Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15185 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-03-20
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 197 minutes

Synopsis
A drama profiling the life of Sir Oswald Mosley, an inspired political leader with the makings of greatness but who, in the end, was destroyed by his own desires and limitless ambitions.

Customer Reviews

A DVD well worth buying
At last it is available on DVD. I recall watching it when it was first aired on Channel 4 and I found it both riveting and educational. I bought this DVD as soon as it came out and the picture and sound quality are excellent. Jonathan Cake puts in a career best performance as Sir Oswald (Tom) Mosley, the confident, influential ex-serviceman turned Politician. Jemma Redgrave's performance as his troubled Wife is equally brilliant.
When I first saw this film it inspired me to research Mosley and his Political beliefs. Seeing this film after doing research on him and after having read his Biography I was pleased to notice alot of what he experienced appearing in film. Mosley was arguably one of the most influential of 20th Century Politicians and had he not been interned at the start of the Second World War (and with the rising threat of Fascism) he could have easily become a strong political force and leader. What is interesting to note is his admiration for Mussolini (and vice versa) and his dislike of Hitler. The film portrays Mosley as a learned Politician, a socialite, a Father, a womaniser, a patriot and a Fascist. It tells the story of his life after serving in the First World War and his venture into Politics as first a member of the Tory Party and then as a Labour Politician before finally establishing his New Party and then the British Union of Fascists. He was branded a traitor, when he was anything but, as this film shows.
This film goes to show how good British TV can be. It is a bold, well made film with excellent direction and highly authentic set pieces. Highly recommended to students of History and people who just like a well made factual film. The screenplay is based on the books by Nicholas Mosley (his son).
My only complaint is that the DVD is devoid of extra features other than Scene Selection.

Astonishingly watchable
Amazingly balanced account of the facist leader from Marks and Gran - easily their best TV effort. The script actually softens the impact of Mosley's womanising, leaving out the affair with his poor wife's elder sister for example. The politics is intrigingly presented and skillfully woven into the compellingly watchable drama.

The one major flaw, in my opinion, is that the entire period of the lead-up to WWII is ommitted for some reason. An episode too far perhaps? We get nothing of the time between Cable Street and Mosley's internment - the splitting of the BUF, Mosley's campaign for a negotiated peace. I suppose I just wanted more!

Leaving Mosley in 1940 - and not exposing us to the sad disillusioned red-faced hater of the final years - helps to seal him in legend. A terrific - and terrifying - portrait of the road to political hell.

Entertaining drama. Don't be put off by the subject matter.
It is claimed that Mosley was destined for greatness. That simply isn't true. He was attractive, energetic and determined, but he was also impatient, incapable of planning and void of good ideas.

The story unfolds from Moseley's perspective like an autobiography. As such we see his over-inflated sense of self-importance, and all his lame justifications for bad behaviour. Mosely believes that his womanising forced him out of the labour party, but it is clear that he could not be trusted to join the cabinet. His playboy antics simply provided an excuse to freeze him out.

Why Moseley finally turns to fascism, I thought was a little unclear. It represented a complete U-turn for him. Did he seriously beleive society was about to collapse, was he so obsessed with power that he loses all reason or did Diana Guinness cast a spell on him? Who knows?

The plot covers many important historical moments, but should still be seen as a work of fiction.

I strongly recommend this series to anyone with an interest in politics or 20th Century history. It also works as a drama about a womanising playboy. Younger audiences will struggle to appreciate all the historical references, but I think most drama fans will enjoy it.