Enemy at the Door The Complete First Season - The Memorable TV DVD Review

The quite strange situation the Channel Islanders found themselves in during World War II has provided TV makers with some fertile ground over the years, most recently with the Island at War drama series. The best known though is the late seventies series Enemy at the Door, the first season of which is now available in a four disc set from Prime DVD.

During World War II of course the Germans occupied the Channel Islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Sark etc) the only part of the United Kingdom to be so occupied, although far closer to France than England these tiny island had (and still have) large British communities and had little or no support from the English government of the day.

As the series opens it is June 1940 and the islanders are waiting, with no small degree of apprehension, for the arrival of the invading German force; In particular the series focuses on Guernsey based Martell family led by Dr Phillips (Bernard Horsfall) who has to try and placate the Germans and deal with his headstrong 20 year old daughter Clare (Emily Richard).

Heading up the German force is the always excellent Alfred Burke as Major Richter and a pre Hi-De-Hi Simon Cadell as Hauptmann Rennike. The series does well to present both sides of the coin focusing as much on the Germans as on the locals. Less overblown than the on the air at the same time resistance drama Secret Army but just as tense, strong on dialogue and featuring that classic British mix of videotape interiors and film exteriors.

This 4 disc set features all 13 episodes from the first season and its a high quality drama well worth checking out, also watch out for John Nettles in a guest starring role a good while before he made Jersey his home in Bergerac.

ANY SPECIAL FEATURES?

No extras.