Acorn Media has given us a wonderful gift in the boxed set of the complete series of Foyle’s War. It is a World War II mystery series set in a village in England, and with fine actors, careful attention to details and excellent stories will be a hit with many new viewers, and a must have for Foyle fans.
Covering a time period from 1940 to 1945 Foyle’s War follows the cases of Thomas Foyle (Michael Kitchen) in the English village of Hastings. Foyle is the detective chief superintendent of the area and in the 19 mysteries he investigates crimes that beset the home front.
The war plays a role in the complete series, in the mysteries and its effects on the characters, Foyle’s son is an RAF pilot, his second in command Paul Miller (Anthony Howell) is a wounded veteran and his driver is (Honeysuckle Weeks) a clever and spunky young woman assigned to him by the Home Office. In each episode these three work to find answers, and sometimes the villains are connected directly to the war, and at other times they are just old fashioned criminal capers.
The mystery is important and forms the framework of each adventure, but of even greater interest is the ongoing story of how the intrepid individuals dealt with daily life in the time of war. There are instances that show how emotionally challenging this could be, because of ties between Germany and England that had existed for centuries.
Also explored are the relationships of the characters, to each other, and to the institutions that govern them as well as family and friends. The historic detail of Foyle’s War is superb, and after watching the sets most viewers will feel that they have a better understanding of the English side of WWII from Dunkir to VE Day.
Foyle’s War is presented in five sets, each set in it’s own keeper case and the whole slipcased in a nice bookshelf cover. It is presented in widescreen format and has a running time of over 32 hours.
Set One is presented on four discs and contains the mysteries “The German Woman,” “The White Feather,” “A Lesson in Murder,” and “Eagle Day.” Special features for this set include interviews with series writer and creator Anthony Horowitz, production notes and cast filmographies.
Set Two is presented on four discs containing the mysteries, “Fifty Ships,” “Among the Few,” “War Games,” and “The Funk Hole.” Special features for this set include an interview with series stars Anthony Howell and Honeysuckle Weeks, production notes, cast filmographies and a photo gallery.
Set Three is presented on four discs with the mysteries “The French Drop,” “Enemy Fire,” “They Fought in the Fields,” and “A War of Nerves.” Special features for this set include a making of documentary, production notes, historical backgrounds, cast reflections and cast filmographies.
Set Four is presented on four discs with the mysteries “Invasion,” “Bad Blood,” “ Bleak Midwinter,” and “Casualties of War.” The special features include a making of documentary, production notes, and the historical truth behind each episode and cast filmographies.
Set Five is presented on three discs, with the mysteries “Plan of Attack,” “Broken Souls,” and “All Clear.” Special features for this set include a making of documentary, cast member reflections, notes on a real-life Foyle and cast filmographies.
Foyles’ War: Sets 1-5 is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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