Island at War
| Island at War | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Written by | Stephen Mallatratt |
| Starring | James Wilby Clare Holman Owen Teale Julia Ford Phillip Glenister Saskia Reeves |
| Country of origin | UK |
| No. of episodes | 6 (UK) 5 (US) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Sita Williams |
| Running time | approx. 398 min |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV |
Island at War is a British-made telefilm that also aired on American television in the form of a Masterpiece Theatre miniseries. It premiered in the UK on July 11, 2004, and in the US on January 23, 2005. The series tells the story of the German Occupation of the Channel Islands, and primarily focuses on three families: the Jonases, the Dorrs and the Mahys. The fictional island of St. Gregory serves as a stand-in for the real-life islands Jersey and Guernsey, and the story is compiled from the events on both islands.
"Island at War" had an estimated budget of £9,000,000 (about US$16,000,000) and was filmed on location in the Isle of Man from August 2003 to October 2003. When the film was shown in Great Britain, it appeared in six 70-minute episodes. During its run on American television, however, it was presented in five 90-minute installments.
Cast of Characters
The Islanders
Kathleen Jonas played by Julia Ford
Wilf Jonas played by Owen Teale
Sheldon Leveque played by Sean Gallagher
James Dorr played by James Wilby
Felicity Dorr
played by Clare Holman
Phillip Dorr (aka "Mr. Brotherson")
played by Sam Heughan
Urban Mahy played by Julian Wadham
Cassie Mahy played by Saskia Reeves
Angelique Mahy played by Joanne Frogatt
June Mahy played by Samantha Robinson
Zelda Kay (aka "Hannah Kosminsky") played by Louisa Clein
The Germans
Baron Von Rheingarten played by Philip Glenister
Oberleutnant Walker
played by Conor Mullen
Captain Dieter Muller played by Daniel Flynn
Bernhardt Tellemann played by Laurence Fox
Minor Characters
Eugene La Sal played by Richard Dempsey
Ada Jonas played by Ann Rye
Colin Jonas played by Sean Ward
Episode Synopses
Episode One
As news that the British army is withdrawing from St. Gregory gets out, the Islanders scramble to secure places on the few boats that will take them to safety in England. Policeman Wilf Jonas and his wife Kathleen make plans to send their children Colin and Mary out of harm's way. As a German invasion becomes iminent, Colin and Mary are put on a boat to England, but Colin escapes and hides in the Jonases' barn. Kathleen, although relieved that he is okay, is horrified that Mary is left on her own.
Meanwhile, Senator James Dorr is unhappily married to his wife Felicity. Felicity—who is not a native Islander, and is often exasperated by the lifestyle and people of St. Gregory—wishes to evacuate; James agrees with her, thinking it will keep her out of his way. After Felicity is caught in a German raid on the harbor, she and James decide to stay together on the island and support each other.
Cassie Mahy operates a grocery store with her husband Urban. Cassie is the brains of the business, while Urban often feels left out. When Mr. Isaaks—a Jewish neighbor—leaves St. Gregory, he offers to give Urban his camera shop. Urban and Cassie ultimately decide to leave for England with their daughters: Angelique, who works for James Dorr in the Senate, and June, who sings at a local nightclub. When he sees the fragile boat they are to be evacuated onto, Urban changes his mind and the family waits for a safer boat. They arrive back at home only to find they have been looted by fellow Islanders. Their situation causes Cassie to become frantic. She yells at Urban and storms out of the house. Although he shares Cassie's worry, Urban can't help but be excited about the prospect of staying and running Mr. Isaaks' camera shop. Before Cassie and Urban can reconcile, Urban is killed when the Germans bomb the harbor, leaving Cassie frought with guilt.
As they are in no position to fight the Germans, the people of St. Gregory surrender. Baron Von Rheingarten proclaims that the island is now occupied by the Third Reich.