Foyle’s War – Volume One DVD Review

Acorn Media UK release classy period detective drama Foyle’s War on DVD.

Certainly a feast for the eyes and capturing the 1940’s to a tee, Foyle’s War, a new release from Acorn Media, was first broadcast late in 2002 on the ITV network and written by the prolific Anthony Horowitz.

Set at the height of the so called “Phony War” of mid 1940 when the English were convinced that a German invasion was imminent, Foyle (played by the brilliant Michael Kitchen) is a Detective Chief Superintendent in the police, however he is desperate to be actually doing his bit for the war effort, ie serving on the front line, he soon finds though that there is more than enough crime and murder on the South Coast to keep him busy.

The first volume contains two stories The German Woman (which sees Foyle investigating the murder of a German woman who has stirred up resentment in a small village) and The White Feather which sees Foyle trying to break a secret Fascist organisation.

The original working title for the show was the somewhat lacklustre The Blitz Detective and Foyle is actually named after the owner of Foyle’s bookshop in London – Christina Foyle.

The productions are very high budget and you can see where the money was spent oozing out of every frame. All in all Foyle’s War is definitely a classy edition to the Detective Drama genre.

THE DVD
Visually stunning the DVD is presented in a two disc set by Acorn Media. The set is also available as a VHS release too.
Picture and Sound are as to be expected with DVD broadcast quality, extras include a fascinating interview with creator Anthony Horowitz where he talks about the genesis of the show, the discs also include extensive production notes, cast filmographies and scene indexing.

SPECIFICATIONS
Format: PAL Region 2 Total Running Time: 200 minutes Certificate: 12
Disc One contains the episodes The German Woman, disc two contains The White Feather