Reviews (19)

One of my all-time favorites!
A breathtakingly beautiful film from the "Magic 3" - David Lean, Director, Freddie Young, Cinematographer, and Maurice Jarre, Music -- who also gave us Lawrence of Arabia and Dr. Zhivago. An ordinary enough story, but played beautifully by first rate actors, it moves right along and I became very involved in the fate of its characters. I wanted Sarah Miles to have her passionate love, but then again, I didn't want her good husband (Mitchum) to lose her, I wanted the British officer (Jones) not to be tortured and haunted, and I didn't want anyone hurting the lovable village idiot. (John Mills deserved the Oscar he got for this role!) The relationship between John Mills' and Sarah Miles' characters broke my heart. And I hated, hated with a capital H some of the others (I won't say who and spoil it for anyone). This is all to say that I was pretty much transfixed and transported by this movie from start to finish. And if there's any scene in any movie from the beginning of time that's more erotic than the one in her father's pub when Sarah Miles' character first meets the British lieutenant, I hope someone warns me; I don't think I could withstand it. I love my video of the movie, but I wish I could see it again on the big screen for the impact of the magnificent cinematography of the Irish coast. And of the pub.

A Haunting Masterpiece by Lean
I first saw this film when it came out, it haunted me for days. The score9 by Maurice Jarre) and the photography(Freddie Young won a most desevred Oscar for) is breathtaking and Sarah Miles is so beautiful she takes your breath away. Set in Ireland during World War I and the British occupation of Ireland. Rosy Ryan( Sarah Miles) sets her cap for the local school master played by the great Robert Mitchum. They marry and her life is not what she expects until a British Officer enters it while she is tending bar. The chap is played by Christopher Jones who was the Colin Farrell of his day. The scene in the pub when they meet is one of the most tender loving scenes ever filmed. The affair that follows brings heartache to all. The villagers in this small Irish town gives lynch mobs a bad name. The pleasure they exact from teasing the village idiot(played by John Mills and may I add with beauty and heart) and later taking their revenge on an innocent person they believed to be the traitor. I don't want to give away the ending ot the story but I just purchased it and watched it for the first time in thirty years and was reminded what a storyteller David Lean was. Candace Serviss

When oh when!
Each month I scan the "new" issues to see if the studio has issued this first rate movie onto DVD but to no avail! when one sees the amount of rubbishy films now being re-issued, it really makes me angry, I guess the reason being the fact that Ryans Daughter was panned in the States, but hay Yanks, how about we Brits? the film was well received over here and is still regulary screened on TV. Freddy Jone's photography should be reason enough but add Sarah Miles, Bob Mitchum, John Mills, where is the problem?

Take it From a First-Time Viewer: Pass This One By
The progress of David Lean's visual style is one of honest, thrilling emotion subsumed over the years by unnecessary, rote effect--an artistic hardening-of-the-arteries not entirely unlike the bloat of Wordsworth's later work.

Of his pictures which history will remember well, Lean delivered at least one masterpiece ("Oliver Twist," 1948), which dared to risk anachronism when it evoked the prison camps of WWII in its workhouse boys' scabby, balding heads--not to mention Alec Guinness's frightening Fagin ("What right have you to butcher me!?").

He made two other first-rate pictures: "Great Expectations" (1946), a rare triumph of literary abbreviation, & "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957), the most melancholy meditation on suffering I've ever seen--like a paragraph from Dostoyevsky or Solzhenitsyn played deftly out to feature length.

"Lawrence of Arabia" (1962) signalled, I think, the beginning of an elephantiasis in Lean's ambition--though it's been observed that "Lawrence's" minimalist compositions and love of "empty" screen-space may have primed audiences for later, more abstract adventures such as "2001: A Space Odyssey," and even "Apocalypse Now."

Lean's respectful eye for and fascination with natural landscapes, especially as they dwarf people, and the psychologic import of that domination of scale, was often on ostentatious and useful display in his early and middle years. Later, this titanic style of framing became expected of Lean--not least, repeated viewings attest, by the man himself. It's as if he became trapped by his repute for monumentality, which was rarely less appropriate than here.

"Ryan's Daughter," based on a parlor-scale melodrama by Robert Bolt, never has the chance to escape Lean's Olympian regard and withers on film like a bug caught in the projector gate. Never mind the performances, which are generally credible, nor the cinematography, which (in the only home video available, a wretched panned-&-scanned dub with horrible color balance) is typically assured work from Freddie Young.

"Ryan's Daughter" is a failure from a man with a fading vision, and uninstructive ... unless the lesson is to tailor style to substance at all costs.

my two cents
This SOOOOO needs to be on DVD!!!!! This beautiful little gem is one of those great movies that just keeps haunting my memory even after all these years....and considering all the crap hollywood churns and what they deem worthy to go on DVD this would be a welcome bit of fresh air to see this again and add to my library. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

diamonds on wheels
the movie is real good but the condition of the tape and clam shell is not as i was told tape shutters while running and it is not because of my vcr it is brand new and no other movies iplay does that.the clam shell is in very bad shape. i am going to send it back for a full refund thank you james ewell ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A beautiful film ruined
Having waited for ages to find a DVD of this, one of my favourite films, I was thrilled to find it available Across the Pond in R1. That thrill has now turned to despair, however ! This is a classic example of an otherwise beautiful movie ruined by a truly appalling transfer. The perpetrators of this monstrosity should be punished by being locked in a darkened cell for a year, fed only on a diet of bread, water, and a perpetual tape of Britney Spears (any album will do).
Save you money for the professional version.

Wonderful story. Excellent actors. Terrible DVD transfer
The Shooting Party shows the decline of the British aristocracy (and why they became irrelevent) through the story device of a weekend of country shooting and the relationships among the manor head (James Mason), those he has invited, those who are retainers on his estate, and those protesting the shoot.

Mason is absolutely superb. He was a subtle actor who made some awful role choices in his career. This was one of his great roles. In the Shooting Party, he embodies the sadness of the loss of values he treasures as well as an understanding of why these values are being lost.

That said, this DVD, for all practical purposes, is unwatchable. It looks and sounds as if it had been made from a fifth generation home recorded video tape. Color is faded, the images are out of focus, the sound is variable.

If this motion picture had been given even an average DVD transfer, I'd rate it 5 stars.

Bad quality transfer
After a long wait, the quality of this DVD is dissapointing, and not worth it at any price. Without the deep fall colors and contrasts of the original, "The Shooting Party's" minor flaws, its sentimentality and heavy symbolism, take over. The print look like a fifty year old Kodachrome slide--washed out, flat contrast and no shadow detail. And the sound is almost as bad.

That said, the secenes between James Mason as the estate owner, and John Guielgud as the animal rights activist, are priceless. But why should this print be worse than the one shown on television...?

"Twilight of the English Aristocracy"
The "Shooting Party focuses on the aristocrats and their country weekends which stretch into five days. The centerpiece of this particular weekend in the country is a shooting party which turns into a contest between two guests. There are the ladies who come to watch the slaughter of thousands of birds, the shooters, the "beaters" whose job it is to drive the poor birds to within range of the shooters, and the "re-loaders" who pass loaded guns to the shooters as soon as they empty the ones they are holding - Nothing should delay their killling spree. Then there are the other servants of the Lord of the Manor; the gamekeeper, and a fanatical bird-lover who attempts to disrupt the hunt. The film shows not only the leisured lifestyle of the rich and titled, but also their disregard for anyone not of their "class," All these characters are woven into a story of great insight and compassion as this group of aristocrats teeters on the brink of World War I. An excellent movie with fine performances from James Mason, Gordon Jackson, James Fox, and John Gielgud. Highly recommended.

Swansong of the British Aristocracy
A weekend shooting party in 1913 at the estate of Sir Randolph Nettleby (James Mason in his last worthwhile role) gives a glimpse of the social and personal interactions of a generation about to be changed forever by the Great War. A wonderful cast of name (Mason, John Gielgud, Edward Fox, Gordon Jackson) and no-name (Robert Hardy, Judi Bowker, Cheryl Campbell, Dorothy Tutin) actors play together and apart with sensitivity and quiet humor. Worth watching if only for the brief scene between Mason and Gielgud - the best scene ever filmed of two men discussing the merits of pamphlet printers. ... Read more

Description

One of fiction's most popular detectives comes alive in this scintillatingadaptation of Caroline Graham's bestselling Inspector Barnaby mystery. The beautifulrural area of Midsomer is filled with more than its share of intrigue and colorfulcharacters. Keeping an eye on it all is Inspector Barnaby, a contemplative, comfortablymarried man with a worrisome college-age daughter and a slow, bumbling assistant,Sergeant Troy.In THE KILLINGS AT BADGER'S DRIFT, an old lady witnesses a shocking event. Butbefore she can tell anyone what she has seen, she dies from what seems to be naturalcauses. Her dearest friend drags the unwilling Inspector Barnaby into the case. He soonbegins to see that certain things just don't add up, then a second gruesome killingconfirms his suspicions. Barnaby's investigations into the murders reveal an unexpectedsordid side to the sleepy village. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Poor Annabella...
Badger's Drift is the best kept village in Midsomer... at least, that's what the sign says. The mystery starts when Ms. Emily Simpson, an 80-year old retired school teacher, stumbles upon "something" in the woods. Her best friend and neighbor, Ms. Bellringer, knew something was wrong when Ms. Simpson came home that night - she didn't close her door, she slammed it. And she failed to padlock her tricycle... Emily was always afraid of thieves, you know. When Ms. Simpson is discovered with a broken neck, as from a fall, Ms. Bellringer just knows it must have been foul play.

Chief Inspector Barnaby and Sergeant Troy take up the investigation. Questions: Why does Dennis Rainbird, the local undertaker, seem so eager to get Ms. Simpson's body in the ground? What's really going on with Dr. Lesseter, who claims that Ms. Simpson was in perfect health? Isn't it odd that no one ever sees Mr. Henry Trace, the wealthiest man in Badger's Drift, out of his wheelchair? And just what is Michael Lacey "painting" in his studio?

Don't worry - none of these are spoilers. They're just the sort of devilishly odd questions you might ask yourself while watching one of the best episodes in the _Midsomer Murders_ series.

Enjoy... ... Read more

Description

In sleepy Midsomer, a rural English hideaway, life moves with easy,predictable rhythms. But when the secretary of a local writer's circle is discoveredmurdered, the village is overcome with rumor and speculation.It is up to Inspector Barnaby to cast light on the case, but what the calm and collectedpoliceman discovers only deepens the mystery. It seems that the victim was a man ofmany secrets no marriage certificate is found to match the wedding photos in his home,no relatives come forward and he has no national insurance number. And when thewoman he was wooing admits that she saw a blonde stranger arrive at his house twonights before the murder, Barnaby is faced with quite a quandary. Who was this woman,and who was the victim really?Based on the bestselling Barnaby novels by Caroline Graham, Midsomer Murders isclassic British crimedrama in the grand tradition of Agatha Christie. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Well worth watching
Midsomer is one of those quasi-mythical areas in the heart of England that everyone would like to believe exists. Rolling green countryside, small villages with thatched cottages, rose gardens, well-tended farms, and a population with more than its fair share of quirkiness and a tendency to commit murder.

The local police seem to have plenty to do, the investigations ably led by Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby and his sidekick Sgt. Troy. Barnaby is somewhat unusual for a TV detective in that he doesn't seem to have any quirks - he's a straightforward, decent, happily married cop. He has a beaming smile and a pleasant manner. But his mind is sharp and let a suspect or witness push his or her luck with him and they soon get a glimpse of the steel beneath the surface.

The basic formula is that pioneered by Morse. Feature length episodes give plenty of time to set up the characters, let the viewer see something of what is going on around the place and admire the scenery, and allow several more inter-linked murders to take place before the initial case is solved.

At first I was not too taken with Midsomer. The set-up was a bit predictable and seemed engineered with an eye to the export market, and Barnaby somewhat bland after the dysfunctional Morse and the dyspeptic Dalziel (do you get "Dalziel and Pascoe" on American TV? If not, you're missing something - watch out for it). But the place and the man have grown on me and now I'm a fan and a regular watcher. Give them a chance.... ... Read more

Description

The Causton Amateur Dramatic Society is preparing to performAmadeus, and Inspector Barnaby is persuaded to paint the set. In the final act the scriptcalls for Salieri, played by Esslyn Carmichael, to slit his throat. In rehearsals the blade ofthe razor is wrapped in plastic, and the effect is convincing. But on opening night, theaudience is amazed at the reality of the death scene--until they realize it is not brilliantlystaged, but horrifyingly real!Barnaby is immediately called on to make some sense of the tragedy. Could Esslyn'ssuspicion of his wife's affair have drove him to suicide? Or was it murder? It is up to theredoubtable Barnaby to uncover the truth. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

If you love British murder mysteries...
then check out the "Midsomer Murders" series. "Death of a Hollow Man" is set in a community playhouse which provides a wonderful backdrop for egos, back-biting, romance and eventually, murder. All the clues are there if you watch and listen. John Nettles brings a warmth to Chief Inspector Barnaby that is quite engaging as you watch him comfort his wife and then interrogate the witnesses. The characters are very interesting with plenty of human foibles and you will find yourself wishing "well" to some and "bad" to others. Very enjoyable. ... Read more

Description

One of fiction's most popular detectives comes alive in this scintillatingadaptation of Caroline Graham's bestselling Inspector Barnaby mystery. The beautifulrural area of Midsomer is filled with more than its share of intrigue and colorfulcharacters. Keeping an eye on it all is Inspector Barnaby, a contemplative, comfortablymarried man with a worrisome college-age daughter and a slow, bumbling assistant,Sergeant Troy.A master of a New Age commune is prematurelytransported into the Other World, and all fingerspoint to a ruthless tycoon who had visited thecommune to see his long lost daughter. But Barnaby is not convinced that the billionaireis to blame and, ignoring pressure to close the case, delves into the past lives of thecommune's inhabitants. Eventually, Barnaby discovers that one of them is not who hepretends to be. ... Read more

Description

A gardener in a small town becomes something of a folk hero when he charms many of the town's women into falling in love with him.The story is told in flashbacks at the gardener's funeral. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A brilliant film with wonderful insights
Mr love is a great film in many ways. There is a lot of tragedy and hope in the film, and I feel the strength of the film is the realism and great characters. They are vulnerable and real, and some of the set pieces are incredibly funny. I still think about the scene when Mr Love starts to do the mating dance of a spider, to seduce his girlfriend - it is brilliant. This film goes down as one of my best, and shows many facets of our human nature. My last words are, see this film its a classic and is a brilliant story to show; one mans search for love.

Mr. Love
What a delightful surprise! I came across this by accident in a video rental store. It had many twists, but the charm and sincerity shown through, the characters were original and eccentric, and the hero had all my sympathy in his trying circumstances. I have been tring to tell people of this movie, but the rental store went out of business, and I have not been able to find anyone who sold it until now. My gratitude to the internet!

Mr. Love
A wonderful sleeper of a movie,watch and tell your friends ... Read more

Reviews (19)

One of my all-time favorites!
A breathtakingly beautiful film from the "Magic 3" - David Lean, Director, Freddie Young, Cinematographer, and Maurice Jarre, Music -- who also gave us Lawrence of Arabia and Dr. Zhivago. An ordinary enough story, but played beautifully by first rate actors, it moves right along and I became very involved in the fate of its characters. I wanted Sarah Miles to have her passionate love, but then again, I didn't want her good husband (Mitchum) to lose her, I wanted the British officer (Jones) not to be tortured and haunted, and I didn't want anyone hurting the lovable village idiot. (John Mills deserved the Oscar he got for this role!) The relationship between John Mills' and Sarah Miles' characters broke my heart. And I hated, hated with a capital H some of the others (I won't say who and spoil it for anyone). This is all to say that I was pretty much transfixed and transported by this movie from start to finish. And if there's any scene in any movie from the beginning of time that's more erotic than the one in her father's pub when Sarah Miles' character first meets the British lieutenant, I hope someone warns me; I don't think I could withstand it. I love my video of the movie, but I wish I could see it again on the big screen for the impact of the magnificent cinematography of the Irish coast. And of the pub.

A Haunting Masterpiece by Lean
I first saw this film when it came out, it haunted me for days. The score9 by Maurice Jarre) and the photography(Freddie Young won a most desevred Oscar for) is breathtaking and Sarah Miles is so beautiful she takes your breath away. Set in Ireland during World War I and the British occupation of Ireland. Rosy Ryan( Sarah Miles) sets her cap for the local school master played by the great Robert Mitchum. They marry and her life is not what she expects until a British Officer enters it while she is tending bar. The chap is played by Christopher Jones who was the Colin Farrell of his day. The scene in the pub when they meet is one of the most tender loving scenes ever filmed. The affair that follows brings heartache to all. The villagers in this small Irish town gives lynch mobs a bad name. The pleasure they exact from teasing the village idiot(played by John Mills and may I add with beauty and heart) and later taking their revenge on an innocent person they believed to be the traitor. I don't want to give away the ending ot the story but I just purchased it and watched it for the first time in thirty years and was reminded what a storyteller David Lean was. Candace Serviss

When oh when!
Each month I scan the "new" issues to see if the studio has issued this first rate movie onto DVD but to no avail! when one sees the amount of rubbishy films now being re-issued, it really makes me angry, I guess the reason being the fact that Ryans Daughter was panned in the States, but hay Yanks, how about we Brits? the film was well received over here and is still regulary screened on TV. Freddy Jone's photography should be reason enough but add Sarah Miles, Bob Mitchum, John Mills, where is the problem?

Take it From a First-Time Viewer: Pass This One By
The progress of David Lean's visual style is one of honest, thrilling emotion subsumed over the years by unnecessary, rote effect--an artistic hardening-of-the-arteries not entirely unlike the bloat of Wordsworth's later work.

Of his pictures which history will remember well, Lean delivered at least one masterpiece ("Oliver Twist," 1948), which dared to risk anachronism when it evoked the prison camps of WWII in its workhouse boys' scabby, balding heads--not to mention Alec Guinness's frightening Fagin ("What right have you to butcher me!?").

He made two other first-rate pictures: "Great Expectations" (1946), a rare triumph of literary abbreviation, & "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957), the most melancholy meditation on suffering I've ever seen--like a paragraph from Dostoyevsky or Solzhenitsyn played deftly out to feature length.

"Lawrence of Arabia" (1962) signalled, I think, the beginning of an elephantiasis in Lean's ambition--though it's been observed that "Lawrence's" minimalist compositions and love of "empty" screen-space may have primed audiences for later, more abstract adventures such as "2001: A Space Odyssey," and even "Apocalypse Now."

Lean's respectful eye for and fascination with natural landscapes, especially as they dwarf people, and the psychologic import of that domination of scale, was often on ostentatious and useful display in his early and middle years. Later, this titanic style of framing became expected of Lean--not least, repeated viewings attest, by the man himself. It's as if he became trapped by his repute for monumentality, which was rarely less appropriate than here.

"Ryan's Daughter," based on a parlor-scale melodrama by Robert Bolt, never has the chance to escape Lean's Olympian regard and withers on film like a bug caught in the projector gate. Never mind the performances, which are generally credible, nor the cinematography, which (in the only home video available, a wretched panned-&-scanned dub with horrible color balance) is typically assured work from Freddie Young.

"Ryan's Daughter" is a failure from a man with a fading vision, and uninstructive ... unless the lesson is to tailor style to substance at all costs.

my two cents
This SOOOOO needs to be on DVD!!!!! This beautiful little gem is one of those great movies that just keeps haunting my memory even after all these years....and considering all the crap hollywood churns and what they deem worthy to go on DVD this would be a welcome bit of fresh air to see this again and add to my library. ... Read more