Fortunes of War (1987– )

Guy Pringle and his new wife, Harriet, are members of the English community in Bucharest, Rumania on the eve of World War II. The film catalogs and chronicles, after the war begins, the ... See full summary »

Stars:

Emma Thompson, Kenneth Branagh, Charles Kay

3 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Emma Thompson	...	Harriet Pringle (7 episodes, 1987)
Kenneth Branagh	...	Guy Pringle (7 episodes, 1987)
Charles Kay	...	Dobson (7 episodes, 1987)
Mark Drewry	...	Dubedat (5 episodes, 1987)
Ronald Pickup	...	Prince Yakimov (4 episodes, 1987)
Alan Bennett	...	Lord Pinkrose (4 episodes, 1987)
Harry Burton	...	Sasha Drucker (4 episodes, 1987)
Rupert Graves	...	Simon Boulderstone (3 episodes, 1987)
James Villiers	...	Inchcape (3 episodes, 1987)
Robert Stephens	...	Castlebar (3 episodes, 1987)
Ciaran Madden	...	Angela Hooper (3 episodes, 1987)
Desmond McNamara	...	Galpin (3 episodes, 1987)
Richard Clifford	...	Lawson (3 episodes, 1987)
Diana Hardcastle	...	Edwina Little (3 episodes, 1987)
Christopher Strauli	...	Toby Lush (3 episodes, 1987)
Greg Hicks	...	Aidan Pratt (3 episodes, 1987)
Elena Secota	...	Sophie Oresanu (3 episodes, 1987)
Magdalena Buznea	...	Despina (3 episodes, 1987)
Caroline Langrishe	...	Bella Niculesco (3 episodes, 1987)
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Hadjimoscos (3 episodes, 1987)
Mischa De La Motte	...	Horvath (3 episodes, 1987)
Nicholas Amer	...	Palu (3 episodes, 1987)
Sam Dastor	...	Dr. Shafik (2 episodes, 1987)
Clifford Rose	...	Professor Gracey (2 episodes, 1987)
Patricia Quinn	...	Mona Castlebar (2 episodes, 1987)
Glyn Grain	...	Foxy Leverett (2 episodes, 1987)
Claire Oberman	...	Mortimer (2 episodes, 1987)
Anthony Calf	...	Corporal Arnold (2 episodes, 1987)
Esmond Knight	...	Liversage (2 episodes, 1987)
Erin Donovan	...	Phil (2 episodes, 1987)
Vladimir Mirodan	...	Nikko Niculesco (2 episodes, 1987)
Jeremy Sinden	...	Lord Lisdoonvarna (2 episodes, 1987)
Relja Basic	...	Emmanuel Drucker (2 episodes, 1987)

Storyline

Guy Pringle and his new wife, Harriet, are members of the English community in Bucharest, Rumania on the eve of World War II. The film catalogs and chronicles, after the war begins, the characters [diplomats, literary types, spies, penniless royalty, gays, lesbians] that cross and re-cross their path as they flee before the advancing Germany armies to Athens and then to Cairo.

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Plot Keywords:

spy | lesbian | tv mini series | world war two | activist | 

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 October 1987 (UK)

Also Known As:

Krigets skördar

Filming Locations:

Alexandria, Egypt

Company Credits

Production Co:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

407 min 407 min (7 parts)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The last role of Esmond Knight who died in his hotel room near where the project was made.

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Quotes

Toby Lush: Guy, you know what Harriet reminds me of? Those lines of Tennyson; "She walks in beauty like the night, Of cloudless climes and starry skies."
Guy Pringle: Byron.

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Connections

Featured in Time Shift: Alan Plater: Hearing the Music (2005)

User Reviews

superb !

I've watched this 3 hrs+ movie a dozen of times already, and I am sill thirsty for more. This movie is packed with beautiful acting by nearly all casts. These English actors seem to know how to control their facial expressions, vocal tones, body movement with remarkable precision to convey all degrees of emotions and personalities. Directing, music, costume, editing, cinematography are all equally good as well, and together with the great actings, creates a beautiful harmony. This movie is made of one piece. Like "Lawrence of Arabia", whereever we slice it, the piece has a harmony, like the music by great composers.

If I have to live in a desert island and can bring one video with me, I guess I'll choose this one.