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Reilly Ace of Spies
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CDN$ 14.99 |
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CDN$ 14.99 (100%) |
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| Editorial Reviews: | | |  | | Reilly: Ace of Spies is a thrilling dramatization of the fantastic life and exploits of Sidney Reilly, arguably the first modern secret agent and a complex, often unfathomable individual who invented his very name and identity. Sam Neill has never been better as the former Sigmund Rosenblum, an Odessa-born Jew who becomes a freelance spy for the British at the dawn of the 20th century. Calculating, ruthless, and more certain of his own counsel than the wisdom of his superiors, Reilly (he changes his name by the end of the first episode, "An Affair with a Married Woman," to obscure his personal history) can't help but remind one of a particularly determined James Bond. Reilly's reputation as a womanizer--not entirely deserved, but then none of his associates can quite figure out his thriving love life--adds to this historical figure's Bondian mystique. In other respects, Reilly's version of espionage is far more complicated, and has greater historical repercussions, than that of Fleming's superspy. The first half of the 12 episodes in this set concern Reilly's daring work ascertaining and even securing the West's access to Middle East oil and, looking ahead to Russia's possible rise as a major power, determine the extent of that country's oil reserves. At the same time, Reilly always has one eye trained on ethically ambiguous opportunities to accrue wealth or play one friendly interest against another. The oil mission leads him from virtual house arrest in the foothills of the Caucuses (where Reilly sleeps with the young wife of an aging preacher as cover for his escape, leaves her to be arrested, then later marries her) to Port Arthur in China (where he clears the way for British allies the Japanese to invade) to France (where Reilly competes with the Rothschilds over Persian Oil concessions). The latter episodes focus on Reilly's extraordinary attempt to overthrow the Bolsheviks following the Russian revolution, barely escaping St. Petersburg after a botched attempt to assassinate Lenin and later risking his life by returning and advocating the killing of Stalin. Throughout this ever-changing drama, the series' writing is a marvel of historical fact and intriguing speculation about Reilly's whereabouts, exploits, and private passions. The supporting cast is superb, including David Burke as Stalin and Tom Bell as Russia's secret police chief Dzerzhinsky. The series was co-directed by Martin Campbell, who took on Pierce Brosnan's first assignment as 007, GoldenEye. --Tom Keogh | |
| Custom Reviews: | |
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| Great series. Worth repeated viewing. | |
| | Sam Neill is in his element as Sidney Reilly (Sigmund Rosenblum) during the Russian revolution. You are never sure whom he is spying for. He is a British spy that was responsible for gaining secrets that assured the Japanese success in their maritime war efforts with the Russians. He later became involved in the Bolshevik revolution. All the time he is making money and we are never sure whether he is just a British spy or a double agent or just out for himself.
Original
Episode # Prod # Air Date Episode Title
____ _______ ________ ___________ ___________________________________________
1. 1- 1 5 Sep 83 An Affair with a Married Woman (90 min)
2. 1- 2 7 Sep 83 Prelude to War
3. 1- 3 14 Sep 83 The Visiting Fireman
4. 1- 4 21 Sep 83 Anna
5. 1- 5 28 Sep 83 Dreadnoughts and Crosses
6. 1- 6 5 Oct 83 Dreadnoughts and Doublecrosses
7. 1- 7 12 Oct 83 Gambit
8. 1- 8 19 Oct 83 Endgame
9. 1- 9 26 Oct 83 After Moscow
10. 1-10 2 Nov 83 The Trust
11. 1-11 9 Nov 83 The Last Journey
12. 1-12 16 Nov 83 Shutdown
| | Great series. Worth repeated viewing. | |
| | Sam Neill is in his element as Sidney Reilly (Sigmund Rosenblum) during the Russian revolution. You are never sure whom he is spying for. He is a British spy that was responsible for gaining secrets that assured the Japanese success in their maritime war efforts with the Russians. He later became involved in the Bolshevik revolution. All the time he is making money and we are never sure whether he is just a British spy or a double agent or just out for himself.
Each episode brings him to a different location and/or time where he shows an extraordinary understanding of the political and economic situation that he is in.
Original
Episode # Prod # Air Date Episode Title
____ _______ ________ ___________ ___________________________________________
1. 1- 1 5 Sep 83 An Affair with a Married Woman (90 min)
2. 1- 2 7 Sep 83 Prelude to War
3. 1- 3 14 Sep 83 The Visiting Fireman
4. 1- 4 21 Sep 83 Anna
5. 1- 5 28 Sep 83 Dreadnoughts and Crosses
6. 1- 6 5 Oct 83 Dreadnoughts and Doublecrosses
7. 1- 7 12 Oct 83 Gambit
8. 1- 8 19 Oct 83 Endgame
9. 1- 9 26 Oct 83 After Moscow
10. 1-10 2 Nov 83 The Trust
11. 1-11 9 Nov 83 The Last Journey
12. 1-12 16 Nov 83 Shutdown
| | Why isn't it here in the US on DVD... | |
| | I have not seen these videos, but the series was made in Britain for ITV, and shown in the US on Public Television in the 80s. I just finished watching it on my own PBS station, as they brought it back this winter. This is a five star series. The story and the acting are of the best. Sam Neill is superb, and the story is based on reality - the first real "spy" as we use the term today. Sidney "Reilly" was first and foremost an agent of the British government, and his actions and life centered on this fact. Yet, his loyalties were divided, as he was a Russian born and he dispised the revolution and worked against it as best he could, and ultimately died for his work. The series is always thought provoking and not light entertainment at all.
| | | In December B. Harnden wrote a warning about buying the 4 video set expressing his disappointment that it did not include the first 2-hour segment which appeared on PBS. I have just had the same experience. Harnden indicated that he was going to order the "first" tape with the hope that it is the tape of the first segment. I wonder if he or anyone knows what the answer to this conundrum is. Like Harnden, I would like to see the whole series.
John
| | Well-written, highly entertaining series. | |
| | | I'm not able to top another review written earlier on this series. I was prompted to read several books about Sidney Reilly after seeing this mini series. Reilly was a real figure who worked as a sort of free lance agent for the then fledgling British Secret Service. The series follows Reilly from the beginning of his career in the Caucasus after stealing Russian oil exploration information, to his exploits of stealing battleship gun plans from a German shipyard, to his efforts to overthrow the Bolshevik regime in Russia. The story of Reilly is embellished somewhat for entertainment purposes, but, nevertheless, is still fairly accurate historically. If you like a good yarn about history, and adventure then buy the series. You won't be disappointed.
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