In the second episode of the seven-part, eighteen-hour miniseries
The Winds of War, several of the characters introduced in part one are swept up in the 1939 Nazi invasion of Poland. Among these are Byron Henry (
Jan-Michael Vincent), Natalie Jastrow (Ali McGraw) and Leslie Slote (
David Dukes), who in true
Casablanca fashion must realize that the problems of three little people aren't worth a hill of beans in this crazy world--especially after witnessing the Nazi slaughter of a Polish refugee caravan. Back in the US, Byron's father, Naval Commander Victor "Pug" Henry (
Robert Mitchum) is the recipient of personal, highly top-secret orders from President Roosevelt (
Ralph Bellamy) himself--orders which may well determine the fate of the free world.
The Winds of War was adapted by
Herman Wouk from his own novel. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide