Product Description

Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Charley Lang, Moira Kelly, Dulé Hill Directors: Alan Taylor, Alex Graves, Anthony Drazan, Arlene Sanford, Bill D'Elia

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1114 in DVD
• Brand: DVD Boxsets
• Released on: 2002-11-18
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 6
• Formats: Box set, PAL, Subtitled
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 6
• Dimensions: .73 pounds
• Running time: 905 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Aaron Sorkin's American political drama The West Wing is more than mere feel-good viewing for sentimental US patriots. It is among the best-written, sharpest, funniest and most moving American TV series of all time. In its first series, The West Wing established the cast of characters comprising the White House staff. There's Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (John Spencer), a recovering alcoholic whose efforts to be the cornerstone of the administration contribute to the break-up of his marriage. CJ (Alison Janney) is the formidable Press Spokeswoman embroiled in a tentative on-off relationship with Timothy (Thirtysomething) Busfield's reporter. Brilliant but grumpy communications deputy Toby Ziegler, Rob Lowe's brilliant but faintly nerdy Sam Seaborn and brilliant but smart-alecky Josh Lyman make up the rest of the inner circle. Initially, the series' creators had intended to keep the President off-screen. Wisely, however, they went with Martin Sheen's Jed Bartlet, whose eccentric volatility, caution, humour and strength in a crisis make for such an impressively plausible fictional President that polls once expressed a preference for Bartlet over the genuine incumbent.

The issues broached in the first series have striking, often prescient contemporary relevance. We see the President having to be talked down from a "disproportionate response" when terrorists shoot down a plane carrying his personal doctor, or acting as broker in a dangerous stand-off between India and Pakistan. Gun control laws, gays in the military and fundamentalist pressure groups are all addressed--the latter in a most satisfying manner ("Get your fat asses out of the White House!")--while the episode "Take This Sabbath Day" is a superb dramatic meditation on capital punishment.

Handled incorrectly, The West Wing could have been turgid, didactic propaganda for The American Way. However, the writers are careful to show that, decent as this administration is, its achievements, though hard-won, are minimal. Moreover, the brisk, staccato-like, almost musical exchanges of dialogue, between Josh and his PA Donna, for instance, as they pace purposefully up and down the corridors are the show's abiding joy. This is wonderful and addictive viewing. --David Stubbs

DVD Description
6-disc set containing all the episodes from Series 1:

• Pilot
  
• Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc
  
• A Proportional Response
  
• Five Votes Down
  
• The Crackpots and These Women
  
• Mr. Willis of Ohio
  
• The State Dinner
  
• Enemies
  
• The Short List
  
• In Excelsis Deo
  
• Lord John Marbury
  
• He Shall, from Time to Time
  
• Take Out the Trash Day
  
• Take This Sabbath Day
  
• Celestial Navigation
  
• 20 Hours in L.A.
  
• The White House Pro-Am
  
• Six Meetings Before Lunch
  
• Let Bartlet Be Bartlet
  
• Mandatory Minimums
  
• Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics
  
• What Kind of Day Has It Been?

Special Features

• Interviews with cast and crew
  
• Trailer (30 mins)
  
• Making "The West Wing" featurette
  
• 3 TV spots
  
• Weblinks
  
• Interactive menu
  
• Chapter selection

DVD Technical Information:

• Aspect Ratio: Fullscreen 4:3
  
• Language: English
  
• Subtitles: None
  
• Audio: Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
  
• Total Running Time: 16 hours and 30 minutes approx.
  
• Region Code: 2

Customer Reviews

Great start to what looks like a long adventure!
I ordered the first series of the west wing on a whim, I can't remember exactly why but I'd never seen it on television before apart from trailers and just fancied giving it a go based on the strength of online reviews.

I wasn't disappointed in the slightest, it exceeded my expectations in so many ways. The overall strength of the acting, the camerawork, the storylines, the whit and humour and the way in which you develop such likes or dislikes for certain characters is remarkable. I have since purchased all series up to series 4 and I'm gradually making my way through the episodes.

There are 22 episodes in the first series, each of 42 minutes in length. Thats at least a week and a half worth of entertainment for the price of a day out based on watching two episodes per night.

One thing I do recommend is that you purchase series 2 as well once you know you are enjoying the first series as the cliffhanger is unbelievable between the two series. I watched about 5 in one night at the point of transition from first series to second series.

Highly recommended.

Loved it!
I didn't catch any of the West Wing went it was broadcast on Channel 4 and was bought the season 1 box set as a present. I found the pilot episode to be a bit fast and furious and quite confusing. I also found it difficult to remember who was who, who did what and what the hell they were talking about: all this because the programme very rarely patronises you and just lays the story out for you to take in as you will. It made me read up on American politics and the staff structure of the West Wing and how that related to the president etcetera etcetera. What other programmes on mainstream television make you do that?

The West Wing is excellent television made to the highest standards with very good talent, sharp scripts and long term plots that immerse you completely. I have just bought season 2 (because, at the end of 1, you kind of have to) and am greatly looking forward to it. This is good, smart television - and that doesn't come along very often - so I unreservedly recommend it to the un-initiated.

Maybe the greatest tv series ever made?
The West Wing has changed the way TV series are made. It's intellegent, witty , never crude and the acting superb. This show has been a huge hit in the uk dispite being put on a grave yard slot because it is superior to any other show in the world right now.
The cast act so well together it is almost impossible to pick the best character. If i had to i'd say Bradley Whitfords brilliant expression of deputy chief of staff Josh Lyman steals the show for me but it's a tough choice. The sign of a great show!
These 22 episodes are fast moving but emotionally played out and the cliff hanger ending will leave you on the edge of your seats!
DVD features include cast interviews and a making of piece. Both are well worth watching.
The only complaint I have is there is no release date for season 2 DVD release in the UK yet!!!
Watch a part of television history and laugh, cry and enjoy.