Document Actions
Brighter side of web - DVD reviews
A Man for all seasons is a thought provoking film that provides an intriguing portrayal of Thomas More and the testing of one man’s principles.
Paul Scofield rightly deserved an Oscar for his incomparable performance of Thomas More. He portrays both the great dignity and wit, with which he alone stood against the King. The film is not so much an examination of More’s religious principles; it is more about how men react to threats from those in authority.
The strength of the film lies in its beautifully crafted script. There are breath taking exchanges between More and Cromwell; it is like a verbal duel between the man of conscience (More) and Cromwell (the amoral bureaucrat). Through maintaining silence More resolutely and calmly sticks to his principles; using his knowledge as a lawyer, he makes it almost impossible for Cromwell to convict him on legal grounds.
How Green was my Valley
“How Green was my valley” is set in a Welsh mining village during the beginning of the mining industry. It tells of how the people and community were irrevocably affected by the arrival of industrialisation. The story is told through the eyes of the Huw Morgan, the youngest brother of the Morgan family.
The film evokes a powerful imagery of the dignity, honesty and good nature of the mining communities. The atmosphere of the film is enhanced by the beautiful welsh choral singing. The music feels both spontaneous and soulful it becomes a poignant contrast to the harsh realities of mining life and is perhaps symbolic of the growing divide within the community.
An overprotected English princess seeks to escape the boredom and monotony of her Royal duties, by slipping away from her entourage, into the city of Rome. Lost in the eternal city and under the influence of a powerful sleeping pill, Princess Ann is taken in by an American journalist Joe Bradley (played by Gregory Peck). Temporarily free of her Royal duties the young princess takes the opportunity to spend a day pleasing herself.
On realising he has had the good fortune of stumbling on a princess Joe, with the help of photographer Eddie Albert, seek to make the day into a very profitable news story.
Hail the Conquering Hero
"Hail the Conquering Hero" is a unique and fast moving tale of an unlikely Marine made hero under false pretences.
Woodrow is invalided from the Marines before he ever sees action. He is desolate at not being able to live up to the high ideals of his father, who was a decorated hero in the previous war. Feeling down on his look he bumps into some Marines who have lost all their money. Cheered by Woodrow’s charity they decide to befriend him and then proceed to cajole him into returning to his home town, with some fabricated excuses.
Woodrow really hates the idea of pretending to be a wounded hero but things seem to be out of his hands as the group of Marines push him out on to the station with a uniform and medals. The Marines are a great assortment of individuals led by the impressive Cpl. Candida (played by Jimmie Dundee). The town’s people (who have not seen any action in the war) love the idea of having a local hero to idolise. They pull out all the stops to welcome him back. They are so enamoured of Woodrow (and the tales of the Marines) they decide they want him to run for office.
The Scarlet and the Black tells the true story of Irish priest Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty who helped to save thousands of Allied POW and Jews during the German occupation of Rome 1943-44.
Monsignor O’Flaherty got to know British servicemen by visiting Italian POW camps. When Italy switched sides in 1943 many Allied servicemen fled to Rome, where they sought the help of O’Flaherty in the Vatican. The Gaestapo come to learn that there was a network dedicated to hiding Allied prisoners and sought to break the network. In particular the Gestapo chief Kappler, becomes obsessed with finding and capturing the priest at the centre of the huge operation.
The Great McGinty
Prologue: "This is the story of two men who met in a banana republic. One of them never did anything dishonest in his life except for one crazy minute. The other never did anything honest in his life except for one crazy minute. They both had to get out of the country."
This film is told in flashback by Dan McGinty (Brian Donlevy). Living in depression hit America, Dan is homeless and destitute. However he is asked to help the Mayor with vote rigging in an election. He proves so adept at vote rigging, the Mafia style boss, gives McGinty a promotion. Soon he is elected Mayor himself, with the full support of the Mafia. He even takes a wife of convenience (Catherine McGinty played by Muriel Angelus) to help in getting elected. Slowly we see Dan McGinty’s good side, eventually his wife persuades him to stand up to the Mafia and do something good. A lifetime of easy money threatened by one moment’s of good intention.
This was my first Preston Sturges film. It definitely won’t be my last. It has really interesting characters and a thought provoking story line. It is also just good fun to watch.
Sister Luke (Audrey Hepburn)
A Nun’s story is a film directed by Fred Zimmerman about the life and inner struggles of a young Belgian woman who decides to become a nun.
The film revolves around the life and disciplines of living in a holy order. If you have little interest in religion or spiritual life, you may find the first 40 minutes rather uneventful. The first part of the film is basically a description of the disciplines that novice nuns must learn to adhere to. On the surface this beginning sequence is quite austere, but at the same time it provides an intriguing insight into the life of a convent.
La Veuve de Saint Pierre has a star studied cast with Juliette Binoche, and Daniel Auteuil and is directed by Patrice Leconte. It tells the story of a drunken sailor convicted of a senseless murder on the remote Cod islands of Saint Pierre. The murderer Ariel Neel Auguste is sentenced to death by the guillotine. However on the remote island there is no guillotine and no executioner, so his execution is delayed. The murderer attracts the sympathy of the beautiful Madama La (Juilliete Binoche). Madame La is the wife of the Captain of the island. She gives him sympathetic understanding and treatment borne of her idealistic belief that even the most evil can change.
