The Way Ahead | David Niven | Classic Drama Movie | Film Noir | British Draftees

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The Way Ahead – World W*r II drama that follows a group of British draftees, starting with their rigorous basic training, and ending with their deployment in North Africa.

The Way Ahead (1944)
Director: Carol Reed
Writers: Eric Ambler(original story), Peter Ustinov(screen play)
Stars: David Niven, Stanley Holloway, James Donald
Genre: Drama, War
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English, French, German
Also Known As: The Immortal Battalion
Release Date: 6 June 1944 (UK)
Duration: 114 min
Filming Location: Pirbright Army Camp, Pirbright, Surrey, England, UK

Storyline:
A group of draftees are called up into the infantry during World War II. At first, they appear to be a hopeless bunch, but their Sergeant and Lieutenant have faith in them and mould them into a good team. When they go into action in North Africa, they realize what it’s all about.

Reviews:
“This is a film about a seemingly run of the mill sort of group. After the Brits were involved in WWII and saw how bad the going would be, the government was forced to draft men who would traditionally have been exempt. Men who were a bit old or involved with careers that might be deemed ‘useful’ to the effort were suddenly being called to duty, as times were dire. The beginning of the film shows these men being selected for service.

Unfortunately, this is a rather motley group and they tended to complain quite a bit as well (mostly by Stanley Holloway’s character). How they could become a productive unit seemed pretty doubtful and I doubt if such an unimpressive group of men would have been used as actors had this propaganda film been made a few years earlier–when things looked really bad for the British. However, now that the war was appearing win-able, I can understand the choices of actors.

There is nothing particularly magical about any of the film–their selection, their training or their combat experience in North Africa. However, all of it was very well handled and excelled because they tried to make it believable–normal, everyday men rising to the occasion. In many ways, it reminded me of a landlocked version of “In Which We Serve”–with fine acting and writing instead of jingoism and super-human exploits. Very well done.

There are a few interesting actors in the film. Peter Ustinov is in his first film and he plays a French-speaking man. While his French isn’t 100% fluid, it was decent and a bit of a surprise. Apparently, he was in real life David Niven’s assistant in the British Army and somehow ended up in the film–and thus began his career. Also, Dr. Who fans will appreciate that the Sergeant is played by Dr. #1, William Hartnell.

By the way, this is a little explanation for those who are not British or familiar with British history. Early in the film, someone asks Stanley Holloway’s character who he liked in Parliament. Holloway indicates the only one he liked was Guy Fawkes! Fawkes was part of a plot to blow up Parliament in 1605, but was caught and executed–and the Brits celebrate this to this day with Guy Fawkes Day–as day of merry-making, bonfires and fireworks! Obviously Holloway’s character wasn’t exactly fond of the government, eh?!” -Written by MartinHafer on IMDb.com

Also Known As (AKA):
(original title) The Way Ahead
Belgium (Flemish title) De weg die voor ons ligt
Belgium (French title) Le chemin du devoir
Brazil (alternative title) Caminho das Estrelas
Brazil Têmpera de Aço
Canada (English title) The Way Ahead
Czechoslovakia Cesta vpred
Denmark Vejen frem
Finland Kohtalon miehiä
France L’héroïque parade
Greece (transliterated title) O dromos pros ti doxa
Italy La via della gloria
Japan (Japanese title) 最後の突撃（1944）
Netherlands De weg die voor ons ligt
Norway Veien fram
Poland Droga przed nami
Portugal O 7º. de Infantaria
Romania Calea înainte
Soviet Union (Russian title) Путь вперед
Spain Hacia adelante
Sweden Ödets män
Turkey (Turkish title) İleri – Ölmek Var, Dönmek Yok
UK The Way Ahead
USA (cut version) The Immortal Battalion
USA The Way Ahead
West Germany (alternative title) Der Weg nach vorn

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46 Replies to “The Way Ahead | David Niven | Classic Drama Movie | Film Noir | British Draftees”

  1. In the movie, one of the actors does a recitation of the poem, 'The Lynching of Black Maguire'
    Does anyone know the full poem, or who wrote it? I've been searching online for it but can't find it.
    Google just keeps suggesting 'The Lynching' by Claude McKay, which isn't what I'm looking for.
    If anyone could post a link for this poem, it would be most appreciated.

  4. Outstanding! David Niven brought me here but now I admire all the lead actors! Excellent cast, excellent effects, captivating story, on the edge of the seat action, thoroughly patriotic (especially to me as an American Navy veteran WAVE/WEN), and heart wrencing as well! I may have never seen a better war movie!

  9. If there's ever been a time since WW2 when we needed this kind of spirit – it's upon us, as our Country is slowly invaded, our history rewritten and our legacy ground into dust. We, the British, changed the World for the better… we brought Civilisation, Science and Democracy to every Country we Colonised. We readily admit to the damage we caused but history proves that for every Man, Woman and Child killed – a thousand were saved.

  13. I love this film and I’m always impressed by the final scenes and the accuracy and depiction of the street fighting, you only need to look at current events such as the appalling situation in Gaza to see this film was made by people who seen and had been in action. Still brings a tear to my eye when the troops are singing “lily of Laguna”, such a good depiction of comradeship with a connection to loved ones at home.

  14. Is that a young Peter Ustinov? Took me a second to realize since he had no heavy beard. 2 years into his film career. Just read that Peter Ustinov was one of screenplay writers. great film, Niven being his best.

  16. saw this on daytime TV back in the 1980's after wagging school for the afternoon.. thought it was going to be lame but it turned out to be one of the best movies I have ever seen.. really had me riveted back then.. glad to see it on youtube ; ]

  23. Early scenes armed with No. 4 Enfields, later scenes with the earlier Mk. 3. Great rifle, Held twice as many rounds as the German Mausers. A nice advantage in a pinch.

  24. They first made them fight the War, and then vilified, and vilified, and vilified the spirit – everything to fight every remnant of human decency and uprightness, and moral, and discipline, and with it oppress and tread their God-given dignity – a trap set for the innocent and the gullible, to which many, not to say all, have fallen…..And this still goes on, no, we take it for granted, that we cannot be like that anymore, and aspire and dream in that way, that is bad now, gone and never to come back -if God will allow us, if God will……

  27. Message to the students grandmother. As with Public School Official Policy since 2020;
    ‘toxic masculinity’ this phone was confiscated because boys were watching such banned ‘masculinity’ on school property.

    Understanding the phone belongs to you be o advised.

    Ms Garner

  28. My dad was a sergeant in the BEF, went over in 1939, evacuated from Dunkirk, the whole bit. Went back to fight through France and Germany, ended up in the occupation army in Hamburg. This is an evocation of his war.

    Apart from anything else, I just want to say that by god, Ustinov was a brilliant actor. Even though he was confined to French.

  35. The badge shown in the opening is that of Nivens regiment. Niven was in The Rifle Brigade; very socially smart. The most junior rank is not called a private, but a Rifleman. Post WW2 his American production company produced The Rifleman, starring Chuck Connors.

  38. I have watched this film so many times because it is a great insight into how men and women can be moulded into the world of the military, get rid of the civilian and turn them into a soldier,sailor or airman/woman.

  41. In those days, the military was trying to train and make good soldiers. Unlike today, when the military tries to run as many people out of the military as possible.

  42. My grandad wanted to join Chelsea pensioners, but he died before my grandmother was a veteran of the WW1, he lost his sight in one eye through shrapnel carried on, he was a veteran. He spent five years in India without his family. He had three children before he went. He had nine children all together

  43. According to David Niven, this wartime film was used as a training aid in Sandhurst for 10 years after the war, to show them how to mould civilians into a team.

  44. A cast of some of the finest British actors. Including Mr Doolittle. It brings back good memories of my nine years in the army. I remember pushing my men until they collapsed and their timings were never good enough. But I would have gone to hell and back with them and they always had my 6 o’clock!

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