The Winds of War
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Movie Reviews of The Winds of War
Movie Review: "The Winds of War (1983) ... Robert Mitchum ... Dan Curtis (Director) (2004)"
Summary: 5 Stars
American Broadcasting Company (ABC) and Paramount Pictures presents "THE WINDS OF WAR" (1983) (883 min/Color) (Fully Restored/Dolby Digitally Remastered) -- Starring Robert Mitchum, Ali MacGraw, Jan-Michael Vincent, John Houseman, Polly Bergen, David Dukes, Topol, Ben Murphy, Peter Graves, Jeremy Kemp, Ralph Bellamy & Victoria Tennant
Directed by Dan Curtis
Overall, the Winds of War is a very compelling piece of work. This is a long one 15 hours!, but is well worth the time it takes to watch it. Robert Mitchum's performance is absolutely flawless. Ali McGraw does a outstanding job as a jewish woman trapped in a Europe dominated by the jew-hating Nazis. She is trapped because of the trepidation of her uncle, who hates to leave his beloved Italy. As a consequence, she ends up stuck as well. There are many complications, not the least of which is that she is married to an American Naval Officer, Byron Henry, superbly played by Jan Michael-Vincent.
The story of the Henry family is only interesting in so far as it connects to the larger WWII narrative. Seeing the direct, human impact that Hitler's aggression and tyranny has on the Henry circle is effective and instructive. However, almost every other aspect of their family story is inconsequential and trite.
Winds of War and War and Remembrance are productions that rank with the best ever made. In addition to the accuracy of historical data, the casting, direction and all around production values are top notch.
BIOS:
1. Dan Curtis [aka: Daniel Mayer Cherkoss]
Date of Birth: 12 August 1927 - Bridgeport, Connecticut
Date of Death: 27 March 2006 - Brentwood, California
2. Robert Mitchum
Date of Birth: 6 August 1917 - Bridgeport, Connecticut
Date of Death: 1 July 1997 - Santa Barbara, California
Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 5 Stars
Performance: 5 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 5 Stars
Overall: 5 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]
Total Time: 883 min on DVD ~ Paramount Pictures ~ (05/25/2004)
Movie Review: well worth the money and time, a great period piece
Summary: 5 Stars
This is such a good miniseries. Very faithful to the novel, and a plot that pulls you along. With great locations and cinematography, and good music, its hard to fault. The biggest flaw, as some have mentioned, is the casting. Age is the biggest problem. It's like the creators made up their mind on the casting of some of these roles when the book was published and the fact that the characters are too old for their roles years later when the series was made is ignored. Natalie (Ali McGraw) is the biggest problem. Her acting is sophmoric, but she is supposed to be 28 in the book. If she looked more sophmoric, rather than her 45 years, I think her brassy, gauche performance would be more forgivable, particularly since that is the character she is playing. It's just hard to accept in someone of her age and looks. It also is kind of ridiculous that in some scenes she looked older than Byron's mother, expertly played by Polly Bergen, who is only a few years older than McGraw. Bergen's character Rhoda was supposed to be charming and attractive, and while her character in the book is not entirely likeable (nor meant to be), she plays her role to a T and I found her subplot a good foil to her husbands mission and the war background. Robert Mitchem is okay as Pug, but he playedthe role so one dimensionally, I don't really see why he was so essential to the production. Seems to me any number of actors could have done as well or better and been more believable in age as to his time of life, career and romance with Pam. As it stands, he makes it hard to imagine there could be a real romance between him and Pam Tudsberry, also expertly played by Victoria Tennant.
So many minor characters are wonderful: Bellamy as Roosevelt, Kemp as von Root.
I have watched this miniseries several times and it is always as engrossing as the first time. If you like WWII period pieces, an extensive series like this, for such a reasonable price, shouldn't be missed.
Movie Review: A treasure! The complete miniseries, beautifully done.
Summary: 5 Stars
Thank goodness that "The Winds of War" is finally available on DVD. I missed the original presentation of TWOW when it was first shown on television, but later bought the videocassete version, which was enjoyable enough. Unfortunately, I did not realize (until I got the DVD version) that the VHS version omitted a great many scenes of the original miniseries. This DVD version appears to present TWOW in its entirety, as far as I can tell. Wonderful!This is a very well-done presentation of Wouk's masterpiece--essentially tracking an American Naval family through pivotal events just prior to America's entry into the Second World War. The viewer is introduced to prewar Nazi Germany, the Nazi invasion of Poland, Britain's early struggles against the Nazis, issues surrounding President Roosevelt's attempts to prepare America for its inevitable entry into the War, and its aid to the British. As other reviewers have mentioned, the casting is fabulous. Robert Mitchum is perfect as Victor Henry, Jan Michael-Vincent is a great Byron Henry, John Houseman is wonderful as Aaron Jastrow, Victoria Tennant is magnificent as Pamela Tudsbury. All of the leads do very well in my opinion. Further, the script is very faithful to the novel, rarely deviating from it, and this is a plus, because the novel moves at a steady pace with a solid storyline. The result is that this is a miniseries that does not feature much in the way of draggy pointless interludes the way so many miniseries sometimes do. Every minute of TWOW is enjoyable and worth watching, which is why I am so pleased that this DVD version is uncut, presenting the entire miniseries.
This is a wonderful value and a fabulous viewing experience about one of the very best novels dealing with World War II.
Movie Review: The Winds of War Soar
Summary: 5 Stars
Because I read the book years before this became a production, I waited with anticipation. This time the author Herman Wouk made sure that the book was faithfully recreated. I found the result and the theme music immensely pleasurable in spite of some critics who labelled it "World at Bore."
The story centers on one family just before the start of World War II when Victor "Pug" Henry is assigned as a naval attache to Berlin. The events of the world swallow up this navy family as the reader follows the other family members around the world at war. You learn about the people they meet, political and personal.
The acting and character roles are an excellent match from A to Z with the exception of the letters A and M for Ali McGraw. Although she fits the description of Natalie Jastrow, her acting requires someone behind the curtain with a very long cane. Truly, she pulls off one scene so poorly, it will give you the chills of embarrassment. Her redemption comes in the form of the other actors such as Robert Mitchum, Polly Bergen, Victoria Tennant, and John Houseman. These actors play their characters superbly.
This story, book or DVD is an epic. For this one, you turn off the phone, turn down the lights, get the popcorn ready, and get set to be entertained. It would help if you have a healthy love and knowledge of history, particularly World War II.
Your only disappointment may be the realization that the end leaves you in mid plot, and you will have to get the sequel, "War and Remembrance" if you want to find out what happens to everyone.
This is a stunning sweep of history, time, people and events. The Winds of War Soar.
Movie Review: Need help
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been waiting years for The Winds Of War to come out on DVD, and am very happy that it is finally released. When I was younger (10 years old when it was first diffused on tv), I became hooked on it's story, it's accuracy and detail on the main events on the second world war, and the relations and hardships of the characters involved. This for me was as much a history lesson (normally history at school is boring, this however was enlightening and disturbing at times) as an adventure story.The memeory of this film brought me eventually to reading the novel along with it's sequel, War and Rememberance. Like most well written books, the novel is even better than the films. I have, sadly, never seen the W&R mini-series.
When the The Winds of War was re-diffused a few years later on tv, I was again hooked, even though it was scheduled for 1am in the morning once a week.
I have, for this moment not bought the DVD. Let me explain.
I live in Europe, and although I have the capability to view the Zone 1 DVD with my computer, I would rather wait. I myself am English. But I live in France since 5 years, and I would really be happy if someone could let me know if both DVD Mini-series will soon be released in Europe, and if so, will they be available with the french translation. I would dearly love to show these pieces of excellences to my wife, who does not speak English, and also to my little girl when she is a bit older.
PLEASE HELP SOMEONE, THESE DVD'S ARE NOT TO BE MISSED
The french for 'The Winds of War' is 'Le Souffle De La Guerre'
phoebe8@wanadoo.fr