Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3164 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-08-27
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 311 minutes

DVD Description
The Monocled Mutineer TV series follows the rebellion that took place at the notorious Etaples Training Camp in northern France on the eve of "The Battle of Passchendaele" in 1917. After the mutiny, the dashing Percy Toplis (Paul McGann) takes flight, dressed as a British officer, soon to embark on a love affair with beautiful young widow, Dorothy, (Cherie Lunghie).

A solder in the First World War, the real Percy Toplis was a rake, rogue and master of disguise who became the most wanted man in Britain. This controversial, acclaimed 1986 four-part BBC dramatisation of high romance, hilarious impudence and savage retribution was adapted by Alan Bleasdale from the book by William Allison and John Fairley.

Synopsis
Based on the novel by William Allison and John Fairley, this drama tells the story of a World War One mutiny which took place at the Etaples Training Camp in northern France in 1917 on the eve of the Passchendaele battle.

Customer Reviews

Top Notch Great War Drama
I remember watching this on television when it was first screened by the BBC back in 1986, and was mightily impressed. Twenty one years later, the 'Monocled Mutineer' has lost none of its impact.
Loosely based upon the real life story of a Nottinghamshire ne'er-do-well who finds himself drawn inexorably into the carnage of the First World War, the 'Monocled Mutineer' offers a highly original take upon what might seem like a familiar period of history. Scripted by the controversial Alan Bleasdale, it manages to be funny, moving and sometimes shocking, all the while maintaining a strong and engaging story line. A key episode involves the so-called 'Etaples Mutiny' of 1917, when British soldiers ran amok in protest at the brutalities of the nearby 'Bull Ring' training camp. The film's depiction of these events caused a stir in 1986, with Tory MPs outraged at what they considered to be a slur upon the record of the British soldiers who fought and died in Flanders. Yet such reactions were wide of the mark, as the 'Monocled Mutineer' takes a balanced view of the episode, and makes it clear that the limited outbreak of disorder was sparked by the systematic bullying of veterans who had already been pushed to the limit. The film deals frankly with the horrors of trench warfare, and also the comradeship and black humour that enabled soldiers to endure them.
The script is excellent, with convincing dialogue contributing to a strong sense of the period. The young Paul McGann was perfectly cast in the central role of Percy Topliss, the working class lad and humble Tommy who periodically adopts the persona of a dashing, monocle-wearing officer, and casually assumes a leading role in the 'Etaples Mutiny'. These are crimes for which the Establishment can never forgive him, and in the war's aftermath, Topliss becomes the most wanted man in Britain. McGann plays the part with exactly the right mixture of cynicism and compassion. The rest of the cast - which includes the likes of Timothy West and Cherie Lunghi - is equally good.
All in all, a well-crafted, atmospheric and gripping drama.

Victim and Villain
New details are constantly emerging about Percy Topliss, the protagonist of the First World War's 'Monocled Mutineer'. And the more is revealed the more it seems he wasn't a mutineer after all. McGann continued to research Percy's life after this role.

Paul McGann plays Topliss in this excellent 1986 BBC drama. I saw it on on television and was spell bound by the script and acting. I am glad it has finally been released on DVD. Unfortunately the series was never shown again, due to an outcry from some MP's who thought the memory of the soliders of Flanders had been besmirched somehow. But what is truth, if not the whole truth?

Topliss specialised in impersonating military officers. He was believed to be the ringleader of a protest by British troops at a training camp at Etaples, France in 1917. However, travel documents show that he was in India in 1917 and had contracted malaria, making it difficult to be in Europe at the same time.

Topliss is seen by some as a criminal and by others as a charmer who challenged the class system by impersonating officers. In his later life actions were ascribed to him which he did not commit. He was as much victim as villain, and definitely a commensurate actor.

This is a highly recommendable film series. To me it also gave some much needed background to the WWI war photos I have inherited from my GGfather. In one he can just about be seen with his orderly, standing behind a massive bomb crater, dead tree stumps pointing skywards...

Entertaining
I have just finished watching this now, over three evenings and enjoyed it as much as I did so many years go. I think this is the best thing Paul McGann has done except for 'Withnail and I'. Philip McGough who plays the secret service officer determined to track Percy Topis down, is also very good in a quiet, understated way.

It is all very well acted and there is a fair amount of humour. Toplis comes across as a bit of a rogue, reluctant to be a hero.

It is now debated whether Toplis was at Etaples. Paul McGann is quoted as saying "I don't think he was at Etaples. The units that he served in and was attached to simply weren't around. At the same time, given the fact that he came and went, that he was a bit of a loner, and moved between people and places, it is not inconceivable that he was there". Apparently we may know the truth in 2017 when the files are opened.

A number of the scenes, especially towards the end do faithfully match what is known about him.