The Ring (1996 TV Movie) User Reviews

This is such a guilty pleasure...

[Liza-19 · 8/10 · 25 June 2003]

I just happened to catch this on TV - seeing the name Nastassja Kinski always makes me want to watch, but seeing the name Danielle Steel always makes me worry... There was nothing to worry about. This was a wonderful miniseries, brought to life by a good story and fabulous actors.

Nastassja Kinski is wonderful, and she is the perfect choice for Ariana. I'm sure the role rang very true for her, owing to the fact that her parents were this age in Berlin during World War II. In fact in the story, her brother flees the country afraid of being drafted into the Nazi army, and in real life Nastassja's father, (actor Klaus Kinski) WAS drafted into the German army. Nastassja brings real depth to the character and the casting director should thank their lucky stars that she accepted the role. The casting was wonderful the whole way around: Michael York, Jon Tenney, and Elizabeth Barondes are all fantastic.

The story is corny - but it's Danielle Steel, what do you expect? ;) But what I have to tell you is I sat down, meaning to check out the first ten minutes - and after five minutes I was completely hooked. By the end of the first episode I was shocked to see that I didn't know what the heck was going to happen, and that I actually cared! I was back there the next day, with my kleenex, and loved every minute of it.

There are a few things lacking in this miniseries. The actress that played Gerhard's wife just made me want to bang my head against a wall, and I thought that subplot carried on much longer than was necessary. Other than that though, this is a movie you will get involved in. The whole situation with Ariana's second husband is just heartbreaking, and frankly, I'm still upset about it!

I can't believe I'm admitting it, but this is a movie that you can really get into. Don't let the name Danielle Steel stop you from seeing an actually very good film. Great cast, great acting, a bit of a cheesy script, but such terrific performances that you don't care!

Danielle Steel's "The Ring" film versus book

[firefightersbabe · 8/10 · 21 April 2005]

I read the book The Ring, by Danielle Steel, when i was around 13 or 14, and very quickly became hooked on all of her books. This was one of her best works, and I often re-read it, and knew the story inside out. Often wished they would turn it into a film, but it never happened.

Life moves on, and as teenage years turn into adulthood, lo and behold, what do i accidentally come across on TV during the Easter holidays, but Danielle Steel's "The Ring"! WOW!! What I had been waiting for, all those years ago! This TV movie didn't quite meet up to my expectations of how the story would look on screen, but its an excellent effort. The cast is pretty good - (Manfred is lovely!!) and lets just say, at the beginning, during and after I often found tears running down my cheeks.

Recommended if you have read the book, but still recommended even if you haven't. I admit, most of Danielle Steel's stuff is pretty corny, with disaster following disaster, then happy ending, but, just lose yourself in the film, take it as it is meant, and enjoy!!! I did!

Powerful Film

[buttlerk · 9/10 · 17 April 2006]

I have been a fan of Danielle Steele since I was a teenager! I haven't read her books in a long time and "The Ring" was not something that I have read. I came across that movie on cable as I was channel surfing ironically the night my ex-fiancée received my engagement ring back. I just saw the title and it caught my eye.

Once I saw the important scene in the beginning I was hooked! This miniseries was well done portraying Nazi Germany. I took a class in College on that topic and hardly any movies made about World War II go into the lives of people on the German side the focus is more on the Allies. It portrayed how a family who were the Elite during the war were at the same time against it I'm sure they were people like the family portrayed in the film. The heroine was very brave as she gracefully went through to survive her struggles after having many tragedies occur in a short period of time. I hope to read the book since the story seems very fascinating.The casting was sensational!

The Greatest Tear-Jerker Ever

[none-85 · 10/10 · 31 March 2005]

This movie has got to be the greatest tear-jerker I've ever seen. Natassja Kinski is magnificent. She is one beautiful and talented actress. All of the supporting actors and actresses are excellent and well cast. The re-creation of the environment in Nazi Germany in the 30s and 40s is right on; the cinematography is very good, especially for a TV movie.

The film is a little long- 180 minutes- as it was originally shown as a two-part TV movie. However, it moves fairly well, and you're always wondering what will come next. The only negative (minor) is that Nastassja's character could have been aged more realistically.

It's one of Nastassja's finest roles. I recommend it highly.

Extremely soppy, but a bit more watchable than it should have been.

[Victor Field · 23 February 2003]

Caution is usually advised when a movie with the words "Danielle" and "Steel" in the title is on, and "Danielle Steel's The Ring" is no exception. Going from laughable to mildly watchable, this two-parter sees Nastassja Kinski as the grown-up daughter of a wealthy German couple - the female part of which committed suicide after the Nazis killed her Jewish lover - whose life falls apart in the wake of WWII; separated from her father and brother, loses her lover in the fall of Berlin, goes to the US disguised as a Jew...

Though the beautiful Miss Kinski is for most of the film at least ten years too old for her role (given a hand by the cinematographer), she holds this often ridiculous tale together - too many coincidences and silly dialogue make it hard to take seriously, and Michel Legrand's score works overtime to fill in what the plot and in some cases the actors don't provide. (The actress playing our heroine's brother's wife is a particularly strong liability.) And yet, somehow I had to admit the conclusion did work... or maybe I'm just a big softy at heart. Not a must, but not as unbearable as I had thought it would be.

One of Danielle Steel's Finest Stories.

[vkmunn · 9/10 · 2 March 2006]

Natashja Kinski provides a wonderful and inspiring performance of this tear jerker. A truly great performance for a made-for-TV movie. All the supporting roles were acted magnificently and appeared to be historically correct.

I paid less than $7.00 for this 3 hour gem from Columbia House. I was born at the start of WWII and can relate to this masterpiece. Danielle Steel has created another great story and I have enjoyed collecting over 16 of her dramas on DVD.

My only regret was Michael York's character was killed off too early in the film. However the drama and suspense of the siblings separation holds the drama together with suspense until the end.

Somebody has to say it

[Alfje17 · 1/10 · 9 April 2006]

First of all, I want to defend my vote : normally I would give this movie 6/10. But I gave 1/10, not because this movie is so bad, but because too many people gave this one 10/10. 10/10, that means this is a perfect movie?! Sorry to disappoint all those teen girls, but this is far from perfect. The acting is very wooden (the SA-brown shirts in the beginning are just ridiculous) and the plot is very far-fetched (or how do you explain the pregnancies and the guys not finding it out?). Don't get me wrong, it is not an awful movie, but it is a Saturday-evening TV-movie : something you watch when you have nothing else to do. It's not the good movie that I believed it to be, based on its high IMDb-score. Watch it if you like romance, tragedy (a lot of tragedy actually) and are prepared to forget certain impossible details.

Jon Tenney's performance based on real life experience.

[Ogarcia2 · 10/10 · 20 June 2006]

I first heard of Jon Tenney when I saw him in Danielle Steet Novel titled "The Ring" I almost didn't finish watching it because it was so touching and emotional. The separation of families during a war is so devastating, but how they all came back together again was very inspiration. It's stories like "The ring" that we learn to appreciate what we have in this country. It was Jon Tenny's acting that kept me glued to my TV. My oldest daughter is Jon's age. I am so intrigued by our young people's response to such tragic stories. I can see how we gave our children too much and hindered their development. So I hope that Joh gets a lot more jobs in movies, TV would be so great because I am homebound as so are a lot of seniors in my area and these stories we connect with, Thank You so much!!

An intricately woven masterpiece

[Saul Marks · 10/10 · 7 May 2005]

This adaptation of Danielle Steel's novel is something that has stayed imprinted on my memory for some time.

So many war films cast the Germans as the "baddies" but, here, the devastation wrought to individual lives by World War II leaves us no option but to feel pity for the main characters involved, regardless of which side they represent. Once we leave behind the horrors of war-torn Berlin, we are taken on an emotional journey as three individuals strive to find each other across the world in the ensuing administrational chaos. We cannot help but will them to succeed; we cry with them, we smile with them.

The detail within this story is extraordinary. Almost every line of script is vital to the plot, as it twists and turns, with fate proving as cruel as it is kind. Every word is entirely believable, realistic, heartfelt. We follow the characters in their affluence, their desperation, their happiness and their grief. Having never read the novel, I do not know quite who to praise, whether it be the original story or the adaptation, but the filmmakers have ensured every fine detail is correct. There are no errors in the chronology (save one), even down to dates on gravestones. Each connection from one location to another is plausible and well-worked. The Jewish scenes are faultless, including the passages in Hebrew. The traits within each character never waver, and are even given depth and history, no more so than Giselle's selfishness and her father's mercenary ways. The interplay between the characters is perfect as well, such as between Sam and Ruth. We sympathise with both sides of their debate as they try to do the best for their son. The strong female themes that run stronger and stronger through the film are entirely realistic, with so many different women, each with strengths and flaws, crossing our characters' paths.

For me, this film appeals on so many different levels. As someone fascinated by World War II history, is shows a stark reality often forgotten for those of us on the winning side. As a genealogist, the detective work of finding individuals is thrilling. As a Jew, Ariana's involvement with a Jewish family is the right mix of touching and nervy. As a hopeless romantic, and one who loves chick-flicks, this is a must, and I cry every time!

Gripping and emotionally involving

[phd_travel · 10/10 · 10 March 2019]

This sweeping tale by Danielle Steel has a surprisingly moving and well constructed story. It is imaginative plausible enough and doesn't cover familiar WW2 fiction territory.

Nastassja Kinski is beautiful and perfectly cast as Ariana a good German girl. She gets separated from her father and brother during the War. Her brother ends up in Switzerland and she endures the War in Berlin. Their journey sends her to New York and her brother to Paris. Because their names are changed and other things they are unable to reconnect.

The characters are interesting and not one dimesional. There are quite a few emotionally involving moments.

Very entertaining and moving.

Very Appealing

[lestatsNo1 · 1 June 2003]

I like this film because it shows just what a person can go through by losing her family and her husband to the war it shows just how a person uses their character, it is a film of extreme courage and it appeals to me in every way this film and the writer daniella Steel have done a GREAT job well done

The Ring 1996

[AlanSKaufman · 10/10 · 24 October 2017]

A profound movie.

A most powerful Holocaust account on film.

An imaginary yet credible formulation of a relationship between members of Teutonic background with Jewish background after the defeat of Hitler.

The ring, a precious German family heirloom, is introduced early in the story, but is put aside until near the drama's end when in a manner that would have taxed Sherlock Holmes, provides the avenue to the resolution.

Perhaps the saddest yet gladdest tale conceived. Its conclusion will have you sobbing in league with all of the surviving characters.

View this masterpiece to recreate your faith in humankind a la a Walt Disney fairy tale.

Heartrenching and moving film

[intermilan83 · 10/10 · 1 August 2001]

A work of art . The film was a great piece of tv film making the acting was good. One of the greatest of Daniel Steel's work . The story was told beautifuly with great compassion and resolve. Althought the film did have drawbacks . The lack of actual historical content . In particular did not drum across the German side well enough . Otherwise a great work compared to others like it including woman at war the bbc's story of life in nazi Germany

Glossy/gritty WWII drama

[notmicro · 3 February 2002]

Romantic women's drama spans from WWII into the 1970's. Focuses on the fate of the two adult children of a wealthy German banker during and after WWII; particularly the daughter, played by a suprisingly radiant, very thin, blonde Nastassja Kinski. Location moves from Germany to Switzerland, France, and the US.

Historically detailed and generally absorbing, in spite of the typical formulaic plot and the rather passive acting of the principals. Suprisingly high production values. Good use of European locations, and occasional interweaving of some archival period film footage. Attractive international cast; first film appearance of the very hunky young Alessandro Nivola (Mansfield Park).

Jarring notes are introduced by garish over-the-top 1940's clothing, makeup, and hairstyles worn by Linda Lavin (she ends up looking like an early Bette Midler drag-queen); also some of the makeup worn by secondary actresses photographs suprisingly poorly. Luckily Kinski is able to pull off the trick of photographing much younger than her actual age at the time of filming.