1940s House
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Movie Reviews of 1940s House
Movie Review: The best program I have seen in years
Summary: 5 Stars
I received this DVD yesterday. When I put this program on to watch 'perhaps for an hour', I had no idea that I would be I caught up so completely in watching this 3+ hour adventure.
I have so many videos and enjoy watching many of them more than once. I would be hard pressed to pick my top 10. However, I can truthfully say that this is going to be one of my all time favorites...probably right at the top of my list. I have seen 2 of the other House programs...Manor House and Colonial House; but 1940's House is so much better than either of the others.
This 'real life family' showed me so much of what it was 'really like' to be a part of that time and place of England, during that horrible war. The family chosen for this task was truly doing everything they could to be faithful to their assignment. With the exception of the little boys who chose to share their schoolmate's non-wartime lunches, this family was doing all they could to follow the rules of this incredible task. Of course, the boys were young and feeling the hunger of the 'wartime rationing'.
I am so grateful that PBS continues to provide us with programs of such great quality and education value. I feel so blessed to have this wonderful and inspiring program as a part of my video collection. I can and will recommend it to you and my other friends.
Movie Review: A Stand Out Amongst the BBC House series
Summary: 5 Stars
Having seen Frontier House, Regency House, Colonial House and Manor House, I have to say that 1940's House boldly outshines them in one particular aspect. The family selected was earnest in their attempts to live the way a family of war time Brits would have.
While the concept of the House series is fascinating I've often been disappointed in the people chosen to participate in the various programs. It's almost as if they deliberately choose people that they know will complain, cheat and fail as opposed to someone who would be deeply committed to making it work. I was not disappointed in the Hymers. This family was fascinating to watch as their relationships altered from their year 2000 existence to that of 1940 to 1944. Daughter Kristie finds previously unknown strength and self-confidence, Mom Lyn discovers an even deeper respect for her parent's generation and what they endured, the boys Ben and Thomas draw closer to each other when they live a simpler if more challenging lifestyle. They were not perfect and it was understandable that they should complain a bit but, overall,they all persevered with great humor and love.
This was a very endearing look at the way an incredible generation endured hardship. It will warm your heart.
Movie Review: An unforgettable history lesson
Summary: 5 Stars
This entry in the PBS "House" series is outstanding. Here, a modern British family (husband and wife, their daughter, and two grandsons) experience life during WWII with all of its hard work, deprivation, and fear. Costumed and coiffed in wartime styles, the family certainly looked the part, and their home was outfitted for the period in every detail. They received daily original radio war broadcasts and vintage newspapers and so were able to follow the "progress" of the war. Air raids and rationing contributed to making their nine weeks in the house a sobering and unforgettable experience.
The women of the family worked around the clock but never resorted to cheating or actually quitting, as was the case in other "House" programs. The two little boys were adorable and kept everyone's spirits up. An excellent epilogue filmed six months later showed how much the family learned from their time in the 1940s house and how they had grown and become happier as a result.
This is a wonderful program; it really recreates the British war experience and is one of the best reality shows. I was often moved to tears by the radio broadcasts, war statistics, and haunting music; they made it all seem very real. Highly recommended.
Movie Review: The way it was - Britian 1940s
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this DVD. I think I've watched it about a half dozen times and find myself now addicted to that era. I had no idea the hardships that people went through. My mother would tell me about rationing here in the US but it was nothing like waht these people went through. The Hymers did a good job of showing the shock and ability to adapt as one after another hardship was thrown at them. This really is very much a show of how politics and issues outside the home unit affect people. Things were happening the Hymers had no control over, they just had to deal with the reduction in food and air raids, etc... I know it wasn't exactly like what people really went through but it sure opened my eyes! I tried to live on the rations allowed for each person for a week. Some of it was easy because I don't do heavy phyiscal activity so I didn't need as much of the fats. However...the tiny bit of cheese and meat did turn into a challenge. And I confess to sneaking more than one Diet Pepsi during my week of denial. The 1940s and all that went along with it and the war are fading in people's memory. The 'Greatest Generation" is passing. Hopefully shows like this will remind us a little of what forced people to rise to the challenge.Movie Review: Mrs. Miniver Meets Rosie the Riveter
Summary: 5 Stars
Another great entry to a fun series, 1940s House takes one extended family and puts them into an old fashioned house. A grandmother Kristie and her 40s enthusiast husband Ben bring their single mother daughter Lyn and her two sons Thomas and Michael enter a house where they will live the five years of WWII in the span of just over two months. Their experiences teach viewers about the clothing of the period, rationing, blackouts, amusement activities, bomb shelters, and women's roles through the everyday experiences of the family.
It is funny that Ben is the one who wanted to go on the show so badly, because he is hardly shown. Instead, the majority of the program focuses on the lives of the two women and their struggle to keep the family together. The two young boys are a delightful addition; they are absolutely adorable but also provide an intelligent commentary on the lives of children during the war.
The only complaint I have is that this series was so short. The four hours flew by and made me sad that it was all over.