DVD Review | Foyle's War

Foyle’s War

NOT SURPRISINGLY, FOYLE'S WAR BECAME AN INSTANT HIT on its debut in 2002 and the first series won the Lew Grade Audience Award at the 2003 BAFTA Tele-vision Awards. The second series was nominated for a BAFTA for best television series.

Acorn Media is delighted to announce the release of the fantastic Foyle's War — Series One to Four Boxed Set. This hugely popular, award-winning and long-running ITV drama series was created by renowned scriptwriter and novelist Anthony Horowitz (Midsomer Murders, Stormbreaker), is broadcast at peak time and attracts massive audiences in excess of 11 million viewers along with much deserved critical acclaim.

Anything with the superb Michael Kitchen (Fallen, The World Is Not Enough) playing a predominant role is sure to be a winner. But throw in a sympathetic and attractive lead character — Detective Chief Super-intendent Christopher Foyle — played by Kitchen with subtle charm; a backdrop of Second World War Hastings (realistically filmed at the Sussex seaside town) and dark deeds for him to investigate and you just can't go wrong.

Ably supported by Anthony Howell (Wives and Daughters, Swallow) as sergeant Paul Milner and the irresistible Honeysuckle Weeks (Midsomer Murders, Lorna Doone) as Foyle's headstrong driver Sam, Michael Kitchen shines throughout the Foyle's War series as his character's loyalties are put to the test.

Foyle's War is more than just a period whodunit. It is redolent with rich human drama, subtly revealed through the lives of the main characters which make up the heart of the series as a whole.

During the course of his enquiries, Foyle uncovers disturbing truths that powerful people and friends would rather keep hidden. All the while, he has to deal with widespread fear and hysteria caused by
the seemingly inevitable German invasion and the terrors of nightly bombing raids.

In setting his detective drama when England was at war, Anthony Horowitz has opened up a whole host of story ideas to explore. His scene-setting and character definitions are terrific and Hastings
(which I know well) comes to life in a different age with masterly seamlessness.

German spies, espionage, The Home Guard, traitors and the seriousness of collaboration, suspect Americans, prejudices, sabotage, fuel theft, murders, wartime romances, the black market, bombings, lootings, abuses of position, false trails, clues and period cars and planes fit neatly into the stories along with heroism, cowardice and the terrible effects of The Second World War.

Christopher Foyle's son Andrew is played by Julian Ovenden who gives a very credible performance of a son at war not only with the enemy but also with his father. Andrew is a fighter pilot and there are some moving scenes between the two men as well as quarrels that will have a familiar ring to parents and their offspring.

History is cleverly woven into the plots, which include the Auxiliary Fire Service and medical people of the 'old school'; Newspaper men, police stations and boarding houses — all of which are authentically styled. One intriguing and tragic storyline (Fifty Ships) set in September 1940 involves an American millionaire, a German spy, an old flame and a body on a deserted beach. Another (Among the Few) is a story about greed and passion centred on fighter pilots and their girlfriends, who live fast and die young, and sees Sam going undercover in dangerous situations and adding to the detective work. Developing Foyle's character as a sensible but sensitive man of morals with a strong sense of justice is a clever process. "As if Hitler wasn't enough, we've got the likes of you," Foyle says scathingly to the boss of a looting racket.

This special sixteen-disc boxed set was released on 10 September 2007 and features every episode from series one to four, together on DVD for the first time ever. A treat for any dedicated fan of the series or anyone who has yet to discover the ever-watchable Foyle. If you haven't already seen the series then don't miss it — it really is very good indeed. In fact, our editor had missed it the first time round but now he's watched two of the episodes, he's hooked!

• Foyle's War — Series One to Four Boxed Set. On sale now. An exclusively filmed documentary, The Making of Foyles War, is included in the extras along with interviews with the cast and the writer Anthony Horowitz. Total running time 1,522 Minutes | Certificate 12 | RRP £99.99 | Cat No: AV9098.

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