Rating: 
Summary: Excellent adaptation of the R.F. Delderfield novel
Review: Those who saw this 13-episode miniseries in 1984 or read the Delderfield book won't be disappointed in the adaptation, finally released on DVD.
David Powlett-Jones, invalided from World War I by shell-shock and a leg injury, is encouraged to take up a career as a schoolmaster. He is hired by the headmaster of a boys boarding school in Southwestern England, and under the gentle encouragement of that headmaster, Algy Herries, finds he has quite a knack for teaching. His leftist (for their time) political views shake up the school, but he is quickly accepted.
The series covers the period between near the end of World War I to the start of World War II, and in that rapidly changing world, we see David evolve and gain confidence in himself and what he believes in. Perhaps this is best brought out in the relationships he has with three women, his first wife, Beth, who is tragically killed, Julia Derbyshire, with whom he has a romance, and his second wife, Christine, a would-be Labour politician. All recognize his genius and encourage him, and it is with their help that he finds fulfillment.
This was definitely a low budget affair (you see the same boys over and over again, even though over twenty years transpires!), with few outside scenes, and when the school catches on fire, the effects are minimal. But it doesn't matter. The acting is spectacular. John Duttine is spectacular as David. Frank Middlemass, who is probably the most familiar name to American audiences due to his part in "As Time Goes By", also excels as Herries. Look for an excellent small part as the disciplinarian Cordwainer by longtime British character actor, John Welsh. Again, though, the British showed their knack of putting together a large cast using actors, few of whom have been heard of beyond their shores.
There are few extras on the DVDs. A text biography of Delderfield, the lyrics to the Bamfylde school song (custom written, though it sounds like a hymn), an explanation that the school scenes were filmed using a school in Dorset, as well as the students there. That's the sole disappointment. Though the series was filmed cheaply, more extras on the DVD wouldn't have cost much.
Excellent. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Inspiring and thought-provoking
Review: After reading To Serve Them All My Days perhaps 20 years after its publication, I was convinced that I wanted to work with helping students as a volunteer, even if an opening as a teacher was not available--the book is that inspiring. It is rivetting reading.The DVD is beautifully produced, accurately preserving the main lines of the plot. The film-characters fit the book-characters down to the ground--especially the headmaster (who, two decades later, portrays Lionell Hardcastle's father in As Time Goes By, looking hardly a year older). The author, as I recall, reflects the popular politcal sympathy of his era (the very early 1970's), which may help account for the book's well-deserved success upon its publication. However, his hero's timeless advice to question popular academic culture (in the novel conservative) thus becomes unintentionally ironic--given today's much more liberal-leaning academic philosophy.
To Serve Them All My Days is Goodbye Mr. Chips (the plot of which it generally parallels) for the more community-and-politically involved--and is all the better for being so, regardless of one's political persuasion. I do hope, now that it is available on DVD, that public broadcasting stations will begin showing it again. It is truly a marvelous film.
Rating: 
Summary: Another BBC production up to its usual high standards
Review: Deep character development, the hallmark of other excellent BBC productions, is very much in evidence here, as we accompany a schoolteacher through the eras of his career. The boys school where he teaches becomes the forum for exploring human nature and English history in the inter-war era of the 20th century. Dialogue is credible, compelling and poignant. Acting never deviates from high standards. If you like BBC and other British style dramas, seriously consider this one.
Rating:
Summary: Another BBC production up to its usual high standards
Review: Deep character development, the hallmark of other excellent BBC productions, is very much in evidence here, as we accompany a schoolteacher through the eras of his career. The boys school where he teaches becomes the forum for exploring human nature and English history in the inter-war era of the 20th century. Dialogue is credible, compelling and poignant. Acting never deviates from high standards. If you like BBC and other British style dramas, seriously consider this one.
Rating:
Summary: Cry,Laugh,Jump for Joy then Cry again
Review: Have been watching over and over since this was originally shown on PBS maybe 10 or more years ago, my Videotapes,
Can't wait to get the real thing on DVD. Am pre-ordering it today.
Rating:
Summary: Better Than I Remembered!
Review: I haven't seen this series since the original run on "Masterpiece Theater" all those years ago. I do know that I enjoyed it hugely and was disappointed that I could never find it on tape. Having watched it again I can say that it is better than I remembered.
Rating:
Summary: Better Than I Remembered!
Review: I haven't seen this series since the original run on "Masterpiece Theater" all those years ago. I do know that I enjoyed it hugely and was disappointed that I could never find it on tape. Having watched it again I can say that it is better than I remembered.
Rating:
Summary: Just like I rememered it.
Review: I loved every minute of it, all over again.Growing up in England and going to Public schools really brings back the memories. The acting and story lines are riveting, you can't wait to get back to it.You will love this one and watch it many times over as I will.
Rating:
Summary: Just like I rememered it.
Review: I loved every minute of it, all over again.Growing up in England and going to Public schools really brings back the memories. The acting and story lines are riveting, you can't wait to get back to it.You will love this one and watch it many times over as I will.
Rating:
Summary: AT LONG LAST!!!!!!!
Review: I taped this miniseries when it first aired on Masterpiece Theatre many years ago. I have replayed those tapes many times in the intervening years and wondered if and when the series would be available on DVD. Now, just before those tapes wear out, here it is! As Mr. Fetzer says in the synopsis, the acting is impeccable, the story draws your interest quickly and holds you through the entire 13 hours. This is a must for any DVD library. This is well worth the investment in money and time.
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