Reviews (3)

a story of love
the story is so beautiful, but really sad. it's about a young girl who raises a baby seal, but you know the whole time she isn't going to be able to keep it when it's grown, which is mentioned all through the movie. so you're always aware it's going to be sad when she releases it. the whole plot is about her becoming increasingly attached to the seal, only to have to release it. it's a story of love, but is also about how fragile the relations in life are, and how anything you love is eventually taken away. the final shot, during the ending credits, is of the seal, all alone, looking into the distance with a hopeful look in its big eyes. it is now free, but all alone. it would have been better to have her keep the seal, and love it during its whole life. and make the point that love is point of the story.

A touching film
I first saw this film many years ago as part of the PBS Wonderworks television series for children. While I recognized at the time that parts of the film were a little corny or even manipulative, I recognized a certain heart and earnestness in the film. Briefly, this is a film about a young orphan is goes to live with her aunt when her parents are killed in an accident. At first, the girl is bitter and remorseful, but we begin to see a change in her as she begins to explore her new home and environs. One day, she adopts an orphan baby seal, and in caring for it, begins her metamorphosis for the better. I find that in many ways, this film is similar in theme and feel to Anna Paquin's "Fly Away Home." If you enjoyed that film, then you will enjoy "Seal Morning" as well. It is a great film for the family and is quite touching. I recommend it!

Great family video....holds interest of both young and old.
This appealing tale of the relationship between a girl and an orphaned seal will win your heart. It is one of those classic videos that you will want to view again and again. An orphaned girl who is placed in the care of her maiden aunt finds her new life cheerless and bleak. It appears her grief will overwhelm her until another orphaned creature, a baby seal, comes into her life. You will laugh, sympathize, cheer and perhaps even cry as you view the relationship of girl and seal develop to its climax. ... Read more

Description

Part lawyer, part detective, Rumpole's brilliant mind and sly sense of humor have solved many a case and delighted families across America for over ten years. Volume 2: "Rumpole and the Supporting Life" and "Rumpole and the Blind Tasting". ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Part lawyer, part detective
This series closely follows the feel and the sarcasm of the written stories. The stories are not in the same order as the book however each one stands alone. In a brief time there is posed a mystery or a problem and then some recognizable interaction with people that I am sure you can say you know someone like them. A little drama and it is finally wrapped up in short order. More than the stories that do not leave you hanging it is the comments that make the episode interesting to watch.

Volume two covers:

Episode 3. "Rumpole and the Sporting Life" Watch closely especially everyone's expression as the clues start from the first. A man (who everyone knows is obnoxious) is found dead. His wife is standing over him with a shot gun and says it was an accident. Rumpole has to defend her with a known hanging judge. Everyone has their own agenda including Mrs. Rumpole who wants to move to the country.

Episode 4. "Rumpole and the Blind Tasting" Once again watch expressions for unsaid clues. Rumpole delves into the world of wine tasting and collecting which assists him in a case of insurance fraud. In the process he gains an understudy (24 years old and female) which Mrs. Rumpole's friend suspects that Rumpole is studying. ... Read more

Description

Part Lawyer, part detective, Rumpole's brilliant mind and sly sense of humor have solved many a case and delighted families across America for over ten years. Volume 5: "Rumpole and the Female of the Species" and "Rumpole and the Official Secret". ... Read more

Reviews (1)

My applause for Rumpole.
Leo McKern star as a British barrister named Horace Rumpole. Somehow, John Mortimer (the author of the Rumpole stories) masterfully combines drama, humor, mystery and social commentary in a fascinating way that has now been carried over into the visual medium.

From the box:

Episode 9. Rumpole and the Female of the Species - Rumpole finds himself playing two roles at the same time: defending a small time thief charged with armed robbery in court while orchestrating a promotion behind the scenes for a young female barrister who thinks she's being discriminated against.

Episode 10. Rumpole and the Official Secret - Rumpole discovers that things aren't always what they seem as he defends an eccentric Defense Ministry clerk accused of leaking secrets to the press and confronts his own wife about a visitor who may or may not be part of a terrorist organization. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Before there was Quincy and The Practice, there was Rumpole. Rumpole of the Bailey is, quite simply, one of the best television series ever and has served as a model for all law dramas that followed it. Edgy and satirical, Rumpole is based on John Mortimer's books of the same name. A determined and committed criminal defense barrister at the Old Bailey, or criminal court (whose clients have included three generations of the Timson family, among others), the antihero Rumpole is portrayed by esteemed actor Leo McKern. As champion of the downtrodden, the self-righteous Rumpole finds himself again and again in trouble variously with his wife Hilda, his peers, the head of chambers, and judges, to name but a few. A connoisseur of Wordsworth, cigars, and cheap liquor, McKern's usually disheveled Rumpole belies the character's dry sense of humor and astute skill as a barrister. The upwardly mobile Hilda is played by Peggy Thorpe-Bates, known for her Miss Toliver in Alcatraz Island (1933), and Justice Sir Guthrie Fetherston is played by Peter Bowles, known for his Richard DeVere in TV's To the Manor Born.

Volume 18 features two episodes. First, in "Rumpole and the Quacks," Rumpole battles the formidable Phillida in court to defend his doctor, accused of sexually molesting a patient. Next, in "Rumpole for the Prosecution," Rumpole takes on a rare role as prosecutor to investigate a policeman who may not have been properly charged for murdering a girl.

Typical of British drama, production values are low while the caliber of script-writing and acting is unsurpassed. A rare example of a television serial that is as appealing and engaging after watching it 10 times as it was the first. --Erik Macki ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Not the same as the book, but. . . .
. . .it was a good watch anyway. Chris Sarandon was outstanding in the roles he played of look-alikes Charles Darnay and Sydney Carton. He captured Carton's sardonic humor well, and evoked his melancholic fatalism and innate dignity with much pathos. A quite elderly Kenneth More put on a great performance as the officious but kindly banker, whose character provided much humorous dialogue. The character of Miss Pross, the sharp-eyed chaperone, was absolutely wonderful.

I never expect a movie to follow a novel very closely -- books and films are two completely different art forms and cannot be translated one to the other with good effect. As the movie begins we see the words "Based on the novel by Charles Dickens." With those words we are given fair warning that what is to follow is an interpretation of Dickens' vision.

What this film did was capture what is so wonderful about Dickens' novels -- the alternation between the humor and the darkness at the center of much human experience. The scenes were knit together flawlessly, so that a rather complicated plot taking part in two different places came together without confusion or awkward transitions. The pacing was artfully done, and the last 40 minutes or so were very suspenseful.

It's too bad the movie received so many bad reviews because it didn't follow the book. I've read the book and found it, like many of Dickens' works, to be wonderful, but also probably inaccessible to many readers. This film takes a good story and opens it up to those who may never open the book.

A Tale of Two Cities
I was very dissappointed with with this film version and it just did not make the grade - the film is flawed, and the people are flat. I don"t get the feeling I got when watching the original version. Something is wrong...The story line is not right, the people in the roles are not right and therefore are not able to portray the right feelings/emotions. It was all flat and I did not beleive in the people I was watching. I'm sorry, but the best film adaptaton is the 1935 version and I think will always will be!

Loved It
This is my favorite version of A Tale of Two Cities. I do not agree with the review that said it was "flat". I have seen other versions and think Chris Sarandon did an outstanding job. Dickens would be proud

not bad at all
This video is fine for understanding the basic issues of the French Revolution- I disagree with the above reviews and feel it is a decent follow up to a unit on the Revolution or the book itself. Of course its not as good as the book- movies rarely are!

exhilarating
it was good at times it was bad at times it was funny at times it was sad at times it was happy at times it was passionate at times but all together it was pretty good. ... Read more

Description

Part Lawyer, part detective, Rumpole's brilliant mind and sly sense of humor have solved many a case and delighted families across America for over ten years. Volume 3: "Rumpole's Last Case" and "Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow". ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Part lawyer, part detective
This series closely follows the feel and the sarcasm of the written stories. The stories are not in the same order as the book however each one stands alone. In a brief time there is posed a mystery or a problem and then some recognizable interaction with people that I am sure you can say you know someone like them. A little drama and it is finally wrapped up in short order. More than the stories that do not leave you hanging it is the comments that make the episode interesting to watch.

Volume Three covers:

Episode 4. "Rumpole's Last Case" As usual several overlapping stories interacts as Rumpole may even over react. Mr. Rumpole has parlayed a two pound bet into 100 pounds. Strange his wife also spends that amount on a new rug. Well anyway he gets a tip from his client that is in for burglary and possible carrying a gun. Why not 100 to 30000 and hence his last Case. Going out in stile he lets everyone know what he thinks including the judge.

Episode 5. "Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow" A judge has a bit of tennis elbow. Doctor's advice does not seem to be working so on other advice he visits and alternative clinic (massage parlor). Some one paid with a credit card. And guess who gets to defend a massage parlor owner and rummage through credit card receipts? Yep Rumpole for some reason is offered the Deputy Circuit Judge.

A note on the side you will recognize many of the actors from both Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers movies. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Before there was Quincy and The Practice, there was Rumpole. Rumpole of the Bailey is, quite simply, one of the best television series ever and has served as a model for all law dramas that followed it. Edgy and satirical, Rumpole is based on John Mortimer's books of the same name. A determined and committed criminal defense barrister at the Old Bailey, or criminal court (whose clients have included three generations of the Timson family, among others), the antihero Rumpole is portrayed by esteemed actor Leo McKern. As champion of the downtrodden, the self-righteous Rumpole finds himself again and again in trouble variously with his wife Hilda, his peers, the head of chambers, and judges, to name but a few. A connoisseur of Wordsworth, cigars, and cheap liquor, McKern's usually disheveled Rumpole belies the character's dry sense of humor and astute skill as a barrister. The upwardly mobile Hilda is played by Peggy Thorpe-Bates, known for her Miss Toliver in Alcatraz Island (1933), and Justice Sir Guthrie Fetherston is played by Peter Bowles, known for his Richard DeVere in TV's To the Manor Born.

Rumpole's Return is the 1982 two-hour special that started off the third Rumpole series after 1980's original Rumpole of the Bailey and 1981's Trials of Rumpole.

Typical of British drama, production values are low while the caliber of script-writing and acting is unsurpassed. A rare example of a television serial that is as appealing and engaging after watching it 10 times as it was the first. --Erik Macki ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Rumpole's Back
This Rumpole is a longer tha the episoses of Rumpole. It is a wonderful story that has Rumpole at his best in the Courtroom. Leo McKern is Rumpole. From the cigars to the poerty quoting it is hard to imagine anyone else as Rumpole. The story proceeds at a good pace. The acting is very good with McKern and the actor who plays the criminal defendant taking top honors ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Typical excellence - and one extra feature
A painter dies mysteriously, and various interests including his father, his erstwhile model and a mysterious rich man all seem to have something to do with it. Typically excellent fare from the Morse team, with the great John Thaw (a national resource, and his death from cancer was a dreadful loss) in typically grumpy and expressive form as Morse, and gorgeous, sunlit English landscapes - in Morse's England it practically never rains (not that I mind). But I hope you don't mind my saying that it is something else that makes this one episode absolutely unforgettable for me: the mysterious model - a single mother living a life of squalor in one of Morse's few genuine slum dwellings - is Nicola Cowper, a little-known English actress who is probably the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. She simply burns on the screen like a flame. One does not wonder that one character is troubled by her almost to his death, and that another is willing to pay for her favours. But even if you do not share my taste for small, exquisite, intense women, you will still not regret buying this episode. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

perversion in high places
This story covers a multitude of sins, as it deals with sexual abuse of children, corporate greed, blackmail, and homosexuality among other things. The plot involves an intersection of issues related to possible environmental hazards, corporate efforts to suppress information regarding those hazards, and the attempts of those who have been victimized by sexual abuse to take revenge against the perpetrator. All these issues surface only after Morse investigates the death of a professor, a death which
ironically is attributed to natural causes (a heart attack). Morse once more demonstrates the "thinking man" approach to detection, reaching conclusions based upon analysis of clues (childhood photographs) which might be overlooked by less sagacious investigators. The performances are first rate, and the manner in which the story unfolds maintains interest throughout. ... Read more

Reviews (18)

This Movie's Not That Bad.....
This movie that starred Sean Penn and Madonna (who was the husband and wife team in the 1980s in real life)is not that bad, but it isn't great either, but it is watchable enough for a lot of people. It does have some areas that needs improvement and needs to be less choppy, like the scenes and conversations. The guy who kept popping up warning Sean Penn's character got on my nerves at times (I think it was his acting), but almost everyone did ok on their acting. It's more of an adventure than a romance and a couple of scenes can make you laugh. :) Overall, I enjoyed it.

The Lousiest Gong in Town
The ONLY reason this film is worth more than gum stuck to your shoe is because of the late George Harrison. Some great songs were written and used in this film...some bad ones too!
Where else can you find the one time Beatle crooning in 1937 China. Great songs like 'The Hottest Gong in Town' and 'Zig Zag' were unfortunately placed in this awful use of poor talent. Although he re-recorded it the next year, 'Someplace Else' is another gem done for the film. It's too bad musical talent was wasted on one song called 'Shanghi Surprise'.
A movie like this could kill your career. Sometimes I wish it had.

Painfully bad
I am a huge Madonna fan. I love her music. I love her movies (not because I think she can act but because they're always so bad they're good). But this movie is an exception to all the others. It's just bad. Words can't describe. I think what made it so painful was the fact that it went on forever. Just when you think it's over something else happens. Once that's over with something ELSE happens. After that, something ELSE happens. And then something else. And then something else. And all that really happens is Madonna and Sean Penn run around like idiots. I'm sure this movie must be really embarassing for them. Madonna's performance is so wooden and if Sean weren't cute he wouldn't be any fun to watch either.

I wish I could give this movie 0 stars.

The Crap Starts Here
My Oh My
To think that hero worship can be blinding is too much!!! This movie was horrible then as it is today as it will be FOREVER! The only enjoyable thing in this flop fest is George Harrison's music which could not save the film nor his burning desire to direct movies altogether. Not suprisingly he quit after making this monstrosity which is a real shame. Harrison died not long ago unfortunately but we still have Madonna to contend with! The world is indeed not fair. Her own burning desire to become a screen siren never happened. Here she is boring, flat and down right dreadful. This is a real horrible film with horrible stars. Madonna in any movie is horrible enough and UNFORTUNATELY she has kept making movies to this date? Why? Remember that she followed this one with 1987's Who's that Girl? and later that horrible Evita (a story about a Nazi loving fascist) and then Swept Away. Somebody should have stopped her when they had the chance. She is box office poison and yet her blind fans will actually try to convince us otherwise. Don't waste your money on this flop fest unless you feel like throwing your money away.

Bad... but perversely enjoyable
The story is rubbish, the acting is bad, however I did enjoy it in some perverse way! (One of those, its so bad its good films perhaps?)
Know-one comes out of this film unscathed. Penn's character is completely annoying; his histrionics really grated on my nerves and Madonna's acting has never been worse (the crying scene has got to be seen to be believed).
The scenery is beautiful though, and possibly the only other noteable thing this film has going for it, is that Madonna is absolutely stunning in it. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Morse in misery
This is certainly a highly unusual entry in the series, given the fact that Morse is the chief suspect in a murder investigation. Morse is subjected to all sorts of trials and tribulations--- some of which are designed to create a trail of evidence framing Morse for more than one crime. One of the more amusing aspects of the mystery involves Morse's helplessness when confronted with computer technology and its bearing on the case. However, Sgt. Lewis, who never doubts Morse's innocence, comes to the rescue by utilizing his computer skills to help rescue Morse from his predicament. The role of Inspector Bottomley, who is assigned to investigate Morse, offers some amusement value as well. Bottomley, who belongs to a Masonic lodge, ends up looking rather foolish; moreover, he also seems to have been genuinely chagrined when Morse's innocence is finally established. In any event, this mystery represents an interesting and entertaining role reversal for Morse.

When Life Imitates Art...
First thing to do is to ignore the "Part 1" above in the item title; you're getting the full-length (100 mins, approx.) episode of "Masonic Mysteries." In terms of the world of Inspector Morse, this is probably the Inspector Morse episode even people who wouldn't otherwise care for the series can enjoy (immensely, in most cases), as it's considerably different to any of the other 32 films in the series. Morse is "the hunted, instead of the hunter" for once, as he is being constantly framed (literally & figuratively) by someone whom he put away years ago and is trying to get his own back. The trials Morse is put through parallel the trials by fire & water in the Mozart opera, "The Magic Flute," which he is in rehearsals for at the beginning with his lady friend (played by Kevin Whately's real-life wife), who is subsequently found dead, before a dumbfounded Morse, knife-in-hand and covered in her blood. It's not based on a Colin Dexter novel and was written by Julian Mitchell, who has written/adapted more Morse screenplays than any other. Morse's close relationship with Lewis is manifested in this episode more than possibly any other. A great deal of humor is to be found in "Masonic Mysteries" (at the Masons' expense), especially from the brief exchanges between Chief Inspector Bottomley, who, working with Lewis, is put in charge of the case. Morse is uncharacteristically upbeat throughout most of the duration of the film, particularly especially given the circumstances he is put in. John Thaw regards this as among his three favorite Morse films (and cites its differing from the others as a factor in that), along with "The Dead of Jericho" ("for sentimental reasons") and "Promised Land". This is the first of two Morse films to be directed by Danny Boyle, the director of such cult hits as "Trainspotting" and "Shallow Grave". The incomparable Ian McDiarmid (who played "The Emperor" in the Star Wars films) stars as the evil-genius nemesis. The Inspector Morse series is widely regarded as the peak in televisual entertainment, and this is a prime example. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

DON'T MISS IT
A Ken Follet book brought to life by Timothy Dalton & Omar Sharif! It even features location filming! Not bad for a budget film, and lots of fun too! If you can overlook some of these bad reviews here, and make up your own mind you should like this. Especially if you area James Bond fan, and would like to see a good modern spy action movie.

Big disappointment
The book (unlike the movie) is about the adventures of a young couple in the Panjshir Valley in Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan war. It is based in an environment of struggle and heroism of the Afghan freedom fighters under the command of Ahmad Shah Massoud. The movie on the other hand is not even based in Afghanistan, and the acting is pathetic. You can tell that the movie is a low-budget project, and it does the book no justic.

Not Very Good CIA Potboiler
Like several of your other reviewers, I am a fan of Timothy Dalton but I have to wonder what he is thinking half the time with the roles he picks (Brenda Starr, The Rocketeer, etc.). At any rate, while this is a more meaty role, and he makes a very dashing operative, the story is fairly idiotic and the production is second-rate. In fact, the quality of the video is terrible and you have to strain to see what is going on, ridiculous as most of it seems. The picture of Marg Helgenberger dragging a baby over and through the Afghan mountains while spouting flower-child preachings is enough to send you screaming into the night, to say nothing of anything else. In sum, a sad waste of Dalton's talents (can this be the same actor who played the definitive Rochester in Jane Eyre?) as well as Omar Shariff's.

Sorry to think how it could have been...
If you're a great Timothy Dalton fan ( as I am! ), probably you'll make it to the end of the film Eif not, I don't know if there's much I can guarantee.
Altogether, I think the film could have been much much better. I couldn't get rid of the impression that I was watching some cheap soap drama, and it only made me wonder how Timothy could be happy being a part of it ( although not so much as I did when I saw 'Cleopatra'). Like another reviewer, I think he's sometimes inclined to waste his talent on some funny filmsE
As for the accent, I had a hard time convincing myself that he was a CIA agent EI wasn't sure if he was even trying to sound American ( Not having read the book, I thought he must be an American brought up in the UKE.
With Timothy and Omar Sharif, I'm only sorry that the film had to come out this way.

Lie Down With Lions
Terrible, you may have seen my review praising Tim's picture 'Framed' if you liked my review and the film then take my advice this is shockingly bad!! I would really love to chat with Tim about his career, I'm a big fan of his and he is truly a great actor. When he bothers to pick decent roles! He must of seen this one coming as a complete Turkey yet he signed on the dottted line? I'm still trying to figure out whether he picks his roles with thought and care for the piece and the character, or thought about the cheque they'll cut him for his time?
Where does one begin? The plot never gets started and to be frank if your working alongside Nigel Havers you know it's a straight to video release! I guess the cast premier was held at their local Blockbuster rental store! Omar Sharif is the only redeeming feature to this, that and the location which gets a bit tedious after a while. Ken Follet must have to have been sedated after they ruined his written manuscript! For god's sake Tim get it together!! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent episode....
DECEIVED BY FLIGHT, made in 1989, is one of the better Morse dramas. Morse (John Thaw) is more light hearted in this film than some of the later episodes and it is a joy to see him interact with the other actors including his Sgt.'s child. He actually engages in a bit of prank-playing with Robbie (Kevin Whately) who, forced to go 'undercover' as a porter at one of the local colleges at Oxford, finds himself "watching" Morse's parked car as part of his duties.

The gist of the story is that an old boys club called 'The Clarets XI' is in town for an annual cricket match. One of the members, as well as the team coach are former classmates of Morse. The player-friend approaches Morse for a get-together lunch which turns out to be fish and chips on a park bench near the Thames. Morse senses that his former flatmate has something important to share but he can't quite bring himself to the point of telling Morse what it is. As they part, the friend mentions a Zen saying that involves the sound of one hand clapping and a dead student. Later, the friend turns up dead as a result of suicide. Or was it suicide. Soon Morse believes the man was murdered and he is on the trail of the killer. Was the killer his beautiful wife who could have been having an affair with one of the other cricket players? Was it one of the other cricket players? And what about the couple named Foster who behave suspiciously by asking Robbie the porter for a key to the dead man's room.

This episode has it all-great scenes of Oxford and its environs; Morse and Robbie struggling over the cricket match versus classical music on the various office, car, and other radios at hand; Robbie showing he can play cricket as well as any upper class ponce; a really interesting cricket match (I finally realized the pitcher is trying to hit the little poles behind the batter); Morse sleeping through the cricket match; and Morse falling for the wrong woman. The cast includes some familiar faces such as Daniel Massey, Amanda Hillwood, Sharon Maughan, and a very young Nathaniel Parker.

A complicated mystery for amateur sleuths to solve.
Deceived by Flight is one of author Colin Dexter's favorite televised Morse mysteries. Having seen at least twenty or so of these fine programs, I agree with his judgement.

The performances are uniformly excellent; not just Morse, played reliably and well by the fine actor, John Thaw, but also the supporting cast, particularly Kevin Whately as his able assistant, Sergeant Lewis, and Sharon Maughan as Kate Donn, television hostess and wife of slain barrister Anthony Donn. The plot is complicated and the clues are difficult for even Morse to decipher. Apparently Anthony Donn has committed suicide on the eve of his participation in a cricket match at Oxford. Morse doubts that his old friend deliberately killed himself and begins questioning suspects. As we soon find out, much more is at stake in this mystery than the death of an aging cricket player.

Cricket is part of the fun of this mystery. Much time is spent discussing the sport (Morse would prefer to listen to his music) and we also get to see it played. Sergeant Lewis goes undercover as a porter and expert batsman. At the matches another murder takes place and now Morse must try to determine if there are connections between the two deaths.

I think most viewers who watch the Morse series of films like to put their detective caps on and follow the clues carefully to see if they can arrive at the answers before Morse. Deceived by Flight will keep even the best armchair detectives struggling with clues until the satisfying conclusion of this fine program. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Reilly Ace of Spies
In December B. Harnden wrote a warning about buying the 4 video set expressing his disappointment that it did not include the first 2-hour segment which appeared on PBS. I have just had the same experience. Harnden indicated that he was going to order the "first" tape with the hope that it is the tape of the first segment. I wonder if he or anyone knows what the answer to this conundrum is. Like Harnden, I would like to see the whole series.
John

An Ace Series
I thoroughly enjoyed the series when it played on PBS. If you buy the four-cassette package, I think it gives you the whole series (not sure). The single cassette is the first cassette of the package. Confusing yes. Get the package. Unfortunately Amazon is out of stock indefinitely, but I was able to get it elsewhere.

The exploits of Sidney Reilly based on the book by Lockhart "Reilly Ace of Spies." There is a second book by Lockhart that supposedly corrects the first book. Reilly is truly the man of mystery, a single, double, triple ... agent, who knows? The major mystery about him is whether he perished in Russia or was turned. The series succeeds brilliantly on all levels. A must buy for any spy buff along with "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" and "Smiley's People."

What is the complete series with all episodes
This one of my all time PBS favorites. However the Amazon posting does not make it clear as to haow many tapes gets it all. Why is Episode i called out separately from the four video set ?

Excellent series
I first saw this series on TV many many years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. Sam Neill played Reilly to perfection - cool, sophisticated and amoral. Every single episode is rivetting and it is done without the usual gunfights, explosions and gadgetry that is common in today's spy dramas.

This movie/series is over rated.
This not in the same league as Le Carre adaptions by the BBC. This episode lacks any true drama in my view ; a tepid introduction. I think Reilly's life was far more exciting than this. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Interesting look at the SS' rold in Nazi Germany.
It's an interesting persprctive, looking at the SS from the points of view of two brothers: one in the SS, and one who ran afoul of the SS. The actors playing Heydrich and Himmler did their roles excellently, and the depiction of SS reaction to certain events (Night of the Long Knives, Krystalnacht, and the July 20 Bomb plot) was also well done. The only thing obviusly inaccurate was the assasaination of Heydrich (he was assasinated in Prague, not in the countryside outside the city).

An interesting perspective on a familiar topic
This movie views the rise of the Nazi regime from the perspective of two brothers, who are very ordinary people. At first each brother views the Nazis as just another political party. One brother becomes a full-time SS officer working for Heydrich, the other (who actually became a Nazi before his brother did) sees the evil of the Nazis sooner, and suffers for his outspokeness. The strength of the movie is its portrayal of ordinary Germans during this time period, and how they become caught up in the ugliness of the Nazi regime.
The acting is so-so, but not bad if your expectations are not high. Jose Ferrer plays only a modest role in this movie--he is not the star. Overall an entertaining movie that is worth a try. The quality of the DVD video is slightly below average.

Did you see that movie - Maybe you can help me!
P>...The movie is great because of the intensity of the determination the SS organization had back in the 30's. The actors are great and the music is unique. What is sad about the end of that movie is the same pitfall as other movies. Too much emphasis on concentration camps. In good objectivity, anyone that talks about concentration camps should also learn about the causes of the creation of the SA and the SS. The Germany of 1880 until 1933. This is the period to learn and read about. Stay objective and be a good judge. Like in the movie:"Who needs a revolution, when the revolution already been achieved?"

CHSimon
This fictional dramatization of the life of a typical middle class German family and the effects of the third reich and Adolf Hitlers 12 year reign of terror, does an excellent job in humanizing what must have been a horrile dilhemma for German people in the 30s and 40s. David Warner is terrific as the heartless Reinhardt Heydrich whose influence on the oldest son in the family changed the boy from skeptic and cynic into fulfledged believer. Tony Randall is also excellent as a "Joel Grey" type emcee at the local Night Club who dares to criticise the NAZIS and pays the ultimate price for his performances. All in all the performances are believable if you can get past some of the heavy British accents which are mixed in with bland American accents like that of Carrol Baker who plays the mom. The sharp contrast in accents is kind of distracting.

A Historian with an Opinion...
I have viewed this title a few times. I think this is an excellent movie. Many movies from the World War II era commonly tell a small portion about the people's lives in NAZI Germany during the Third Reich. This movie collected all the bits and pieces and showed how different people from the start had their lives affected throughout this time. This is an excellent movie and I wish it received more publicity to exploit what it does best... inform people about life in the Third Reich. It also shows the innocence of the German people and how they were brainwashed and tricked by the NAZIS. Clearly documenting the civilians at this time. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Kennedy Years, Warts and All
This 1983 NBC mini-series may well be the best of its kind and remains probably the definitive Kennedy docu-drama. The film is confined to the brief years of the presidential administration, and is refreshingly honest in retelling the Bay of Pigs fiasco, the presidential philandering and, of course, the drama of that fateful final day. Martin Sheen is magnificent, as usual, in the title role, and he plays his presidential role with a believeable human quality that the real man thought of his constituency as the disenfranchised. As the first lady, Blair Brown's portrait of Jacqueline Kennedy is riveting and haunting as impressed throughout with her voiced-over prophecy of her "appointment with death." Beyond the two leads, a stellar supporting cast is headed by the late E.G. Marshall as the Kennedy patriarch, Joe Sr., John Shea as RFK and the late Vincent Gardenia in a sinister turn as FBI head J. Edgar Hoover. But this film belongs to Sheen and Brown, and together they ignite a sense of glamour and vitality that defined the real couple. Brown, especially, however, is mesmerizing, and her accomplishment here is a must-see. There are apparently two versions on the market, the original and an edited time-condensed version. Stay away from the shorter one. The editing is so bad that continunity is sacrificed, and all we get is a jumbled mess. The original is well worth the five or so hours to watch it, and its an impassioned account of the successes and shortcomings of the Camelot administration. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This was a very funny Morse!
It was very fuuny and sad. Poor Morse he had to learn the hard way . And I love the music and where the flimed it! ... Read more