Enemy at the Door
Encyclopedia
Enemy At The Door is a British
television
drama series made by London Weekend Television
for ITV
. The series was shown between 1978 and 1980 and dealt with the German
occupation of Guernsey
, one of the Channel Islands
, during the Second World War. The programme generated a certain amount of criticism in Guernsey, particularly for being obviously filmed on Jersey
despite being ostensibly set on Guernsey
. The series also marked the TV debut of Anthony Head
as a member of the island resistance. The theme music was by Wilfred Josephs
.
), who struggled to maintain the peace while the Germans were led by Major Dieter Richter (Alfred Burke
), a peace-time academic who was inclined to be lenient on the Guernsey populace but whose approach was challenged by his more conventionally "nasty" SS counterpart Hauptsturmführer
Klaus Reinicke (Simon Cadell
). Rounding out the principal German characters were Major Friedl and Ober-Leutenant Kluge, a former policeman still more inclined to act as a policeman rather than a soldier.
Many episodes portrayed the balance of power and fragile harmony between the islanders and the German occupying forces, and how it was threatened by either resistance action or over-zealous clamping down by the Germans.
A precursor to his role as Bergerac in the detective series set on Jersey, John
Nettles played a police detective ordered to work for the Germans and anguished over the conflict between his duty and collaborating with the enemy.
The series ended with the Germans still in occupation, and did not depict their eventual defeat.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
drama series made by London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. The series was shown between 1978 and 1980 and dealt with the German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
occupation of Guernsey
Occupation of the Channel Islands
The Channel Islands were occupied by Nazi Germany for much of World War II, from 30 June 1940 until the liberation on 9 May 1945. The Channel Islands are two British Crown dependencies and include the bailiwicks of Guernsey and Jersey as well as the smaller islands of Alderney and Sark...
, one of the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
, during the Second World War. The programme generated a certain amount of criticism in Guernsey, particularly for being obviously filmed on Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
despite being ostensibly set on Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
. The series also marked the TV debut of Anthony Head
Anthony Head
Anthony Stewart Head , usually credited as Anthony Head, is an English actor and musician. He rose to fame in the UK following his role in television advertisements for Nescafé Gold Blend , and is known for his roles as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as Uther Pendragon in...
as a member of the island resistance. The theme music was by Wilfred Josephs
Wilfred Josephs
-Life:Born in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, Wilfred Josephs had his first musical studies in Newcastle with Arthur Milner, and showed early promise, but was persuaded by his parents to take up a 'sensible' career. He subsequently became a dentist, qualifying as a Bachelor of Dental Surgery of the...
.
Plot
The islanders were chiefly represented by the respected local doctor, Philip Martell (Bernard HorsfallBernard Horsfall
Bernard Horsfall is a British actor.Horsfall was born in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. He has appeared in many television and film roles including: Guns at Batasi , On Her Majesty's Secret Service , Enemy at the Door , Gandhi , The Jewel in the Crown , The Hound of the Baskervilles Bernard...
), who struggled to maintain the peace while the Germans were led by Major Dieter Richter (Alfred Burke
Alfred Burke
Alfred Burke was a British actor, best known for his portrayal of Frank Marker in the drama series Public Eye, which ran on television for ten years.-Early life:...
), a peace-time academic who was inclined to be lenient on the Guernsey populace but whose approach was challenged by his more conventionally "nasty" SS counterpart Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer
Hauptsturmführer was a Nazi rank of the SS which was used between the years of 1934 and 1945. The rank of Hauptsturmführer was a mid-grade company level officer and was the equivalent of a Captain in the German Army and also the equivalent of captain in foreign armies...
Klaus Reinicke (Simon Cadell
Simon Cadell
Simon John Cadell was an English actor.Born in London, he was the grandson of the Scottish character actor Jean Cadell, the brother of the actress Selina Cadell, and the cousin of the actor Guy Siner. He was educated at Bedales School at Petersfield where his close friends included Gyles...
). Rounding out the principal German characters were Major Friedl and Ober-Leutenant Kluge, a former policeman still more inclined to act as a policeman rather than a soldier.
Many episodes portrayed the balance of power and fragile harmony between the islanders and the German occupying forces, and how it was threatened by either resistance action or over-zealous clamping down by the Germans.
A precursor to his role as Bergerac in the detective series set on Jersey, John
Nettles played a police detective ordered to work for the Germans and anguished over the conflict between his duty and collaborating with the enemy.
The series ended with the Germans still in occupation, and did not depict their eventual defeat.
Cast
- Bernard HorsfallBernard HorsfallBernard Horsfall is a British actor.Horsfall was born in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire. He has appeared in many television and film roles including: Guns at Batasi , On Her Majesty's Secret Service , Enemy at the Door , Gandhi , The Jewel in the Crown , The Hound of the Baskervilles Bernard...
as Dr. Philip Martel - Alfred BurkeAlfred BurkeAlfred Burke was a British actor, best known for his portrayal of Frank Marker in the drama series Public Eye, which ran on television for ten years.-Early life:...
as Major Richter - Simon CadellSimon CadellSimon John Cadell was an English actor.Born in London, he was the grandson of the Scottish character actor Jean Cadell, the brother of the actress Selina Cadell, and the cousin of the actor Guy Siner. He was educated at Bedales School at Petersfield where his close friends included Gyles...
as Hauptsturmfuhrer Reinicke - John MalcolmJohn MalcolmMajor-general Sir John Malcolm was a Scottish soldier, statesman, and historian-Early life:Born at Burnfoot, Dumfriesshire, Malcolm was the son of George Malcolm, a gentleman farmer of Eskdale and Burnfoot. Jock, as he was then known, was one of the four Malcolm brothers who attained knighthoods...
as Oberleutnant Kluge - Simon Lack as Major Freidel
- Richard HefferRichard HefferRichard Heffer is a British actor, best known for his roles on television in the 1970s and 1980s, when he became a very familiar face....
as Peter Porteous - Helen Shingler as Helen Porteous
- Antonia Pemberton as Olive Martel
- Emily RichardEmily RichardEmily Richard is a British actress and a former member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.One of three sisters, Richard attended drama school in London in 1966 aged 18, but she was asked to leave after a year as she was "too timid". She then sold programmes in theatres in London's West End...
as Clare Martel
Season One (1978)
| # | Title | Original Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | By Order of the Führer | January 21 |
| 2 | The Librarian | January 28 |
| 3 | After the Ball | February 4 |
| 4 | Steel Hand from the Sea | February 11 |
| 5 | The Laws and Usages of War | February 18 |
| 6 | V for Victory | February 25 |
| 7 | The Polish Affaire | March 4 |
| 8 | Officers of the Law | March 11 |
| 9 | The Jerrybag | March 18 |
| 10 | Treason | March 25 |
| 11 | Pains and Penalties | April 1 |
| 12 | The Prussian Officer | April 8 |
| 13 | Judgement of Solomon | April 15 |
Season Two (1980)
| # | Title | Original Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Call of the Dead | January 5 |
| 2 | Reception for the General | January 12 |
| 3 | Angels That Soar Above | January 19 |
| 4 | No Quarter Given | January 26 |
| 5 | Committee Man | February 2 |
| 6 | Post Mortem | February 9 |
| 7 | The Raid | February 16 |
| 8 | Jealousy | February 23 |
| 9 | War Game | March 1 |
| 10 | The Right Blood | March 8 |
| 11 | From a View to a Death | March 15 |
| 12 | The Education of Nils Borg | March 22 |
| 13 | Escape | March 29 |
External links
- Episode guide, DVD review, cast gallery
- Enemy at the Door at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
. - British Film Institute Screen Online