We'll Meet Again - 4-DVD Set Review

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(More customer reviews)Compelling war drama about a USA Air Base in England. Struggling B-17 crews find solace among British ladies. The Yank's money is appreciated but not always their ways with alcohol and women. This is a story of the small village of Market Wetherby and it's war-weary locals, and how they cope with the new arrivals, American bomber soldiers who freshly join the war, and expect to win overnight.
The British TV has always been excellent in period television series, war dramatizations, and this is no exception. War nostalgia. It is surpurb, with added interest of half a cast of Americans joining British actors. Brits have the preserved buildings to pull off a period series. They use that to advantage. Beautiful 1943 scenery, costumes, props. This show was actually filmed in the 80s but because of the historical setting, it is a timeless DVD set; classic. Perfect for those with war interest, awesome for those interested in what it was like living in a country waiting to be invaded by Hitler's army. It is something of a cousin series to the more recent homeland war drama of "Foyles War" (a must for all British Drama fans) and "Enemy at the Door" (also good).
WE'LL MEET AGAIN cleverly mixes in actual bomber air strip and bombing raid footage. But much of the action takes place in the village homes and the local pub. Dr. Helen Dereham (by Susannah York) and Maj. Jim Kiley (Michael Shannon) are only two that show the extraordinary work that war leaders had to complete, as well as the struggles romantically of working so closely in life/death living. There's is not the only romance. Plenty of hardship and lives lost. Very believable, although I'm too young to know first-hand, being a Baby Boomer.
The series ends well; but with a potential for another season, which, alas, never came. This set has no subtitles or CC. It's box warning of partial nudity refers to one breast exposed for 3 seconds.
My wife and I both enjoyed this, both sorry there were no additional episodes after the 13 provided in this set.
Episode details (each about 53 min.):
1 ALL DAY AND EVERY DAY-Market Wetherby, Suffolk, April 1943. American Air Force arrives in England ungraciously.
2 HANDS ACROSS THE SEA-Cocky American crews fail to perform well in the air & on the local ground.
3 THE MILK RUN-Letty's Uncle Sid arrives with contraband booze while she falls for a Yank on a 'milk run'-safe mission.
4 ONE STEP FORWARD,TWO STEPS BACK-Some romance buds but overall relations remain tense.
5 THE BIG ONE-Market Wetherby & the American Base find some agreeable relationships. 'The Big One' mission heads over Germany.
6 UP THE SMOKE-Some Yanks get London R&R while Dr. Dereham ponders her feelings between her injured husband & US Maj Kylie.
7 FIGHTING MEN-2 men in English woman's lives seems to become a minor epidemic, plus secrets are found out.
8 A WING AND A PRAYER-Yank marries a local just prior to a dangerous raid.
9 YOU'LL NEVER KNOW-2 Brit wives contemplate continued relations with Yanks. 3 sec. of female nudity.
10 OLD ENOUGH TO FIGHT-Maj Kiley halts his romantic relationship causing poor results at work.
11 ONE DAY AT A TIME-Maj Kiley gets more active in the air & personally as death touches others lives.
12 EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES-Dr. Dereham adds more bedside time to her manner dealing with Maj Kiley's injuries.
13 THE END OF THE BEGINNING-It's love & war and time to choose permanent sides on romance issues.

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A Town Like Alice (UK) ( Rape of Malaya ) Review

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(More customer reviews)This appears to be the old B&W movie with Virginia McKenna and Peter Finch. A very good but dated movie based on the wonderful Neville Shute book.
The Australian TV mini-series is light years better - in fact is one of the greatest movies ever made.
I hope some day it's released on DVD. Until then I still have my old VHS copy.

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Wish Me Luck - Complete Series - 6-DVD Box Set Review

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(More customer reviews)Wish Me Luck is one of those rare (for me) British made series or movies that don't come across as third rate (at best) in terms of acting, screenplay, sets or storyline. The language and dialogue are very easy to understand and although complex at times, remain simple to follow.
This series of almost stand alone episodes takes the viewer from the inception of the British womens' spy service through to the end of the war, it depicts very clearly the struggles they faced, not only from their enemies but also from their friends overseas, who were often less than likely to accept a woman as a leader especially in time of war.
It also is excellent at demonstrating the worries and concerns of those left at home, how a husband has to deal with a wife or mother putting herself in mortal danger, how he reacts when she chooses service to country over servitude at home and the fractures that are ever present between mothers and children.
The various episodes take the viewer expertly through the atrocities of the Third Reich, avoiding the most graphic representations, while leaving little to the imagination. One gets to experience almost firsthand the pressures of life as a female spy in occupied Europe, the ever present threat of capture, the friends posted missing or known killed, the panic and the joy, the love and sorrow are all sewn expertly into this vivid tapestry of life in WW2 Europe.
I bought the first series, followed quickly by the set, and will watch it many times over the comming years, as I actually found nothing that looked obviously "fake" or "graphics generated", or alerted the viewer strongly that this was a low budget effort and detracted from the series' main efforts to pull the watcher thoroughly into the period.

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The Way to the Stars ( Johnny in the Clouds ) Review

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(More customer reviews)To begin, THE WAY TO THE STARS (a/k/a JOHNNY IN THE CLOUDS, 1945) is one of director Anthony Asquith's finest works (another is THE WINSLOW BOY, see my review). Both these films were written by Terence Rattigan, and I can see no reason why either Asquith or Rattigan are mocked as much as they are.
Note: the title confusion is only a reference to a poem written by one of the characters. In truth, since the main title is both the U.S. and U.K. title, I don't know where the alternate title is supposed to fit!
THE WAY TO THE STARS is a surprising, moving and superbly acted work. It's the story of an RAF Airbase being overtaken by Americans during the war, circa 1942. The cast, headed by Michael Redgrave (Flight Lt. David Archdale) and Trevor Howard as Squadron Ldr. Howard, is absolutely top-notch. In fact, Asquith, who befriended Howard immediately, predicted rightly that Howard would be huge in film. Howard, of course, is legendary today.
Douglas Montgomery, a Connecticut native with a British-sounding lilt to his voice and heartbreaking good looks, plays Lt. Johnny Hollis, the American pilot whose life ends near the end of the film, as Flt. Lt. Archdale's ends at the beginning. Montgomery, who will look totally familiar, did few films and very little tv. He was a bit gay even at this time onscreen, which may account for his lack of future roles: his acting is like none I've ever seen. Cool, sweet, and sincere.
John Mills (GANDHI, BEAN) as Pilot Officer Peter Penrose almost steals the show if not for the presence of Montgomery. The quite stillness, the power, of Mills' performance here is not to be missed in all the history of cinema. Even now I watch Mills and declare I've never watched a Brit actor better than Mills.
Here we have a simply enjoyable tale about the brave pilots and service people fighting and winning WWII. There is no division between Brit and American; the charm of this film is the instant camaraderie formed between the two. With the endearing friendship formed between Hollis and Penrose, nothing is impossible--and it reflects the sadly broken friendship between Penrose and the deceased Archdale. As Penrose calmly walks off into the night at the end, having lost both his best friends but having gained a fiancée, one marvels at the power of human endurance...and of the British stiff upper lip.
The cinematography is ahead of its time; it wouldn't reach these heights until the 1950s. The music is unintrusive though not surprisingly a tad silly, considering the era. What astonishes me most is how modern all the guys are, yet so polite. Clearly this is another age, but it is one I remember well from my early childhood. The women are stunning and alluring, as it should be, with Rosamud John and Joyce Carey marvelously heading the 'fairer cast'. These are strong, determined women.
I cannot stress enough how important it is for families to enjoy cinema together. Such films are so rare today, but THE WAY TO THE STARS is one I cannot recommend highly enough. Get this for your collection, enjoy it over and over, and keep an eye on the fine acting.
This kind of stuff comes along only once in a human era.

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History -- Combat Jump Review

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(More customer reviews)David Schifter's portrayal of Col. James Gavin was both accurate and respectable. Not only does the actor have an uncanny resemblance to the American hero, he obviously did his research into the character.
"Combat Jump" is well worth watching for a look at how a man went against all of the odds to win this aerial assault battle during WW2.

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Dear Home: Soldiers And The Home Front (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)To a soldier, it's the people and places they're fighting to protect, the people they can't wait to hear from and the ones they can not wait to come back to.
While home may mean different things to different people, to a soldier in armed conflict home is everything. Now, in this moving 2 DVD set, THE HISTORY CHANNEL(tm) examines the relationship of soldiers and the home front as never before. Through letters, home movies and emotional personal accounts, learn how vital the connection to home has been to soldiers throughout history - from the American Revolution to the Persian Gulf War. It's an account like no other. There truly is no place like home.
Two-Disc DVD set contains:
Disc One:
* Dear Home: Letters From World War I
* Dear Home: Letters From World War II
Disc Two:
* The Color of War: The Homefront
* Coming Home: The Veteran Experience in America

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New Germany: A History DVD (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)Warning! This is a low quality video that only briefly gives highlights of the history of Germany. There are few specific details. It only mentions highlights in passing. For example: Teutoberger wald (15 seconds) Charlemagne (30 seconds monstly about Aachen), Hameln (45 seconds about the Pied Piper story). The first part covers from prehistory until 1648 in about 10 minutes mostly discussing different citie's roles in major historical events.

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History -- Hitler And Stalin: Roots of Evil Review

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(More customer reviews)A little too simplistic in approach. Hitler & Stalin were both evil but their political ideas were in opposition. I do not think either man 'admired' or 'trusted' the other.

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History -- Blood From A Stone Review

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(More customer reviews)A lost treasure from WWII, a US Vet who was so traumatized that can't be bothered to travel to France to find the buried prize, a greedy fat man who will stop at nothing to find it himself. It's like "The Maltese Falcon" and "Casablanca" rolled up into one and blown up into real life. This story is the stuff that dreams are made on! Great! Great! Great!

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History -- Tales Of The Gun German Small Arms Of WWII Review

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(More customer reviews)Another perfectly executed documentary from History Channel...it was so informative that I'll be ordering the entire Gun series in the near future. Thank you Amazon for having this available.

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The History Channel - Collector's Choice - World War II - The War in Europe (1983) Review

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(More customer reviews)First, the good news. You get about 3 hours for about fifteen bucks. Some of the combat footage is incredible. And, the documentaries are enjoyable.
Now, the bad news. Video and sound quality are poor. This is not DVD quality. Video of studio shots (the announcer, maps, etc.) are blurry and appear to be a dub of a VHS tape onto a DVD. Sound on the first disc is gated to reduce hiss; unfortunately, this leaves the sound rather choppy and unnatural-sounding, and lacking in upper frequencies (which reduces the intelligibility of the voice-over). Sound on the second disc is thankfully not mangled, but instead there is noticeable tape hiss. Since it's almost all combat footage (sometimes jerky, sometimes not focused, often poor contrast) the poor video quality is not as much an issue, especially since the footage is edited in sections barely longer than a few seconds each -- you barely have time to focus on it before it cuts away to something else. As far as the sound, I would not be surprised if it was manufactured later with sound effects. And by the time you reach the last documentary, you begin to recognize some of the footage which they had already used for another battle.
Also, this is not a comprehensive history of the Pacific War, but a collection of 20-min. documentaries from the mid-'80's each covering a key battle or some other subject. At least they do generally have them arranged in chronological order.
The verdict? It's a chance to get a lot of combat footage for cheap (although it's almost all American footage, and told from the American point of view). I'm generally happy with it, but the DVD quality sure could have been better.

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Studio: A&e Home VideoRelease Date: 12/19/2000Run time: 195 minutesRating: Nr

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History -- Real Flying Tigers, The Review

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(More customer reviews)The Real Flying Tigers tells the story of the lives and exploits of the American men and women who volunteered to defend China in the early days of the Second World War as members of the American American Volunteer Group in China. This was America's first foray into the world of covert warfare and the most successful one to date. This little group of Americans became the source of the only "good news" in the early dark days of America's involvement in WWII. The documentary ends with the belated bestowing of medals from the US Government in 1996 in Dallas, Texas. It was the largest medal ceremony in the history of the US military and was presided over by then Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Ronald Fogelman. Truly a good hour of television - it includes quite a lot of film footage and stills shot by the actual participants.

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Sink the Bismarck Review

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(More customer reviews)I recently watched this special on the History Channel. While I found it to be a little long, it was never boring. It excellently tells the story of the brief life and the death of the pride of the German Kriegsmarine, the Battleship Bismarck.
When the Bismarck was launched at Hamburg on Valentines Day, 1939, it was a proud day for the Third Reich; Another addition to their expanding fleet. However, they where far from being ready for battle with the Royal Navy. But Hitler presumed that war with Britain would not come till at least 1946. However in September, 1939, a few days after German armies invaded Poland, Britain declared war.
Since the German fleet was still too weak to face Britain's navy, it was decided that they would participate in commerce raiding. Instead of attacking offensively, the German fleet would hit the convoys coming from America to Britain, thus strangling Great Britain. In this role, the Bismarck would be the ultimate raider. However, the video also tells about Hitler's dislike of this role for the high seas fleet. He found it to be unsuitable for these glorious ships. He once remarked to fleet commander Admiral Erich Raeder "On land, I am a hero. At sea, I am a coward".
Many survivors from both the German and British sides are interviewed and shed a different light on the Bismarck that a book or a video can't provide. British seaman Ted Briggs tells us that he first wanted to join the Royal Navy when he first saw the H.M.S Hood. Later, he served on that ship when she was sunk by Bismarck and was one of only three of here crew to survive. Another interesting bit of information is told by one of Bismarck's former crewman: He says that Captain Lindemann thought the Bismarck was too big and powerful to be a female. Thus, he told his men that they will call the ship He instead of She.
The video discusses about the various twists and turns in the sea chase as well as the blunders made by both sides: The decision of the Bismarck's builders to ignore the problems that would occur when the rudder was disabled. The decision of German Admiral Lutjens not to refuel the ship when he had the chance. The decision for the Bismarck's crew to break radio silence and give her (I mean Him) position away to the British. The mis-caculation of British Admiral Tovey of the Bismarck's location. The various accidental attacks by British planes on the wrong ships (Fortunately, none where hit). Also, there is the dumb luck of the torpedo plane that crippled the Bismarck's rudder. Finally, there is the controversial decision of the captain of the cruiser Dorsetshire to stop the rescue of Bismarck survivors and steam away because of a U-boat sighting.
I cannot recommend this documentary enough. For another great Bismarck documentary, watch the shorter and more basic but also entertaining "Search for Battleship Bismarck", which also details about Dr. Robert Ballard's successful hunt for the wreck of the Bismarck. Also read a book on the Bismarck, which (Unlike movies) don't have to be edited.

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