Product Details

• Format: Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: PBS
• DVD Release Date: June 26, 2007
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000R9U34W
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162,199 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Studio: Pbs Release Date: 05/06/2009 Run time: 60 minutes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truth Is Better Than Fiction, May 30, 2009

By 

Diana Duffy "Diana" (Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Secrets of the Dead: Irish Escape (DVD)

This overlooked episode in history has all the ingredients for a great action/adventure movie. While I have read quite a bit of Irish history, this escaped my attention, so when I saw the DVD, it seemed like a good thing to watch. And I was not disappointed.

From the beginning, the sequence of events keeps the viewer hanging on to his/her chair. If someone made this into a movie (and I'm surprised they haven't), most movie goers would think it was fiction. There were so many close calls, so much suspense, such overwhelming odds against success, and an improbable and totally insane plan for the rescue of the Fenian brothers, the planners surely had divine inspiration and assistance, and perhaps Irish luck thrown in for good measure.

One reviewer found this production disturbing (therefore only giving it four stars), claiming that these men were "terrorists" and the documentary admits as much. It does no such thing, and the word "terrorist" is not heard once. The Fremantle Six are referred to as "freedom fighters", "Fenians", "rebels", "Irish patriots", "brothers-in-arms", and "traitors to the British crown". They can't be compared to modern-day terrorists. Fenians were fighting for freedom in and of their homeland (Ireland) from the brutal, heavy-handed, tyrannical rule of England under which the Irish populace enjoyed literally no freedoms. Remember, the Great Famine occurred only about 30 years earlier, causing the deaths of possibly two million, and the emigration of millions more, while food grown in Ireland was exported to England. They fought for freedom for their land and their people; today's terrorists want to destroy us and our freedom.

This is an inspirational event in history which is well-presented, so well that the viewer will feel he is right there in the midst of it all. If you're Irish (and even if you're not), love history, a good story, and need a bit of an Irish "fix", this is a must-see.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Epic, February 26, 2011

By 

paddys pride - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Secrets of the Dead: Irish Escape (DVD)

This is the kind of story that i would expect from hollywood thrilling, daring, dangerous, terrible odds, the evil enemy and success but unlike hollywood its true. A story about freedom fighters captured, imprisoned and the epic rescue they were part of. This is the kind of story that inspires.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exciting, but Probably Disturbing, January 3, 2008

By 

Jeffery Mingo (Homewood, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Secrets of the Dead: Irish Escape (DVD)

A lot of documentaries have cheesy reenactments that take up little of the work and obviously don't require much effort. This work was the exact opposite. It was almost like a movie with narration, rather than a screenplay. The settings and outfits looked very real for the period. Plus, many scenes took place at sea, and you know most documentary makers won't spend money to realize that. Still, one person wore a long beard that was obviously a fake.

A ship of Irish Americans travel all the way to Australia to free some Irish nationalists who the British imprisoned. If you liked Eastwood's "Escape from Alcatraz," then you will like this. If you like being on the edge of your seat, with your heart in your throat, worried that the main characters won't succeed with their plan, then this is for you.

One interviewer was such a character that the documentary makers must have focused upon him for a reason. He had huge Dizzy Gillespie cheeks, pronounced cheek dimples like Mario Lopez, and a chin curtain. He spoke with a bit of a brogue. I think he was included to add to the Irish-ness of the work. The documentary interviewed male and female experts, both Irish and non-Irish.

Here's the problem: these freed prisoners were terrorists and the documentary admits this. Nowadays, we don't want people using bombs and causing chaos to promote their causes, so it may difficult for many viewers to applaud the deceased people here. Some viewers may be very disturbed with how the unethical acts of these men were never condemned by the documentary makers. Many viewers could benefit from seeing this alongside watching "Borstal Boy," and possibly "Michael Collins."