"Tenko" (1981) TV series 1981-1984

User Rating:

9.0/10   

Creator:

Lavinia Warner

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

22 October 1981 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Three 10x55min series. In the first series, a group of English women in 1941 Singapore are shipwrecked while they try to escape the Japanese invasion...

Plot Keywords:

Prisoner Of War | Malaya | One Word Title | WWII | War Crime

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Ann Bell	...	Marion Jefferson (30 episodes, 1981-1984)
Stephanie Cole	...	Dr. Beatrice Mason (30 episodes, 1981-1984)
Claire Oberman	...	Kate Norris (30 episodes, 1981-1984)
Veronica Roberts	...	Dorothy Bennett (28 episodes, 1981-1984)
Emily Bolton	...	Christina Campbell (28 episodes, 1981-1984)
Elizabeth Chambers	...	Mrs. Domenica Van Meyer (26 episodes, 1981-1984)
Patricia Lawrence	...	Sister Ulrica (21 episodes, 1981-1984)
Burt Kwouk	...	Major Yamauchi / ... (20 episodes, 1981-1984)
Jean Anderson	...	Lady Jocelyn 'Joss' Holbrook / ... (20 episodes, 1982-1984)
Stephanie Beacham	...	Rose Millar (19 episodes, 1981-1982)
Eiji Kusuhara	...	Lt. Sato / ... (17 episodes, 1981-1984)
Takashi Kawahara	...	Shinya (17 episodes, 1981-1982)
Takahiro Oba	...	Kasaki / ... (16 episodes, 1981-1984)
Louise Jameson	...	Blanche Simmons (13 episodes, 1981-1982)

Runtime:

UK:50 min (30 episodes)

Country:

Australia | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Filming Locations:

Dorset, England, UK

Company:

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

Quotes:

[repeated lines]
Mrs. Domenica Van Meyer: How dare you speak to me this way?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Cult of...: Howards' Way (#2.4)" (2008)

Not Just a Woman's Movie

This and The Winds of War/War and Remembrance are outstanding examples of movies that get to the heart of the topic they portray. By all standards TENKO is actually superior due to the raw, less over produced, values.

I watched the original series by happenchance, just flicking through the channels to see what was on (yes, a very male thing to do) when I came across this series. As a lover of anything to do with this time period I stuck around for a few minutes... a fateful few minutes, because I got stuck into what I now consider to be the best drama television has produced.

I credit the superb cast, standouts all. Unlike most American movies, there are no major names so each actor stands equally in the spotlight and makes you believe the awful events are actually happening. I don't know that I could endure what these ladies went through, I would suspect not. I do have the epilogue movie, TENKO Reunion on tape (lousy copy), so at least I can revisit these characters when I want to, even if only through a lot of video noise.

So why is this series not available on DVD or tape in North America? I can only think that someone somewhere is deciding, even as I write this, that it is high time that a release date is set. Wishful thinking? I hope not!