Foyle's War
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| Foyle's War | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Creator(s) | Anthony Horowitz |
| Starring | Michael Kitchen Honeysuckle Weeks Anthony Howell |
| Opening theme | Jim Parker |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 16 (to date) (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Jill Green Simon Passmore (Series 1-2) Keith Thompson (Series 3-5) |
| Executive producer(s) | Jill Green |
| Running time | approx. 95-100 min. |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | ITV |
| Original run | October 27, 2002 – present |
| Links | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
Foyle's War is a British detective television programme. Foyle's War was created by screen-writer and author Anthony Horowitz and commissioned by ITV after the long-running detective series Inspector Morse came to an end in 2000.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
For individual story details, see List of Foyle's War episodes
The programme is set during the Second World War in Hastings, England, where Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle (Michael Kitchen) attempts to catch criminals who are taking advantage of the confusion the war has created. He is assisted by his driver Samantha "Sam" Stewart (Honeysuckle Weeks) and Detective Sergeant Paul Milner (Anthony Howell).
Foyle, a widower, is quiet, methodical and very observant and is frequently underestimated by his foes. Many of his cases concern profiteering, the black market and murder. Foyle often comes up against high-ranking officials in the British military or intelligence services who would prefer that he mind his own business but he is tenacious in seeking justice.
The stories are largely self-contained. There are some running strands, mainly involving the career of Foyle's son Andrew (played by Julian Ovenden), a fighter pilot in the Royal Air Force, or Foyle's continuing relationships with cameo characters.
Five series have been produced since 2002, the sixth and final series will be produced in 2007. Each episode runs for 95 to 100 minutes, filling a two-hour slot on ITV when commercials are included. In order to fit PBS's 90 minute time-slot in the United States, episodes, particularly in series 1 to 3, were edited by 5 to 6 minutes each.
[edit] Main Characters
| Name | Rank or role | Episodes | Portrayed by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Foyle | Detective Chief Superintendent | all | Michael Kitchen |
| Paul Milner | Detective Sergeant | all | Anthony Howell |
| Samantha Stewart | Police driver, MTC | all | Honeysuckle Weeks |
| Andrew Foyle | DCS Foyle's son, RAF officer | 1, 4, 6, 8, 10 | Julian Ovenden |
| Hugh Reid | Uniformed Superintendent | 2-4 | Michael Simkins |
| Jane Milner | DS Milner's wife (later estranged) | 2, 3, 5, 15 | Mali Harries |
| Fisher | Police Constable | 2, 4 | Fergus Webster |
| Eric Rivers | Police Sergeant | 5, 7, 9-10, 12 | Geoffrey Freshwater |
| Turner | Wing-Commander (Andrew's superior) | 6, 10 | Martin Turner |
| Hilda Pearce | Special Operations Executive | 7, 9 | Ellie Haddington |
| Alistair Rose | Assistant Chief Commissioner | 8, 12 | Corin Redgrave |
| Perkins | ARP Warden | 12, 15-16 | Tony Turner |
| Ian Brooke | Police Sergeant | 13 ,15-16 | Jay Simpson |
| Joe Farnetti | Private, US Army; Sam's boyfriend | 13-14 | Jonah Lotan |
| Edith Ashford | Milner's girlfriend | 14-15 | Caroline Martin |
[edit] Christopher Foyle
Foyle (Michael Kitchen) consistently introduces himself with the phrase, "My name's Foyle; I'm a police officer." This is typical of the modesty, courtesy and precision of speech that he displays throughout the series. Foyle is a widower of long standing; he has one son, Andrew, with whom he is close, although their relationship is not demonstrative. Foyle's concern for his son's safety as a fighter pilot is an ongoing theme.
A veteran of World War I, Foyle is eager to be helping the war effort once again. He requests a transfer to the War Department several times in the first two series of the show, but by the end of the third series, he appears to have accepted that this will not happen and that his detective work is just as important, in its own way, to the war effort.
He has high moral standards, and expects loyalty from his colleagues. This is seen particularly in "The White Feather" when he reproaches Sgt Milner for perceived disloyalty. In turn, he demonstrates trust in his colleagues, believing in Milner's innocence when he is suspected of involvement in his wife's murder (in "Bleak Midwinter"), and displaying a fatherly concern for Sam.
Foyle relaxes by playing golf, or trout-fishing, which also supplements his wartime rations. He is often accompanied by his son, or his uniformed counterpart, Hugh Reid. Cameo and guest characters are often shown with him on these outings, enabling the exchange of information important to the plot.
[edit] Paul Milner
A policeman before the war, Milner (Anthony Howell) left to enlist in the army. He was involved in the British Norwegian Campaign, and lost a leg in Trondheim. In episode one, he is seen recovering in hospital. Foyle encourages him to rejoin the police. Milner's relationship with his wife is returned to throughout the series; she does not seem to have come to terms with his injury. He tells Edith in "Bleak Midwinter" that he has no family.
[edit] Samantha Stewart
Joining the Mechanised Transport Corps at the outbreak of the war, Sam (played by Honeysuckle Weeks) is seconded to the police force as a driver in the first episode, to relieve staff shortages within the police force (Foyle doesn't drive). She is very enthusiastic about police work, offering unsolicited advice and help to Foyle and Milner. As the series progresses, they come to rely on her assistance more and more.
Having a voracious appetite, Sam's struggles with rationing are a constant theme. She invites herself to eat with Foyle on a number of occasions, and covets a turkey (kept for evidence) in "Bleak Midwinter".
Sam's father and uncle are Church of England vicars. Her father, Rev. Iain Stewart (Stephen Moore), visits her in Hastings ("Eagle Day"). He wants her to return home, but comes to see that her work for the police is important. Sam stays with her uncle, Rev. Aubrey Stewart (Brian Poyser), during the episode "The French Drop".
Sam becomes friendly with Andrew Foyle and, after a while, is involved romantically. The two attempt to keep their attachment from Andrew's father, fearing his disapproval. Sam provides support to Andrew when he suffers from shell shock in "Enemy Fire". Their relationship ends when Andrew sends her a 'Dear Jane letter' in "Invasion". She becomes fond of American Private Joe Farnetti, but turns him down when he asks her to marry him.
[edit] Andrew Foyle
Andrew Foyle (played by Julian Ovenden) is Christopher Foyle's only son. At the outbreak of the war he was a student, but he joined the RAF in "The German Woman". Undergoing his training as a fighter pilot in Scotland, he is later posted to the South Coast, where is involved in radar trials ("Eagle Day"). He sees action in the Battle of Britain. Eventually, in "Enemy Fire", the strain of almost-constant flying, coupled with grief at the loss of many friends, he briefly goes AWOL, suffering from combat fatigue. His superior, Wing-Commander Turner (Martin Turner) is understanding, and transfers him to a training unit.
Andrew is seen with a girlfriend in "Among the Few", but the relationship doesn't last. For a time, he walks out with Sam Stewart, but he ends the relationship soon after he is posted to the north as a training officer.
His last appearance on-screen was in "Enemy Fire". He gives a voice-over for the letter sent to Sam in "Invasion". In the later episodes, he is only referred to in dialogue and props, such as the photo in Foyle's house.
[edit] Historical Accuracy
The series is notable for its attention to historical detail, and the drama is frequently moved along by historical events of WWII. The first series features the internment of German nationals by the British government, the activities of British Nazi sympathizers, a widely-expected German invasion of Britain resolved by the evacuation of Dunkirk, the evacuation of children from London, the entry of Italy into the war, and the use of radar during the Battle of Britain.
Some elements, such as the presence of the Hastings harbour arm, are inescapably inaccurate. The harbour arm is shown several times throughout the series although it was not built until several years after the war. Other anachronisms and inaccuracies have slipped into the series. Foyle's rank of Chief Superintendent was not actually introduced into the British police until 1949, several years after the series is set. One detail missing from most of the locations shots is the victory garden. Throughout the war, lawns, flower beds, parks and golf courses were set aside for growing vital foodstuffs. This discrepancy can perhaps be excused; to include these in shot routinely would make location shooting prohibitively expensive or impracticable.
[edit] Awards
Foyle's War won the Lew Grade Audience Award at the BAFTA Television Awards in 2003. The award is based on the results of a viewer's poll conducted by the Radio Times.
[edit] International Broadcasts
Foyle's War has been transmitted in the following countries:
- Arabic countries - MBC 4
- Australia - ABC with repeats on UK.TV
- Canada - History Television and in Ontario on TVO
- Denmark - DR
- Finland - YLE
- Greece - ET3
- Netherlands - Nederland 1
- New Zealand - UK.TV
- Norway - NRK
- Sweden - SVT
- United States - PBS
[edit] DVD releases
| DVD Name | Region 2 | Region 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Foyle's War Series 1 | February 10, 2003 | March 11, 2003 |
| Foyle's War Series 2 | February 9, 2004 | July 20, 2004 |
| Foyle's War Series 3 | March 7, 2005 | November 1, 2005 |
| Foyle's War Series 4 | October 9, 2006 | TBA |
| Foyle's War Series 5 | April/May 2007 | TBA |
| Foyle's War Series 6 | TBA | TBA |
Series 1 to 4 of Foyle's War are available on DVD in Region 2, with Series 5 expected to be released in April or May 2007.
[edit] External links
- Foyle's War Website (www.foyleswar.com)
- PBS Masterpiece Theater: Foyle's War
- Foyle's War Messageboard at www.nothing-fancy.com
- Foyle's War at History.ca
- Foyle's War Messageboard at AnthonyHorowitz.com
- Foyle's War at visithastings.com
- Foyle's War: Hastings and WWII in Austerity by Victoria Seymor, a Hastings historian
- Foyle's War Series 5 Location, Midhurst
