute to deploy. "The Market-Garden drop was a high drop, with average exits from 1,200 to 1,500 feet."[2]
  • At the beginning of Episode 9 it is stated that the date is 11 April 1945 and shows a scene with the company stationed in Thalem, Germany. At the end of the episode it finishes off the scene with Captain Nixon announcing the death of Adolf Hitler. Hitler did not die until the 30 April 1945. Also, the episode frames this after the company left Landsberg. The company was present at Landsberg from 25 April until 30 April, and orders given in that same scene to advance on Berchtesgaden were not received until 3 May. [3] (Disputed below)
  • (Possibility) It is mentioned in Episode 9 that the date is 11 April 1945 and the episode finishes with Captain Lewis Nixon announcing the death of Adolf Hitler (though he died on 30 April). This may not be an error, because at least two months before the actual death of Hitler it was rumored among the Allies that he had died. It is possible Lewis Nixon picked up on the rumor.
  • Due to the miniseries only casting a limited portion of the Easy Company roster, certain roles had to be changed from their historical counterparts. For example, in the last patrol at Hagenau, the book cites Sergeant Mercier as the leading NCO with 2LT Jones as ranking officer. As Mercier was not cast in the miniseries, the position was filled by Sergeant Martin (Dexter Fletcher).

Comments

This series can be considered as a by-product of the Steven Spielberg film Saving Private Ryan. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks agreed to produce the series, with HBO as a partner. The film crew started immediately after finishing Saving Private Ryan, already on location. The BBC, while officially credited as a co-producer, essentially only pre-purchased the series, albeit for a considerable price.

The title

The title for the series and the book it's based on comes from a speech delivered by Henry V of England before the Battle of Agincourt in William Shakespeare's Henry V; Act IV, Scene 3:

And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
(King Henry, V.iii)

The expression was also used by the British Admiral Horatio Nelson to refer to his council of Captains (aboard his flagship), whom he encouraged beyond common practice in his day to be assertive and take initiative.

Main cast

See also

Wikiquote has quotations related to Band of Brothers (miniseries).
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