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The West Wing - Season 1 Part 1 [DVD]
 
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The West Wing - Season 1 Part 1 [DVD]

DVD ~ Martin Sheen
5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (44 customer reviews)

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

The West Wing - Complete Season 1 [DVD]
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29% buy the item featured on this page:
The West Wing - Season 1 Part 1 [DVD] 5.0 out of 5 stars (44)
The West Wing : Complete Season 2 [DVD]
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Product details

  • Actors: Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Moira Kelly, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney
  • Directors: Alan Taylor, Alex Graves, Anthony Drazan, Arlene Sanford, Bill D'Elia
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 3
  • Classification: 15
  • Studio: Warner Home Video
  • DVD Release Date: 8 April 2002
  • Run Time: 495 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00005V4V3
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 22,169 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

    Popular in this category:

    #9 in  DVD > Television > TV Series > West Wing

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Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Aaron Sorkin's American political drama The West Wing, set in the White House, has won innumerable awards--and rightly so. Its depiction of a well-meaning Democrat administration has warmed the hearts of countless Americans. However, The West Wing is more than mere feel-good viewing for sentimental patriots. It is among the best-written, sharpest, funny and moving American TV series of all time.

In its first series, The West Wing established the cast of characters who comprise the White House staff. There's Chief of Staff Leo McGarry (John Spencer), a recovering alcoholic whose efforts to be the cornerstone of the administration contribute to the break-up of his marriage. CJ (Alison Janney) is the formidable Press Spokeswoman embroiled in a tentative on-off relationship with Timothy (Thirtysomething) Busfield's reporter. Brilliant but grumpy communications deputy Toby Ziegler, Rob Lowe's brilliant but faintly nerdy Sam Seaborn and brilliant but smart-alecky Josh Lyman make up the rest of the inner circle. Initially, the series' creators had intended to keep the President off-screen. Wisely, however, they went with Martin Sheen's Jed Bartlet, whose eccentric volatility, caution, humour and strength in a crisis make for such an impressively plausible fictional President that polls once expressed a preference for Bartlet over the genuine incumbent.

The issues broached in the first series have striking, often prescient contemporary relevance. We see the President having to be talked down from a "disproportionate response" when terrorists shoot down a plane carrying his personal doctor, or acting as broker in a dangerous stand-off between India and Pakistan. Gun control laws, gays in the military, Fundamentalist pressure groups are all addressed--the latter in a most satisfying manner ("Get your fat asses out of the White House!")--while the episode "Take This Sabbath Day" is a superb dramatic meditation on Capital punishment.

Handled incorrectly, The West Wing could have been turgid, didactic propaganda for The American Way. However, the writers are careful to show that, decent as this administration is, its achievements, though hard-won, are minimal. Moreover, the brisk, staccato-like, almost musical exchanges of dialogue, between Josh and his PA Donna, for instance, as they pace purposefully up and down the corridors are the show's abiding joy. This is wonderful and addictive viewing.--David Stubbs

DVD Description
Includes the following episodes (Season 1, Part 1):

Pilot Episode
Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
A Proportional Response
Five Votes Down
The Crackpots And These Women
Mr Willis Of Ohio
The State Dinner
Enemies
The Short List
In Excelsis Deo
Lord John Marbury

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Customer Reviews

44 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (44 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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62 of 62 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Best TV drama of all time?, 5 Feb 2002
I myself was slow to catch on to the appeal of the West Wing. I had heard of the show when it started on Channel 4 but had little interest in watching a show that I believed would be full of chest-thumping, nauseating Americana. I certainly got that wrong, as while the show is definetely proud to be American, the sheer all-round quality on display makes it easy to live with and (whisper it) almost enjoy. Prime-time American dramas like the X-Files, ER and the Sopranos have proven conclusively that the Americans can do high-budget drama better than anyone else.
The West Wing takes the best elements of these shows and combines them, making it one of the best programs I've ever watched. The acting is superb with Martin Sheen having the role of a lifetime and Rob Lowe being amazingly believable as a naive and lovable guy. Alison Janney has proved herself in films (most notably American Beauty) but this is a great role for her and the rest of the cast are equally admirable, especially John Spencer (The Negotiator) and Richard Schiff. The recurring guest stars are also top-notch featuring such luminaries as John de Lancie, Alan Arkin and Stockard Channing.
The quality of the writing is better than in most recent Hollywood films and is one of the few American shows that doesn't seem to think that the audience is stupid. The humour in the show makes it better than most sit-coms, while the sharp change to gritty realism comes as a visceral shock.
I could go on about this show forever, but basically, if you want to watch an amusing, intelligent, well-acted and thought-provoking show, then look no further. I will definitely be purchasing this DVD, I recommend you all do the same.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Don't blame me, I voted for Bartlet!, 7 April 2002
By A Customer
When a fictional character is influential enough that a poll indicated 75% of Americans would have voted for him in the last presidential election you know that a series has something special going for it. The West Wing depicts the "behind the scenes" staff of a Democrat White House, the very people who in real life you would probably dislike. After all, these are the "spin doctors" and not elected officials.

Yet this series makes you instantly care for and respect these people. Focusing on a number of core characters this series rapidly defines the personalities of the staff and makes them real. This is achieved by a combination of good quality writing and superb acting. This series has twice won the Screen Actors Guild ensemble award and that is a true reflection of how every character,every actor, pulls their weight to make this one of the best shows on TV.

This first series did not have a single weak episode, but in this box set is one of the best episodes of any series ever. The episode "In Excelsis Deo" (which won Richard Schiff a well deserved Emmy) is a truly moving piece of contemporary drama and is almost worth the price alone. To get this with 10 other wonderful episodes makes this a must buy.

Oh, and C.J. rules! If you haven't seen the series yet you'll just have to agree with this statement once you've watched it...

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Political perfection!, 25 Mar 2002
By Jo (Surrey, United Kingdom.) - See all my reviews
At last a television drama series that treats the viewer as an intellectual! Wonderfully written, brilliantly acted and supremely directed. A series that confronts serious issues with the detail and content they deserve, yet provides us with characters to warm to. Lightened by the witty exchanges between C.J and Danny, Toby, Josh ... and well, all the characters; The West Wing is the perfect combination of hard hitting issues and compelling drama. I only wish there were more programmes of this quality on our television screens.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Five stars aren't enough
You can take it from me - five stars are not enough when it comes to rating the West Wing. This series is head and shoulders above any other drama on TV. Read more
Published on 20 Feb 2005 by M. Jones

5.0 out of 5 stars Can't wait for season three on DVD
Television drama at its best. My whole family sit and watch it over and over. The dialogue is superb, the humour intelligent and truly funny. Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2003 by bj18041

5.0 out of 5 stars West Wing Review
This is quite frankly the best of the best- a funny, intelligent, thought provoking drama. My dad never watches tv "fiction" He watched 33 episodes in a week- including taking a... Read more
Published on 3 May 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Just buy it - it is fantastic
I rarely write reviews but what can I say - If you haven't seen it - buy it - you will love it.

It is superbly written and has brilliant casting and great acting. Read more

Published on 24 April 2003 by Dionysuss

5.0 out of 5 stars The West Wing - Series 1 Part 1 [1999]. - My Initiation
This was compulsive viewing from the start. It is fast moving, thought provoking, sensitive and almost has you believing that Martin Sheen really is the American President... Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2003 by Elizabeth B

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - But buy full series 1 set
This is an example of TV at it's very best.
The quality of scrip, direction, acting and production can not be bettered. The ensemble cast are excellent. Read more
Published on 13 Dec 2002 by Steve Trumpet

5.0 out of 5 stars The smartest, best TV show in the cosmos!!
I rarely over-rate anything, so I am being truthful, when I say The West Wing is the best TV drama ever seen on screen and will never be beaten! Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2002 by jackdawson87

5.0 out of 5 stars For viewers new and old
I didn't catch on to The West Wing until midway through its second year. Since then I've been addicted. Read more
Published on 31 Jul 2002 by daryl727

5.0 out of 5 stars The sharpest TV show of the last few years
At a time when the dearth of quality drama being shown on British television was becoming increasingly apparent, along from the US came The West Wing to remind us what this... Read more
Published on 22 Jul 2002 by Mr. J. C. Richards

5.0 out of 5 stars Political drama at its best.
Of recent times this has to be one of the best political dramas ever to grace our screens. Each episode provides us with an exicting, unpredictable and often humourous glance at... Read more
Published on 20 Jul 2002 by Timothy M Young

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