"Enemy at the Door" (1978)TV series 1978-1980

Writer:

James Andrew Hall (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

21 January 1978 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | War

Plot:

Drama about the Nazi occupation of the Channel Islands during the Second World War.

Plot Keywords:

Occupation | WWII

Cast

Alfred Burke	...	Maj. Richter (12 episodes, 1978)
Bernard Horsfall	...	Dr. Philip Martel (12 episodes, 1978)
Emily Richard	...	Clare Martel (12 episodes, 1978)
Simon Cadell	...	Hauptsturmfuhrer Reinicke (9 episodes, 1978)
Richard Heffer	...	Peter Porteous (9 episodes, 1978)
Simon Lack	...	Maj. Freidel (8 episodes, 1978)
John Malcolm	...	Oberleutnant Kluge (8 episodes, 1978)
Antonia Pemberton	...	Olive Martel (8 episodes, 1978)
Helen Shingler	...	Helen Porteous / ... (5 episodes, 1978)

Runtime:

60 min (26 episodes) | USA:650 min (13 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

London Weekend Television (LWT)

People Survive Other People

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

PBS recently presented on Masterpiece Theatre the start of the series, "Island At War", about the German occupation of the Channel Islands during WW2. It piqued my interest about this historical event and region and people affected, and led to my viewing "Enemy" as another source of information of what happened.

Indeed, I am certain the writers and producers of both films took liberty in reporting and editing the actual/real events and characters. The acting and scenery, however, held my attention throughout the 6 volumes of videotapes. There were several vignettes of the pressures and terror visited upon the island residents , as well as a brief picture of what a governing occupier considers as it has to interact with the citizens and complete its so-called mission.

The many parts of "Enemy" could almost stand alone on their own, without reference to what occurred before. A common thread was the injection of the Waffen-SS Major as the embodiment of Nazi/German deception and cruelty, while he promotes himself through the system. I became interested in exactly where the SS deviate from the Gestapo and other political wings in Germany, and especially where their power flows from to invoke fear from associates in the military as a whole.

The aspects of film production, like cinematography, sound, editing--I leave to others to comment about. This was pure entertainment and engrossing to me personally; what and how humans persevere under extreme circumstances continues to amaze me.