Colditz - The Complete Collection [DVD]

I was only 6 years old when this show first aired in 1972, and so my memories were more about the music, and my father and grandfather praising it years after. In the 80s I saw the first season episode Tweedledum as part of TV50 - the golden anniversary BBC celebration. The quality of that episode stayed with me and when I saw that the series was reduced to just under £20.00 I decided to take the plunge. I wish I had bought it upon release. I cannot praise this series enough. I demolished the box set in a week watching several epsiodes each night and a marathon at the weekend. Like others I was soon sucked in by the superb writing, excellent acting and the sympathetic portrayal of the German captors at the castle. The first season - with its American financial backing - is larger in scope but it is the second claustrophobic series that brings home the nature of imprisonment. The picture quality is first rate throughout (aside from a few grading incosistencies of the filmed sequences) and the mono soundtrack is clean an hiss free. I was surprised by the great condition of the episodes (one or two have momentary mastertape faults and one eisode has print damage on the filmed sequences - which as part of the master VT would have been there in the 70s). There are a couple of minor quibbles - firstly in that secondary characters come and go with no explanation - and those who appear to look like emerging major characters actually only appear in "their" episode before never being mentioned again. As episodic TV this is understandable and more noticeable watching the shows in quick succession. Secondly and most regretably, there are hardly any extras. One solitary instalment of "six from Colditz" is included and its very interesting indeed. A few cast commentaries would have been appreciated although with many of the stars now residing in that great German Castle in the sky which nows no escape and others working in the US it may have proved sifficult. On the plus side the main cast including David MaCullum, Bernard Hepton, Hans Meyer and, sporadically, Robert Wagner are never short of excellent. Anthony Valentine's portrayal of the wounded hero turned second in command is subtle (from his stiffness in sitting to the frozen expression on his face) and his change in the episode Chamelon is wonderfully played as are the reactions of those around him. The set in which the castle grounds were filmed is brilliant and I am sure many at the time would have thought it was the original location and not a film studio. Though not always factually correct, the series is never dull and only one or two faux German accents are apparent. On the whole the ensemble cast is first rate. I think you should buy this set if you enjoy 70s TV drama, good writing and acting or are simply looking to be entertained. Its a series I hope to revisit over the years and look forward to revisiting my old chums in the British Contingency.

I bought the Colditz box set for my husband for Christmas 2012 because after watching the Colditz film he kept going on about how much he loved the series years ago. As the daughter of a WWII soldier captured at the Bridge of Arnhem I was weaned on war films, I've seen most of them at least a thousand times, but this series I actually missed. I was only ten when it ended. I'm sure Dad watched it though because I remembered David McCallum was in it. I understand from the die hard historians that there were no Americans in Colditz. I can't account for why the programme introduced them other than the fact that it was a part BBC and part Universal Studios production. Maybe it was a condition of them stumping up the money that Americans got a piece of the action. Colditz ran for two series between 1972-1974. It is the story of a real life prisoner of war camp at Colditz Castle in Germany for allied officers who are persistent offenders in escaping in other camps. The castle is designed to be escape proof. Edward Hardwick (later Dr Watson in Sherlock Holmes) plays the lead role as the escape officer and the author of the book, Pat Reid, who later manages to escape himself. The story is mainly told from the British POW point of view but there is also insight into the escape attempts of the Polish, Czechs, Dutch and French prisoners, as well as an insight into their German captors. I was impressed by the acting, particularly by Jack Hedley as the commanding British officer and Bernard Hepton as the Kommandant, who comes across as a fair man. Anthony Valentine's Major Mohn is a character you love to hate. David McCallum (known for The Man From UNCLE, various films, and most recently NCIS) is moody and difficult as the RAF flying officer who takes over as escape officer, probably because of his loveless marriage. A lot of the escape plans are clever but mostly futile. The box set includes an interview with Major Reid who reports that were were about 500 escape attempts and about 10 British made a 'home run', but in the series only two British attempts are reported as successful, Robert Wagner's Phil Carrington character is later recaptured, and no one knows what has happened to the Briton he escaped with. According to a documentary I saw about the glider built in the attic more non-British escaped than British, but this is not alluded to in the series because more emphasis is placed on the day-to-day relationships between the prisoners and their captors. My only gripe with the series was that certain events seem to be conveniently forgotten, for example, when Major Mohn knows the Germans are losing the war he goes AWOL in one episode, but in the next episode he isn't mentioned by either the prisoners or the Germans. It was fun seeing well-known actors pop up unexpectedly. Willie Rushton puts in an appearance, as does Denis Waterman (Sweeney, Minder, New Tricks) as a very young gestapo officer, also the guy who played Dr Legg in Eastenders years ago. All in all a highly enjoyable series.

At last, after years of waiting, this fantastic series from the early 1970s is now available. It's very well written with historical accuracy (from the same stable as that other great series, Secret Army). Character driven, with fine acting from many well known actors of the time, including a notable and moving performance from Michael Bryant, as Wing Commander George Marsh, who feigns (or is it real?) insanity in episode 10 'Tweedledum'. They just don't make 'em like this anymore. Highly recommended. The cast includes:- David McCallum (Flight Lt. Simon Carter) Michael Bryant (Wing Commander George Marsh) Paul Chapman (Capt. George Brent) Edward Hardwicke (Capt. Pat Grant) Jack Hedley (Lt. Col. John Preston) Richard Heffer (Capt. Tim Downing) Bernard Hepton (Kommandant) Hans Meyer (Hauptman Franz Ulmann) Christopher Neame (Lt. Dick Player) Peter Penry-Jones (P.O. Peter Muir) Anthony Valentine (Major Horst Mohn) Robert Wagner (Flight Lt. Phil Carrington) Watch out for a young Dennis Waterman as a German Propaganda Ministry man in episode 6. Other familiar faces include Geoffrey Palmer, Michael Gough, Patrick Troughton, Peter Barkworth, Kenneth Griffith, Ronald Lacey, Ray Smith, Willie Rushton et al. The list is almost endless. A veritable Who's Who of acting talent of the time. Peter Penry-Jones is the father of Rupert Penry-Jones(Spooks). The picture quality of the DVD is perfectly acceptable, if perhaps not quite up to modern day standards. Most studio scenes are video, with filmed inserts in the 'courtyard' etc. In fact, I find that any slight imperfections there may be actually add to the 'period' atmosphere of dark claustrophobia. The courtyard was filmed at the famed Ealing Studios, then used by the BBC. I believe Ronnie Barker’s Porridge was filming next door! There is a film on YouTube of Blue Peter’s John Noakes visiting the Porridge set at Ealing. On the final disc, there is a short interview, from the early 1970s, with the late Major Pat Reid MBE MC, Colditz escaper and author of 'The Colditz Story' and 'The Latter Days', upon which the TV series was based. Major Reid was consultant to the series and Edward Hardwicke's character, Pat Grant, is based on him. The interviewer is Frank Gillard, himself a famous BBC radio war correspondent during WWII. Sadly, Edward Hardwicke, a fine actor also well known as Doctor Watson to Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes,died on 16 May 2011.

Like most people who have seen this series I am so pleased to see it finally get an official release. Like many I have been stuck with poor copies made from multiple generation VHS recordings that it will be a joy to see it in reasonable quality. I do hope it has been cleaned up a bit and that the BBC haven't cut anything (they seem to have a habit of carving up series for 'copyright reasons'). This is a fantastic series with most escapes and attempts based on real events (though all the names have been changed). The acting and scripts are fantastic with a great balance of emotions from fear and boredom to occasional hilarity. The final episodes are especially moving (even more so if you have seen the Channel 4 series "Escape from Coldtiz" Episode 3, currently available on the channel 4 on demand website, with the glider reconstruction a few years ago and seeing how well it flew with some of those prisoners involved watching ). Tweedle Dum has to be one of the real standout episodes though. It is also interesting to see how the German guards and commandant are portrayed in a mostly positive manner. Too often drama forgets that many people on all sides of the conflict didn't really agree with what was going on but were caught up as career officers or conscription. The balance of frustrated conscripts, strict discipline, humanity and genuine admiration of the prisoners' ingenuity is very well captured. UPDATE 15/11/10: Just got the set and watched the first episode. Quality looks pretty clean to me and very good for a 70s production. There is a sticker saying 'remastered' on the outside. Inside there is a glossy booklet and a few black and white cards. The DVDs seem to be subtitled (English only though). All in all looks good.

ENGLISH This british TV Serie from 1972-74 based on true events about british and US soldiers who have been prisoned in Germany in fortress of Colditz. Its their story and their escape. Of course, compared with shows today "Colditz" looks a bit like slow motion but its well written and very well played by actors David McCallum (NCIS, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., the Great Escape) and Robert Wagner (Prince Valiant, Hart to Hart) and Christopher Neame ("Dracula A.D. 1972", "Licence to Kill") and more. And yes, its entertaining and during the escapre very thrilling. The DVD Box contains the whole serie (season 1 + 2) with 26 episodes. Sound is available only in ENGLISH (MONO) and contains ENGLISH SUBTITLES which helps for me very much. The Picture Quality is good so far. The scenes outside of the studios could be a little bit sharper/better but they still ok. The Box contains a Episode Guide Booklet and 5 limited Edition Art Cards (Postcards) I haven't seen it before. I was just curious to see a young Christopher Neame and Robert Wagner. while watching episode 15 "Gone Away" suddently I was shocked and surprised. There is a scene with Robert Wagner on a river with a bridge. The first I thought: why the hell looks it familiar to me when its a british Serie? Trivia: the River/bridge Scenes have been filmed in 8261 Hemishofen in Switzerland. A few scenes later in the hall of the train station was filmed in Schaffhausen (Switzerland) and the village scenes (beginning approx. minute 43:50) with the villagers who walking to the church: those scenes have been filmed in 8263 Buch (Switzerland) (i was born here, grew up and im still living there). And I spotted my parents and a few other people as the extras/villagers. Also some steam train scenes might be filmed between Hemishofen and Ramsen. The REAL soldiers used the "Singen route" (Singen is located in Germany) and crossed the border around Buch (hometown of my father), Ramsen (I work here), Dörflingen (my mothers birth village). My parents told me that they have seen sometime people crossing the border during that time and helped them. FAZIT: interesting piece of History (in both ways) GERMAN Story: eine Gruppe von britischen und amerikanischen Soldaten befinden sich in der Gefangenschaft in der Festung in Colditz und versuchen zu fliehen, der einer genauen Planung vorausgeht. Es handelt sich um eine britische Serie aus dem 1972-74 (dessen Innen-Aufnahme diese typisch britische Studio-Optik hat) ist aber mit David McCallum (NCIS, The man from U.N.C.L.E. The Great Escape) top besetzt. Desweiter wirkt in 14 Folgen Robert Wagner (bekannt aus "Hart aber herzlich", "Prince Valian", "Der längste Tag") mit, sowie der junge Christopher Neame ("Dracula A.D. 1972", James Bond "Licence to kill") in 17 Episoden. Hauptmann Ullmann wird von Hans Meyer dargestellt, und als Gäste wirken unter anderem Dan O'Herlihy, Jeremy Kemp mit. Jack Hedley in der Rolle des Lt. Col. John Preston kennt man ehesten aus "For Your Eyes Only", sowie Edward Hardwicke den man in bester Erinnerung hat als Doctor Watson in "Die Rückkehr des Sherlock Holmes" (1986-88), sowie "The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes" 1991-93. Wer natürlich schnelle Schnitte, oder reichlich action erwartet wie man sie heute so gewohnt ist, wird bitter enttäuscht sein und manch einer wird sich langweilen. Ist die Serie aber langweilig? Musik wird sparsam eingesetzt, aber gewisse "stille" erzeugt Spannung, besonders dann, wenn der "Ausbruch" ausführlich gezeigt wird. Da fiebert man als "Zuschauer" förmlich mit. Die DVD-Box: enthält alle 26 Episoden, mit Englischen Ton (Achtung: keine Deutsch enthalten) sowie englische Untertitel. Als Bonus gibt es ein Interview. Als Beilage gibt es Booklet mit Episoden-Guide, sowie Postkarten mit Portraits. Bildqualität: gut Ton: (mono), gut, relativ immer gut verständlich Trivia: Die Serie basiert auf reale Ereignisse auf Major Pat Reid Buch, welcher aus Colditz floh und in der Nähe von Singen/DE + Ramsen/Schweiz (da arbeite ich) die Grenze basierte und in Sicherheit gelangte (er benutzte die sogenannte "Singen Route"). Gedreht wurden jene Szenen der Episode 15 "Gone Away Part II - With The Geese" mit Robert Wagner dann auch in der Nähe: die Fluss/Brücken Szene ist der Rhein bzw, Eisenbahnbrücke bei Hemishofen/Schweiz, sowie die Dorf/Strasse- Szene wo die Einwohner zur Kirche gehen und die Protagonisten sich unter die Fussgänger mischen, wurde in 8263 Buch (SH) (da bin ich aufgewachsen und wohne noch immer da) gedreht. Und jetzt kommt der Knaller: Meine Eltern sind als Statisten dabei. FAZIT: interessante Serie die auf wahre Tatsachen basiert die guten Darstellern und Dialogen zu unterhalten weiss und bei der Fluchtszene sogar ziemlich spannend ist.

i must admit until i saw this dvd being advitised on amazon i didnt realise that they had made a tv series of it, the wonderful bbc at its best i must say, i had of course seen the films and i did hesitate before buying it but its one of the best tv series i have ever seen before this i own several other tv series made about world war two and adore them all, family at war, secret army and tenko to name just a few but this series is one of the few that showed prisoners of war interacting with their german captors, and apart from major mohn the captors were depicted as well almost human, showing their devotion to duty rather than the blood lust as ive seen them depicted with in other films and tv shows, im not trying to say they were good but they seemed almost well human in this tv series the best bit of this series has to be the english escapers, as its based on truth and not fictio i have nothing but admiration for the courage bravery and spirit of all the english, french and polish pow's that were shown, my absolute favourites were of course the senior british officer, the colonel, and captain pat grant, flight leutenient simon and of course the great richard player and the american flying ace later the major phil carrington, they are all great of course and i have an admiration for richard brent as well, all though he was depicting as freezing up on occasion his spirit and humour moved me beyond words i cannot describe the joy and pleasure this series has bought me, i watched it when i was suffering the winter blues and it completly entranced me and drew me in making me forget my own problems, i just wish they had made more fantatsic series like this one this is a must buy for anyone who loves a good drama, it kept me on the edge of my seat and i found my self screaming at the tv on several occasions egging on the escapers and using well not very polite language when they were caught, my entire family heard me cheering when pat grant and phil carrington made it to switzerland the series is that good, i cant say any more its one of the best series i have ever had the pleasure of viewing

Being an American, I have not had the opportunity to watch many episodes of this classic television program. When I was a young boy, in 1977 or so, I think it may have been, one of our US networks took the final two-part episode of the first season of Colditz and spliced them together to make a television movie out of it. The episode stayed in my mind ever after. So memorable was it, that when I finally purchased this collection, earlier this month as a birthday present to myself, I immediately rewatched that two-part episode and was surpised at how well I remembered so much of it, after 35 years. About two years ago, I did catch the first 2 or 3 episodes of the series on You Tube, but until this boxed set arrived at my home last week, I had never had the opportunity to view any more episodes. I wanted this product so badly that I was willing to purchase, at the same time, a second dvd player that was able to play multi-regional formats. It has been well worth it. Many people have mentioned, in their reviews, that the old-fashioned videotaping that they used limits the scope of the production, but in this instance, I think that works well, creating a claustrophobic feel to the sets which matches the claustrophobic lifestyle that a prisoner must live. The real treasure in this series, however, is the storylines. Many of them are taken form real life events at Colditz (or in a couople of cases, other POW camps). They do more than just hold you at the edge of your seat as you watch the drama develop. They also show you the way in which well educated and intelligent human beings can use the basic implements of their surroundings to improvise and manufacture makeshift tools, and how when they have nothing else to think of but escape, they can use their creativity to plan and sometimes succesfully execute the most daring and improbable of schemes. It is a fascinating look at mankind's ingenuity and spirit. As I continue to watch an episode or two each evening (and even ignoring the Presidential election debates and the baseball play-offs to do so), this is rapidly becoming my favorite of all BBC productions.

Dated but watchable