Foyle’s
War: The Complete Series Six
“An
exciting, intriguing and brilliant
series set in England during World
War II, Foyle’s War appeared to have
come to an end with peace; but happily
Foyle has put off his retirement for
a further enthralling series...”
THE FANTASTIC SERIES FOYLE'S WAR returned to
ITV for a sixth series in early April and is happily now available on DVD. Tightly-scripted
and with credible characters, Foyle's War is totally
addictive and became an instant hit on its debut in 2002.
The first series won the Lew Grade Audience Award at the 2003 BAFTA Television
Awards and the second series was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Television Series.
Foyle's War is more than just a period whodunit and is redolent with rich
human drama, subtly revealed through the lives of the main characters at the
heart of the series and filmed on the South Coast in and around Hastings.
Created by acclaimed scriptwriter and novelist Anthony Horowitz (Midsomer
Murders; Stormbreakers), Produced by Lars MacFarlane and Directed by Stuart
Orme, Foyle's War: The Complete Series Six contains three exciting new
episodes all of which will keep you guessing as Foyle discovers the truth behind
an early suspicion.
Starring the marvellous Michael Kitchen (Fallen; The World Is Not Enough)
as the considered and enigmatic soon-to-be-retired Detective Chief Superintendent
Foyle, the new series sees the DCS trying to find his way in a new England,
free of war. When his hopes of retirement are dashed due to a shortage of senior
men, he is back on the case with three exciting new adventures in which he investigates
international conspiracy, military racism and treason.
Episode 1 is The Russian House, where DCS Foyle has to decide if he should
expose the British Government after he stumbles upon an international cover-up.
With the war over, in June 1945 Russian soldiers who are former prisoners of
war are being sent home.
Two run off and after a terrible tragedy, Ivan Spierkov (Marek Oravec) escapes
to London to the Russian House, with his friend Nikolai Vladchenko (Dimitry
Drannikov), who is working for high-profile artist sir Leonard Spencer-Jones
(Christopher Good) at Redwood Lodge near Brighton, where Sam Stewart (Honeysuckle
Weeks), is now working as a housekeeper.
After Sir Leonard is shot dead, DI Paul Milner (Anthony Howell) crosses swords
with Foyle, who has been asked to investigate Ivan's disappearance by Brigadier
Timothy Wilson (Tim Pigott-Smith). With a growing list of suspects, Foyle leaves
no stone unturned to try and solve the mystery.
Is Sir Leonard's estranged politician son Maurice (Tom Goodman-Hill) the murderer?
Suspicion also falls on a desperate Nikolai and a disappointed Tom Bradley (Tom
Brooke) who is staying with his brother Joe (Ryan Kiggell) having returned from
the war to find Sir Leonard cannot give him back his old job.
Foyle's investigation of the Russian House in London brings Sam a new romance
in the guise of Adam Wainwright (Max Brown) — who offers Sam work at his
ailing Hill House Guest House in Hastings. But while in the capital, Sam and
Foyle are plunged into a sensitive and dangerous situation that puts their lives
at risk.
Episode 1 also features the lovely Eleanor Bron as Elsa Konstantin; Linda Marlowe
as Edna Howard; Polly Maberly as Edith Milner; Adam Englander as Russian Agent;
Marcel Iures as Monseiur Duveen; Emil Hostina as Alex Anokhov; and Alister Cameron
as Walter Hardiman.
Consultant Producer is Michael Kitchen; Imperial War Museum Consultant is Terry
Charman; Stand In is Mal Tobias; Title Music is by Jim Parker; Costume Designer
is Maria Price; and Director of Photography is James Aspinall.
The second episode, Killing Time, sees Foyle in the July of 1945 twice
taking on the US Army. Firstly, he is opposed to racial segregation in the Hastings
Public Houses. Then he helps black GI Gabe Kelly (Obi Abili), who has fathered
a child with local girl Mandy Dean (Charlotte Riley) and is now accused of a
murder Foyle is convinced he did not commit.
Mandy's former boyfriend, boxer and conscientious objector Tommy Duggan is back
in the area and along with solving the murder, Foyle also wants to track down
a couple who have been robbing car drivers at gunpoint and were possibly involved
with a wages heist. Is American Major Westcott really as helpful as he seems
and how does the racially prejudiced Sergeant Calhoun fit into the puzzle? Uncovering
a racket against war profiteers and some sleazy blackmail is all part of the
job for the DCS.
In the third episode, The Hide, Foyle is determined to save James Devereaux
(Andrew Scott), a young man who has been accused of high treason, from the hangman's
noose. The son of respected Sir Charles Devereaux (David Yelland), he served
with distinction at Dunkirk but now refuses point-blank to co-operate with solicitor
Alan Deakin.
What is the dreadful secret James will not reveal about his mother's death when
he was fourteen-years-old? What was the truth about piano teacher Simon Rothstein?
And how is Agnes Littleton, a young woman who has been strangled, linked in
to James?
Agnes had a boyfriend called Jack, who was working on a hush-hush assignment
in Germany and she was expecting his friend to bring her news of him. Foyle
has a very personal reason for wanting to help James and meanwhile Sam is getting
closer to Adam.
Foyle's War makes a welcome return to both television and to DVD — this
don't-miss series is a joy and there must surely be more of these riveting stories
in the pot.
• Acorn Media is delighted to announce that
Foyle's War: The Complete Series Six of the hugely popular and successful
long-running ITV series, is released as a wonderful three-disc box set on 26
April (2010). RRP: £24.99 | Catalogue Number: AV9783 | Running Time: 274 Minutes
| Certificate: 12 | Extra Features: Cast Biographies and Picture Gallery.
"Foyle's War… An exciting, intriguing and brilliant series" —
Maggie Woods, MotorBar
"A feast for the eyes" — memorabletv.com
