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Product Description
This is the powerful wartime story of the Ashton family, living in Liverpool during the Second World War. The family struggles to deal with the harsh realities of war as their sons are sent away to fight and their children are evacuated to strange, previously unheard of parts of Britain. Those who remain at home live in constant fear of a knock on the door with a telegram from the War Office or the Luftwaffe bombs overhead as they sleep at night. This unique collection contains every episode ever made of this popular, moving and poignant series which portrays life, through the Ashtons, as it was during the war years.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Biographies, Box Set, Filmographies, Interactive Menu, Multi-DVD Set, Production Notes, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: A Family At War is a powerful wartime story which follows the dramatic events in the life of the Ashtons, a middle class Liverpudlian family, during the turbulent period of the Second World War. The epic series dramatises the hardship, pain and tragedy that was often inflicted on ordinary families as sons were sent abroad to fight, children were evacuated and those who remained at home lived in constant fear of being bombed. Written by the highly acclaimed writer John Finch (Coronation Street, Spoils Of War and Sam) the series was originally broadcast on ITV on 1970. It ran for a total of 50 hour long episodes throughout the early 1970's and we are proud to present every episode on this monolith of a boxed set. ...A Family at War - Complete Series - 22-DVD Box Set
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
82 of 82 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I first saw this series as a young lad back in the early '70s. I had forgotten how compelling and gripping it is, from the haunting theme tune to the high quality of the acting. Good to see familiar faces who went on to star in other things such as 'The Sweeney' and 'Coronation Street.' Due to an industrial dispute in 1971 several episodes are in black and white but this does not spoil one's enjoyment. One disappointment though: for a series set in Liverpool none of the main actors seem to possess a Scouse accent! The other attraction for purchase is the price. Can fully recommend. Pure entertainment!
143 of 144 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The saga of the Ashton family who live in Liverpool before, during and after the second world war. Edwin and Jean Ashton have 5 children - sensible teacher Margaret, caddish scoundrel David, idealist student Philip, flirty Freda and youngest son Robert - whose lives will all be touched by the second world war. Edwin works for his brother in law, the wealthy would-be-tyrant Sefton, whose own son Tony much prefers to spend time at the home of his Uncle Edwin and Auntie Jean. David is married to down trodden Sheila - a girl with a kind heart but perhaps too forgiving a nature?
The early episodes are slow to introduce us to the characters. Margaret brings a boyfriend, John, home to meet the family - but just after their marriage he is sent abroad with the Territorial Army. How will his new wife cope with a child on the way and her husband reported missing? Her bossy Mother in law will be no help! David is a natural in the RAF - but his cheating may prove the last straw for Sheila, who agonises about sending the children away to Wales for safety. Philip saw action in the Spanish Civil War - but will he encounter old foes when he joins up? Freda sets her sight on becoming a nurse - and catches the eye of a handsome young surgeon. Robert is in the sea cadets - but will his father Edwin sign the permission forms to allow this 16 year old to fight at sea, against the wishes of Jean, his wife?
Air raids, rations, gas masks, fake stockings, black outs - all the features of WW2 on the home front are illustrated through one family. Add in the board room battles of Sefton and his long suffering brother in law Edwin (who runs the family print works single handed)and you have a cracking soap style drama with excellent attention to detail, fully rounded characters and scenes of loss in battle that will take your breath away. The action scenes are well done with army hospitals, troop trains, navy battles and RAF stations featuring in episodes - but the emphasis is on the home front and the Ashton's house remains central to the plot. Relationships in wartime are shown evolving in the strain of the circumstances and characters develop new strengths as the years go on.
Star-spotters will love seeing soap favourites including Coronation Street's Alf Roberts, Percy Sugden, Julie Goodyear and Fred Elliot. A young Linda Bellingham is an RAF secretary and John Nettles is a hospital love interest for Freda, played by Barbara Flynn.
Spoil yourself with this ITV treat - and prepare to watch more than 1 episode per evening. A complete classic for all the family.
The early episodes are slow to introduce us to the characters. Margaret brings a boyfriend, John, home to meet the family - but just after their marriage he is sent abroad with the Territorial Army. How will his new wife cope with a child on the way and her husband reported missing? Her bossy Mother in law will be no help! David is a natural in the RAF - but his cheating may prove the last straw for Sheila, who agonises about sending the children away to Wales for safety. Philip saw action in the Spanish Civil War - but will he encounter old foes when he joins up? Freda sets her sight on becoming a nurse - and catches the eye of a handsome young surgeon. Robert is in the sea cadets - but will his father Edwin sign the permission forms to allow this 16 year old to fight at sea, against the wishes of Jean, his wife?
Air raids, rations, gas masks, fake stockings, black outs - all the features of WW2 on the home front are illustrated through one family. Add in the board room battles of Sefton and his long suffering brother in law Edwin (who runs the family print works single handed)and you have a cracking soap style drama with excellent attention to detail, fully rounded characters and scenes of loss in battle that will take your breath away. The action scenes are well done with army hospitals, troop trains, navy battles and RAF stations featuring in episodes - but the emphasis is on the home front and the Ashton's house remains central to the plot. Relationships in wartime are shown evolving in the strain of the circumstances and characters develop new strengths as the years go on.
Star-spotters will love seeing soap favourites including Coronation Street's Alf Roberts, Percy Sugden, Julie Goodyear and Fred Elliot. A young Linda Bellingham is an RAF secretary and John Nettles is a hospital love interest for Freda, played by Barbara Flynn.
Spoil yourself with this ITV treat - and prepare to watch more than 1 episode per evening. A complete classic for all the family.
72 of 73 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I saw this series when it was first broadcast and was totally hooked from the very first to the very last episode. I was born during the war and can remember very vaguely some bits, although I was only a toddler when it was all over and my Dad came back from the RAF. However, this series gave me a better insight into what it must have been like to have been caught up in it all - all the privations, the worry for the wives and sweethearts left at home, the blackmarket stuff, the rationing (I played with used ration books after the war, up until 1954 when the last things -sweets - were to come off ration and the only thing left in the sweet shops was crystalised ginger - can't think why - I love it!) and the odd little things I remember like blackout curtains that (hopefully) kept people safe. This DVD is a really useful comment on an age that has gone by (thankfully) and is also a really absorbing story of a fairly typical family as well. I loved it when it first came out and am so very glad that it's still available to buy. Do buy it, watch it and learn! We are so lucky nowadays because the situation in which those people found themselves is never likely to return, times having changed so much. The quality of the writing as well as the acting is superb. Well worth the price!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
a family at war
We were very happy with our purchase, garantee for long evenings of pleasure watching this beautifil series. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Bernd
Watching this for the second time...
... I have to confess I've found it a bit harder to love than when I first saw it back in the '70s. At the time, I found it thoroughly engrossing and -- because of its wartime... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Brunonian
A Family At War
If you ever watched, and loved, any of the episodes of A Family At War during the 1970s, then this DVD pack is for you. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Alison A.
Family at War......Great viewing!!
I did wonder when I purchased this that it might be rather slow, when one thinks of the series we see on TV these days,that are so correct in colour and costume I found it very... Read more
Published 4 months ago by moor lady
Family at War
I am loving revisiting the saga of the Ashton Family. I have only seen the first 3 discs so far and really looking forward to seeing the rest over time. Read more
Published 5 months ago by lucy
Family At War
I was very young when this series first appeared on British TV and can remember watching it with my parents in the evenings. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Tonzi
Family at war
I was given this series as a present and watched it over a number of weeks. To begin with I didn't think I was going to enjoy it, it seemed to be a little slow compared to films... Read more
Published 8 months ago by celtic maid
Family @ War
I don't remember seeing this when it 1st was on TV but really enjoyed it. Few continuity problems but that did not spoil it. Read more
Published 11 months ago by C. Coumbe
Great viewing
I watched Family at War 38 years ago and enjoyed it then and am enjoying it all over again. The series has not dated and I find myself trying to hold back not watching too many... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Reader
Family at War DVD
Absolutely love the series. Have nearly finished watching it and I'll probably wait a few months, then I will watch it all over again. Wonderful !! Read more
Published 13 months ago by I. C. Mcclean
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