On September 9, 2001, the highly anticipated Band of Brothers debuted on HBO. Shadowing their award-winning big screen collaboration, Saving Private Ryan, executive producers Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg chose to adapt Stephen E. Ambrose’s acclaimed historical novel into a ten part miniseries. Ambitious, expensive and logistically complex, Band of Brothers was unlike anything else produced for television. It left a lasting mark that is still felt today.
To commemorate Memorial Day, we here at CliqueClack are looking back at the most authentic World War II dramatic retelling ever constructed. I gladly jumped at the opportunity to share my thoughts on what I believe is truly groundbreaking television.
Join me on a trip down memory lane as we remember the amazing Band of Brothers.
The Story:
The narrative recounts the journey of E (“Easy”) Company of the 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the 101st Airborne Division. From the sweltering heat of Georgia pine forests to the crisp mountain air of Austria, we follow Easy Company from training to the end of the war. While the series belongs to roughly thirty characters, the spotlight shines on best friends Dick Winters and Lewis Nixon, the de facto leaders of Easy Company.
Winters meteoric rise from platoon leader to Battalion Commander is just as intriguing as the battles at Normandy and Bastogne. Winters, with Nixon at his side, ties the story together and is the central figure in more than half of the individual chapters. His deft leadership is critical to Easy Company’s survival throughout the campaign.
Winters, like any good leader, has to earn the respect of the men he commands. He accomplishes this with a fearless attitude and calming nature. He stands side by side with his fellow soldiers on the battlefield and displays the utmost compassion for each of them. Damian Lewis delivers a compelling, layered performance as Winters. He’s not some tough as nails, guts and glory war junkie; he’s just an ordinary man leading other men through extraordinary circumstances.
But the story of Band of Brothers would be incomplete without the efforts of the rank and file. Carwood Lipton, Donald Malarkey, “Bull” Randleman, Bill Guarnere, Joe Toye and Eugene Roe to name a few. These men, and many others, define Easy Company. The bonds they forever share are forged in places like Brécourt, Carentan, Foy and Haguenau. They fight with each other and for each other. To fully appreciate the series is to understand the sacrifices and hardships endured by these soldiers.
The Production:
It is impossible to accurately depict the horrors of war. No fictional account – no matter how “real” – will ever capture the physical and mental trauma inflicted on a combat soldier. However, I would argue no technical/creative team did a better job than the one working behind the scenes on Band of Brothers.
They place the audience inside the war. Dynamic special effects and expert steadicam maneuvers vault the viewer onto the field of battle. Be it the trench assault on a trio of German guns in “Day of Days” or the panicked scatter to evade exploding tree trunks in “The Breaking Point,” the camera positions itself close to the action. The images are not for the faint of heart, as bodies are ripped apart by bullets and shrapnel. These graphic pictures add to the intense realism conveyed in each and every episode.
Details like dirt, grime, sweat and blood also aid the authentic look and feel. A dry pair of socks, a cigarette and fresh water to shave with are all small comforts relished by a soldier on the front lines. The sick, battered, sleep deprived troops in Band of Brothers are a stark difference from those seen in epic war movies of the ’50s and ’60s.
A production budget in excess of $120 million and HBO’s pay cable platform allowed the producers the necessary leeway to unfold the events in an uncompromising fashion. It goes without saying a series like Band of Brothers could never be shown on Network television.
The Cast:
With the exception of David Schwimmer (Friends) and Ron Livingston (Swingers, Office Space), the ensemble cast consisted of mostly unknowns. Donnie Wahlberg’s claim to fame was as a member of the boy band New Kids on the Block, but his sensitive portrayal of Carwood Lipton is one that stands out.
Of course, several members went on to achieve greater success in film and television: Damian Lewis (Life), Scott Grimes (ER), Neal McDonough (Desperate Housewives), Kirk Acevedo (Fringe), Jamie Bamber (Battlestar Galactica), Simon Pegg (Star Trek), James McAvoy (Atonement), Jimmy Fallon and Colin Hanks. I’m sure I missed a few, but you get the point. The series offered an excellent launching pad for careers.
In addition, the real men of Easy Company provide confessional prologues for each episode. In fact, their emotional accounts of the war are some of the most powerful moments in the entire series. The decision to include them prior to each chapter is yet another way to honor their service and sacrifice. Who better to tell the tales than the guys who participated in Normandy, Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge.
Very few times in my life has a movie or television show moved me to tears. Band of Brothers did it twice: Buck Compton dropping his helmet in shock at the sight of Bill Guarnere and Joe Toye’s blown apart bodies, and listening to an elderly Dick Winters describe how he “served with a company of heroes.” It’s moments like these that keep a cynical, sarcastic ass like myself invested in dramatic storytelling.
I want to laugh, cry, think and dream when I go to the movies or watch television. I rarely reach any such emotion, but that’s okay. Band of Brothers is proof that there are still people capable of creating powerful and lasting drama when they pool their talent together.
Tossing around the word “genius” is usually evidence of hyperbole; however, referring to Band of Brothers as a work of genius may not be high enough praise. See it if you haven’t already. If you have, see it again.
Clacked by Scott Tunstall 
on May 25, 2009 @ 09:00 EST5EDT
I remember Bamber well from this series, but I could not place Pegg until I looked him up and saw that he was in Currahee and Day of Days.
This series left such an impression on me that when ever I’m cold, I think of the commentary from the soldier who said on cold nights, “I’m glad I’m not in Bastogne.”
I didn’t know Pegg was in the series, but now that Scott mentioned it, he must have played SGT Evans, who was Sobel’s 1st SGT, and perished on the full plane that went down on D-Day. IIRC, he’s the one that delivers the Court Marshall notice to Winters.
I can’t say enough positive things about this series. To get my hyperbole out of the way, BoB is simply the best 11ish hours of television. Ever.
As Scott mentioned, its not JUST an incredible story. The production value was outstanding. The writing and direction were superb. It was about as well put together a production as you can get.
Other than the great work by Lewis and Livingston, two performances still stand out to me. Gossip Girl’s Mathew Settle as Easy Company’s last war time commander, LT Ronald Speirs, and the aforementioned Scott Grimes as Donald Malarkey. Malarkey lost so much, in Bastonge in particular, and how Grimes underplayed that compared to the joy we see in him early on, was very subtle, and very well done.
As mentioned, it was a great series telling a very inspiring story. What these ordinary men did when placed in extraordinary circumstances is a testament to what we can do. I loved Scott’s turn of phrase, “They fight with each other and for each other,” because it truly states what these men were to each other.
In a day and age where popular culture takes more pot shots at military life, and emphasize the (just as valid) negative aspects to war, it was and is refreshing to see that heroes do still walk the earth.
I am an absolute major fan of the series, and of story itself, and won’t make any apologies for it. Since the series has been produced, the popularity has allowed for several autobiographies to be written. They all are wonderful, but Malarkey’s and Winter’s really stand out, as does Ambrose’s source material.
Well said, Ivey. I’m glad to know I’m not the only person who holds this series in such high regard.
I have to restrain myself from really nerding out about both the series and the story. I’ve read all of the biographies, rewatched the series more times than any other… I even had the opportunity to meet Dick Winters Jr. (actually, MAJ Winter’s nephew) at a 101st reunion our hotel hosted last year. He served in the 101st in Korea. The reverence that he spoke about his uncle and their friends, and his father (whom served in the 82nd Airborne) is the way we should talk about all of our vets, and currently serving folks.
I don’t know… What these guys did, and what our guys and girls do now mean a lot. Thank you for doing this post (and to Keith for the idea), especially on this day.
Oh yeah, well all of Easy Company (who is alive) are on my patio waiting for me to serve dessert. Beat that! ;)
As if I didn’t ramble on enough, I forgot:
If you have the DVDs, and haven’t had the opportunity to watch the Documentary on Disc 11, its a must. It uses more footage from the interviews Scott mentioned, and it really makes a great addition to the story.
This isn’t just a series I’ve watched, it’s a series I’ve watched and rewatched on many occasions.
Almost certainly my favourite TV series of any type.
As the man says ‘See it if you haven’t already. If you have, see it again.’
My son was able to watch this series in his history class at the end of this year, then write a report on the real life tactics and leadership of Winters. I was so very happy to discuss it all with him.
I read Winters book a couple of years ago and it answered many of the things I was left wondering.
It’s hard to pick a favorite character in this show, these men were so amazing. Who does not want to be friends with Guarnere? Who does not want to drink some Bat/Vat 69 with Nixon (and I don’t even drink!)
Probably one of the reasons I could not watch Life is that I wanted Winters to always be Winters in my mind.
I’m looking forward to the Pacific version of this series coming out in, I think next March?….
I fully agree with the “serving with a company of heroes” line bringing a tear to the eye. Happens every time I see it. But, how could “Why We Fight” NOT make you shed a tear. It hard to tear me up, but this episode was just heart breaking.
Greatest series of any kind ever in my book.
I saw the film “Night and Fog” long before BoB. Ten times more sad and shocking than “Why We Fight.” Still a great episode, but not enough to induce tears. No after seeing “Night and Fog.”
Most excellent review and you definitely hit on all of the points and storyline of this mini-series. I agree on all, especially the crying and laughing and the shock. Thanks for bringing back all of the emotions, and yes, if you haven’t seen it you must indulge your emotions. You won’t be sorry!