Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #12317 in VHS
• Released on: 2001-02-05
• Rating: Exempt
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Box set, PAL
• Number of tapes: 2
• Running time: 234 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Channel 4's The 1940s House capitalised on the success of the channel's The 1900 House by using the same format--combining documentary with reality TV--to explore a different era. Three generations of the Hymer family (Lyn, Michael, their daughter Kirstie and her two sons Ben and Thomas) from Ottley in Yorkshire donned Brylcreem, home knits and red lippy to play house in a West Wycombe semi-detached for 9 weeks, 1940s style.

The five episodes, which concentrate largely on the early half of the decade and the war years, are bookended by analysis. The first sets the scene by following the meticulous reconstruction of the house itself and a "Dig For Victory" garden, the transformation of the local shop and the establishment of a wartime cabinet (consisting of scientists and historians) who dictate the family's living conditions in accordance with the progression of the war. The fun really starts in episode two when the Hymers get to grips with blackouts, air raids, food shortages and building an Anderson shelter in the back garden. Life without mod cons doesn't suit them and initially, although there are light-hearted moments, Lyn and Kirstie are prone to a moan. In episode three life gets increasingly difficult when Michael returns to work in Yorkshire, leaving the women to cope with the hardest war years by themselves. The nature of this social experiment achieves a level of involvement that traditional documentaries can't get near. Not only is there enormous detail--the vegetable-root hair dye, the disposal of sanitary towels, the five-inch lukewarm baths--but also the family act as our entry point into a different world. Their experience cannot fail to engage our imaginations and our emotions. Conditions improve in the fourth instalment with the arrival of large numbers of US military and food parcels, but in the final episode, with the Hymers reflecting back on the 1940s from their everyday lives, we see that doing without has made a lasting impact. Emma Perry

Synopsis
Features five episodes from the hit television documentary. 'The Home Front', 'Into The Unknown', 'Women At War', 'The Beginning Of The End' and 'The Aftermath'.

Customer Reviews

Very very good, Well worth watching.
Very good, so interesting, you can learn loads about the war and how it was for the people living a normal life at home, while they coped through dramatic situatuions.
personaly i love this video and recomend it to anyone, i think the price ... is very good and i would buy it. The director and filming team must of spent loads of time on this video as it is one of the best programme/films i've seen.

Excellent
This is a fantastic video about life on the Home Front during the Second World War. The attention to detail is amazing and the family taking part in the experience did a brilliant job of living as a 1940's family. Well worth watching, anyone who is interested in this period of history will not be dissappointed.

Interesting and thought provoking
I thoroughly enjoyed watching the 1940s House. Its very interesting, funny, informative and thought provoking. It made me realise how hard things were for people during the war, especially the rationing. The family that took part were great and really tried their best whilst in the house, however hard it got. I took an instant liking to the family - they were 'normal' down to earth people and at times you really felt for them, especially when they were hungry and you could see how exhausted they were getting. My 9 year old son loved it too and I think it is quite educational for the kids to see. The last episode concentrates on how the family get back to normal life after their experience in the 1940s House and I found this fascinating, for instance the 'Gran' seems to revert to 1940s living somewhat - shopping with her basket, giving up driving, shopping in local butchers, bakers etc rather than the supermarket. It certainly made me think about how lucky we are today with the choices we have now, but also how we as a society are so wasteful with things. Recommended.