War & Remembrance - Vol. 2, The Final Chapter: Parts 8 - 12 Reviews

• Finally, the whole thing available in one place!

  
  By on 1999-07-09
  I found the prequel "Winds Of War" in a video club mailing, "Part 1" at an area video store (after a humongous phone search), but I didn't track this part down until I got a cheaply-printed flyer from a mail-order joint with a 1-800 customer service number. Now, years later, they're all right here, only a mouse click or two apart. And they say computers are only a way for Big Brother to keep an eye on us! Those who ducked the saga when it showed on TV, as well as those who can't stand miniseries, also blew the chance to see what Robert Mitchum really was capable of as an actor. Nothing, zilch, zero else he's done comes up to this! Mitchum's other work shows him to be a competent if somewhat generic macho actor, but it's as if Herman Wouk mentally pictured him when he thought Pug Henry up. There are problems, to be sure. Like Polly Bergen's "Rhoda" not being quite the airhead you see in the book. Two different "Natalies" (Ali McGraw died, replaced by "Dr. Quinn's" Jane Seymour). Two different Aaron Jastrows (John Houseman died, John Gielgud took over). Two Byron Henrys (I guess Jan Michael Vincent just tired of the role but Hart Bochner is a bit too dreamboat-ish). But Ralph Bellamy is a brilliant FDR! David Dukes does Leslie Slote as insecure as the book portrays him. Victoria Tennant is delightfully feminine as new love Pamela Tudsbury. If you have the bread, do like I did. Buy all three, view them in order. Unlike me, though, it won't take you for freakin' ever to track the whole thing down!
  
  

• A superb drama reaches its conclusion.

  
  By A2XRMQA6PJ5ZJ8 on 2004-06-29
  Herman Wouk's "The Winds of War"-"War and Remembrance" miniseries ranks as one of the greatest miniseries ever. "War and Remembrance, The Final Chapter" is about 11 1/2 hours of viewing, and concludes the story with the conclusion of the war. I rate the whole miniseries a solid 5 stars, but after a fair amount of agonizing, I dropped "The Final Chapter" down to a four.

  Several reasons. First of all, the fellow who plays Hitler in War and Remembrance (Steven Berkoff) does not do a good job. He is a caricature of the evil, formidable Fuhrer. Gunter Meisner, in "The Winds of War" is a far better portrayal of Hitler, and fully captures the malevolent genius of the man. This is true of several other characters. The chap who plays the Kommandant of the Theresienstadt concentration camp plays the role of being literally a beast in human form. The evils of the Nazi genocidal crimes are better shown, I think, when the evildoers perpetuating these crimes are shown to be human beings knowingly committing evil--not animals who could scarcely know better. By contrast, Gunther Halmer, who plays Rudolph Hoess, does succeed in this--this is an intelligent man who has decided, consciously, to carry out inhuman policies. To me that is far scarier than the notion that the SS-Nazis were simply animals. Well, that's my opinion.

  "The Final Chapter" could have used more battle action. There was plenty of opportunity for this, what with this period covering the Normandy invasion, Patton's dash across Europe, the American victory over Japan, etc., but such is not the case here. Lovers of this series (myself included) probably do not mind this too much, but I felt that the first chapter of "War and Remembrance" with its incomparable, superb depiction of the Battle of Midway, constituted better entertainment. This is, after all, a series about World War Two.

  Some of the graphic scenes of concentration camp genocide are not for children. Parents will want to exercise judgment if youngsters are present during viewing.

  These criticisms aside, "The Final Chapter" is quite an achievement, if for no other reason it satisfactorily wraps up the whole series reasonably smartly. This miniseries will be an enduring classic.
  
  

• No other war story except Pvt.Ryan is as impactful as W&R

  
  By on 1999-05-29
  The War and Remebrance/Winds of War video productions are a high water mark of the docu-drama of WWII. The thing that impressed me most regarding these episodes was the director's skill at imparting the sense of drama, despair, the feeling that must have pervaded peoples minds that were in the war. I cannot find the words to describe the the sense of historical impact I felt this production delivered.
  
  

• A must-see mini-series

  
  By A2WLZD9BY669HY on 2001-01-04
  War and Remembrance" picks up where the infinitely superior "Winds of War" leaves off. This continuation has a multitude of problems and is not nearly as cohesive or riveting as its predecessor, but it's still worth watching and re-watching. Be prepared for a long sojourn in front of your TV however, it's 23 total hours of viewing time.

  Some of the problems of its precursor have thankfully vanished... But the character of Natalie grates on the nerves. She makes one appalling choice after the other, until it's difficult to root for her. In addition, Seymour plays Natalie as a curiously flat character, and missing is the essential fire and determination of Wouk's Natalie. Hart Bochner is a marginal improvement over Vincent as the whiny Bryan, but his screen chemistry with Seymour is zilch. His scenes with Mitchum also betray his liabilities as an actor. Whereas Jan-Michael Vincent's Bryan was sympathetic and appealing, Bochner plays the part as a mean-spirited, spoiled and pompous prig: watch especially his scene with Mitchum when he whines about the picture of Pam Tudsbury on the table.

  And what of the magnificent Robert Mitchum, the glue that holds the series together? He is much too old for the part of Pug Henry here and his limitations show. Whereas he was a trifle elderly for the Pug part in volume one, this was filmed six years later and Mitchum is downright doddering. Is he still sexy? You bet. Is it still believable that Pamela Tudsbury (played a bit insipidly by Victoria Tennant) would travel across the world to lie chastely in his arms for 10 minutes? Well... it's a stretch, but I wouldn't say no to Mitchum, would you?

  The historical characters are, again, wretched. The Hitler they cast is absurd and one wonders how such a raving cretin as this could have held the German nation spellbound for twelve dark years. In fact, the Hitler scenes are riddled with absurd errors and if anyone believes that actual Hitler behaved like this ignorant maniac, please consult a non-fictional history. It's amusing that Pug Henry again meets all of the integral characters of WWII in one fell swoop: Hitler is on his dance card, as well as Churchill, Stalin, Mussolini and anyone else he chooses to see. It's silly, contrived and forced, but it still manages to rivet the viewer.

  If you're expecting true-to-life World War II drama, forget it. But if you love Robert Mitchum, a good story of epic proportions, then this will suffice. I watch it every few years and love it despite its myriad problems.
  
  

• One of the Best Ways to Learn the History of WWII

  
  By A2M9312I3C2VYC on 2002-12-08
  I think these movies and books are a great way to learn about WWII because the blending of historical figures/events and fictional characters makes it real and holds your interest. You get more of a feel for what people experienced and had to deal with. I think all three volumes ("Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance") were excellent. I bought "Winds of War" and received both volumes of "War and Remembrance" as gifts from my husband and mom. I've read both books twice, and the movies followed the books very well. I think this was because the author of the books, Herman Wouk, wrote the screenplays. I also highly recommend both books.
  I think the casting was great. I think Jane Seymour and Ali MacGraw were both good as Natalie (my favorite character in the story). Ali portrayed the spitfire part of Natalie's personality better; but, Seymour brought a depth, compassion and softness to the character that Natalie did possess. I think Natalie should have escaped when she could've, but then the story wouldn't have been as powerful and moving as it was. I believe Wouk had a point to make in writing the story that way. It stressed devotion to a loved one in trouble, and the unwillingness to believe the unthinkable could happen. Both of these were prevalent among the Jewish community in WWII. I think Mitchum & Bergen were great--wonderful chemistry and playing off one another. I think Sir John Gielgud was a better choice for the part of Aaron Jastrow than John Houseman. I liked both Jan Michael-Vincent and Hart Bochner as Briny. I think the part of Hitler in both movies could have been cast better. David Dukes as Slote, Topol as Berel Jastrow and Sami Frey as Rabinovitz were choice--couldn't have been cast better. Eddie Albert as Assistant Secretary of State Breckinridge Long was good. Long was an embarrassment to the U.S. during that time--a person who should have never held that position. (Enough of my political opinion!) Ralph Bellamy as Roosevelt was also great. Robert Hardy as Churchill was good. Bill Wallis as Beck was spooky--he played the part so well.
  I've used the movies as a way to teach my children about WWII and the lessons we can learn from it. I am a WWII buff, and have read many factual books on the subject and seen many documentaries. The works by Herman Wouk and Bodie Thoene (also excellent) are the only historical fiction books I've read on the subject. My main interest is the history of the Holocaust, Hitler and the war in Europe. I believe there are many lessons we as individuals and the U.S. as a nation can learn from WWII. History always repeats itself. I also highly recommend the book and movie "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom which chronicles the story of the ten Boom family in WWII Holland as they hid Jews in their home. They were a strong Christian family who were eventually arrested and two of them were sent to Ravensbruck concentration camp. I hope this review is helpful and happy reading and enjoy the movie!
  
  
• Final Chapter
  By A2CEM6D266M23B on 2000-02-19
  Now you have entered the Real Nightmare of Hitler's camps. You must finish the journey with the Henrys and the Jastows. The shocking and realistic portrait of these camps and the sea battles will keep you on the edge of your chair all the way.
  
  
• A small correction to the previous review
  By A1WSD5708FRHOB on 1999-10-30
  Like the other two reviewers of this mini-series, I found this to be an excellent, moving, gripping history of World War II. This series, as well as the previous series, Winds of War, should almost be required viewing for today's generation of high schoolers. I would also like to point out a mistake in the otherwise fine review by the fan from Brockport, NY.: Ali McGraw is not dead! The actress who played the first Natalie is very much alive. I will refrain from making a joke about Ali McGraw's character dying in "Love Story," because how can anyone mention "Love Story" and "War and Remembrance" in the same sentence?
  
  
• The conclusion changes focus
  By A109WIE49N0GV on 2004-07-25
  WAR AND REMEMBRANCE - THE FINAL CHAPTER is the conclusion of the trilogy that started with THE WINDS OF WAR and continues with WAR AND REMEMBRANCE VOLUME 1.
  
  Unlike the first two parts of the story, the conclusion narrows in scope to focus much more on the lives of Natalie and Aaron, as well as Byron and Victor, leaving behind much of the epic saga of world war seen in the first two parts. Even the bombing of Hiroshima is only mentioned in passing, while the story focuses on Byron's search for his son.
  
  As was the case in Volume 1 of WAR AND REMEMBRANCE, the Holocaust is depicted with graphic reality, and can be quite painful to watch. However, this is one of things that makes WAR AND REMEMBRANCE so important -- current and future generations need to see this reality, to make sure this can never happen again.
  
  Why the two parts of WAR AND REMEMBRANCE are packaged separately is a mystery to me; both parts must be seen in order to get the whole story. But the entire epic saga is well worth watching and re-watching, so I heartily endorse all parts of the story.
  
  
• Most realistic depictions of Auschwitz death camp
  By A2AIC9K8JYAPWE on 2004-11-30
  This entire movie but specificially the parts 8-12, are riveting for anyone who has studied the Holocaust. The scenes of prisoners being beaten during morning roll call, standing outside in snow and below freezing weather, returning from 12 hr workdays carrying the days dead is all too realistic. The sequence showing Himmler observing a routine gassing in the converted farmhouse is chilling indeed. Anyone who has read and researched the details of how more than 1 million were gassed will see for themselves how the sequence progressed.
  
  At times the story is a bit muddled when dealing with Natalie and her Uncle. Certainly any normal person would have taken steps to escape the tightening noose earlier, but the movie follows the book. When the train car door is opened, and the SS officer screams at the Jews inside you feel like you are standing there with the prisoners. You can see the hate in the guards face, the actor playing the part of the SS is completely into his character, and absolutely seems to despise the jewish prisoners he is transporting to Auschwitz.
  
  The affair between Pug Henry and Pamela is hard to believe because of the large age difference, but I suppose they needed to flesh out the romance part. Such things may well have happened during those times, the world seemed upside down. Years ago the movie "Shoah" came out and covered actual participants/witnesses to the holocaust being interviewed. Now a person gets to see what just a tiny part of those terrible years was like. This is as real as "Schindler's List", and hard to watch at times.
  
  All in all, a masterful movie which will enthrall any serious student of the Holocaust. This is how it was....so real.
  
  
• I agree that you should update to DVD for it & Winds of War
  By on 2002-01-18
  This production was not an enjoyable as Winds of War, but did tell the end of the story. It and its predecessor would do well in DVD format, particularly because of its length and storage space. Anyone agree?
  
  
• Moving, Chilling, Historical, and Excellent
  By A35P7ED76HLI94 on 2004-07-30
  War & Remembrance is an exception to the rule of TV Miniseries- either good or forgetable. This one blows all of them out of the war, like many of the ships in this film. The story is of the Henry family, US Naval officers and their loved ones thrown into the four corners of WWII. Captain Victor Henry (well done by Robert Mitchum) is the Patriarch thrown into the battles of Midway, Guadalcanal, Leyte Gulf, and others, the political infights of Washington, Lend Lease to Russia, and in England with the Allies. His wife Rhoda (Polly Bergen)is the matriarch with the wandering eyes for family friend Palmer Kirby (Peter Graves from Stalag 17 and Mission Impossible). There is daughter Madeline Henry (Leslie Hope), with CBS and the USO. Sons, Warren and Byron are young naval officers thrown into the maelstrom of the Pacific War (Michael Woods as Warren and Die Hard's Hart Bochner as Byron). Byron is doubly troubled since his wife Natalie Jastrow Henry (Jane Seymour) and his son are trapped in Europe, along with great uncle and writer Aaron Jastrow (Sir. John Gielgud), both being Jewish and the infant half-Jewish. The Jastrows are forever pursued by the SS and Nazi Foreign Ministry seeking to exploit Aaron, a US citizen living in Europe, to speak against the war. The pursuit continues in Europe, with Byron getting updates from his father Pug, and a US Diplomat and agent Leslie Slote (David Dukes). The war forms a crescendo of true events with these characters and real figures woven into this mix.
  
  The historical detail is well documented. The sequences of the Holocaust are chilling. Much of the concentration camp segments were filmed at the actual Auchwitz extermination camp. There Aaron's cousing Berel Jastrow (Topol of Fiddler on the Roof) is imprisoned, and later escapes. There is reenactments of inspections by SS Leader Himmler, the gassings, evacuations, and even the medical experiments are alluded to. There is also the massacre at Babi Yar and the unearthing and burning of the victims' bodies. Commandant Rudolf Hoess (Gunther M Halmer, also Hoess in Sophie's Choice with Meryl Streep) of Auchwitz and SS Colonel Blobel (Kenneth Colley of Star Wars) of the Babi Yar massacre are portrayed chillingly and all too humanly. Monsters with families, but willing to do the unthinkable and using terms like processing and units in reference to extermination of 6 Million souls. There is also a foreman played by John Rhys Davies. All are part of the darkest chapter of the 20th century.
  
  Much is made of the Pacific war, but Wouk did focus on Natalie and Byron much, and of course Victor. Victor is not free from war or duty, and even has an affair with Pamela Tudsbury (Victoria Tennant), the young daughter of friend and reporter Alistar Tudsbury. Thus Victor is in London and Moscow everytime she is, not always on purpose and sometimes fated.
  
  The rich tapestry of this film is well done. There are some big names, but many picked due to their resemblance and embodiment of actual figures- Churchill, FDR, Hitler, Himmler, General Eisenhower, Patton, and others. The battles are not so much focused on as much as personal conflict, but it does well with the narration.
  
  This is a collector's items for die hard historians and fans of the old sweeping epics of yester-year. This is one worth finding, if Paramount redoes these for sale, like they did Winds of War, the prequel to this story. War & Remembrance is a worthy investment of time and money.
  
  
• Essence of the Times
  By A1FMPZZL2642ZL on 2001-04-28
  I'm not a qualified movie critic but I wanted to concur with the other reviews. The quality of the casting/performances does run the gamut from lackluster to brilliant but, in my opinion, this actually enhances the experience. You don't view this movie, you experience it. It draws you into the uncertainty and the urgency of the period, the dispersal of military families, and the abject horror of war and the holocaust. You have to keep your distance from Schindler's list but you can imagine that you're a part of this great historical work. "Winds" and "War" are as good as any works to come out of Hollywood. Notice that most reviewers "love" it and have to relive it often. It's so real. This film becomes a part of you and you, a part of it.
  
  
• riveting though sappy
  By on 2001-08-21
  Winds, was truly great, but I didn't go for Ali McGraw as much as others did. Though she was supposed to be older than Jan Michael Vincent in the story, she looked 40 and he looked about 25. Jan Michael was much older than that when he did the role, but, he acted and appeared quite young. Even though Ali was dressed all in white most of the time, her face had a hardness to it that dispelled too much wine and partying with Steve McQueen. On the other hand, her acting was quite good, and we were able to overlook it most of the time; still her scenes with Briny were not as believable as her scenes with Sloat. Mitchum was awful, Bergen quite good. Mitchum acted bored most of the time, and his girl friend Pamela seemed more than a bit blind to fall in love with him, especially since she is supposed to come across as a level headed, smart woman. I liked the rest of cast. Winds of War, as an overall story of course was excellent.

  War and R. was a continuation, but many of the actors were changed and not for the better. While Ali may not have been available or too past her prime, Jane Seymour was not a good replacement. She showed none of the determination or fire that Ali did. Mitchum looked even older, fatter and more bored. Briny's substitute had no charisma, and I couldn't even connect with him as Briny, the screwy adorable character who captured Natalie's heart. Both Hitlers overacted, (or were poorly directed) and behaved like the maniacs they really were, but somehow I doubt he really acted that way with his inner circle. They would have shot him on the spot. The story line again, was great. The Nazis were hateful, the Allies the good guys. But my favorite actor in this whole set up was Barry Bostwick who played Lady and played 'him' very well. Sharon Stone was, well, Sharon Stone. The rest of the cast was OK, but the choice of Polly's 2nd boyfriend didn't make it. I think it was Mike Conners (Mannix), (real name: Ohanian Krecker; Armenian) a much older Mannix. He didn't look like the sort that upper-class Rhoda would get involved with. Much too dark and unpolished recalling Rhoda's remark about Irish Ali, "dark enough to pass for a Turk or an Arab", she commented to her waspy friends trying to hide Natalie's Jewish looks.

  Bill Wallis was very good as the hateful Nazi and David Duke continued his very believable performance as Sloat. Ralph Bellamy played an excellent Roosevelt, Sammy Frey was very good as Rabinowitz (Natalie should have followed his advice more than once.) Topol was also good as Natalie's Polish uncle. The Russian cast (whoever they were, were also very good) Natalie's insistence on staying with her nutty, befuddled uncle over and over again, was simply an unbelievable part of the plot, as anyone with a lick of sense would have escaped the first chance they got. More than once, I wanted to throw something at the TV screen. True also of the romance between Pamela and Pug. I had hoped they wouldn't get together in the end, and that Pamela would find some dashing young Englishman to sweep her off her feet and stick out her tongue at Pug who would just sail off, into the sunset in his too tight uniform, sipping his martini.

  The war stories were the best part, and despite poor casting in many important roles, there was enough good supporting acting to make up the difference. Worth owning.
  
  

• THE CONCLUSION OF THE EPIC WORLD WAR TWO SAGA
  By A21899Q1U6VK73 on 2007-03-24
  This 6-disc set concludes the turbulent story of `War and remembrance' miniseries, based on the successful book by Herman Wouk, whose predecessor, `Winds of war', was shot five year prior to this, in 1983. Made during a 5-year period on location in 10 countries, `War and Remembrance' thusly remains one of the biggest achievements in the history of television. The story comes to an end with this 11 and half hours of footage, covering the period from November 1943 to summer 1945.
  
  The main plot of this last part mostly concerns the final stages of the holocaust. Again, we see it through the characters of Natalie (Jane Seymour), an American Jewess, and her uncle Aaron (John Gielgud), who after many escapades across Europe ended up in Theresienstadt, a Nazi ghetto in occupied Czechoslovakia in summer 1943. The so called `paradise ghetto' turns out to be a monstrous hoax: an overcrowded place filled with sickly and dying Jewish people, many of whom were sent to Auschwitz on the regular train transports. The Theresienstadt scenes (shot in my native Croatia) show some of the most brutal holocaust-related moments: a very disturbing scene where Aaron is beaten in front of Adolf Eichmann (Milton Johns), one of the highest ranking Nazis responsible for the implementation of `the final solution' and the one where Natalie's small son is almost tore in two in front of her. We also get to see the famous Red Cross visit to Theresienstadt in June 1944. The Nazis allowed this visit and tried to deceive the visitors, by implementing `the great beautification': the false stores and cafes; furnished houses and hospitals, putting some of the residents on display, etc. However, all this pales in comparison to the episode where Natalie and her uncle are put on the last train from Theresienstadt to Auschwitz, in October 1944. What follows is one of the most gruesome and most vivid depictions: a long and for some fatal trip to Auschwitz; the arrival and the selection (who goes to the camp and who to the gas chamber); the procession of the able bodied prisoners (that is, Natalie) and the very end of her uncle (undressing and dying in the gas chamber). These exterior scenes were shot on location on the exact spots in the actual Auschwitz-Birkeanau camp (first time to be done so) and are deeply moving and disturbing and because of that are not suitable for the small children. This remains the most detailed TV account of the holocaust until today.
  
  Besides this, the story also wraps up the subplots concerning the fictional characters from the Henry family (the love between Pugh and Pamela, for example). The historical events are covered, albeit with less live footage and space (D day; the atom bomb, whose implications of use are strangely left untouched and the whole thing is only mentioned). Considerable space has been given to the July plot to assassinate Hitler in 1944. Sky Dumont (who had a cameo in `Winds of war' as the Italian foreign minister Ciano) is excellent in his portrayal as Count Stauffenberg, the tragic and dignified leader of this failed attempt.
  
  Most of the cast continues their persuasive job (Robert Mitchum, Polly Bergen, Jane Seymour, John Gielgud, Ralph Bellamy...). However, the same problem from the first DVD set is painfully obvious, that is, the character of Hitler. In `Winds of war' Hitler was played by the late German actor Günter Meisner, who played this role a few times during his career. Although a bit too old for the role, he managed to keep things under control, so despite the fact his Führer was stiffed and not altogether perfect, he gave a hint of the evil personage Hitler was. Here, however, the role is taken by the British actor Steven Berkoff and he did an awful job out of it. According to the interview on the extra disc, the director Dan Curtis wanted Hitler to be overplayed. The reasons remain unknown, although one can guess that he wanted to downgrade the character more by doing this. Berkoff's Hitler is a mixture of a buffoon and a yelling maniac. He portrays these sides in such an overacted manner that the result is anything but believable. This makes the Hitler scenes really uninteresting to watch and the way he behaves with his inner circle has no trustworthiness at all. Therefore it is hard to believe such a person could put a spell on the entire nation, let alone be listened by his generals, most of whom are shown here as the observers who put up with him. The role of Hitler is a hard and yet manageable task for an actor who can make a character, as shown by Bruno Ganz in the recent movie `Downfall'. The same difficulty is evident in case of Robert Stephens, who plays Karl Rahm, the SS commandant of Theresienstadt, in the manner of a cartoon villain.
  
  In the same way, the same slip ups from the first disc set are also present here. The most noticeable concern is the narrow scope used in reference to the holocaust, i.e. by showing it to be solely and exclusively a Jewish matter. There is no doubt that the Jews suffered far worse than any other nation, but the subject matter cannot be understood without mentioning all the other groups that suffered under the Nazis. Here there is no reference whatsoever as to all the others that perished in Auschwitz and other places: Slavs, Jehovah's witnesses, Gypsies, homosexuals, etc. This is something that should not have been done in the series of such importance and scale. The book and the movie `Sophie's choice' (where, incidentally, the same actor played Rudolf Höß, the commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp) recognize this problem by showing a Polish woman caught in the tragedy that is holocaust. Another evident thing is the fact that the authors tend to be too biased: the subtle message is all Americans are totally honest and good in each step of the way, while all the Germans are bad and vicious. Some of the scenes and lines are quite unnecessary. For example, the Germans on the train to Auschwitz are shown in the stereotypical form as a bunch of beer-gobbling goons. At the same time, the exhausted Natalie says in her boxcar: "I am an American and I will survive.", like one has something to do with the other. The same thing can be said about her line in the last episode, when she is describing a dead friend to her husband (who is a gentile himself), by saying: "His heart was in the right place for a gentile." A bit more of objectivity would be more than welcome.
  
  One of the DVD-related problems is the fact that some of the spelling is incorrect, especially German names and phrases. Thusly Morrell became Müller and Roon is subtitled as Rohem. The German phrase `Zu Befehl', which means `As you ordered', is wrongly subtitled as `To be fair'.
  
  Despite all this, the series remain more than plausible for anyone interested in World War II fiction. The bonus DVD includes another behind the scenes documentary with the cast and the crew (the difficulties of getting permission to shoot at Auschwitz, a homage to the actors and crew people who died since filming...); director Dan Curtis' comment of the selected important scenes and an interview with Bob Cobert, the composer who wrote the memorable score for the series.
  
  If you enjoyed `Winds of war' DVD set, be sure not to miss this.
  
  
• WHY DON'T UPDATE TO DVD FORMAT
  By A35INMP7HE4AGW on 2001-11-16
  It would be nice to update must of the old TV series to a DVD format, in order to have a chance to remember all greatest moments that you lived when you saw them for the first time.
  
  
• Overall Superlative, With Two Minor Criticisms
  By A2ZE73RFY0GD3K on 2005-06-13
  The historical fiction upon which this miniseries was based was absolutely terrific, and the resulting film was equally grand... except: Robert Mitchum was too old for the part, and there were too many ponderous scenes of vehicles en route somewhere. The scene is a country road, and in the distance we see an auto approaching. It comes closer and closer, then closer and closer -- and then turns a corner, and you see the car driving away down another road. You see it get farther and farther away. The irritation one feels from reading that description is repeated throughout the film.
  
  In the novel(s), Pug Henry was an athletic, formidable (though short-ish) man in his early fifties, and credibly could have commanded the affection of a younger woman such as Pam Tudsbury. Robert Mitchum simply did not -- but, the high quality of the film in other respects overpowers that one casting problem.
  
  
  
• War & Remembrance
  By A3UYZXJPCW7PGF on 2004-11-24
  You have to have this if you have the Winds of War. As a side note, I ordered this and when it was shipped, I got two part 9's and no Part 11. Amazon happily sent me a new DVD set, a prepaid label to return the faulty one (even though the DVD had been opened) with no questions. Great customer service!!
  
  
• Reality
  By A2RR1OHBFLPCBT on 2001-03-01
  The story as a TV series has numerous flaws; acting casting etc. However,one cannot help but to be moved and shaken at the depiction of the death of Aaron Jastrow. For all of the nay sayers who cry that the holocaust did not happen and who harbor any Anti-Jew or Anti-Semetic ideas, and for those of us who don't, I would make those scenes required watching.

  V.Craig
  
  

• Best Mini-Series EVER
  By A3M8ABNP19DXMD on 2004-05-06
  The entire set, including the soon to be released DVD's of Winds Of War (FINALLY!) is a MUST OWN. Awesome spectacle, super features, and great great photograpghy and history telling!

  Best telling of WWII on video today-it will never be done like this again due to costs-was $103 million for War And Rembrance, and that was back in the late 80's.

  ABC could save itself TODAY if they would just rebroadcast both shows in their entirety again-and just THINK of the DVD sales it would generate! Most importantly, the story of the Holocaust NEEDS to be told, again and again, (...)P>Buy these DVD's-NOW-and you will treasure them for life.
  
  

• STILL Keeping the Faith with Herman Wouk!!
  By A2VD099M40CD0C on 2005-11-25
  ...The entire "War and Remembrance" sets surpasses "Winds of War", if that can be believed.
  
  A sleeper performance was Sky Dumont's portrayal of Count von Stauffenberg, Hitler's would-be assasin. He was faithful with Mr. Wouk's intentions, Mr. Curtis' intentions, and this world's historical record. Can you imagine the severe tension and anxiety that the Count experienced as he was arming the bomb, and, later making his getaway? Dumont did it all so masterfully!
  
  The cinematographer's choice of raw film stock, and the techniques that he used to expose that stock was even BETTER than "Winds". You don't need no stinkin' airline ticket nor cruise ship ticket to experience Italy, Corsica, Poland, and unfortunately Theresienstadt.
  
  And this segues to a stern warning to the overly sensitive viewer. I'd rate the depictions of Nazi brutality as strong, if not stronger than "Schindler's List", "Saving Private Ryan", or George Takei's ("Star Trek") portrayal of a sadistic Japanese POW camp commandant in a production that eludes me right now. The brutalizations of Natalie and Aaron; the gassings, with full frontal nudity, which, as I recall, were the same as I remember in the original ABC TV telecast; the SS's additudes that their conduct was a "funny" thing; and SS man Blobel's flashback of his Babi Yar Massacre participation. This was as close to the real thing as it gets and it's NOT for the timid. For a gutslamming juxstaposition, consider "Lady" Aster's actions on the Big Submarine Raid.
  
  All of you fellow Mitchumomaniacs, you'll just love the way his "Pug" takes complete charge when faced with the extreme hazards of naval combat. Yeah, Pug finally got his ship!
  
  I'm a stickler for continuity, so when they touched off the Trinity A-Bomb shot, instead of Trinity stock footage, they used footage of OPERATION HARDTACK H-Bomb footage from the late 1950's, for some strange reason (more psychedelic to view, I suppose). I believe that there IS full color footage of Trinity in existence.
  
  Jane Seymour's Natalie had a strange complimentary quality to Ali McGraw's Natalie, emphasizing the changing circumstances the character found herself in -- no time for the frivolous, more time for the serene and somber, pointing towards potential martyrdom.
  
  Every time I view the death of Dr. Jastrow, played by Sir John Geilgud, I cry. He really made you love the old man.
  
  As some of you out there may also know that Dan Curtis also produced the vampire soap opera "Dark Shadows", please keep an eye out for Dan's production assistant, Barbara Steele, as party hostess Elsa in Singapore. Barbara Steele was a "favored victim" in the Hammer House horror pics of the '50's-'70's. In the 1991 NBC-TV revival of "Dark Shadows", she played the role of Dr. Julia Hoffmann (role pioneered by the late Grayson Hall), the erstwhile healer of Barnabas Collins' (Ben Cross, role pioneered by Jonathan Frid) vampirism.
  
  
• Memories that stick forever
  By on 2004-07-13
  I've yet to view this DVD set - I just found it, and made my order on here. But even just the emotions that I feel right now - remembering something I saw on TV 15 years ago - speak for the power of it.

  I was a teenager when this miniseries was originally broadcast on British TV. With regard to the characters and acting, I can't give an honest opinion - I really can't remember that well. What sticks in my mind mind so vividly is it's portrayal of the Holocaust. Even as I write this, I have tears in my eyes remembering what I saw. Nothing before or since has made it so real.

  To see those people - men, women and children - being stripped, shaved, and led to the gas chambers, and to know that you are seeing an entirely accurate recreation of what actually happened, is agonising. The characters may be fictional, but they only serve to emphasise that there was a real life behind every one of those statistics. I think the author and screenwriters were quite purposeful in taking their time to create characters that the viewer relates to, only to watch them be murdered, man woman and child. It's chilling but compelling. I think it should be required viewing.
  
  

• War and Remembrance, final chapters
  By A11RE3Y11R0OU9 on 2006-02-25
  The casting is superb, especially Polly Bergen as Rhoda. All the actors shine and I appreciated the no-holds-barred scenes of the Nazis as they did horrific crimes against the Jews. The quality of the production is so great, it makes me regret that no TV mini-series will ever come close.
  
  
• absolutly superb
  By AO4YEMIM7PXI0 on 2001-08-22
  Winds of war was fantastic and War and rememberance a fantastic follow up.One question,I have heard there is a third set I am very interested and would like info on where to get it.I am a fan of 2nd WW11 movies and the detail and actual events that are worked in with the story make it riviting to say the least.For any history buff these boxed sets are a must see.
  
  
• War & Rememberance
  By A38233OYIGO2B5 on 2006-02-23
  We were very disappointed - it seems that a considerable amount was left out, whar happened? The TV series included considerable more than was in that set of DVD's. We saw them a couple of weeks ago and are still quite angry!
  
  
• War and Remembrance
  By A1QGHCMJJDY1FG on 2003-03-15
  This series is probably the best thing ever done on World War II Between Winds of War and War and Remembrance you have then every aspect of the war from the politics of pre war, to blitzkreig, to sitzkreig, and then all out war. You have the horrors of the camps as never before shown. This should be manditory viewing in our schools for children learning about the period of 39/45. It is my fondest hope that Paramount Home Video will produce Winds of War on DVD. Anyone who reads this should write them begging them to do so because from a letter I received from Paramount in March 2003 they said at present they have no intention of producing it in DVD.
  
  
• Swept Away, Again
  By A31MJ6GNKA7OQJ on 2004-06-01
  The story almost completely centers on Natalie and Aarons' struggle to survive the horrors of being Jewish in an WW2 Europe. Additional storylines includes the development of The Bomb and of Pug and Rhodas' divorce ( which added the few bits of humor, odd as that might seem ). Graphic and horrifying, Natalie and Aarons' plight will leave you aching and sad, although you will have spent many hours thinking " if they are so smart, why are they still in Europe. " In the end, there is a saving grace and resolution - although, I wish they would have done more to wrap up Rhodas' descent into the bottle and Pugs' new life with Pamela. I may be in the minority, but I like
  those two as a couple...it is a bit of humanity in a horrible theatre of pain.
  
  
• War and Remembrance, Part 2
  By A1MZ8REILCNRIR on 2005-07-12
  One of the finest uses of television that I have seen. The portrayal of the people and the times by Robert Mitchum and his surrounding cast cannot be improved upon.
  
  
• War and Rembrance
  By AXE8HP33D7V0G on 2005-08-09
  "War and Remberance" is a is the conclusion to Herman Wouk's "Winds of War". The characters we follow in this series are ficitional though the setting of pre-world two and the carnage of the actual war is real. The story is true to life in every aspect. The actors in the story are excellent! The story of the Henry's, the Jastrow's is heartbreaking. The concentration camp settings are so real,one is not likely to forget the personal side war of Hitler. This story makes you ask how did one person, Hitler, who indeed was mad, "weild so much power?" This series is well worth the watching.
  
  
  
• War & Remembrance - Vol. 2, The Final Chapter: Parts 8 - 12
  By A39WS6Q0SC5RKB on 2006-02-23
  ***** 5 Star production and a must see.... you will never forget the images of what actually happened during a dark time in world history.
  
  
• A great war saga
  By A2QISO66ZDFQOD on 2006-03-01
  An american family through the maelstrom of WWII. Perhaps the best series ever of its kind.
  
  

• War and Remembrance - Volume 1 - Parts 1-7
• The Winds of War
• Holocaust
• North and South - The Complete Collection
• Centennial: The Complete Series