Enemy at the Door (1978–1980) User Reviews (17)

Enjoyable series, a bit stagey

[Marlburian · 8/10 · 19 February 2012]

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.

A very fine bit of acting and storytelling

[nancyldraper · 9/10 · 16 October 2018]

This is not a new production, with all the bells and whistles we expect of modern productions, but it is a very fine British drama, well written scripts and the best of performances (with episode actors who went on to be substantial TV and Stage personalities). The stories it tells are well researched chronicling a period of history not widely told, and therefore a valuable record of WW II war time struggles. For those who have enjoyed the 2018 movie THE GUERNSEY POTATO PEEL PIE LITERARY SOCIETY, this tells more of those stories (within the TV production capabilities of 1978). I give this series an 8 (very fine) out of 10. {Occupation Drama}

This is a fine 1978-80 TV drama from beginning to end.

[nancyldraper · 9/10 · 5 November 2018]

This is not a new production, with all the bells and whistles we expect of modern productions, but it is a very fine British drama, well written scripts and the best of performances (with episode actors who went on to be substantial TV and Stage personalities). The stories it tells are well researched, chronicling a period of history not widely told, and therefore a valuable record of WW II war time struggles. For those who have enjoyed the 2018 movie THE GUERNSEY POTATO PEEL PIE LITERARY SOCIETY, this tells more of those stories (within the TV production capabilities of 1978). This second series was even more substantial than the first, and I give the whole series an 9 (superb) out of 10. {Occupation War Drama}

People Survive Other People

[cfprenner · 27 January 2005]

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.

a beautiful tv series about quiet desperation.

[zepp01 · 8/10 · 25 July 2020]

I bought the dvd 10 years ago but watched it only a few weeks ago,and i am glad i did,anyone expecting an action packed ww2 series like 'x company' or even 'bomb girls' look elsewhere,this series is about the daily life of guernsey islanders under the german occupation dealing with food shortages,fuel shortages,medicine shortages,black market,relationships between guernsey girls and german soldiers and more. most of the actors and actresses manage to convey an air of quiet desperation throughout the entire series barring season 2 episode 7 which is completely different in tone and mood,i was highly impressed with 3 standout performers, alfred burke(colonel richter),bernard horsfall(dr. martel) and helen shingler as helen porteous,there's also the awful emily richard(clare martel),she's an absolute stinker here. on a scale from 1-10 i rate this series a very strong 8.highly recommended.

Actually is excellent

[rossfrc · 9/10 · 17 August 2021]

I am always interested in WWII shows that tell about the experience that civilians had during this time. Especially British citizens because they were fighting much longer and pretty much alone for over 3 years. This show did not disappoint in telling a story that not many people knew or thought about probably. But this show has an added story/surprise that from my point of view has rarely been shown. The show not only tries to tell the story of the people on the island who had to live under the German occupation but it also tries to show what it was like for some of the members of the occupying force who tried to follow their conscience as they did their duty.

I have to say the writing and the acting from the actors were excellent in portraying this dilemma that some of them faced. I felt the struggle while watching the Germans soldiers tried to be fair in situations that maybe they didn't agree with but wanting to honor why the Germans were fighting. It was difficult for them to separate this from the Nazi beliefs and Hitler's fanaticism.

In many ways I saw the struggles that both side faced. And it was all due to how well the actors portrayed their characters. I will repeat excellent acting.

For anyone who hasn't watched this or maybe started and then quit - you are missing out. Watch it and let yourself be drawn in by each episode as it goes deeper into what people experienced as the war progresses and as both sides become more familiar with each other, as both good and bad emerges in the people involved I agree with what other reviewers has said - I wish it would have had more than 2 seasons. I want to know who survived and what happened to the Germans who tried to be fair and faithful?

Excellent tv series

[malcolmgsw · 8/10 · 3 May 2021]

I remember this series from when it was first transmitted, and I have been to both Jersey and Guernsey numerous times. It is well written and acted. Probably the stand out actor is Simon Cabell who is suitably evil and malevolent as the SS officer. The second series ended at April 1943. It is a great shame that there wasn't a third series to take it up to the liberation.

Generally Superb

[nigel_hawkes · 9/10 · 23 August 2021]

I caught this series again recently on UK's wonderful Talking Pictures TV channel; probably the 4th or 5th time since first viewing it back in 1978/79.

All episodes are very interesting with thought-provoking moral dilemmas; the acting throughout is excellent; one really cares about the participants.

It was rather "controversial" in its day with its sympathetic treatment of the German occupiers, showing them as often just as hapless as the occupied, quite a departure from the usual British "plucky hero" films that dominated from way back in the '50s.

It is difficult to commend any individual actor as all the main ones are so perfect in their roles; if forced, I guess it would have to be either Bernard Horsfall as the doctor or Alfred Burke as the Major (later Colonel) who has come from the world of academia.

Similarly, how does one cite a favourite episode? For me it has to be the second series' one where the new General gives the Alfred Burke character a severe rollicking, then reveals a relenting surprise! The tension during that interview is worthy of Tarantino.

The final episode is desperately sad; but I don't get the impression that the producers were planning to end the run there. What a shame that we never got a third season-I can imagine the final episode with the end of the war and the Colonel nobly handing over his command to the Committee.....

Anyway, let's be grateful for what we have.

Slow but well written

[vonnoosh · 7/10 · 6 November 2021]

This series is very slow moving, ends less than half way through the war, has a soap opera feel to it, but it is also well written and I wonder if it was based around published war time letters and journals. The show highlights nuances which are often abandoned in war dramas and captures wel the tell tale sign of ALL totalitarian regimes be them fascist or communist, giant stiffling mind numbing bureaucracies to deal with where you do everything they tell you to do to get what you ask for and in the end, it doesn't come.

I never considered there was much disparity between the German army and the SS. In a strange way, virtually everyone is humanized instead of appearing as good guy versus bad guy caricatures. One German soldier befriends a mother and her son likely missing his own family he left behind, another falls in love with an islander and seeks to marry her despite it being illegal. Another German spent most of his adult life in London but returned to Germany to tend to his ailing parents just before the war and was subsequently drafted into their service. Indeed, Even the sadistic head of the SS, played unforgettably by Simon Cadell (it is hard to imagine him in anything else after this but I want to see him in other things just to get this role out of my head) includes an episode where he is confronted with seeing his ex lover becoming a prostitute. That is not to imply this series shows sympathy for his character or the Germans frankly. The SS are portrayed exactly as they were, racist sociopaths at best who think all degrees of brutality are justified to achieve their goals. They murder an African maid, mercilessly beat a boy for painting Vs, beat an escape prisoner to death. There is nothing sympathetic there. Often the conflict in the story is between the regular German army and the head of the SS who is constantly seeking extremist measures of punishment for virtually everything assuming all infractions are a direct assault against them and Hitler.

Probably the most interesting aspect of the show is how well mental illness is documented from both sides. Another reason I feel this show was inspired by letters and journals. I've read a few collections that have been archived. You won't find many that blindly spout party politics when theor human nature prevails in the end.

Alfred Burke and Bernard Horsfall share the lead roles playing characters seeking a common ground for what is best for the islanders. The task becomes more and more difficult toward the end of the short series as events occur more and more without their knowledge. The show documents some historical events like the start of occupation, the building of he labor camps, forced deportations, massive food shortages etc and that makes it a shame that the series didn't carry on to document further events like what happened when the island's supply chain was severed. One can assume how such things carried on but if it moved quicker, maybe they might have covered the end of the war sooner.

a very different perspective of ww2

[elvismlv · 10/10 · 17 March 2018]

The sacrifice the people of Guernsey made was to tolerate the rules and discipline of the German SS. If it werent for the German invasion Guenrsey

would have been out of the War. There would have been some sacrifices but not at the level the Germans created. One questions what the Germans gained by invading the island in the first place. All the interaction between people on the island caused by the constant surveillance of the Germans is interesting to see develop. The botched raid by the British soldiers reminds me of Entebbe which is a new movie right now.

It was clear the the British military forgot how to fight a war: eg Dunkirk.

These civilian people were fighting back in their own way and the Germans could do little to stop them. They resisted the Germans in a way only the British could.

Atmospheric

[Picgoer · 9/10 · 6 April 2022]

Atmospheric

I am rewatching this excellent atmospheric series on the Talking Pictures Channel.

Whilst the production values of the programme are not what we are used to, its understated approach and the dark tones used in filming all add to the sense of claustrophobia of being stuck on a small island in close proximity of your captors.

The acting is on the whole an excellent ensemble piece with special mention going to Alfred Burke (always good) as Major Richter, Bernard Horsefall as Dr Martell, and Simon Lack, Major Freidel. Simon Cadell was suitably sinister as Reinicke, a far cry from his later role in the very popular sit com Hi de Hi.

Whilst I understand there was some criticism from the Channel Islands at the time it was first broadcast (it had been filmed in Jersey instead of Guernsey), there is a realism in the programme and the technical advisor, Raymond Falla, was a member of the Controlling Committee in Guernsey during the occupation, so much of the detail must have been accurate.

It is a shame that the series didn't run to its natural conclusion as one becomes invested in the characters. It would have been good to find out what happened to them all!

Sent from my iPad.

So much to say about how great this series is ( 10/10 )

[bruce-129 · 27 February 2019]

That I find myself at a loss for words. I have never heard of this story of WWII and this series though probably not historically accurate, give us somewhat of an idea about what the people of the Isle of Guernsey, situated near France which was taken over by the Nazis during WWII and put their population though major misery.

The story is told with such deftness and cleverness that it is not just an interesting historical drama, but a great story of friends, neighbors, war, citizens, and family. I never thought I would enjoy this so much or get so much out of it.

I unreservedly recommend "Enemy At The Door" to anyone who imagines they might find it interesting ... and others.

Excellent Story lines.

[benhur47 · 10/10 · 25 March 2023]

Great actors in this, but it is the individual storylines that make this an excellent series. Each episode has a different story. One particular episode that is particularly poignant is the episode called Jerrybag, Season 1, episode 9. In this episode a young woman becomes a cleaner at the German HQ and meets a German soldier. They fall in love and young woman becomes pregnant, she is shunned by some members of the local community, matters are made worse when the soldier is posted to the Russian front where he is killed. Despite being told she should put the baby up for adoption, she keeps baby.

Not Your Typical WWII Story--Not Told As Expected

[sctsdph · 9/10 · 22 October 2023]

I was surprised not to have seen this on any premium channels or PBS Amazon, but it's worth the commercials.

None of these characters is a stereotype, other than perhaps the SS character; other than him, people are nuanced, and the actors play them as such. I actually felt some empathy for some of the Germans, who, like any occupying force, are presented with uncomfortable choices and try to do their jobs professionally, without brutality. As time goes on, you can see how some collaboration would happen, and where both sides draw the line. This is the most fascinating part of the story for me.

There is a sense of claustrophobia with everyone, including the Germans, being crowded together and isolated from much of what's going on elsewhere. And almost nothing happens as you expect if you've watched a lot of WWII dramas, so you are drawn into this tiny world too right from the start. No matter how fair or honest the occupiers may try to be, it is ALWAYS a struggle for control and the power to take or save any life is in the hands of a few soldiers who would often rather not be there. Learning the motivations of different Germans as they exercise that power was fascinating, so was seeing how manipulation was balanced against brute force to get what people wanted.

I felt like there were some stories that stopped too abruptly and that a third season was planned, or should have been. But then, maybe that is what happens in war.

Similarities to Colditz

[midbrowcontrarian · 8/10 · 17 September 2023]

Guernsey under occupation in WW2. One thing that struck me were casting similarities to Colditz (1972), played out on a larger stage. Alfred Burke plays Bernard Hepton's role as the firm but fair German in charge. Simon Cadell has Anthony Valentine's part as fanatical Nazi breathing down his boss's neck. Bernard Horsfall has a similar responsibility to Jack Hedley as hard pressed interlocutor between the Germans and the captives. There is even Colditz actor Richard Heffer, playing a similarly dashing daredevil. The big difference is the presence of women, and some of the most memorable episodes concern them.

After the Ball. At a dance instigated by Reinicke (Cadell), a young Austrian soldier picks up an attractive Guernsey girl. But subsequent event prove disastrous for both of them.

The Jerrybag. The sad story of Betty, not bad looking but somewhat dowdy and lacking self esteem. She has an affair with, and gets pregnant by a German soldier, is ostracised by her fellow islanders, and her lover later comes to grief on the Eastern front. Betty reappears three years later in The Right Blood, where her luck fails to improve.

My one grumble is that the conclusion of the final episode Escape is unnecessarily grim, and one felt short changed that Reinicke failed to get his deserved comeuppance.

It Ended too soon.

[granty-95171 · 8/10 · 4 January 2023]

It's nice to see a tv drama do justice to one of WW2's more intriguing events, the nazi occupation of the Channel Islands. Like 'Secret Army', 'Enemy At The Door' was cleverly nuanced in its portrayal of its characters; not all the Germans were bad, not all the islanders were good, and some of the best episodes deal with the sometimes complex relationship between the occupier and occupied.

The cast is top drawer, especially the always excellent Alfred Burke, and Simon Cadell ; what a pity this actor got somewhat typecast in 'Hi Di Hi', as he gives an impressively subtle performance as SS officer Reinicke here. Another standout performance is Bernard Horsfall as Doctor Martel, a rather reluctant hero in the Albert Foiret mould.

Whilst 'Enemy At The Door' does a fine job of retelling this curiously overlooked chapter, it's a real shame it ended so abruptly after two seasons. It seems obvious to me that the writers were intending to do a third but the show got cancelled, leaving storylines open-ended and unanswered questions about the fate of several characters; it was an unfortunate way to end to this hitherto excellent series.

Exceptional

[GeorgeFairbrother · 3 November 2020]

From a time when British television period and costume drama was of a consistently high standard, Enemy at the Door, by London Weekend Television, is a real standout.

The casting is as perfect as could be. It's also very cleverly written, and acted, in that the German occupiers often seem more likeable than many of the islanders, particularly the Commandant, Richter, played superbly by Alfred Burke. The relationship between Richter and the local doctor, Martel (Bernard Horsfall) is exquisitely crafted, demonstrating the tensions arising from being enemies by circumstance, harbouring a mutual liking and respect without showing it too much, and having to oversee a functioning community in impossible circumstances.

Simon Cadell plays the obligatory SS fanatic, Reinicke with sinister understatement, and jolts us out of any complacent sympathy for the German perspective by demonstrating just what they were capable of.

It's such a brilliant and thought-provoking story, and such a shame that it did not extend beyond the two series.