Foyle's War - Set 1

Amazon.com

Foyle's War is the rare mystery series that does more than plop a good detective into the middle of a decorative and bygone era. Created by writer Anthony Horowitz, Foyle's War makes profoundly resonant use of British society in 1940, a terrifying time in which the threat of an Axis assault on England disrupted ordinary life in often horrible ways, from the resettlement of city children (into the care of rural strangers) to a spike in xenophobia to a loss of personal freedoms. Against this heady backdrop is the near-solitary figure of Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen), a London investigator who would rather be fighting Hitler abroad but is stuck solving domestic homicides--generally sparked by wartime fervor--with the help of a plucky driver (Honeysuckle Weeks) and a steadfast assistant (Anthony Howell). Kitchen's magnificently measured performance and Horowitz's masterful grasp of the moral and dramatic issues of his battle-scarred milieu make Foyle's War a must. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews:

A truly wonderful series.......2007-09-01

My family has found this series to be totally addictive. The character of Foyle as played by Michael Kitchen is unlike any other detective on television. If you love mysteries, this series is not to be missed.

A Wonderful surprise.......2007-08-21

I love the stories and the acting, it is done with great charm and can be watched over and over again. I just ordered series two..

Foyle's War - Set 1.......2007-08-14

Foyle's War - Set 1 starring Michael Kitchen is an outstanding piece of work. The acting is so far above average, that you feel as though you are right there in Hastings, England, right before and during WWII. It serves as both a historical piece and a mystery series. Michael Kitchen acts the part of Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Foyle in a great way. His sidekick and driver, Sam Stewart, played by Honeysuckle Weeks, adds a touch of humor and shows the caring and pateral side of DCI Foyle. Anthony Howell gives a great performance as his war-wounded sergeant and Julian Overden plays a remarkably believable role as his son. The scenes are shot in a way that make them look older and the props seem to be extremely authentic. I would highly recommend this and the following sets to everyone!

Really fascinating stuff..........2007-08-06

This is a beautifully done series, typical of the British. There are only 4 episodes in each season (there are 4 seasons available as of this writing), but each one runs as long as a feature film (running around 100 minutes or so). It is extraordinarily well written (even more so than by the high quality British standards), and it covers a fascinating terrain. Michael Kitchen plays Chief Inspector Foyle, a police officer working during the WWII years. Not only does Foyle have to deal with the typical police work, but the war plays a big factor in his daily functions. In the first episode, the killer (I won't say who) works in the home office, and is trying to decode a German spy ring. He tells Foyle about the important work he is doing, and says that the murder he committed is inconsequential because the country needs him (which is actually true). The series has tons of these moral dilemmas and ambiguities running through it. It also deals with anti-Semitism, xenophobia (which is dealt rather poignantly in the final scenes of the 3rd episode, A Lesson in Murder), disillusioned soldiers, and restless natives who don't like being harrassed by police. In other words, the usual stuff that occurs in wartime. The tribulations that Foyle must transverse are absolutely fascinating. The performances are first rate and wonderfully understated (contrast Michael Kitchen's wonderful performance with the histronic, over the top Kiefer Sutherland in 24), and the episodes are leisurely and nuanced. Nothing is ever rushed, but it is never boring. A superb series.

Typical English movie with bad sound recording.......2007-08-01

I got this set and sent it back after viewing the first disk.
let me tell you something about English movies:

If you love ear-splitting flute music, then this is for you.
What's with the English and flute music?
Can't hear the damn dialogue when this music is in the 'background'.

The sound is really bad.
They (English movies) don't understand that music should be heard as a background music if you have a dialogue.
If you have a slight hearing problem, I guarantee you won't understand anything.... also due to the accent.
You can turn it up, but that won't help, because that damn flute music just irritating.

I also bought other English movies and the same problem.
Sound recording is really bad.... and horrendous FLUTE music!
Music way too loud and drown out the dialogue.
Sometimes can't hear anything what they say and then in a few second it's blaring loud. There is no level recording.
Just horrible.

I bought "the enemy at the door' series and the same problem with those DVD's. Very bad sound recording and more FLUTE music.... the high note kind that equals with finger nails of the black board.
Ya know?

Bottom line; if you have even the slightest hearing difficulty... don't buy it.
How can you tell?
When you watch TV, is is loud?
If yes, then you have a hearing problem dude.

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