Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6851 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-10-23
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Formats: Box set, PAL
• Number of discs: 3

Synopsis
The Baltics, 1939, British Professor Guy Pringle (Kenneth Branagh) arrives in Romania with his new bride Harriet (Emma Thompson) and becomes enmeshed in the politics of anti-fascism. Guy's social circle soon includes members of the Secret Service who want to involve him in dangerous missions. Their marriage is soon tested by accidental betrayal, callous insensitivity and a world in upheaval.

This 1987 BBC adaptation of Olivia Manning's novel cycle is a classy historical drama with exotic settings and fine performances from the two leads.

Customer Reviews

Classic drama - long anticipated
I've been waiting for ages for this drama to get DVD'd. Although the rather quickly designed packaging would lead you to think that the story took place solely in Egypt the three disks are an excellent print. This is the ever wonderful Alan Plater's adaptation of Olivia Manning's series of 6 semi-autobiographical books charting World War Two from the civilian angle. Ken and Em star as a newly married couple, the Pringles, learning to fall out of love and back in again on the microscale. (The actors coincidentally married two years after and then fell out again).

Guy Pringle is a myopic English teacher spreading culture to foreign lands, always the centre of attention, and totally engrossed in his work, who soon forgets to pay attention to the strong willed Harriet, his new wife. At the same time the Nazi advance across Europe forces them to abandon their home first in Romania (filmed in Yugoslavia), then Greece ,and finally threatens their life in Egypt. On the way their brilliantly portrayed chance acquaitances veer from irritants to allies as the world around becomes more and more dangerous.

Other long term fans will be happy to note that unlike the pruriently edited versions shown on digital TV that this disk does actually feature the explanation for Bill Castelbar's bucket of cold water by his bedside. The rest of you will have to wait to episode 6. Delicious grown up drama. it's got to be better than reality TV!

Love during WWII
Fortunes of War is the collective name given to six novels by Olivia Manning. The novels were adapted for television by the BBC, starring Kenneth Branagh as Guy and Emma Thompson as Harriet. Other stars included Ronald Pickup, Robert Stephens, Alan Bennett and Rupert Graves.

Fortunes of War won five awards including 3 BAFTAs.

Set in War Time Bucharest in 1939, British professor Guy Pringle (Kenneth Branagh) arrives in Romania with his new bride, Harriet (Emma Thompson) and becomes trapped in the politics of anti-fascism. Guys' social circle starts to include members of the British Secret Service who wish to involve him in secret missions against his wife Harriets' wishes and the incorrigible Prince Yakimov who takes advantage of Guy's generous nature and winds up living with the Pringles. Their marriage is soon tested by accidental betrayal, sensitivity and a world in turmoil.

Speical bits include: "Time Shift" - a 38 minute documentary on writer Alan Plater. Appearances by Ron Pickup, James Cellan Jones and Alan Plater on "Open Air" "Breakfast Time" on-location report. Sue Lawley interviews Emma Thompson on "Wogan". Ludivik Kennedy and guests discuss the programme on "Did You See?"

Quality drama
Another drama of quality from the BBC. So many good actors, and so many entertaining characters. There are a lot of witty lines in this as well as scenes of sadness. I was really moved by some of the scenes, especially at the end.
Guy Pringle thinks everyone is extraordinary. Unfortunately because he wishes to help and befriend everyone, he neglects his wife, who he does actually love. He loathes and despises facism, and refuses to let the war stop his teaching or putting on a play.
I would disagree with another review that states that the Pringles and their friends are not aware of the realities of the war. They do experience the ill fortunes of war in various ways, as follows:
The disappearnce of Sacha Druker and the arrest of his father.
The death of Prince Yakimov.
A boy killed by an unexploded bomb.
The crippling of a young officer.
Aiden Pratt, 'haunted' by the deaths of children he shared a lifeboat with.
The 'separation' of Harriet and Guy.
This is something you can watch more than once. I have, several times.