"War and Remembrance" (1988)TV mini-series

Directors:

Dan Curtis
Tommy Groszman

Writers (WGA):

Herman Wouk (novel)
Earl W. Wallace (teleplay) (written for television) ...

Release Date:

13 November 1988 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

The saga of the Henry family, begun in "The Winds of War" continues as America is attacked by Japan and enters World War II...

Plot Keywords:

Europe | Missing Child | US Navy | FDR | Pearl Harbor

Awards:

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 8 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Robert Mitchum	...	Capt. Victor 'Pug' Henry
Jane Seymour	...	Natalie Henry
Hart Bochner	...	Byron Henry
Victoria Tennant	...	Pamela Tudsbury
Polly Bergen	...	Rhoda Henry
David Dukes	...	Leslie Slote
Michael Woods	...	Warren Henry
Sharon Stone	...	Janice Henry
Robert Morley	...	Alistair Tudsbury
Barry Bostwick	...	'Lady' Aster
Sami Frey	...	Avram Rabinovitz
Topol	...	Berel Jastrow
John Rhys-Davies	...	Sammy Mutterperl
Ian McShane	...	Philip Rule
William Schallert	...	Harry Hopkins

Runtime:

1620 min (12 parts)

Country:

USA

Language:

French | German | Hebrew | Japanese | Russian | English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland

Company:

ABC Circle Films

Trivia:

John Dehner's final movie.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Byron meets Rhoda in Hollywood the sign on the hill overlooking Hollywood should say "Hollywoodland" not simply Hollywood. The 'land' part of the sign wasn't torn down until 1948 or 49.

Quotes:

Capt. Victor 'Pug' Henry: [translates for Pamela his Russian comment] I just told him that we were good friends - that's all.
Gen. Yevlenko: You are in Moscow dear lady because HE got you a visa. Henry... nebu durakom.
[Laughs uproariously]
Gen. Yevlenko: . Nebu durakom! NEBU DURAKOM!
[exits]
Pamela Tudsbury: "Nebu durakom...” Don't be... what? What's "durakom"?
Capt. Victor 'Pug' Henry: "Damned fool".

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Golden Girls: Sophia's Choice (#4.22)" (1989)

Unforgettable

Without doubt the most stunning work of filmmaking I have ever seen, "War and Remembrance" is a massive experience to watch that will haunt you always. This last great mini-series dramatizes the ENTIRE Second World War, and does so at times with a raw honesty unseen before or since on network TV.

Shot on location around the world, the soap opera stories are always intriguing as we follow the various members of the Henrys, an American Naval family as they encounter every major event of the war.

The heart, though, is the central plot of Jane Seymour, in a heartbreaking career-best performance as an American Jew trapped in Europe, and John Gielgud, mesmerizing as her uncle. As they are slowly, inexorably pulled into the Holocaust we follow them, step by agonizing step, to the final horrors of Auschwitz, filmed entirely on location.

The movie is aided by a brilliant, unforgettable score by Bob Cobert, especially the main theme which seems to encapsulate every single emotion of the thirty hours into its two minutes.

It may be a bit of a commitment to watch this, but it is worth it. "War and Remembrance" is as close to time travel as is possible, and makes that dark period of history come powerfully alive.