To Serve Them All My Days

A teaching position at posh boys' boarding school Bamfylde seemed an unlikely choice for shell-shocked veteran David Powlett-Jones following the Great War, but as fans of this adored miniseries will attest, he couldn't have made a better one. Debuting on DVD, this 1980 13-part series, originally airing on the BBC and PBS's Masterpiece Theatre, follows Powlett-Jones, played by the wonderfully sensitive John Duttine, as he evolves from an uncertain but passionate young teacher into one who instinctively connects with his students, ultimately becoming the school's much loved headmaster. Based on the novel by R.F. Delderfield, and beautifully dramatized by Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice), this triumph of long-form television chronicles Powlett-Jones' personal as well as professional life, as he deals with marriage (more than one), fatherhood, and issues of class--his roots are in a humble Welsh mining town--amidst the peculiar, insular society of an elite all-male institution. Deliberately paced and dramatically involving, this is not only an exquisite portrait of one compelling character, but an evocative depiction of Britain between the wars. Given the state of BBC television circa 1980, the image and sound qualities on this set are less-than-sterling. Still, aficionados are sure to overlook these technical drawbacks. Highly recommended. (M. Johanson)