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Tenko: Season 1

Tenko

Tenko: Season 1

BBC (1981)
DVD
M
9398710784992
TV Series | Drama | War
UK | English | Color | 08:36

Based on real-life experiences, Tenko remains one of the most fondly remembered and acclaimed BBC dramas of the early 1980s. It follows a group of women, formerly comfortably well-off ex-pats living in Singapore, as they are captured by the Japanese during World War II. The first season, set in 1941-42, charts the drama from the women being captured and sent to live in squalor and depravation in a Japanese POW camp. Season 2, set in 1942-43, began with the women on a long march to a new camp, where things seem much more luxurious at first, but they find they have troubles settling into the strange regime of their new home. The final season took up two years after the previous one, as the war drew to a close and the women were returned to their normal lives. Well, as normal as they could be after their imprisonment


Episodes View details

1 Shattered Dreams | Oct 22, 1981

Singapore, December 1941: Due to lack of information from the Army and media, most of the inhabitants of Singapore remain blissfully unaware of any danger in their lives. Then the Japanese land 400 miles north of the city and head south.

2 All Aboard | Oct 29, 1981

Despite Bernard's warnings, few Europeans believe that Singapore will fall to the Japanese and New Year is celebrated as usual.

3 Internment | Nov 05, 1981

Joined by others, including Beatrice, the women are taken to their internment camp, where a contingent of Dutch internees join them, including Sister Ulrica.

4 What Would You Do For... | Nov 12, 1981

Ulrica is made leader of the Dutch internees. The older women worry when the younger women are unexpectedly removed from the camp, but it turns out they're being used for labor crews.

5 Malaria | Nov 19, 1981

Some time having passed, social structure in the camp is breaking down, and more women are becoming sick. Some groups refuse to help other groups. Malaria makes its first appearance, and requests for quinine are denied.

6 Rape | Nov 26, 1981

Marion is questioned about British organization in Singapore prior to the fall of the city. The new sickbay is completed. Blanche and Dorothy become friendly with the guards in exchange for cigarettes and tea.

7 Unnatural Friendship | Dec 03, 1981

Sally, pregnant before her capture, is coming into her seventh month of pregnancy, and one of the nurses, Nellie, becomes very supportive of her.

8 Escape | Dec 10, 1981

Just before Judith Bowen dies, Marion promises her that she'll take care of Debbie. Blanche becomes determined to escape from the camp.

9 Five Hundred Hats | Dec 17, 1981

Punishment details are imposed on the camp in general and the escapees in particular. The commandant yields to Marion's plea for mercy for Debbie, and agrees to be release Blanche.

10 Christmas | Dec 24, 1981

Christmas is approaching. The work party reports seeing a group of men in the distance. When Marion asks the commandant for names of the men, the list causes both joy and disappointment.

Cast View all

Emily Bolton Christina Campbell
Claire Oberman Kate Norris
Stephanie Cole Dr. Beatrice Mason
Ann Bell Marion Jefferson
Stephanie Beacham Rose Millar
Patricia Lawrence Sister Ulrica
Jeananne Crowley Nellie Keene
Annet Peters Female Prisoner of War
Burt Kwouk Capt. Yamauchi
Renée Asherson Sylvia Ashburton
Eiji Kusuhara Lt. Sato
Joanna Hole Sally Markham
Louise Jameson Blanche Simmons
Veronica Roberts Dorothy Bennett
Karin Foley Debbie Bowen
Takashi Kawahara Shinya
Ann Queensberry Judith Bowen
Elizabeth Chambers Mrs. Van Meyer
Maya Woolfe Gerda
Takahiro Oba Shigawo
Sabu Kimura Tanaka
Ric Young Father Lim
Lindsay Ingram Cynthia James
Jonathan Newth Clifford Jefferson
Daniel Hill Tom Redburn

Edition details

Nr Discs 1
Layers Single side, Single layer
Regions Region 4