A Family at War

I saw these 50+ episodes re-run nightly in New York during the summer of 1975 or 1976. They were completely transporting, fabulous, deeply memorable. I've not seen them anywhere since - yet they are apparently not for sale.

In somewhat soap-operatic fashion, the story of two neighboring families in Liverpool during 1939-1945 brought home vividly the impact of the Second World War on an area of Britain.

This series was far more powerful and moving than Sopranos - because it better captures the details of daily life - and thus makes us believe its reality - and terrible tragedies. If you ever get the chance to entwine your life with this series, do it.

It makes one very much think about larger themes such as the impact of historical events on private lives. It's simply wonderful.

It was titled Familien Ashton in Denmark, where I watched on Sunday nights while I was living there. It was a charming picture of war's effect on those who, as John Milton said, "also serve who only stand and wait." The native Danes appreciated it as well and kept a strict appointment on Sunday nights to tune in. At a distance of lo, these 35 years, it's difficult to remember specifics. I do, however, remember the series with a smile. Combined with WWII-related places and structures that I'd been seeing in Europe, it really brought home to this young (at that time) American the reality of war, which to that point had been rather an abstract concept to me. Similarly, in the early 1990s, there was a short-lived American TV series, Homefront, which did a very fine job of portraying America at home during World War II.

I was a small boy watching this series now and then in the seventies. But I have always remembered it to be a fine series. I have seen it again the last month. I did remember some of the characters, Peter and Sheila especially, and Mr and Mrs Ashton, off course, and it was fun to see John Nettles as a very young man. But what really hit me, right in the stomach, so to say, was the quality. After all these years there is almost no TV- production that can compete with this astonishing - amazing superb quality. The actors, the producers, everything. What is sad, is that TV in general becomes some poor compared to such high-quality as "A family at war". There are exceptions, like "Brideshead revisited", but I feel, after being a member of the Ashton family for a month, that I need a long break from TV. It just isn't worth it.

This is a terrific series of 52 episodes, following the Ashton family of Liverpool through the war years, 1938-1945. Writing and acting are superb, and you will be hooked from the first episode until the end. The entire series of "A Family at War" is now available on DVD. However, be sure your DVD player supports Region 2 (PAL) discs, as Region 1 (NTSC) machines will not be able to play them. You may wish to visit A Family at War (Fan Site) at www.baylor.edu/afamilyatwar. This site includes a complete episode guide, cast photos, a slide show with theme music, links to related sites, and information on how to join a discussion group (of which series creator and principal writer John Finch is a member).

I also saw A Family at War on my PBS station in the 70's and loved that show. I wish it was available on DVD. I wish BBC America would rerun it. Why is it out of circulation? This show was on every Sunday in my area for a year. This was before VCRs so I always tried to make it home to watch this show. In my area it was on at 5PM. The stories were so compelling. I really got into the family. One interesting filming note on the series was that somewhere in the middle of the run the series had to go to black and white tape. It seemed that the color tape people went on strike so some of the episodes had to be filmed in black and white. I think there are about a months worth of episodes in black and white. If you ever get to see this series or if it ever gets on DVD please try to get it. You will not be disappointed. The acting is top notch all the way. Every character is fleshed out. You will be so drawn into the continuing story that you will not want to miss an episode. This is a continuing story not unlike many soap operas. But once this one starts it will grab you and you will be hooked to the very last episode. This is a series not to be missed. Catch it from the very beginning.