A rare look at the Oscar winner's formative years on the screen in three high quality UK BBC productions.

Two-time Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis has been celebrated for his amazing performances and profound ability to reinvent himself time and again thanks to impeccable research and a devotion to his craft. Defining roles in My Beautiful Laundrette, A Room with a View, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, The Last of the Mohicans, In the Name of the Father and Lincoln have won acclaim from critics as well as establishing him as an audience favourite.

This two disc set reaches back to showcase Daniel Day-Lewis’ rarely seen, early roles at the BBC – the traditional grounding place for fine British actors. Not only do these three feature-length productions demonstrate the formative years of Day Lewis’ career, they are perfect examples of great BBC drama in their own right and include a top cast of British actors including Christopher Fairbank, Jim Broadbent, Sian Phillips, Geoffrey Palmer, Hugh Fraser, Anthony Valentine and many more.

HOW MANY MILES TO BABYLON? (1982)
Two Irishmen – Protestant Alex Moore (Day-Lewis) and his Catholic childhood friend Jerry, enter WWI as soliders and see their friendship tested as they experience the harsh realities of war. From a story by acclaimed Irish author Jennifer Johnston.
Starring DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, SIAN PHILLIPS and CHRISTOPHER FAIRBANK. Directed by MOIRA ARMSTRONG. Based on the novel by JENNIFER JOHNSTON

THE INSURANCE MAN (1986)
Told through flashbacks, dye factory worker Franz recounts a mysterious skin condition he suffered before the First World War. At Prague’s infamous Insurance Company, Franz meets Kafka (Day-Lewis), a bureaucrat whose intelligence and compassion appear out of place amid the apathy that surrounds him. Written by celebrated author Alan Bennett.
Starring DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, ROBERT HINES, GEOFFREY PALMER, JIM BROADBENT, TREVOR PEACOCK and CHARLOTTE COLEMAN. Directed by RICHARD EYRE.

DANGEROUS CORNER (1983)
In this classic thriller by J.B. Priestly, Day-Lewis plays publishing executive Gordon Whitehouse. While gathered with his coterie of high society friends and co-workers at the country estate of his business partner, one guest makes a surprising remark about a musical box. This seemingly harmless comment produces a string of shocking revelations and devastating repercussions. Starring DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, SUSAN FLEETWOOD, and ANTHONY VALENTINE. Directed by JAMES ORMEROD, Written by J.B. PRIESTLY based on his play.

NTSC FORMAT.

User Review

“With Daniel Day-Lewis recently making history by winning his third Best Actor Oscar (Nicholson also has three Oscars, but one is in the Supporting category), this seems a perfect time to capitalize on the release of some of his earlier television work. I have long been a fan of Day-Lewis and distinctly remember his break-out year of 1985 where he turned heads in two wildly different film roles. Playing the homosexual punk in Stephen Frears' "My Beautiful Launderette” couldn't be further from the uptight fop he played in the Merchant/Ivory production of “A Room With A View.” And his stunning film resume has continued to be as varied and complex. The three projects on this triple feature give us glimpses of this future potential and all, for differing reasons, are worth visiting. Note, though, he is only really the lead performer in one film.

DVD Presentation: This set has two discs with “How Many Miles To Babylon” on the first one and “The Insurance Man” and “Dangerous Corner” on the second one. A note on the audio and visual quality. These television productions certainly show visible signs of their age. The footage can appear quite raw but, truthfully, I'm just glad to have these dug out of the archives for viewing at all.

How Many Miles To Babylon (1982): A TV Movie, this anti-war parable is perhaps the most traditional and heartfelt of the set. Day-Lewis plays a sheltered Irish aristocrat who escapes his domineering mother (Sian Phillips) by enlisting in the war as an officer. He shares the experience with his boyhood friend, whose economic status places him in the regular troops. In many ways, Day-Lewis comes of age by seeing the ravages of the conflict and the foibles of wartime bureaucracy. His emerging idealism places him in conflict with his superior officers and his decision to follow his heart and honor might just place him in jeopardy. A powerful finale makes this worthwhile, but I also really loved seeing Phillips (so great in “I, Claudius”) chew up the scenery in the first half.

The Insurance Man (1986): Part of the Screen Two series, this dark surreal fable also deals with the ridiculousness of bureaucracy at its most nightmarish. To call this piece Kafkaesque would be redundant as Day-Lewis actually plays a character named Kafka! The story revolves around a young factory worker who develops a strange and unexplainable rash. His attempts to have the matter covered by insurance leads him to a never-ending series of dead ends and humiliations. Day-Lewis is the elusive agent he hopes will finally be able to assist him. An energetic Jim Broadbent is also a co-star of this piece which is probably not for every taste. While I liked the principle story thread, it is geared to those that appreciate a healthy dose of the absurd.

Dangerous Corner (1983): Part of the BBC Play of the Month series, this a ensemble chamber piece has Day-Lewis in a supporting role (as did The Insurance Man). Very stagy and theatrical (as you might expect), I quite enjoyed this adaptation of J.B. Priestley's play. A group of privileged friends seem to have everything. But a past death of one of their circle holds many secrets that will be unraveled over the course of an evening. Proving, once and for all, that ignorance is bliss–no one will remain unscathed as their perfect existence is forced into the light of truth. Not particularly believable, but perfectly fun, the actors have a wild time as the drama escalates." K.G. Harris