Let Him Have It (1991)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Peter Medak

Writers:

Neal Purvis (writer) &
Robert Wade (writer)

Release Date:

January 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | History

Tagline:

The shocking story of an unbelievable miscarriage of justice.

Plot:

In 1950s England, slow-witted Derek Bentley falls in with a group of petty criminals led by Chris Craig...

Plot Keywords:

Capital Punishment | Gangster | 1950s | Slow Witted | Friendship

Cast

Christopher Eccleston	...	Derek Bentley
Tom Courtenay	...	William Bentley
Eileen Atkins	...	Lilian Bentley
Rebecca Eccleston	...	Iris aged 10
Peter Eccleston	...	Derek Bentley aged 8
Craig Turner	...	Derek Bentley aged 14
P.J. Nicholas	...	First Boy in Shed
Bret Walker	...	Second Boy in Shed
Walter Sparrow	...	Nightwatchman
Edward Hardwicke	...	Approved School Principal (as Edward Hardwick)
Clare Holman	...	Iris Bentley
Ben Brazier	...	Denis Bentley
Paul Reynolds	...	Chris Craig
Serena Scott Thomas	...	Stella
Peter Jonfield	...	Butcher

Also Known As:

L'âge de vivre (France)

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

France | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:M | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Cranbury Road, Reading, Berkshire, England, UK

Company:

British Screen Productions

Trivia:

Mark McGann (Niven Craig) is the younger brother of Paul McGann, who played the Eighth Doctor in Doctor Who (1996) (TV). In 2005, Christopher Eccleston (Derek Bentley) succeeded the elder McGann in the role, playing the Ninth Doctor in "Doctor Who" (2005) during its first series.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The Robinson-LaMotta title fight (2-14-51) was 60 days before Truman relieved MacArthur of his command---both reported in the same news bulletin on the shortwave radio. That was followed by "Wheel of Fortune" by Kay Starr, which was not released until a year later (February '52).

Quotes:

Chris Craig: [pointing gun at Derek] Hands up buster! Against the wall!
Derek Bentley: You cheeky little bleeder!
Chris Craig: What's the matter Derek? Can't take a joke?

Movie Connections:

References Roseanna McCoy (1949)

A wonderful piece of work- riveting and unsettling.

This is a brilliant film. If you've ever heard of this case but not identified with it, or think that justice is always done in court, WATCH THIS FILM. I watched it and struggled not to cry- even as a fictional story it would be moving, but the fact that it is real makes it even more poignant. The shots are brilliant too and this makes it one of the best political films I have ever seen. This film will force you to rethink your views on capital punishment.