Despite a good cast this film fails on so many levels, for me anyway. Greer Garson and Sir Laurence Olivier were well cast as Elizabeth and Darcy respectively, but were let down by the rushed script and far too many deviations from the book. The costumes, hairstyles and furnishings etc from a later era look ridiculous to me now, even the music was wrong. I saw this film as a child and it put me off Austen for years until I had to read P&P for A level English exam. The later versions, even allowing for director Andrew Davies' cheeky wet shirt and breeches Darcy emerging from the lake (absent from the book) are so much better.
Reviews
31 Reviews
Worth watching
3 May 2022
This true story is fascinating, and the two leads, Eddie Marson and. Monica Dolan, gave good portrayals of the Darwins. There is also a previous film starring Bernard Lee and Saskia Reeves made in 2010 by the BBC, 'Canoe Man' which is also very good. I thought Reeves depiction of Ann Darwin was spot on.
Voyagers
(2021)
Just about OK
9 December 2021
This film was like a cross between Lord of the Flies (1963) and If (1968). As an older person nowadays I find watching a bunch of unruly and hormone driven teenagers somewhat tiresome. Just about OK I suppose, to be honest, I stopped watching before the end and went to do some washing up.
I Met a Murderer
(1939)
James Mason Classic
5 August 2021
I love James Mason and really enjoy seeing his early films when possible, thanks to channels like Talking Pictures and TCM etc. This one is no exception, however, it is spoiled somewhat for me by the loud and rather irritating music all the way through and so only seven stars from me.
Ruined it for me
30 May 2021
Despite the excellent cast this episode does nothing for me. It played more like a 1950s farce than an Agatha Christie murder, and dumping my second least favourite Jane Marple in the middle of this melange put the tin lid on it for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for innovation and imaginative adaptation in drama but in this case it was simply over the top. This would have made an excellent stand-alone Christie if made properly. I gave it five stars if only for the cast ensemble's efforts.
Marple
(2004–2013)
Not bad overall
29 May 2021
No one will ever replace wonderful Joan Hickson as Jane Marple, but Julia McKenzie is pretty darn good. I really liked the episodes with her, not so much the Geraldine McEwan ones. Whilst she very much looked the part, I found her continual smirking rather irritating.
Quite why Marple was written into the last episode, "Endless Night" I have no idea. This would have made a good stand alone Christie film, as it was when made in the 70s with Hayley Mills and Howell Bennet.
Anyway, having said all that, not a bad series, and frankly, even McEwan is preferable to Margaret Rutherford imho.
Quite why Marple was written into the last episode, "Endless Night" I have no idea. This would have made a good stand alone Christie film, as it was when made in the 70s with Hayley Mills and Howell Bennet.
Anyway, having said all that, not a bad series, and frankly, even McEwan is preferable to Margaret Rutherford imho.
The Capone Investment
(1974– )
Good if you're into 70's TV
29 May 2021
Very good, despite the obviously small budget and short length of episodes, but then it was made in the 1970s when money was tight. Good cast and written by one of televisions most prolific writers Ian Kennedy Martin. Martin also wrote an episode of 'The Sweeney' which was vaguely similar. I'll be honest, I only watched it for the first time recently because I like John Thaw. I also just about managed to ignore the cheap effects when filming what are supposed to be in-car conversations, of which there seem to be many.
If you enjoy 1970s TV drama then this series is for you. I managed to catch it on the Talking Pictures channel for free, however, I don't think I would have enjoyed it so much if I had paid over £30 for it on DVD.
I have one question, why is it advertised on Talking Pictures and some other websites with a still from a completely different series? The photo being used is of Diana Coupland and Anthony Bate in "Grady" made in 1970.
If you enjoy 1970s TV drama then this series is for you. I managed to catch it on the Talking Pictures channel for free, however, I don't think I would have enjoyed it so much if I had paid over £30 for it on DVD.
I have one question, why is it advertised on Talking Pictures and some other websites with a still from a completely different series? The photo being used is of Diana Coupland and Anthony Bate in "Grady" made in 1970.
Disappointing
20 March 2021
I am a big fan of this series and have seen every single episode right from the beginning in 2000, but this is the only episode I didn't watch to the end. I found the histrionic overacting of the "victim" played by Melora Walters irritating and her voice grated on me. Turned off less than halfway through.
Second Coming
(2014)
Not bad, ignore reviews that say there's no plot
23 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Good performances from all although I admit that subtitles were a big help to me. I don't really understand some other reviewers who write that there were no resolutions. It was obvious from the film's title where it was all leading and it was finally confirmed in the very last scene during the film's final minutes. I can only assume that they didn't watch until the very end. Other reviewers also mention the mother having had previous abortions - no, she didn't, she had miscarriages which is another reason the baby was miraculous. Worth a view, especially for Idris Elba fans.
Budgie
(1971–1972)
Great series
1 July 2020
So pleased that this great series is being shown again on UK television. I remember it so well from the evenings I and my boyfriend (later husband) watched it together after the commute home from working in London in the early 1970s. Adam Faith as Ron "Budgie" Bird and Ian Cuthbertson as Charlie Endell were very different in character but gelled perfectly. Both are sadly missed, especially Faith whose premature death robbed us of a fine young actor who would have very probably have gone on to even greater things. Early episodes are in black and white due to technicians strikes, but don't let that put you off this popular series which now looks like a prototype for "Minder" - although Charlie Endell is not as lovable a rogue as Arthur Daly, having a vicious and somewhat darker persona. All in all I recommend this to anyone especially those like me who enjoy a dollop of 70's nostalgia now and then.
The Ashcroft Entity
(II) (2015)
Watchable
17 April 2020
OK, there are some bad reviews for this film, however, I have seen worse, much worse, from 'A' list performers. Perhaps because the film I watched prior to "Unholy" was pretty poor - and that starred Donald Sutherland - that I am in a kinder frame of mind towards this film. It is obviously an amateur production and as long as one bears that in mind then it isn't such a disappointment. I thought the 1970s era was well captured, and precisely because the cast are unknown actors it felt fairly realistic. Watchable on a wet afternoon if stuck indoors, and provided you watch it for free you shouldn't feel cheated.
The Split
(2018–2022)
Could have been so much better
13 March 2020
I tried, I really tried to like this but I just became irritated by the implausible plot lines, poor script and weak supporting cast. I continued to watch to the end of series two only because of Stephen Mangan and the excellent Nicola Walker, who are the only believable characters in this glossy US-style wannabe. I hope that if there is a third series that most of the rest of the cast are killed off en masse in the style of 'Dynasty' back in the 80s, especially Hannah's two sisters and their partners who are irritating beyond belief.
Yesterday's Enemy
(1959)
Rarely seen masterpiece of British cinema
11 March 2020
I caught this for the first time this evening having never come across it before in over 60 years of film and a TV viewing. It proves what can be achieved without a huge budget as long as one has a fine cast, well written script and a darn good director. No over-dramatic music needed to highlight the tension, no million dollar special effects. Modern filmmakers could learn a thing or two from this lesser known masterpiece of British cinema.
Where Hands Touch
(2018)
Tragic, touching and worth watching
7 March 2020
I am at a loss to understand why this film has received such poor reviews. The cast were superb as were the sets etc., perhaps the only weakness lay in the script but nevertheless it is a riveting story deserving to be told on behalf of all those who suffered for their ethnicity during those dreadful years. It touched me and I am not ashamed to admit that I cried whilst watching.
She Played with Fire
(1957)
Very good British noir
22 February 2020
This is a fine adaptation of an original novel by Winston Graham. Most only know of Graham's 'Poldark' novels, however, he also penned thrillers and other historical novels many of which have been adapted for the screen. If you are a fan of 1950s British films and Jack Hawkins then this is for you.
Krakatoa: East of Java
(1968)
Just about watchable
28 December 2019
I'm afraid this film was probably somewhat dated before it even made it to the distribution stage. Special effects just about ok, cast ok, script mediocre. And why oh why was the aging singing stripper thought to be a good idea? Probably one of the few films that would be improved by a modern re-make. Just about watchable if you are stuck indoors on a wet afternoon.
Glad I ignored negative reviews
31 October 2019
I didn't let myself be influenced by the negative reviews and am glad I decided to watch and judge for myself. This is a competent and well made drama with a good cast led by Sarah Lancashire. I am looking forward to next episodes and to finding out just who was really to blame.
The Boys
(1962)
Gripping courtroom drama
17 October 2019
I don't understand why this film isn't much better known, I have just watched it for the first time having never even heard of it before and was completely gripped until the end. The whole cast were superb and it was lovely to see a young Dudley Sutton who sadly passed away recently. Robert Morley, acting for the Defence, was nicely restrained, and not performing in his usual over-the-top style. Richard Todd, one of my all-time favourites, was, as always, completely believable in his role as Prosecuting Counsel. I thoroughly recommend this film to anyone especially those who, like me, enjoy courtroom dramas and films of the 1960s. If you miss it on TV it is available on Amazon Prime.
Great News!
1 October 2019
Tell Your Friends