Winds of War TV Mini Series VHS

Despite staggering flaws in the casting of this epic drama, Robert Mitchum saves the day and dominates this brilliant series. Anyone who has read Herman Wouk's book probably cringed when picturing Mitchum as the short, 50-ish Pug Henry and he is physically all wrong for the part. But you don't care once he sleepily walks onto the screen and gives one of the most understated and "I don't give a damn" performances of his career. Is Mitchum too old for the part? You bet. Could he have shown a bit more emotion, especially in the love seens? Undoubtedly. Does it compromise the series or detract? Absolutely not.The problems with this drama emanate from the other cast members. Ali McGraw as Natalie delivers one of the most wretchedly acted performances in all of TV history. Her over-acting, melodramatic pauses and pacing of her lines is simply atrocious. It's impossible not to laugh uproariously at her silly attempts to project human emotion in any form. Jan-Michael Vincent is similarly bad and completely outclassed by everyone else in the production (except the insipid Ali McGraw). Their scenes together are well-written but spoiled by two actors who should have pursued a different profession.John Houseman and Polly Bergen are outstanding in their roles. Watch Houseman, a brilliant actor, in his scenes with wither Vicent or McGraw. You will cringe when you see his majestry and their weak, vain attempts to try and act on the same stage with this master! One does wish, however, that Aaron Jastrow and the endless wrangling with his passport would end. They draw this plot line out to insufferably long duration.The best parts of the mini-series are undoubtedly the romance between Mitchum and Pamela Tudsbury. Even though their chemistry seems strained, what woman wouldn't pursue Robert Mitchum across the globe and back, even when he is pushing 70? Buy me a ticket.For anyone who loves World War II and a classy production, this is your baby. I've watched it a dozen times and never weary of it. Highly recommended!

I remember watching it when it first came out (1988?). Just recently we saw it on Netflix.....so I had to buy the second episode (War and Remembrance) from Amazon.com as it wasn't offered on Netflix. Seeing as it is continued, I've now ordered War and Remembrance, The Final Chapter. I then went back and bought the first episode (Winds of War), so I'll have the complete series. I feel it should be shown again on TV.....it's a story every American should watch. It's really a mesmerizing tale.

Herman Wouk is a brilliant writer who goes to exacting detail to share a story. This made-for-TV effort does him proud.While telling a great story of interesting people caught up in the malestrom of World War II, this film also gives a depiction of history that proves you don't have to embellish or alter it to make it palpable to your audience (you reading this, Oliver Stone?).This story is riveting and well-crafted. Knowing you can't improve on perfection (the book), the producers don't try. They just transfer it to a visual medium.Whether you are movie lover, or a student of history, you will enjoy this show. You might just learn something as well.

Herman Wouk wrote an absolute masterpiece. Winds of War is without a doubt the very best historical novel in the war genre. Dan Curtis equally directs the benchmark that mini-series will be measured by for years to come.Casting for Winds of War was perfect when it came to matching Wouk's characters. Despite the age differences Ali McGraw and Jan-Michael Vincent were absolutely perfect as the independent and fickle Natali Jastrow and the bull-headed Byron Henry. Robert Mitchum is the glue that holds the story together in a flawless performance as Victor "Pug" Henry, the man that meets everyone that is anyone in his role as a Naval Attache stationed in Berlin in the pre-World War II years. One of the best ever ensemble casts include stand-outperformances by Polly Bergen as Pug Henry's hard-drinking wife Rhoda, not to mention Topol, David Dukes, Victoria Tennant and John Houseman.Winds of War has become a semi-annual event for our family. It is simply so entertaining that it never grows tiresome. The historical value alone makes it worth having in your home library.

This is an awesome series. It starts out with Winds of War, then War and Remembrance and then War and Remem-brance the Final Chapter. The director, actors and whole team did a wonderful job in making this series. There is a lot about the Holocaust and everything just looks so real and well done.

This is not Hollywood, not some fairytale that ends happily ever after. But if you want a real feel for the trueth of WW 2, this is a window into the past. Following the lives of the Henry family as it links up with a Jewish family and a southern political family. This is the start of a long eventful and shocking journey into Hell and back. The journey continues through the "War and Rememberance" sets.

As is typical with most amazon orders, it came fast. The video cases all look new, but are not in the original boxes, But I think this how they were advertised, I am hoping they are not bad copies. If they view well I will be happy.larry

I saw the series new. Now I can see it all, in one sitting if I choose. The actors are well chosen for their strengths which approximate the descriptions in the book. The action is as close to historical, and by far better then North and South, as a good movie can get.