We have some fantastic news for classic film fans as Eureka Entertainment announces the worldwide Blu-ray debut of Richard Attenborough’s OH! WHAT A LOVELY WAR—one of the most daring and original war films ever made. Featuring an all-star cast of some of Britain’s most celebrated actors, this landmark film arrives on 29 June 2026 as part of The Masters of Cinema Series. Limited to 2,000 copies, this special edition is presented in an O-card slipcase and includes an exclusive collector’s booklet.
Having begun his career as an actor celebrated for his performances in the likes ofBrighton Rock,The Great EscapeandSéance on a Wet Afternoon, Richard Attenborough made his directorial debut in 1969 withOh! What a Lovely War, a satirical history of World War I, told through the British music hall tradition.
Adapted from Joan Littlewood’s 1963 stage musical of the same name (itself a reworking of Charles Chilton’s 1961 radio playThe Long Long Trail),Oh! What a Lovely Warrestages the events of the Great War. As the film traces the progression of the conflict from the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand in 1914 to the Armistice of November 1918, it intertwines the fortunes of the everyman Smith family with performances of popular wartime music, from the recruitment song “I’ll Make a Man of You” to the airmen’s anthem “The Bells of Hell Go Ting-a-ling-a-ling.”
Featuring a who’s who of British acting talent from Dirk Bogarde to Michael Redgrave and Maggie Smith, Attenborough’s first film as director earned him a raft of BAFTA nominations and set him on the path to makingA Bridge Too Far,GandhiandChaplin. The Masters of Cinema Series is honoured to presentOh! What a Lovely Waron Blu-ray for the first time anywhere in the world.
LIMITED EDITION BLU-RAY SPECIAL FEATURES*:
- Limited Edition of 2,000 copies
- Limited edition O-card slipcase featuring original poster artwork
- Limited edition booklet featuring new writing onOh! What a Lovely Warby Andy Dougan, author ofThe Actors’ Director: Richard Attenborough Behind the Camera
- 1080p HD presentation from a restoration by Paramount Pictures
- Original English mono audio
- Optional English subtitles (SDH)
- New audio commentary with British cinema scholars Melanie Williams and Lawrence Napper
- Archival audio commentary with director Richard Attenborough
- Your Country Needs You– new interview with film historian Simon Brown on depictions of World War I in British cinema, from The Battle of the Sommeto1917
- An extensive making-of documentary presented in three parts: “Welcome to World War I,” “The Smith Family Album”, and “Keep the Home Fires Burning”
- *All extras subject to change
Available to order from the UK from the Eureka Store and Amazon.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.