The Winds of War (1983) Reviews

I saw the "Winds of War" in my early 20s and now am watching it again as more of a historian. I liked it then and love it now as it gives you a "micro" and "macro" picture of World War II. You really feel what is happening in Europe in broad perspective but also feel what is happening to the average family as well. It is quite an epic series and I recommend it highly. You will particularly enjoy Robert Mitchum's portrayal of "Pug". Talk about believable. If he ran for a real office, I would have voted for him!
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I have seen this series many years ago and was impressed at the time. Reviewing the first disc I recaptured the flavor of the times again and equally enjoyed it...Bob Mitchum gives a creditable performance as well as his family in the film...equally well done are the performers surrounding Hitler.. many of these I have seen in many subsequent films and they are convincing..the individual who plays Hitler seems to overdo it a bit..one wonders why the people surrounding him weren't skeptical of such fanatiscism..fortunately my father-in-law wasn't one of those taken in by this man and subsequently fled to England with his family in 1934. Completed the final chapter and the entire series is equally exciting as all the others..war scenes extremely well done with uncanny realism! 4 stars!
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I dived into "The Winds of War" saga, beginning at Disk 2 because Disk 1 had a "Long Wait." Although I expected to be at a significant disadvantage in missing the start, I was soon caught up in this absorbing tale centering around WW2. After viewing the 2d and 3d episodes, I then received the 1st disk and watched the remainder in sequence. Robert Mitchum as Commander Victor "Pug" Henry, the central character, exudes strength and steadiness, based in Berlin in the midst of international turmoil. He is a trusted advisor of FDR and Churchill, among others, while dealing with his own complicated family. A classic mini-series that is not to be missed.
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No movie can ever do complete justice to the book, but this one comes very close. Those cast in the various roles do justice to the book characters and "ring true" as they were portrayed in the novel. Even though Herman Wouk was not honored as one of the great Jewish authors of the 20th century, that had to be an oversight. Both the book and the movie are a must for anyone who enjoys this genre. They both bring home what we must never forget about the history and on-going nature of racial minority persecution.
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