The Winds Of War [DVD] [1983]

Robert Mitchum leads the cast and the Henry family in this epic mini series. Starting just before the outbreak of the Second World War, if follows members of the Henry family in love, career and tragedy. I remember watching this in my younger days and as an avid movie watcher, have been looking for this for a while. The version I have did not disappoint.

Gripping, thoughtful story of one family in the build up to the American involvement in WW2, this is an excellent series which will appeal to a wide audience.Vincent "Pug" Henry (Robert Mitchum) is a career naval officer whose quiet manner and keen mind alert him to the ultimate plans of Hitler when he is posted to the US embassy in Berlin in the late 1930's. Pug's thoughtful reports are more accurate than the diplomats and he soon has the ear of President Roosevelt who realises that this strong man, with his language skills, can be a real asset as the threat of war deepens.As Pug begins his brand of diplomacy - in London, Rome, Berlin and Moscow - meeting ordinary troops as well as the leaders of the 3rd Reich and the allies, his family have their own problems to deal with. Wayward son Byron falls for bookish Natalie (Ali McGraw), a woman older than him who works tirelessly for her beloved Uncle, an author who lives in Italy. Determined to prove his worth, Byron grows up fast, joins the Navy and begins to win the respect of his father. Pug's wife Rhoda enjoys the party scene in Germany and assures Pug that the stories he is hearing first hand about the treatment of Jews must be wrong, but Pug gathers information all the same, to keep the president up to date.When Pamela (Victoria Tennant in her first major role) the grown up daughter of a friend of Pug's falls for the charms of the older Naval officer, a touching 'May to September' romance develops - but Pug is a loyal and loving husband, would he jepodise his marriage to Rhoda?As the war gathers pace Natalie struggles to get back to the states but her Uncle has problems with his passport and she refuses to leave him. Byron meanwhile pulls out the stops to meet up with her and pursue their blossoming romance.With real life film footage of events, a chilling reconstruction of Pearl Harbour and characters you really care about. 'Winds of War' is much more than an extended war film. By the final scenes the viewer will be screaming for more - we have to know what becomes of these 'friends' and what the future holds.Herman Wouk wrote the tele-play from his best selling novel and the care in the script shows. Mitchum does "sleep walk" his way through much of the series, but that lends a credibility to the strong and silent Pug - a man who observes and acts after consideration and who wins the respect of all who encounter him - even managing to form strong personal friendship's with German SS leaders before the war begins in earnest.Get hold of 'Winds of War' on dvd - it is excellent viewing of a type that sadly we seldom see these days. Extras include 'The Making of Winds of War', and location scenes.

Great series, dvds in great condition.

I had seen this series many years ago, and wondered if it was as good as I thought it was - I wasn't disappointed. I was fortunate in that I didn't remember too much in advance, and it truly was just like seeing it for the first time. I was struck by how well a story seemed to be told in this era - completely free from gimmickry. The story centred on the world events which ultimately dragged the USA into the second world war. Robert Mitchum just seemed to amble his way through the series with minimum effort, and it was surprising to me that he was so very effective. The weak link in the production was the Ally McGraw character. I'm not sure whether she played the role just as it was depicted in the book, or whether she put her own 'slant' on it - but either way, the character left me without much sympathy for her at all. I was struck by the overall attention to historical detail displayed throughout, and in this regard I also found it educational as well as entertaining. The real disappointment for me, was to learn that the sequel is not available in European format. I might well purchase the book as a second prize. All in all, one of my better purchases.

Despite its age - and the enormous length of each episode (around 140 mts!) - this is a very enjoyable and quite impressive series. Ali McGraw is rather irritating to say the least but the rest of the cast are solid and Robert Mitchum delivers a first rate performance. The voice overs that tell us what the German's are up to are clunky in the extreme and that information should have been contained in the dialogue. That said it certainly is worth a purchase and should be seen by younger viewers it they are ever to glimpse a little of the realities of warfare - although shown through the lens of Hollywood. Recommended - and at just over £9 for the six DVD set, a bargain. The image is okay and the sound too - but not marvellous considering the series was shot on film.

An excellent blend of relationships and action scenes spanning the beginning of the war till Pearl Harbor- the story is continued with the second mini-series: "War and Remembrance" - also excellent. Slightly disconcerting is the change of some of the main actors between series and having Germans speak either in German or English! Powerful drama at times quite harrowing!

I found the film interesting ,as it is based on the American's watching the NAZIS at close hand in Berlin.They say that Hitler admired all the English speaking people of the world,and many thing's which were British had achieved,especially the British Empire,so it makes you wonder why he so readily went to war against us in 1939.When he must have relised that if Great Britain was threatened,then the Empire would come to our assitence,as of course they did,and helped to win the war for us all.The film also shows that the USA,seemed to be convinced that Hitler would overrun us in the end what ever we did,the phrase which springs to mind,( Ye of Little Faith ),but as I have worked with the Yanks in the past,their general attitude is that America can do no wrong,which when you have a mind-set like that,sooner ,or later you end up in a mess as they did in the Far East.