Foyle's War: The Homefront Files, Sets 1-6

MICHAEL KITCHEN, AND OTHERS. FOYLE'S WAR. THE HOME FRONT FILES. SETS 1-6 (22 EPISODES), ACORN AMP-8600.This DVD series is about a fictional DCS (Detective Chief Superintendent) dealing with crime and criminals in WWII England, and is supposedly based on a compilation of actual police cases, with a little artistic license tossed in to make the stories more interesting. DCS Christopher Foyle has to do his job while also dealing with allied military personnel, as well as German spies, saboteurs, and the crews of shot down German aircraft. He manages to juggle all these conflicting agendas, personalities and egos, while remaining calm and perceptively going about his job, like it was just another day in his small rural police department, the Hastings Borough Police.The only gripes I had were a couple of DVD glitches, and the often tedious behind-the-scenes extra segments that were yawn producing and had to be taken in small doses to prevent dozing off. I finally gave up on the extra segments. Another gripe I had was with the flimsy cardboard box that the DVD containers were packaged in. The box is open on one side, and the DVD containers can easily fall out into a pile on the floor. What is needed, is a sturdier box with a Velcro closure, a snap closure, or some other type of locking closure on a wraparound lid or overlapping lids.Is it worth buying? Yes. Even after viewing these DVD's, you can easily find yourself watching them again on PBS, to fill in the time on a slow TV evening when there is nothing else on TV that is worth watching.The DVD titles on: Set 1: The German Woman; The White Feather; A Lesson In Murder; Eagle Day. Set 2: Fifty Ships; Among The Few; War Games; The Funk Hole. Set 3: The French Drop; Enemy Fire; They Fought In The Fields; A War Of Nerves. Set 4: Invasion; Bad Blood; Bleak Midwinter; Casualties Of War. Set 5: Plan Of Attack; Broken Souls; All Clear. Set 6: The Russian House; Killing Time; The Hide.ACORN acornmedia.com

I don't want to get too involved in the plots, but mainly I wanted to point out that I nabbed this when Amazon dropped the price to $39.99. As I write this review it is currently $44.99, which is still a steal!The show begins in the early years of World War 2 and is based along the south coast of England in and around Hastings (apparently quite a sketchy place in these years! - kidding!). Micheal Kitchen plays Detective Foyle, a very wry and intelligent police officer stationed on the home front. During the years of the war and even in some of the post-war years, he is tasked with various duties such as solving murders, investigating other crimes, unraveling espionage and spy networks, and all the other home front fun. The series could have been a letdown but the writing and acting are top notch. Even the supporting cast is amazing.Each episode is film length (90 to 100 minutes), so the viewer has plenty of time to get into the plot and become acquainted with the characters. Some of the characters appearing in individual episodes are known for other series and films, and it is quite fun to see some decently high profile British actors appearing in this series (such as David Tennant - shame on you if you don't know 'Who' he is).I wouldn't say this is in the same style as other top British series such as Downton Abbey, so it is hard to compare it to some of the other favorites. As far as comparing this to other crime themed dramas, I feel this might be the best in years, if not the best ever. Each time I thought I might lose interest, something happened that caught my attention - or Micheal Kitchen uttered another snarky response! In any case, I highly recommend this series for those fans of intelligent crime dramas that have a little more story and aren't afraid to explore some of the story surrounding the crimes.I would rate 6 stars if I could!!!

Foyle's War is a compilation of the entire series, but does not -- I believe -- include the final (post-war) season. Set in and around the English coastal town of Hastings, the series tracks the cases investigated by DCI Christopher Foyle during World War II. Though the episodes can be a little formulaic, they are well written and superbly filmed, with loving attention paid to getting the look and feel of wartime Britain just right. It's also great fun spotting young actors on the verge of stardom as they appear in guest roles..The series is rooted in the strong performances of Honeysuckle Weeks as Sam Stewart, Foyle's able driver (and a symbol of the ways in which the war irrevocably changed women's roles) and Anthony Howell as DS Paul Milner, an injured war veteran who rejoins the police force at Foyle's urging and becomes his right-hand man.Still, the success of Foyle's War rests squarely on the shoulders of the extraordinary Michael Kitchen, who delivers a performance as DCI Foyle at a level of sustained brilliance that it becomes an acting master class. Foyle is a reserved and private man who appears at first to be aloof and unemotional. He almost never raises his voice or loses his temper as he methodically investigates the complex crimes that plague his beat. Yet so strong is Kitchen's acting that we quickly grasp Foyle's decency, integrity and sense of personal honor as he pursues the truth regardless of where it takes him. Despite the apparent limits of a role that is deliberately written to emphasize Foyle's reserve, Kitchen works wonders with a simple glance, a raised eyebrow, a slight tilt of the head, or the mere hint of a smile to show us that Foyle cares deeply about his colleagues and the job he must do. It is an astonishing performance that tells us more about Foyle in a glance than pages of dialogue ever could. In the process, Michael Kitchen makes Foyle's War one of the best series ever broadcast.

The lack of subtitles is unforgiveable.

An excellent mystery series set during WWII in Hastings, England. Detective Chief Superintendent Foyle is trying to enforce the law in his jurisdiction despite criminals who think that, because of the war, they should be exempt from the laws of the land, and others who are trying to take advantage of the shortages of supplies in England. I love the subtleties of Michael Kitchen's portrayal of D.S.I. Foyle, Honeysuckle Weeks plays a very endearing Samantha Stewart, Foyle's driver, and Anthony Howell plays Sergeant Paul Milner, injured in WWII, back to work with Foyle. Very little swearing (unless Americans are portrayed). Violence is implied but not explicit. Sexual content is alluded to but never portrayed.

once you get started on this series, you cannot stop and do not want them to end. The really interesting thing is in the extra content where they explain the True Underlying Story that is portrayed in the episode. WW2 History buffs will easily recognize several similarities to real events, but the explanations reveal much more details and explain the extraordinary efforts that the writers, cast, and crew went to to re-enact them. Very entertaining. BRAVO to all.

Wow..what a great show !! I had seen some of the episodes approx. 10 years ago, but wanted to see all of them...no disappointments here !! Both of my parents served in the RAF,in England,during WW2,so it was important to me to try and imagine what their lives and experiences with everyday life must have been like and this series tries to show that. This is the type of boxset that you can watch one or two episodes per week, until you have seen them all,put the boxset away for four to five years, and then watch them all over again. !!

This is the best series I have ever watched. Totally mesmerizing, engrossing. Look forward to each episode and wish it would never end. The details are true to reality. I remember some of the furniture or other items from my grandmother's house. It feels as all stories really did happen and all the characters existed. I found it also gave so much insight of british civilian life during WWII. A must see for anyone who likes mystery, history, and a good story.