The Way Ahead poster

The Way Ahead( 1944)

TV-MADramaWar
65%
User
Score

From Workers — To Warriors

Overview

A mismatched collection of conscripted civilians find training tough under Lieutenant Jim Perry and Sergeant Ned Fletcher when they are called up to replace an infantry battalion that had suffered casualties at Dunkirk.

    Top Billed Cast

    1. cast image

      David Niven

      Lieutenant Jim Perry

    2. cast image

      Stanley Holloway

      Pvt. Ted Brewer

    3. cast image

      James Donald

      Pvt. Evans Lloyd

    4. cast image

      John Laurie

      Pvt. Luke

    5. cast image

      Leslie Dwyer

      Pvt. Sid Beck

    6. cast image

      Hugh Burden

      Pvt. Bill Parsons

    7. cast image

      Raymond Huntley

      Pvt. Herbert Davenport

    8. cast image

      Jimmy Hanley

      Pvt. Geoffrey Stainer

    9. cast image

      William Hartnell

      Sgt. Ned Fletcher

    10. cast image

      Reginald Tate

      The Training Company Commanding Officer

    11. cast image

      Leo Genn

      Captain Edwards

    12. cast image

      John Ruddock

      Old Chelsea Soldier

    13. cast image

      A. Bromley Davenport

      Old Chelsea Soldier

    14. cast image

      Renée Asherson

      Marjorie Gillingham

    15. cast image

      Mary Jerrold

      Mrs. Gillingham

    16. cast image

      Raymond Lovell

      Mr. Jackson

    17. cast image

      Jack Watling

      Sgt. Buster

    18. cast image

      Peter Ustinov

      Rispoli

    19. cast image

      Lloyd Pearson

      Sam Thyrtle

    20. cast image

      Penelope Dudley-Ward

      Mrs. Perry

    21. cast image

      Esma Cannon

      Mrs. Ted Brewer

    22. cast image

      Eileen Erskine

      Mrs. Bill Parsons

    23. cast image

      Grace Arnold

      Mrs. Ned Fletcher

    24. cast image

      Tessie O'Shea

      Herself

    25. cast image

      Trevor Howard

      Officer on Ship (uncredited)

    26. cast image

      George Merritt

      Sergeant Major (uncredited)

    27. cast image

      Tracy Reed

      Perry's Daughter (uncredited)

    28. cast image

      A.E. Matthews

      Colonel Walmsley

    29. cast image

      John Boxer

      Soldier in Pub Talking to the Chelsea Pensioners (uncredited)

    30. cast image

      Peggy Carlisle

      Minor Role (uncredited)

    31. cast image

      Alf Goddard

      Instructor (uncredited)

    32. cast image

      David Hutcheson

      Garage Customer in Car (uncredited)

    33. cast image

      Benita Lydal

      ENSA Artist (uncredited)

    34. cast image

      Andreas Malandrinos

      Gendarme in Café (uncredited)

    35. cast image

      John Salew

      Sam - Friend of Pvt. Lloyd in Pub Scene (uncredited)

    36. cast image

      Johnnie Schofield

      Lewis Gun Instructor (uncredited)

    37. cast image

      Winifred Willard

      Minor Role (uncredited)

    38. cast image

      Ben Williams

      Pessimistic Man Talking to the Chelsea Pensioners (uncredited)

    Social

    Review 1Discussion

    A review by CinemaSerf

    7
    Written by CinemaSerf on Thu Jun 30 2022
    David Niven heads the cast in this engagingly quirky tale that amusingly and poignantly depicts just how the British Army managed to fight during WWII. He is the officer in charge of a collection of men of all ages and from many different backgrounds as they are slowly, but surely, coaxed, cajoled and bullied into a fighting unit that has cohesion, loyalty and friendship. Their training regime would test the best of us, and is carried out with a decent smattering of whinging and groaning, but also with strong senses of humour and of purpose before they are eventually deployed overseas and meet ...

    Media

    Videos 1Backdrops 1Posters 5

    Recommendations

    1. Moonfall

      Moonfall63%

    2. Three the Hard Way

      Three the Hard Way62%

    3. Oppenheimer

      Oppenheimer80%

    4. 1917

      191780%

    5. The Equalizer 3

      The Equalizer 373%

    6. Top Gun: Maverick

      Top Gun: Maverick82%

    7. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One

      Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One75%

    8. Venom: The Last Dance

      Venom: The Last Dance67%

    9. Bullet Train

      Bullet Train74%

    10. John Wick

      John Wick75%

    11. Dracula Untold

      Dracula Untold64%

    12. The Count of Monte Cristo

      The Count of Monte Cristo80%

    13. Mad Max: Fury Road

      Mad Max: Fury Road76%

    14. Blue Beetle

      Blue Beetle67%

    15. Alien: Romulus

      Alien: Romulus72%

    16. Ex Machina

      Ex Machina76%

    17. Doctor Strange

      Doctor Strange74%

    18. Juror #2

      Juror #269%

    19. Carol

      Carol75%

    20. Dune: Part Two

      Dune: Part Two81%

    Facts

    Status

    Released

    Original Language

    English

    Budget

    -

    Revenue

    -

    Keywords

    • flashback
    • army life
    • unity