Enemy at the Door (1978–1980)

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

Stars:

Alfred Burke, Bernard Horsfall, Antonia Pemberton

Cast

Series cast summary:
Alfred Burke	...	Major Richter (26 episodes, 1978-1980)
Bernard Horsfall	...	Dr. Philip Martel (23 episodes, 1978-1980)
Antonia Pemberton	...	Olive Martel (22 episodes, 1978-1980)
Simon Cadell	...	Sturmbannführer Reinicke (21 episodes, 1978-1980)
Simon Lack	...	Major Freidel (21 episodes, 1978-1980)
John Malcolm	...	Oberleutnant Kluge (19 episodes, 1978-1980)
Richard Heffer	...	Peter Porteous (16 episodes, 1978-1980)
Emily Richard	...	Clare Martel (15 episodes, 1978-1980)

Storyline

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

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Plot Keywords:

occupation | channel islands | guernsey | doctor | ss officer | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 1978 (UK)

Also Known As:

Nemico alla porta

Company Credits

Production Co:

London Weekend Television (LWT)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

650 min 60 min (26 episodes) 650 min (13 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Enjoyable series, a bit stagey

I came across this drama some months ago two-thirds of the way through its showing on the "Yesterday" channel here in the UK. Now it's being repeated again, and I've seen perhaps half the episodes. Hopefully I'll get around to seeing them all when/if it's repeated again! It's well worth watching and explores some interesting situations between the occupiers and residents. But it never ran to a third series, which would have had to deal with a worsening situation as the war progressed, supplies dried up and Jewish citizens deported.

I'm not one for characterising all, or indeed many, Germans in the war as Nazi thugs, but those most frequently featured in the series do come across as particularly humane, in fact benign - with the exception, of course, of Reinicke. I assume that all the characters are fictitious. With the series being first screened 35 years after the Occupation there would have been plenty of Guernsey people alive to have commented on the authenticity.

Perhaps now and then things get a bit stagey, that is, as it's a stage play, with some quite wordy dialogue. But I am looking forward to viewing the episodes I haven't seen yet.