Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11302 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-04-06
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 4
• Running time: 617 minutes

Synopsis
A classic British prison drama, WHITHIN THESE WALLS stars Googie Withers (THE LADY VANISHES) as Faye Boswell, the new appointed governor to Stone Park jail for women. Unlike her predecessors, Faye shows a more human and benevolent approach to the problems faced by prisoners. Her liberal convictions though will lead her to an unavoidable confrontation with old but firmly established rules. This four disc DVD release features all the episodes from the second series.

Customer Reviews

Happy memories
This collection makes for first class viewing . An absolute must for any fan of prison dramas, yes, it is dated but then you must remember it was broadcast on LWT in the UK in the early to mid 70's. That considered it was cutting age drama of it's time and still relevant and very thought provoking by today's standards, it makes you wonder if we have really moved on as much as we think!!!
It is really interesting trying to pick out current soap actresses in the cast, Gail Tilsley Coronation Street , Pat Butcher as was in EastEnders to name but a few.
If you are a Googie Withers fan as I am, this is avid viewing. I highly recommend it for light relief and escapism. If they bring out any more of this series with Googie Withers I would definitely buy them but I wasn't too impressed with the Governor's who replaced her.
Try it, you will enjoy it!!

Stone Park Walls do not a prison make.............
I do recommend everyone who remembers this series
with great affection - as I do - to purchase both
DVD sets of this great ground-breaking drama!

As far as Series 2 is concerned, it confirms
my belief that Googie Withers is the ONLY governor
for Stone Park....... as for the other actors, I grew
to empathise with and love Mona Bruce's performances as
Molly Armitage and laughed and cried with Betty Romaine
as the helpless and hapless Georgie Weekes.

If anyone needs an example of what makes this series so
profoundly great, I need only refer them to the 'Remand Wing'
episode, with its picture of the stresses and strains
endured by the inmates who are waiting for their cases
to come up. Jill Gascoine's fans are in for a treat with her
moving portrayal of a lesbian teacher down on her luck
and that wonderful parody of 'Sugar Baby Love' has to be heard
to be believed!!!

Other prison series don't come anywhere near this one -
I'll sentence myself to another stretch WITHIN THESE WALLS
any time!

70s Bliss
I've been waiting for the second series of "Within These Walls" to come out on DVD,for a while now and the DVD set,certainly didn't disappoint.
Its such a shame that episode three "Nowhere For The Kids" was wiped but the other twelve episodes have survived for us to enjoy.
The programme is still more from the prison staff's point of view,Googie Withers' Faye Boswell,now showing a tougher side,when trying to bring in, new systems to the prison,dealing with the world weary but very experienced,Mrs Armitage(Mona Bruce)and her trusting but narrow minded,deputy Governor,Charles Bradley.(Jerome Willis)
Prisoner Lily Heaver(Crossroads actress Carolyn Jones)returns causing trouble as usual and the opening episode is a very dramatic episode,Mr Boswell,is caught in an off screen hijack,too.
One of my favourite prisoners is Fran(Toni Plamer)who unfortunately only appears in the opening episode but old time lag,Georgie Weeks(Betty Romaine)makes a welcome return and appears in a few episodes,as does Floella Benjamin's Barbara.
Future Eastenders actors,Anna Wing(Lou Beale)and Shirley Cheriton(Debbie)appear as prisoners,also appearing as prisoners are Loose Women presenters Sherrie Hewson and Lynda Bellingham,also look out for a young Linda Robson.
"The Gentle Touch" actress Jill Gascoine plays a gay inmate,Irene.
One of my favourite episodes in this second season is "The Good Life" when Lady Evelyn Smyth(Helen Lindsay)is jailed for attempting to kill her cheating husband,and befriends teenage tear away Roberta(Angels Bruce).
The acceptance of the women towards Lady Smythe is quite touching as is Lady Smythe's full story,as it unfolds.
I really enjoyed this DVD set,I hope it is not too long,before series three comes out,I hope all three remaing series make it to DVD even though Googie Withers,departs after series 3.