A Family at War

I approached this British series made in the early 1970's with high expectations,hoping for similar excellence as the comparable series 'When The Boat Comes In' but alas these hopes were dashed almost from the start and never rose above pot boiler sensibilities. The almost complete confinement to the studio coupled with average writing,production values,and on the main fairly mundane acting made for a tedious and unexciting viewing experience. A few charismatic actors and dynamic direction would have helped and I kept imagining I was viewing episodes of The Thunderbirds but more wooden.

...can be tricky, but having watched this for the first time in nearly 50 years I'm impressed at how dramatic and yet realistic it is. Do I want to know what happens to the various characters to whom I've been introduced? Are the suggested plot lines enough to keep me interested? The answer is definitely YES in both cases. (Worth mentioning in passing that I've just bought the Netherlands version of the box set in a charity shop, so I get the omitted scenes as well!)

I saw these 50+ episodes re-run nightly in New York during the summer of 1975 or 1976. They were completely transporting, fabulous, deeply memorable. I've not seen them anywhere since - yet they are apparently not for sale.

In somewhat soap-operatic fashion, the story of two neighboring families in Liverpool during 1939-1945 brought home vividly the impact of the Second World War on an area of Britain.

This series was far more powerful and moving than Sopranos - because it better captures the details of daily life - and thus makes us believe its reality - and terrible tragedies. If you ever get the chance to entwine your life with this series, do it.

It makes one very much think about larger themes such as the impact of historical events on private lives. It's simply wonderful.

Starts of OK(apart from "Oxford" Phillips fanciful goings on in Spain). Thereafter thinks move at a pace.The most interesting battle in the series is between business-owner Sefton Briggs and his "donkey"brother-in-law, Edwin Ashton.Keeps the show alive actually.One or two appearances are rather "guesty"(eg Robert)And that little chap John George hardly ever gets fed,is never seen(one for the social welfare folk?) Moving to the second half-series 3 in particular.The whole yarn becomes rather "Mills & Boonish".Afraid I cannot tolerate the acting of passive-aggressive Sheila Ashton and her inadequate soiciopathic husband! I rather hoped a doodle-bug would get them....

I also saw A Family at War on my PBS station in the 70's and loved that show. I wish it was available on DVD. I wish BBC America would rerun it. Why is it out of circulation? This show was on every Sunday in my area for a year. This was before VCRs so I always tried to make it home to watch this show. In my area it was on at 5PM. The stories were so compelling. I really got into the family. One interesting filming note on the series was that somewhere in the middle of the run the series had to go to black and white tape. It seemed that the color tape people went on strike so some of the episodes had to be filmed in black and white. I think there are about a months worth of episodes in black and white. If you ever get to see this series or if it ever gets on DVD please try to get it. You will not be disappointed. The acting is top notch all the way. Every character is fleshed out. You will be so drawn into the continuing story that you will not want to miss an episode. This is a continuing story not unlike many soap operas. But once this one starts it will grab you and you will be hooked to the very last episode. This is a series not to be missed. Catch it from the very beginning.