Name: Entertaining the Troops
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2011-09-20
Duration: 1 h
Cast: Julian Rhind-Tutt, Tony Benn, Allen Clifford

In the 1990s as we headed towards the 50th anniversary of D-Day, there was a time when companies released a number of popular videos with titles such as 'Songs that won the war' or 'Jokes that won the war.'

I actually saw a clip with Tommy Trinder doing an alleged comedy act. Maybe the video should had been called 'Jokes that nearly lost the war!'

Tommy Trinder was a performer for ENSA (Entertainment National Services Association) set up by impresario Basil Dean at the outbreak of war and sent out concert parties to entertain the troops at home and abroad. There were thousands of shows put on of varying quality. Some had stars such as Gracie Fields, Vera Lynn, George Formby and Noel Coward. Others had more inept performers and it was a breeding ground for a lot of post war entertainers such as Tommy Cooper, Frankie Howerd for example.

As far as the troops were concerned it was the chance of seeing the young nubile women that interested them and the chance to talk to them afterwards and share a drink. We see one performer who went to see injured troops, some who were severely disfigured.

Dean was vilified in some quarters although his elderly son and grandson are in the programme to set the record straight. As the programme was made in 2011, some of the contributors such as Tony Benn, Eric Sykes have subsequently died. Because of the passage of time it is left to the lesser known performers to take centre stage and talk candidly about their time entertaining the troops which involved putting themselves in danger at times.

The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

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In World War II an army of performers from ballerinas to magicians, contortionists to impressionists, went to help win the war by entertaining the troops. Risking their lives they ventured into war zones, performing close to enemy lines.

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Entertaining the Troops

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