Amazing video you must all watch

[seriessearcher]

Nice Video

I would love to see their packing list, as well as possible repairs. That is amazing to think they did that without GPS or sat phones which most teams would consider standard these days.

The pioneers had true backbone.

 

[CoastalDefender]

Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic.

What an incredible journey.


This should be in the general area as a Sticky/Pinned thread.

I think it was more then Men than the Machine. Land Rover obviously helped, but it was the intestinal fortitude that prevailed. Sheer Will that carried them all those 14,000 miles of desert, jungle, and cement.

Thank you so much for posting it. :arabia:

 

[Teeafit]

No, THIS is the video you need to see

Whilst I'm delighted that the BBC4 Timeshift video footage is introducing people to the 'First Overland' experience, don't be misled... this isn't the best-produced and most accurate piece of work.

The interviews are good -- well shot and appropriate. But after that they just 'wallpapered' around them with random footage from the original film that BB shot for the BBC in 1955/56. There was NO attention paid to chronology or geography, with totally inappropriate shots (allegedly) illustrating the interviews. There was even (if you look closely) some footage of a grey/orange Series 2, which was impossible for an expedition which was completed by late 56! (In fact, this was some footage from a later expedition that BB and Tim Slessor went on, and was on the end of the tape that BB supplied to the BBC. The opening shots of the programme, with the barge and the monks, are also NOT from the 1955 expedition.)

OK, I'll come clean and admit that I'm the guy who had the great honour of re-mastering BB's footage for DVD. I tried as far as possible to follow the same timeline as the original BBC broadcasts (not always totally accurate chronology even in the original, as some items (eg putting up the tent) were shot on the return journey), and CERTAINLY I electronically re-made 2003 'film cement' edits which had become visible over time -- the Beeb didn't do that.

I also have interviews with ALL the surviving Expedition members, and an extra about what it took for BB to make the original film, and the background story to the DVD.

So, much as the BBC4 programme was welcomed, for the DEFINITIVE version you'll need to buy the DVD. I won't be so crass as to promote my own website, but someone else has mentioned it in this thread, and you'll be welcome to visit (and perhaps buy online).

GRAEME ALDOUS
Teeafit Sound & Vision, Yorkshire

 

[DavidG]

Graeme,
Just visited the site. Not a LR guy, but count me in. Looking forward to receiving it

 

[James86004]

The most amazing thing to me about that trip was that 6 guys and all their gear for such a long trip fit into 2 short wheelbase Land Rovers. My family of 3 has trouble fitting all our stuff into a long wheelbase Land Rover for a weekend trip!

 

[Backwoods Rambler]

Hey, that hurts. I rarely drink 40 Ouncer PBR, it stays colder in cans with cozies and besides the aluminum is an essential spice.

Oh no, another PBR drinker. They seem to be popping up everywhere I turn. Are you originally from Wisconsin also?

The most amazing thing to me about that trip was that 6 guys and all their gear for such a long trip fit into 2 short wheelbase Land Rovers. My family of 3 has trouble fitting all our stuff into a long wheelbase Land Rover for a weekend trip!

How many women in your family? :hehe: j/k

 

[James86004]

How many women in your family? :hehe: j/k

I am outnumbered 2 to 1. I can't complain too much about the essentials (junk) they bring. At least they like go out as much as I do, and we all get a little crazy if we spend 2 weekends in a row at home.

 

[DavidG]

Bought the First Overland DVD

I would like to thank Graeme for the quick delivery to the U.S.!
I really enjoyed the First Overland DVD and I am very pleased with this purchase. For folks with any interest in expedition documentaries, go to his site http://www.teeafit.co.uk/firstoverland/ and buy the DVD. Combining the interviews with the silent footage was a great approach Graeme and it made for a compelling story. Also, IIRC the DVD contains nearly 2 hours of expertly edited footage and interviews.

BTW, I recently found a 1958 reprint of Tim Slessor's book and I look forward to reading it.

Thanks, Graeme!

-David

Whilst I'm delighted that the BBC4 Timeshift video footage is introducing people to the 'First Overland' experience, don't be misled... this isn't the best-produced and most accurate piece of work.

The interviews are good -- well shot and appropriate. But after that they just 'wallpapered' around them with random footage from the original film that BB shot for the BBC in 1955/56. There was NO attention paid to chronology or geography, with totally inappropriate shots (allegedly) illustrating the interviews. There was even (if you look closely) some footage of a grey/orange Series 2, which was impossible for an expedition which was completed by late 56! (In fact, this was some footage from a later expedition that BB and Tim Slessor went on, and was on the end of the tape that BB supplied to the BBC. The opening shots of the programme, with the barge and the monks, are also NOT from the 1955 expedition.)

OK, I'll come clean and admit that I'm the guy who had the great honour of re-mastering BB's footage for DVD. I tried as far as possible to follow the same timeline as the original BBC broadcasts (not always totally accurate chronology even in the original, as some items (eg putting up the tent) were shot on the return journey), and CERTAINLY I electronically re-made 2003 'film cement' edits which had become visible over time -- the Beeb didn't do that.

I also have interviews with ALL the surviving Expedition members, and an extra about what it took for BB to make the original film, and the background story to the DVD.

So, much as the BBC4 programme was welcomed, for the DEFINITIVE version you'll need to buy the DVD. I won't be so crass as to promote my own website, but someone else has mentioned it in this thread, and you'll be welcome to visit (and perhaps buy online).

GRAEME ALDOUS
Teeafit Sound & Vision, Yorkshire