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Product Description
All twelve episodes from the TV espionage series set in the early years of the 20th century. In 'An Affair With a Married Woman' international spy Sidney Reilly (Sam Neill) creates a scandal during a mission in the Caucasus. 'Prelude to War' sees Reilly leak vital information about the Russian military to the Japanese. 'The Visiting Fireman' has Reilly attempt to obtain some secret blueprints from a German armaments factory. 'Anna' finds the Ace of Spies taking on the wealthy Rothschilds in a bid for Persian oil concessions. In 'Dreadnoughts and Crosses' the Czar invites applications for the contract to replace the Russian fleet, a prospect which could be of great value to Reilly, currently living in St Petersburg, and his British paymasters. 'Dreadnoughts and Doublecrosses' develops this story further. 'Gambit' sees Reilly make the journey into post-revolutionary Russia on a mission to prevent the Bolsheviks making peace with Germany. 'Endgame' has the Bolshevik secret police try to catch Reilly as he negotiates to remove Lenin from power. 'After Moscow' finds Reilly and his friend Lockhart sentenced to death by the Moscow Revolutionary Tribunal. 'The Trust' sees Reilly take up residence in New York, where he raises money for an anti-Bolshevik organisation. 'The Last Journey' has Reilly marry his third wife, Pepita, and disappear in Russia while seeking revenge for the death of his best friend. Finally, in 'Shut Down', Pepita tries to find her husband and discovers that Stalin has had him arrested.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
90 of 90 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is truly classic light drama covering Reilly's career form the Russo-Japanese war to the rise of Stalin. The Reilly character is very charming (as are his numerous paramours) but treacherous and the story told in a compelling and serialised way. If you like good acting, realistic sets, and a good story free from all the agitating diversions in contemporary television programmes then this is for you. It would not be made today as producers feel compelled to dumb down content with infantile background `mood' noises that grind on the nerves. I suspect this is to distract from the lack of content, or perhaps most programmes these days are made for children rather than those with adult tastes. Even though it was made in the 1980s, it is not really dated except for the lack of the negative distractions mentioned before. So if you want an easy to follow but classy story without the puerile distractions buy this series of DVDs - it is true value for money. The 3 DVDs have about six hours of content. I highly recommend them.
38 of 38 people found the following review helpful
By N. R. Burden
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I watched the original series on TV when it first appeared and was very impressed. I have recently bought the series on DVD and have viewed it again and found that my original impressions were correct. One is at once captivated by the opening music which sets the tone for the whole experience. The story is not "hammed up" as so many modern TV series of supposed true events are. There are some minor inaccuracies in the detail of events and perhaps a few of the situations and characters have been changed a little in the interests of TV drama, however, the core of the story is faithfully told. The production has spared no expense in the settings and locations and all the actors are well suited to their roles; Sam Neil in particular is mesmerizing as Riley. What a pity that modern TV cannot provide us with such high calibre dramas as this one which was made in the golden age of television.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I was a wee girl of 12 when this series first aired on ITV, but I remember it well for two main reasons:
1) It made me fall in love with Sam Neill.
2) It made me fall in love with Shoshtakovich.
Probably due to not owning a VHS player in 1983, I only had one shot at soaking this all in at the time it was aired.
Imagine then, my immense chuffed-ness at discovering all 13 episodes were to be released in wondrous DVD box setted glory!
From its supremely evocative music - (persons of a certain age might remember Terry Wogan announcing Shoshtakovich on his radio show as the theme from 'Reilly - Ace of Mince Pies' tsk!) - through to the calibre of the cast, everything about 'Reilly' was and is, quality drama.
The costumes are works of art in themselves, and the London locations do a marvellous job doubling for pre-Perestroika Russia.
Even before 1985's much-praised 'Edge of Darkness' Troy Kennedy Martin showed flashes of brilliance in his adaption of Robin Bruce Lokhart's book for TV.
Kennedy Martin keeps his script taut and sharp and as such, we are not bogged down with the myriad convolutions of counter espionage.
In 'Anna'(episode 3) we even get to see a little of what drives Reilly. His explanation to his half-sister of a loveless relationship with his Father, and the disappointment of discovering his illigitemacy - fleshes the bones of this most elusive character.
Sam Neill's portrayal of Sidney Reilly is pretty near perfect. (Biased? Moi..) A soft spoken, consummate con-man - even the rare flash of rage is controlled, which makes his Reilly all the more memorable for being so minimalist.
It's also a treat to see Peter Egan before his incarnation as 'Ever Decreasing Circles' perfect Paul.
If you liked 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' 'Cambridge Spies' or even 'Another Country' - do yourself a favour...
Sit back, put these DVD's on and Ace them Reilly style.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good series
Super stories well acted, historically convincing. Portraying very interesting times. Sam Neill excellent as Reilly convincing as a man of the times.
Published 1 day ago by NLM
4.0 out of 5 stars
Would the real Sidney Reilly step forward?
This excellent BBC production covers the very complex life of Sigmund Rosenblum, aka Sidney Reilly, aka Konstantin Massino, aka George Bergmann, aka etc, etc, who may have been the... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Jon. E. DUGGAN
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Good buy, very good service and great product. Received it very quickly, extremely well packed. Cannot fault it in anyway.
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Terence Collins
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent True Spy Story
Well produced; excellent dialogue, very good acting. Best true spy story movie ever. Top notch period settings plus excellent production/directing.
Published 1 month ago by Marc A. Eguwe
4.0 out of 5 stars
As good as remembered
I bought this as a present for my mum, and she thoroughly enjoyed it. It has apparently stood the test of time, and although it is not completely historically accurate, it is well... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Simon Binning
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ace of Spies
Much as I remembered it when I viewed it in Canada twenty or more years ago. I had forgotten a good deal so it came as a surprise though I never forgot the episode when the young... Read more
Published 2 months ago by E C SMITH
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fascinating story of a real life 'James Bond' style spy
This is a fantastic true story, but some aspects of the production let it down in places. Some actors are below par, sometimes the budget was obviously too small and the style is a... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Josh
2.0 out of 5 stars
We do not like it
1) Amazon used this same illustration and labeled it "DVD" so when a set of VHS arrived at our home address we were bitterly disappointed. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Roslyn Batten
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great one
A great one, always loved this. I recommend reading further about this character, the truth is indeed stranger then the fiction. Read more
Published 4 months ago by The Ace of Spies
5.0 out of 5 stars
The original and unique spy
This man's exploits beggar belief as he flits from China to Europe providing valuable insights for the Government. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie
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