In the last days of WWI, a wounded and shell-shocked soldier appears at a posh British boys' school and applies for a teaching job. His name is David Powlett-Jones (John Duttine) and he hails from the coal mines of Wales. Though he feels woefully out of place, the jovial headmaster (Frank Middlemass) likes him and he's hired. We watch as David adjusts to life as a school master, learns to deal with the privileged boys and the opinionated staff, experiences love and loss, and grows up to be just the man the headmaster knew he would.
This 13-part miniseries on four disks is simply wonderful. The story spans twenty years, going slowly so we get to know and care about David and his associates. John Duttine is very convincing as the timid and self-conscious young man who gradually learns about life and people. Middlemass is excellent as the wise and cheerful headmaster and Alan MacNaughton gives a particularly touching performance as a crusty old house master. The series was filmed on location in a beautiful English boys' school and the sense of history and tradition is palpable.
The story finds comedy and tragedy in everyday situations. It was a pleasure to watch a group of people who lived together in the days when they really talked and listened to each other, with nary an electronic device to distract them. When it was all over, I heard myself sighing and wishing I could watch it all again. I felt like I knew and liked the characters and, most importantly, that they were real and interesting. Highly recommended.
This 13-part miniseries on four disks is simply wonderful. The story spans twenty years, going slowly so we get to know and care about David and his associates. John Duttine is very convincing as the timid and self-conscious young man who gradually learns about life and people. Middlemass is excellent as the wise and cheerful headmaster and Alan MacNaughton gives a particularly touching performance as a crusty old house master. The series was filmed on location in a beautiful English boys' school and the sense of history and tradition is palpable.
The story finds comedy and tragedy in everyday situations. It was a pleasure to watch a group of people who lived together in the days when they really talked and listened to each other, with nary an electronic device to distract them. When it was all over, I heard myself sighing and wishing I could watch it all again. I felt like I knew and liked the characters and, most importantly, that they were real and interesting. Highly recommended.