Brian May's musical score is used to good effect in heightening the emotions of the audience, while avoiding the powerful, patriotic tunes traditionally associated with this genre. The use of Albioni's "Adagio in G Minor" also enhances the splendid production by creating a haunting, adventurous background to the visual action.
Weir patiently constructed Gallipoli in such a fashion as to enable his audience to become emotionally attached to Archy and Frank. Their spirited youthfulness, enthusiasm, joy of living, competitive nature and the mateship that they share is used to great effect in highlighting the awful betrayal of war. In doing so, and in the chilling frozen framed conclusion, Weir has shown how quickly and pointlessly young lives can be destroyed. His visual masterwork carries a deep anti-war message that strikes home powerfully in its examination of the futility and tragedy of war.
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