- Actors: Richard Dillane, Steve Nicolson, Max Bollinger, John Warnaby, Ravil Isyanov
- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Subtitles: English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: 15
- Studio: 2 Entertain Video
- DVD Release Date: 28 Nov 2005
- Run Time: 236 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000AWKSVO
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 12,432 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Interactive Menu, SYNOPSIS: The true story behind one of the most exciting and exhilarating times in history. Spanning twenty years from the Second World War through to the moon landings it exposes the ruthlessness and the brilliance of the scientists involved and the extreme levels of endurance needed by those wanting to succeed over the rest. The 'race' was to create the most powerful rocket and to land astronauts on the moon. It tells of the pioneering experiments and catastrophic risks that cost untold amounts of money and ended scores of lives. This can be traced back to the rivalry between two recklessly daring scientific leaders: the charismatic ex-Nazi Wernher von Braun in the American team, and the enigmatic Soviet project leader, known mysteriously as 'The Chief Designer' ...Space Race
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you are like me and read these reviews before buying I am sure you will have noticed that the ' Product details ' mention a ' Number of discs: 1 ' but ' Matthew Millington from Norway mentions a three disk set.
So when I bought the DVD I was not really sure if I was going to receive a one or three disk set.
Anyway the DVD arrived and all four episodes are contained on one Disk.
The running time is 236 minutes and the picture quality is excellent.
We are all familiar with the Space Race from the American side of the fence
so really it does fill in the gaps from the Soviet side.
I am unsure where I was when it was first put out by the BBC but I do know this DVD will be watched time and time again.
So when I bought the DVD I was not really sure if I was going to receive a one or three disk set.
Anyway the DVD arrived and all four episodes are contained on one Disk.
The running time is 236 minutes and the picture quality is excellent.
We are all familiar with the Space Race from the American side of the fence
so really it does fill in the gaps from the Soviet side.
I am unsure where I was when it was first put out by the BBC but I do know this DVD will be watched time and time again.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This was one of the two DVDs on the space race in my Christmas stocking. I watched this first (the other being Tom Hanks' From the Earth to the Moon) as I wanted to get the whole story presented to me before I watched the American story in more detail.
There is no doubt that where this series excels is with the Soviet side of things. Presumably this came about as a result of the BBC's co-production with (amongst others) a Russian broadcaster, and easier access to previously secret material. However, there was a huge amount to fit into only four hours with the result that a lot of the landmarks are only briefly covered, or are even skipped completely.
The series has quite a Korolev bias, which whilst not too obvious in the first episode, takes hold and becomes evident as the series progresses. Not that I necessarily think that was a bad thing; this series covers old ground as far as the American side of the space race is concerned, but I found myself somewhat awestruck by Korolev's genius and vision.
I thought that the series was far too short to cover this subject in the detail that is justified. If you are going to tell this story, then do it well, and don't hold back by trying to save money. Tom Hanks tells the American story in twelve hours, whilst the BBC tried to do the whole thing from both perspectives in just four. Why not do it like the much acclaimed 'World at War' (26 episodes), probably the definitive WW2 story?
I thought the format was rather good. It is a drama documentary, so the historical events are acted, and the story is also narrated. The BBC have done a number of such programmes, and whilst not to everybody's taste, I quite like this method of storytelling.
Overall, I am glad to own this. It didn't tell me a great deal of new information where the US side of the race is concerned, but it really brings the Soviet story to life. I grew up in the Cold War era, so can understand and remember the competetive rivalry and paranoia that existed between the USA and USSR. Younger viewers may not remember it and so it may seem quite bizarre. If so, then I think that would make the series all the more compelling. Whilst it may be inaccurate in a few areas (as other reviewers have observed), this didn't detract for me, and I generally enjoyed watching it.
There is no doubt that where this series excels is with the Soviet side of things. Presumably this came about as a result of the BBC's co-production with (amongst others) a Russian broadcaster, and easier access to previously secret material. However, there was a huge amount to fit into only four hours with the result that a lot of the landmarks are only briefly covered, or are even skipped completely.
The series has quite a Korolev bias, which whilst not too obvious in the first episode, takes hold and becomes evident as the series progresses. Not that I necessarily think that was a bad thing; this series covers old ground as far as the American side of the space race is concerned, but I found myself somewhat awestruck by Korolev's genius and vision.
I thought that the series was far too short to cover this subject in the detail that is justified. If you are going to tell this story, then do it well, and don't hold back by trying to save money. Tom Hanks tells the American story in twelve hours, whilst the BBC tried to do the whole thing from both perspectives in just four. Why not do it like the much acclaimed 'World at War' (26 episodes), probably the definitive WW2 story?
I thought the format was rather good. It is a drama documentary, so the historical events are acted, and the story is also narrated. The BBC have done a number of such programmes, and whilst not to everybody's taste, I quite like this method of storytelling.
Overall, I am glad to own this. It didn't tell me a great deal of new information where the US side of the race is concerned, but it really brings the Soviet story to life. I grew up in the Cold War era, so can understand and remember the competetive rivalry and paranoia that existed between the USA and USSR. Younger viewers may not remember it and so it may seem quite bizarre. If so, then I think that would make the series all the more compelling. Whilst it may be inaccurate in a few areas (as other reviewers have observed), this didn't detract for me, and I generally enjoyed watching it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The DVD has taken a shortcuts and made edits on the original book just to fit into 4 TV episodes. If you want the DVD experience, the BBC production is still very compelling, the mix of archival & re-in-acted footage is just first rate. Don't read the book first. The book is so much more detailed - Just don't expect the DVD to replicate all the story. Also do take note of some of the historic innacuracies mentioned in other earlier reviews. If you know the right stuff then it may provoke a lot of debate. But with buffs and novices alike. I still think both are great introductions to this history.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not the best option for English speakers
This is the Dutch edition of the BBC's four-part docudrama "Space Race".
I'd give the original series four stars, for reasons that are well described in the reviews of the... Read more
I'd give the original series four stars, for reasons that are well described in the reviews of the... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Grant Hutchison
I've waited three months for this...shame on you Amazon! T-he Space...
What a load of crap are Amozan. They promise stuff three times over! But do not deliver anything! that's off the radar or not dork level stuff. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jim Lewis
Space Race
I bought this after reading other peoples views. It is really superb , have watched it at least 6 times now.
Great viewing .
Great viewing .
Published 5 months ago by Welshboyvodka
Excellent and entertaining documentary over a vast canvas
I purchased this DVD as research material for a novel, not so much for the technical detail (which I accept is flawed in places) but for the "atmosphere" around the US and Russian... Read more
Published on 27 Jun 2008 by John Joyce
Entertaining, but flawed as documentary
I bought this DVD because I was researching the Russian side of the Race for Space. It is a really well shot dramatisation of the two sides of that race and brings the characters... Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2008 by ronx59
Gripping viewing
I greatly enjoyed watching these programs. As others have said, there is a lot packed into the time, and the emphasis is heavily on the Soviet side. Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2007 by Nick Stevens
A fitting compliment
This DVD box-set (3 disks) is a fitting compliment to other series of a similar topic, most notably Tom Hanks' "from the earth to the moon". Read more
Published on 21 April 2007 by Matthew Millington
So much to do, so little time ...
I have a suspicion, which is becoming more entrenched as time goes on, that the BBC is growing ever more reluctant to waste licence-payers' money on intelligent and thoughtful... Read more
Published on 30 Oct 2006 by Ms. S. Bowes
Quite an entertaining documentary
Being born just after all this happened I found this documentary was a good historical account of the development of rockets from the V2s in Germany to the First man on the moon. Read more
Published on 14 Oct 2006 by Antony
A moving story
Ok, I confess to being a little biased to the fact I much prefer the Soviet side of things and I hold a strong belief that if Korolev had lived, it would have been the Soviets on... Read more
Published on 1 Oct 2006 by Cannonade
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