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| Actors: Robert Mitchum, Ali Macgraw, Jan-michael Vincent, John Houseman, Polly Bergen
Studio: Paramount Pictures
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $16.99
You Save: $2.96 (15%)
New (3) Used (11) from $16.99
Rating:  99 reviews
Sales Rank: 6579
Format: Box Set, Closed-captioned, Color, Ntsc
Languages: English (Unknown), English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 7
Running Time: 883 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 0792110803
UPC: 097368013032
EAN: 9780792110804
ASIN: 0792110803
Theatrical Release Date: February 6, 1983
Release Date: June 25, 1997
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: New Video, still in the wrapper. Part 6, "The changing of the Guard. 100% Satisfaction before, during and after the sale
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 99
 A rarity: great TV adaptation. September 2, 2001
Sergio Flores (Orange, CA United States)
15 out of 16 found this review helpful
This mini-series, together with its second part "War and Remembrance," may be the best TV adaptation of a book you will find. Even though the casting could have been better, and several main characters end up being played by different actors in the second part, "The Winds of War" follows very closely what Herman Wouk wrote on his novel of the same name. The TV adaptation is by Wouk, and Curtis' direction is magnificent. Curtis is responsible for the total immersion of the viewer in the era portrayed, as well as for the cinematic look of this series that is far above most TV of this or any day.
About the cast I would have chosen another actress for Nathalie Jastrow and not Ali McGraw, but the series does not suffer with her. I have always liked Robert Mitchum, so it did not matter to me that he was too old for the part of Victor Henry: the late Mitchum is simply great in a role that, although not written for him, he made his own. The young Jan Michael Vincent is convincing as Byron Henry, even if his romance with Nathalie, due to casting, fails to convince me. Victoria Tennant as Pamela Tudsbury falling for Victor Henry is a bit of a stretch but, again, the overall story and performances are powerful enough to let you go with it.
This is TV at its best, presenting a very good work of fiction based on history. It's long, but that is part of the point: the attention to detail is quite commendable. This kind of TV is very rare. We will get to see more in "War and Remembrance," but no more after that. I know of no other adaptation that is as close as this one, and where money and talent really worked together to produce a total as good as the novel that inspired it. Finally, I must recommend both books by Wouk. If you have read "The Winds of War," you will appreciate what a great transition from print to screen has taken place here. And do not expect solved issues at the end of the last tape: this one ends right after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor. In order to find out what happens to the characters, you must read "War and Remembrance" or watch the second mini-series or, better yet, do both.
Winds of War March 17, 2000
Richard P Vinson (US (Texas))
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
Winds of War is the first part of a series on WWII, a television mini-series first broadcast in the 1980's on US prime time TV. The second part is War and Rememberance. The Winds of War deals with the years preceeding WWII and the events that shaped the US involvment into the war. War and Remembrance deals with the war years. The entire series centers around the Henry family- the father-Victor Henry, a US naval officer, his two sons, one-Byron, who is a "renegade" of sorts, on a break wandering thru Europe. He eventually marries a Jewish girl (an American girl also in Europe) and she gets trapped in Europe fleeing the Nazis the entire series. Byron eventually becomes a Naval submarine officer in the Pacific fighting the Japs. The submarine scenes/encounters with the Japs are very well done. His other son is a Navy fighter pilot also involved in the Pacific War. The "father" Henry holds posts such as the Naval Attache in Berlin prior to the war so you get to see what pre-wartime Germany is like thru his eyes, as well as other posts which enable him to travel to key areas where historical events are taking place in Europe and the Pacific. His wife has an affair with a guy involved in the Manhattan project and he has an affair with a young English girl globetrotting with her father who is a British radio war correspondent which is convenient for romantic rondevous. This series, in my opinion is the best TV mini-series ever done. The acting is superb. The war scenes are fantastic, especially the graphic, horrifying scenes in the concentration camps depicting how inhumanely cold and calculating the Germans were in deciding how they were going to dispose of the Jews. I am not a history buff, but this series certainly turned me into one. I learned a lot about WWII watching this series. It starts off a little slow and is not as action packed and fast moving as many Hollywood action movies today. For this reason, young kids may not be much interested in the entire series and may get bored with it quick. But for the more mature person who likes a good story with good character development interwoven with an excellent historical look at WWII, this can't be beat. It has my highest recommendation, and that is saying a lot. I think it should be moved to a DVD format though. I hope this happens. Although this series is long (Winds of War and War and Remembrance) I have watched it 3 times now and enjoy it much each time. For those war buffs out there, North and South, starring Patrick Swayze, was done similarly with a big series that took place in the years preceeding the US Civil War and the followed by another series with the same characters, only taking place during the Civil War. I highly recommend that series also.
Uneven but still magnificent December 10, 2000
Candace Scott (Lake Arrowhead, CA, USA)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
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!
Move Over, Spielberg...Wouk's here. November 9, 2002
Ryan
13 out of 16 found this review helpful
When I first sat down to watch "Winds of War," I was sure that I would be disappointed. After all, how many movies and television series live up to the book? The only example I've ever come across is Larry mcMurtry's "Lonesome Dove." However, with the exception of a few casting errors, "Winds of War," is the perfect example of how a powerful story can correct all other blunders. Some complain that the movie is too long, but I feel this only adds to it's authenticity and attention to detail. Thank God Herman Wouk had a hand in writing the screenplay. Michem plays the character of Pug a little too flatly, but he gets the job done. I agree with those who say the parts of Byron and Natalie weren't cast very well, but again, the story drowns out all flaws. The best trait is that the series is very faithful to the book. Several reviewers have complained that many issues go unresolved in this story. Obviously, these people wrote their commentary before viewing or reading the sequel, "War and Remembrance." This is a beautifully krafted masterpiece and it is far superior to most other popular works of WWII fiction.
The Winds Of War March 8, 2004
13 out of 16 found this review helpful
Five Star ***** TV mini-series about the buildup to WW2 and the effect it has on one family. Robert Mitchum is a career Naval Officer with Polly Bergan as his wife. Prequel to the mini-series War & Remembrance. This is an outstanding TV miniseries! Don't miss it!
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