Product Details

• Actors: Vanessa Redgrave, Jane Alexander, Maud Adams, Christine Baranski, Robin Bartlett
• Directors: Daniel Mann, Joseph Sargent
• Writers: Arthur Miller, Fania Fénelon
• Producers: John E. Quill, Linda Yellen, Louise Ramsay
• Format: NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: M.C.E.G./Virgin Visi
• VHS Release Date: June 22, 1988
• Run Time: 150 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301025571
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,338 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 110 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GUT-WRENCHINGLY GOOD, March 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Playing for Time [VHS] (VHS Tape)

THIS IS A STUNNING MADE-FOR-TV MOVIE. IT COULD NOT BE MORE DIFFERENT THAN SCHINDLER'S LIST, AND I FOUND IT MUCH MORE INVOLVING AND CONFRONTING. VANESSA REDGRAVE IS ABSOLUTELY RIVETING IN THE ROLE OF FANIA FENELONG, WHO BECOMES PART OF A BIZARRE ORCHESTRA AT AUSCHWITZ, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER WOMEN. THIS ORCHESTRA IS OF COURSE AT THE MERCY OF THEIR CAPTORS, AND THEY ARE EXPECTED TO PLAY LIKE VIRTUOSOS (LUCKILY, MOST OF THEM ARE), DESPITING THE FACT THAT THAY ARE OFTEN HUNGRY AND SICK. THE WHOLE CAST IS AMAZING AND THERE ARE SEVERAL MOVING AND VERY HUMAN SCENES INVOLVING A FEW OF THE GERMAN CAPTOR'S, ESPECIALLY ONE WOMAN IN PARTICULAR. AS TIME GOES ON, DIVISIONS OCCUR BETWEEN THE (MOSTLY) JEWISH WOMEN MAKING UP THE ORCHESTRA, AND FANIA BECOMES EVERYONE'S MENTOR. (EVEN THOUGH SHE DOESN'T MEAN TO). THE WHOLE FILM IS DARKLY REALISTIC, COMPLETE WITH MOUTH-SORES, SHAVED HEADS, GRIMY FACES AND SUNKEN-LOOKING EYES. A HAUNTING, RIVETING YET (SOMEHOW) UPLIFTING FILM, IT IS STUNNINGLY SHOT, AND SEEMED SO REAL THAT I COULD ALMOST SMELL IT.

59 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Playing for time, December 23, 2001

By 

Joyce Shaw-Flagg (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Playing for Time [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Very haunting.Has always stayed in my mind after seeing it over 10 yrs. ago. The horrible part is that actually happened! Who,s to say similar events could not happen again? God help us! Everyone should see this incredible,stirring and factual film.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHY NO DVD ???, July 29, 2007

By 

Kathleen A. Kosche - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Playing for Time [VHS] (VHS Tape)

THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY PIECE THAT SHOULD NEVER BE LOST. PLEASE SOMEONE DIGITALLY REMASTER AND LET'S HAVE A DVD. THE SCRIPT AND THE PERFORMANCES ARE HAUNTING AND OFFER SO MUCH DEPTH TO A WORLD GONE MAD WITH THE PARADOX'S OF PERSECUTORS AND VICTIMS BECOMING CONFUSED AND DEADLY.