Sam Mendes' 1917 Was Filmed To Appear As One Continuous Shot

Director Sam Mendes' Oscar-tipped World War One film 1917 was made to appear as one continuous shot, from the beginning of the film until the end, 119 minutes later.

Mendes, who has directed two James Bond films as well as critically acclaimed movies such as American Beauty, teamed up with visionary cinematographer Roger Deakin to film 1917.

As you can see from the trailer above, it looks pretty impressive.

The film follows two young soldiers on a seemingly impossible mission to deliver a message to another battalion and save 1,600 lives.

To illustrate the horror and scale of the First World War, as well as to add suspense and urgency to the two young men's journey, the pair decided to tackle it as if it were one long scene.

Sure, there are a couple of digital cuts, but you'd never even know they were there.

Speaking to Total Film about the decision, Mendes said: "There were days when you were like, 'Why did I do this to myself?'"

He admitted that some scenes took 'hundreds of takes - literally' to get down. Mendes spoke of the frustration that can boil over when a lengthy scene has to be re-shot.

The Spectre director continued: "We got through this whole scene - five-and-a-half minutes of absolutely everything in the right place, just beautiful, and the camera operator tripped on the mattress. Total human error. And it's like, 'No!!!'"

Speaking to Deadline, Deakin added: "The front page of 1917 was this imagined to be one continuous shot and you [say] 'Really?'

"I was concerned it was a gimmick but it's not a gimmick, it's a way to get sucked into the story. Every film has a different way to tell a story and this was a particular challenge."

The film stars George Mackay and Dean-Charles Chapman as the two Tommies packed off on what seems to be a suicide mission.

Set in Northern France in Spring 1917 - obviously - the synopsis speaks of "a seemingly impossible mission to deliver a message which will warn of an ambush during one of the skirmishes soon after the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line during Operation Alberich."

It continues: "The two recruits race against time, crossing enemy territory to deliver the warning and keep a British battalion of 1,600 men, which includes Blake's own brother, from walking into a deadly trap.

"The pair must give their all to accomplish their mission by surviving the war to end all wars."

As well as Mackay and Chapman, the film also stars Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch.

The film is out on 10 January 2020 in the United Kingdom.

Featured Image Credit: Dreamworks

Topics: TV and Film, Interesting, UK Entertainment, US Entertainment, Weird

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekend he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

@TPWagwim