Peter Jackson's WWI Documentary THEY SHALL NOT GROW OLD Is Getting an Extra Day in Theaters
Peter Jackson’s World War One documentary They Shall Not Grow Old was one of my favorite films of the year. Unfortunately, it got a very limited theatrical release. It only came to theaters for three days in the month of December and in the process broke some box-office records.
Well, if you didn’t get a chance to see the film on the big screen yet, Fathom Events and Warner Bros. have announced that the film will return to theaters for one more day. That day is Monday, January 21st, and it will be released in more than 1,000 theaters.
This is an incredible film that you have to see on the big screen if you can. It’s really quite incredible to see 100 year-old footage in such vivid clarity. The film is also very moving and inspiring. It’s a shame that the film didn’t get a proper theatrical release, but see it if you can! I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Head over to FathomEvents.com for information and tickets.
Jeff Goldstein, president of domestic distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures said in a statement:
“With this being the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, I can’t imagine a more appropriate time to honor the courage of the soldiers who fought in WWI — what was then ‘the war to end all wars’ — many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. Peter has made history come alive through the medium of film, and we are so pleased to be a part of bringing his vision to today’s audiences.”
The screenings will also feature a special introduction for the film recorded by Jackson that offers his “perspective on why the movie is important for audiences who have never experienced World War I footage in color.”
Fathom Events CEO Ray Nutt added:
“We knew that partnering with Warner Bros. to bring this extraordinary documentary to U.S. audiences was essential. Putting this documentary on the big screen via the Fathom network will further illuminate Jackson’s work and allow moviegoers to see the impressive visual detail of the restored footage as though they were a part of that moment in time.”
Jackson had access to more than 600 hours of WWI footage and BBC archival interviews to create the doc, and this is an explanation of the process it went through:
Using state of the art technology to restore original archival footage which is more than a 100-years old, Jackson brings to life the people who can best tell this story: the men who were there. Driven by a personal interest in the First World War, Jackson set out to bring to life the day-to-day experience of its soldiers. After months immersed in the BBC and Imperial War Museums’ archives, narratives and strategies on how to tell this story began to emerge for Jackson. Using the voices of the men involved, the film explores the reality of war on the front line; their attitudes to the conflict; how they ate; slept and formed friendships, as well what their lives were like away from the trenches during their periods of downtime.
Jackson and his team have used cutting edge techniques to make the images of a hundred years ago appear as if they were shot yesterday. The transformation from black and white footage to colourised footage can be seen throughout the film revealing never before seen details. Reaching into the mists of time, Jackson aims to give these men voices, investigate the hopes and fears of the veterans, the humility and humanity that represented a generation changed forever by a global war.
Carolyn Blackwood, New Line president and chief content officer, and an executive producer on Jackson’s “The Hobbit” trilogy said:
“This documentary is simply special on every level — it is an arresting and gripping way to humanize and honor those who served so bravely during WWI by using actual footage shot at the time and narrated with the voices of the soldiers who experienced it. Leave it to Peter to come up with a groundbreaking way to reflect back on a period in history that deserves another look.”
