This is just to say that I’ve now seen Glorious 39, Stephen Poliakoff’s latest movie, a period drama-cum-thriller set among the English aristocracy as war is breaking out. However, I’m not going to write a full review as I really didn’t like it at all and was disappointed, and I prefer to spend my time writing about the productions which I admire. The story seems to me to start well in the first half hour or so, but then becomes increasingly ludicrous and starts to turn into a bad horror film. I won’t give away the various plot twists, as they are supposed to come as a shock, but will just say I didn’t find them or the characters at all believable.
It’s a pity – I’d been looking forward to it as I’ve liked many of Poliakoff’s previous films, especially Close My Eyes (1991) and the mini-series Shooting The Past (1999). It also has a great cast, led by Romola Garai and Bill Nighy, with a good role for Julie Christie as an eccentric aunt. David Tennant and Hugh Bonneville both have fairly small parts – Tennant plays an MP who warns against appeasing Hitler, giving a powerful speech at a dinner party- and their scenes are probably the best in the movie. The costumes, Norfolk scenery, and music are all beautiful, and there are also some gorgeous cats in many of the scenes… but it’s all dragged down by the script. I just kept thinking of The Remains of the Day (1993), which deals with similar material, looking at fascist sympathisers in high places before the war, but does it immeasurably better.
So you didn’t like this very much, Judy, I’m sorry to hear that. I hadn’t even heard about it but… Do you think it is worth watching anyway?
Thanks, Maria Grazia… I thought it was probably only worth watching if you are a big fan of Poliakoff or one of the actors in it and want to see everything they have done – but, of course, that’s just my opinion and everyone will want to make up their own minds.
I didn’t care for it either. I had expected better and was greatly disappointed.
Interesting to read your comment. I have yet to see this film and like you I have been looking forward to it though it did get dismal reviews. It might go down a few notches on my priority list now.
I also enjoyed Remains of the Day though is many years since I last saw it. Hopefully one day you will get to review that film. I look foward to that.
Janette
Thanks, Janette – I wish I’d read a few of those dismal reviews before deciding to go along! I do hope to write about ‘The Remains of the Day’ and other Merchant-Ivory films in the future.
The cast would have compelled me to watch it had it appeared on my TV, so I know how you feel. I too speaking generally no longer write about movies (or books) I don’t care for. Too much time and energy is required :). Recently we had David Tennant as Hamlet on PBS in the US, but it ws a teaching night so I missed it. Ellen
Dear Ellen, I saw the Hamlet with David Tennant here at Christmas and thought it was a good production – hope it turns up on PBS again for you.:)
Thanks for your review Judy! I had also heard that it missed the mark and I was hoping that it would have performed better especially considering many of my favourite actors that were involved. Having you confirm it saves me from being disappointed since I have trouble finding the time to watch many other films which I’ve been longing to see even more than this one!
~Charleybrown
Hi Charley, just my opinion of course, but I wouldn’t rush to see this as there are so many much better films out there!
Hugh Bonneville is brilliant — a little advertised DVD on Netflix has him in a series of one man half-hours by Davies. I’ve put it on my Netflix list.
The Hamlet played here on a night I had to teach and we are no longer set up to record.
Have I said I can’t recommend too highly Davies’s To Serve Them all my Days (Netflix) — he will astonish you; and of course the mini-series Poldark?
E.M.
Thank you, Ellen – I agree Bonneville is a brilliant actor – he was excellent in ‘Daniel Deronda’. Thanks for the recommendations, I will hope to see both To Serve Them All My Days and Poldark in the future. Glad you are enjoying Netflix – I don’t belong to a DVD club at the moment as I have a lot of movies I haven’t yet watched, but may be tempted to rejoin one in the future! Judy
*nod* Re Hugh Bonneville – I loved watching him as Grandcourt in DANIEL DERONDA and then shortly afterwards as Flo’s brother in TIPPING THE VELVET: two more different Victorian men you could not hope to meet, and Bonneville inhabited both characters perfectly!
TO SERVE THEM ALL MY DAYS – a terrific little mini-series! I particularly liked Frank Middlemass as the jolly old headmaster and – total contrast – Charles Kay as the pinched neurotic Alcock. The female characters are portrayed very well too, particularly the last of the three whose personal dilemmas are very recognizable.
Finally… Thanks for the warning re GLORIOUS 39! I think Poliakoff has good one-off dramas (SHOOTING THE PAST, THE LOST PRINCE) but he has a tendency to fetishize luxury and powerful/rich people, and when he gives into that tendency it all starts swirling down the pan.
I had forgotten all about To Serve Them all my Days. I wonder if it is still about anywhere. I will have to hunt for it as I am now eager to see it again.
I really enjoyed David Tennant’s Hamlet and not just because it had DT in it.
I didn’t watch much of Daniel Derronda. That was back in the days when I attempted to watch series when they were shown on TV. (with a family of males that didn’t work out) I thought Hugh Bonneville’s permformance in Lost in Austen was excellent and well worth a mention. In fact I now think of him as Mr Bennet.
Janette
Hi Janette, I liked Tennant’s ‘Hamlet’ and would like to see it again – I wished one of the networks had also shown Lenny Henry in ‘Othello’ as that was supposed to be great too. There was a radio production but I missed it, so I will have to look out for repeats. I’d forgotten Hugh Bonneville was in ‘Lost in Austen’ – I didn’t stick with that series all through, but thought he gave a fine performance in the parts I did see. Thanks for commenting.:)
VanDee, I haven’t seen ‘Tipping the Velvet’ as yet, but enjoyed the book and would like to do so – would also like to see ‘To Serve Them All My Days’. I agree with you about Poliakoff coming unstuck when he gets on to the rich and powerful – they often seem to be far less realistic than his more “ordinary” characters. Thanks for commenting!
I concur – I was thrilled about the cast and story idea when it was announced, but when I finally saw the film, I was utterly disappointed by the weak characters (the poor actors did their best, but still, everyone does things that make so little sense), the moronic plot, and the silly, silly ending. The direction was, as another commentor said, sub-fusch Merchant Ivory, but infinitely less talented in all departments (other than acting – there they equal) than that venerable firm.
At least Downton Abbey seems to fill the gap this film leaves in early/mid 20th century costume drama. And Upstairs Downstairs, the BBC revival, might add to that.
I thought it started well and just got worse and worse, with a plot which was like a bad dream and made less and less sense. One of the greatest movie disappointments I’ve had in years – and all the more infuriating because of the great cast mired in the hopeless plot!
I’ve just written a little bit about ‘Downton Abbey’ though not really a proper review – I did enjoy it and am also looking forward to the ‘Upstairs Downstairs’ revival, which is apparently due to be shown at Christmas here. Thank you for your comments.
Finally watched Glorious 39 and I agree entirely with your review. I felt as though the potential of the film was squandered with a silly plot and inconsistent characterisation. the cast tried their best with woeful material and very inconsistent characters. I thought the cats were the best thing about the film which is a shame because at times I thought it it had a glimmer of potential for that only to be squandered in the very next scene.
I am interested to in several comparisons I have read in the past few weeks between this and The Hour. It strikes me that in both cases the scriptwriters were trying to graft an unconvincing story onto something else entirely.
Sorry to be so slow in replying, Janette, but I’m sorry you were so disappointed with it, though not surprised. Must agree the cast did their best with dreadful material – I think only David Tennant’s scene really works because he is only in the early part of the film. I gave up on The Hour, but agree with you that it was an unconvincing story too.