Description

A star-struck teenager finds herself in the grown-up world of the theater. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Awfully good
I highly recommend this excellent adaptation of Bainbridge's dark, quirky novel. Georgina Cates plays the starstruck Stella with exactly the right combination of yearning naivete and matter-of-fact aloofness. Alan Rickman is mesmerizing as legendary actor O'Hara and happily is able to attract great sympathy during what might otherwise easily be regarded as a grotesque courtship of the teenage actress. And Hugh Grant as the odious Meredith is an extremely convincing villain - it's hard to imagine more of a departure from his usual endearing mumbler, but he pulls off this role with great aplomb. Warning: focusing as it does on a young girl's loss of innocence and the unglamorous underbelly of theatre, this film is for mature audiences only.

Poignant coming-of-age tale goes strangely astray.
The actors in this movie are what drew me to it. Hugh Grant and Alan Rickman are two of my favorite performers. To see them in a movie about the theatre, well I couldn't resist.

The film starts out as a lovely coming-of-age film about a young woman's first experience in theatre.

What it turns into about two thirds of the way through is a sad, sordid tale of incest, suicide and denial. It's as if the writers suddenly started smoking something while they were trying to finish the script.

The performances in the film are worth sitting through it. Georgina Cates who plays Stella, the central character, is quite good.

Alan Rickman is wonderful as always as the dashing matinee idol on his way to being washed up.

The great delight is Hugh Grant as a snotty, prissy summer stock director. It's probably the most over-the-top I've seen him and I loved it.

I was surprised to see this listed as a comedy, but not sure where else you'd put it. It's a tough movie to pin down.

Not a movie for everyone, but it is a guilty pleasure for those of us who would watch Alan Rickman read the phone book.

Definitely worth a second look...and a third...and a fourth
I first saw An Awfully Big Adventure on TV at two o'clock in the morning. It made very little sense, and I couldn't understand about a third of what was being said, but the movie still, as another reviewer succinctly put it, "hijacked my consciousness." It was subtle, honest, unforgiving, amazingly well-acted, and a lot of other good things that I can't find the words for right now.

I recently purchased a copy of the video, and realize now that while it loses nothing upon further viewing, An Awfully Big Adventure benefits greatly from a second watching. The dialogue becomes clearer the more you listen to it and the nuances of the characters and the story become more pronounced. Even though my first reaction to the film was favorable, I still think that one cannot judge this movie fairly after only seeing it once (although if you enjoyed it the first time, you probably will again). I have a feeling that nearly all of the reviews here are by first-time watchers, and while you shouldn't entirely discredit their remarks, keep in mind that, like most complex movies, An Awfully Big Adventure only gets better the more you watch it.

I also feel that it cannot be stressed enough that this is not a happy, uplifting movie. "Disturbing" is a word used often to describe it, but the word that comes to my mind is "uncomfortable." There's really nothing at the end of the film to redeem all of the sadness, as is common in most movies. Thus, if you don't like to watch depressing movies, DON'T WATCH AN AWFULLY BIG ADVENTURE. And if you're an Alan Rickman or Hugh Grant fan (both of whom are great) and insist upon seeing it, don't write a review that discourages others from watching it just because it was too dark for your tastes.

*I haven't read the novel of the same title by Beryl Bainbridge, but I've heard that it helps to clarify the confusing points in the movie, besides being a good book. Just a thought...

Great film...highly inaccurate synopsis
First and foremost, I want to state that this is NOT a comedy. The summary on the back of the box, describing it as "hilarious," "warmhearted," and so forth, reads as though it was written by somebody who never saw the movie. It is about as much of a comedy as Hamlet is a go-kart race.

That said, it is a super film. Set in 1947, the story centers on sixteen-year-old Stella Bradshaw, who has lost her mother in the war and lives with her aunt and uncle. Stella joins an amateur theatre company and falls instantly in love with the company's slimeball of a director, Meredith Potter. It doesn't take long for her to be lured into the milieu's seedy underbelly, and eventually she has her first (and second and third...) sexual encounter with P.L. O'Hara, star of the company's production of "Peter Pan".

The end of the movie will certainly be found disturbing and/or sad by most (hence my omission of the fifth star in rating the movie), but it's still worth watching - most likely more than once, so you can start to fill in the details you might have missed before. (There's a whole lot of information packed into this plot, and it's very easy to let stuff slip by!)

The cast, of course, is wonderful. Georgina Cates is well cast as Stella, and very pretty too. Her characterization of the shy, unsure-of-herself girl is engaging and well thought out. (She looks about twelve until a scene where we see her topless. Then the illusion is pretty much shattered.) Alan Rickman, as P.L. O'Hara, is great as usual. The big surprise here for me was Hugh Grant's performance as Meredith Potter. He is actually playing a character here - and a nasty one at that. That alone is worth watching the movie! The supporting cast is terrific as well. It was fun to see such first-rate actors bringing such life to such teeny roles (for example, Edward Petherbridge, who has all of approximately fifteen seconds onscreen).

To sum up, An Awfully Big Adventure - though certainly disturbing in places - is an awfully good film.

Awfully difficult to describe this movie adventure
This is another in a long line of films I have viewed solely to enjoy Alan Rickman's performance, and what a performance; but more about that later.

Having read all the Amazon reviewers' comments and a multitude of professional critics' articles I was still unable to get a sense of this film. The plot was somewhat clear, some reviewers having given away the ending (shame on them and what a shame), but the true atmosphere of the film still eluded me. Frankly, I couldn't convince myself this was a film I would enjoy. Having now viewed this unusual but very interesting film, I find that nothing prepared me for what it truly was about and what it had to offer as real entertainment.

Lest I reveal more of the plot than I intend, I will instead stick mostly to my point and say that Alan Rickman is an actor of absolutely unbelievable talent. I say this after every film; he selects the widest range of roles of any actor, and he never gives a less than perfect + performance. His Captain Hook and O'Hara are sublime characters. He looks fantastic in both roles, of course. Again we get to see him dance, not the tango this time, but variety is the spice of his work. The love scenes, and I feel comfortable identifying them as 'love', because his character displays a sense of love despite his shallow nature; and also exhibits a desperate need for love that would be difficult to believe in this particular character if it were portrayed by a lesser actor. His comic reactions have perfect timing and his emotional reactions display feelings that overwhelm and pale the efforts of every other character in the film. This is a considerable feat because this film offers an usual, but solid, performance by Hugh Grant; a side of his talent I had not previously seen and which proved very intriguing. Georgina Cates as Stella, the naive young girl struggling to find both herself and her past, is flawless. She wears her feelings as open as a book on her sweet young face and states her thoughts as directly (and comically) as any adolescent innocent would. Apparently it is like learning the ukulele.

This film is not a comedy; if it were not British, there probably would have been no humor at all. The British it seems have a way of inserting their own manner of dry wit and humor into the most serious of situations without ever losing their direction. Perhaps I have been viewing too many English films of late; as I had no trouble with the accents and understood every word clearly.

There are other reviewers here who have certainly bested my efforts at describing Rickman's attraction in this film, as I think unfortunately my statements certainly fail to do justice to the work he does in 'An Awfully Big Adventure'. I continue to owe him thanks for the unusual scope of entertainment genres I have explored just because I am so awed by his abilities and do not want to miss of minute of an opportunity to watch him work. Others also have provided more of the plot and I too have fallen short of explaining the true nature of the film. All I am left to hope for is that I can encourage any fans of Rickman's or movie-lovers who enjoy the unusual, and who have not yet viewed this film, to get themselves a copy of this rare video and see just what the 'awfully big adventure' is truly all about. I think you will be awfully glad you did. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

I've been searching for 26 yrs.!!!!!!! :)
I've finally found it! I saw this movie for the first time when I was 10 yrs. old. I had ran across it on tv just a scattered few more times in my life and had forgotten the name of it. Searching seriously for it in the last 5-10 yrs. through the video stores. It's my favorite Frankenstein movie of all time! Why isn't it on DVD and offered uncut to the public! What a waste! If I'm gonna see a good movie I want to see the full version!! How can we make this happen? I have three children and don't want them to miss this one...

The True(to the spirit of the novel) Story
Ok, I just had to write a review of this movie, since it is one of my most favorite all time horror films. As a child this deeply affected me. I loved the atmospher and the mood of the film. I was only 4 years old when NBC showed this on television, and I wish they would rerun it again in primetime like CBS did with Dracula, back in '92. First a lot has been made of the title of this film. Critics thought it was deceptive, because they expected to see a faithful adaptation of Shelley's novel. This is certainly a reasonable expectation, and I can surly sympathize with anyone wanting to see a faithful adaptation. I am one of those people. The only film in history to come close to the novel was a Swedish movie called "Victor Frankenstein". Many say "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" was the most faithful version, but that was not true. The Swedish film mentioned above was. The title of this film is not so much insinuating truthfulness of plot and events of the novel, but more so the spirit of the novel. It retains the moral lesson of the novel that monsters are made, not born. And to take responsibiitly for what you do. Most movies stress the "man should not play God" moral, but Shelley's messages was not so much that as it was the other moral. Also most movies have the creature as being evil from the start, or evil by some other folly, such as a criminal brain being put in instead of a normal one. This film attempts to make the audience sympathize with the creature, as the novel did. It seeks to show that the creature was not really the monster, but that Victor was the true monster in this tale. Now normally, I hate movies that dont stick to the letter of the novel, but I was not bothered by this one's approach, because it got the main spirit of the novel right. The production values are top knotch for a tv film, and the actors are first rate. Leonard Whiting makes a perfect Victor Frankenstein and James Mason as Polidori was brilliant casting! His lines are some of the best in the film. When Victor is sewing up the female creature, Mason quips "and to think this afternoon you were cutting a wedding cake!" Jane Seymore plays the second creature to perfection. She is creepy and downright cruel and manipulative, but also beautiful. Her polar opposite is the Creature, played with sensitivity by Michael Sarrazin. He is gentle, kind, but alas, his features are deteriorating and he has been rejected by Victor. Victor was quiet happy with him until the process by which he brought him to life (solar engergy in this film) starts reversing itself. I was also intrigues by the homosexual undertones of this movie. All the strongest character bonds are between the males, and all the female characters are either portrayed as bitchy, dense, nosy, or evil. There is even an homosexual undertone to the relationship between Victor and his Creature, while he still retains his handsome features. This is probably due to the script being written by Christopher Irshwood and Don Barchardy. Irshwood, a gay playwright, also wrote Cabaret. This film is also the first Frankenstein film in history to actually use the Arctic for the setting at the end of the story. This is most important because Shelley's Arctic setting was to parallel the Creature's plights, alone, desolate, cold, and unfeeling, much like Victor. They need to get around to releasing the FULL 4 hour version of this great movie on tape. It is better seen in it's entirety. I am so glad the SciFi Channel showed the complete version a couple years ago. My brother taped it for me. And for that, I am grateful to him. See this film. I highly recommend it.

Great movie.
I first saw this movie when I was 14 years old. It's an incredible movie. But I was disappointed that the VHS copy had a lot cut out. I want the original, uncut version. If you do a search in the DVD section of Amazon, there's a possibility that the movie will come out on DVD. If anybody in the movie industry is reading this, MAKE THE DVD THE FULL, UNCUT VERSION!

This is the best version of Frankenstein to date
I saw this movie for the 1st time when i was around 12 years old. I thought it was the greatest movie to be on tv at that time. i remember asking my mom if i could stay up late because it was showing for 2 days. I remember seeing the previews of the movie and couldnt wait for it to come on tv. Michael Sarrazin played a great monster Jane Seymore was awsome as Agatha. James Mason was also great in his part. I hope this movie will come out on DVD. It would be an asset to anyones dvd collection.

the best ever
This is probably the best Frankenstein movie ever it has an all star cast and if the DVD show the entire movie it is over 4 hours long and worth every minute. I saw this movie as a kid in 1974 on TV and has loved it ever since. It is well acted and portays how it could have really happened if it were a a real life story. The cast includes Leonard Whiting, Michael Sarrazine, Jane Seymour in her second movie, James Mason along with Agnes Moorehead who played Samantha's Mother on Bewitched, David McCallum, with many more well know actors. I would recommend this movie to anyone no matter what their taste is. ... Read more

Description

During World War 2 a squad of Czech expatriates are parachuted into Czechoslovakia in order to assassinate the German governor Reinhard Heydrich. Operation Daybreak, based on a true story, details the preparations, execution, and aftermath of this operation. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Seven men at daybreak
Operation Daybreak is a truly emotional and gripping tale of the assasination of the leading Nazi Reinhard Heydrich, in Prague. The assasians were all Czech paratroopers trained by British intelligence at the start of WWII. The film is authentically set in Prague and includes stirring music to accompany fine performances from all! Sit back and enjoy this film, but remember the Kleenex for the last fifteen minutes. A classic....

Operation Daybreak
This is an interesting film. It centers on the activities of Reinhard Heydrich, the Reich Protector of Czechoslovakia. It will grab, hold, and retain your interest. The Prague location shots will only add to your appreciation of the story. The actors play their parts well. Scenary and costumes are very accurate. However, I was disappointed in two aspects of the VHS. First, it does not come with closed captions. Second, hardly surprising, the German characters speak German. The problem is that the listener has no idea what they are saying because there are no captions. Leaves you in the dark as to what is going on. The value of the film results from the accurate coverage of Heydrich as the Devil incarnate. Cold blooded, calculating, he is accurately portrayed as ruthless and vain. Once he is assassinated, the search for his killers will have you fully engaged in the film. See it. Well worth the time.

A must see!
A very well made film, quite accurate to true events. The final scenes above and in the crypt are quite harrowing and a tribute to the brave men involved.

Operation Daybreak
Contrary to what the earlier review says, the film does NOT centre on Heydrich as such, but on the plot for his assassaination, and the various intrigues, stresses and strains involved in secret resistance. It does this VERY well, in a very down-to-earth way. It also is as faithful as possible to the facts, even down to the minutiae of Heydrich's actual behaviour during the attack.

Sacrifice
What movie that teaches you to sacrifice for others. The torture that the Jews have endured!! Hopefully, history will never repeat it self. It is often said that the abused usually becomes the abuser--hope this will never be true. It is a must see movie to help you understand faintly what went on during the Nazi rule, though the story is a fiction. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

If you can bear the soundtrack, it's a GEM!
Terrible music that will unfortunately stick in your head for days, but Goldie and Peter are so witty, touching and hilarious in this movie, it's worth it. I especially enjoyed the scene where Peter's character helps Goldie's character move out of her boyfriend's flat...classic. Some great moments. (It might even make you cry - and not just because of the music!) Kind of an odd movie and probably an acquired taste, but I love to pull this one out every few years and watch it again.

Great movie
There is something about all those late sixties and early seventies movies that makes them enjoyable, could be the music,
the looks , fashion. This is a great movie, very simple but
entertaining. Goldie Hawn is a very charming girl and Seller's
acting role is great, what can I say about him?.

THERE'S A GIRL IN MY SOUP
One of the most boring....dull....stupid Peter Sellers comedies. If you can find more then 2 or 3 laughs good luck. I love Peter Sellers in THE PINK PANTHER movies and he was brilliant in a great number of films.....but he falls far short in this one and Goldie Hawn is wasted totally.

For those who like Peter Sellers and Goldie Hawn movies.
I've waited more than 4 years for this movie to come out on DVD, which is surprising since practically everything Peter Sellers has ever done, has been out on DVD for some time now. This movie sort of fell through the cracks, like so many movies from the 1970's have, for some reason.

Peter Sellers plays the role of a womanizing "galloping gourmet" type television celebrity (Robert Danvers) in 1970's London. This was a time when the Kings Road in London was an exciting hippie hangout, and not the commercial high street that it has become today. Goldie Hawn (Marion) plays the role of a very young and sexy hippie, whom Peter Sellers pick's up while parking his Rolls Royce on the Kings Road.

Goldie has been rejected by her current drummer boyfriend at a party, because he wants to pass her along "like a tray of cakes" to his other mates. Feeling sad, rejected, and used she stands outside on the Kings Road pondering her dilemma. Just as Peter Sellers parks his car, he notices her. Being the consummate playboy, he decides that pursuing Goldie would be far more enjoyable than any stuffy house party. In his charming way he starts up a conversation with Goldie, in the hope of eventually seducing her. Goldie on the other hand is annoyed and sarcastically amused with Seller's slow round about way of picking her up. Obviously Goldie's boyfriend and his mates, don't bother with seduction in an age of "free love". In an act of revenge, Goldie decides to get back at her boyfriend and his mates by running off with Sellers.

What was suppose to be a one night stand, ends up becoming an affair that stretches over several days. Out of pride, chivalry or just an attempt to disprove Goldie's censorious characterization of "his type", Sellers somehow becomes entangled more in Goldies dilemma, and eventually takes her on a working wine tasting stay in France, which ends up as a holiday on the French Rivera. There are some very funny scenes of a Drunken mini-skirt wearing Goldie shocking conservative French women, which ends up costing Sellers a shelf full of "pas mal" wine, that Goldie knocks over in a wine seller. Later when checking into one of Seller's regular hotels on the French Rivera, Goldie plays a trick on Sellers by convincing the hotel management that she and Sellers have secretly married (so that they can stay in the bridal suite). The Bell Boy wishes them much Ha'penis... (aka: Happiness). While in a local disco, some off duty British journalists, snap a picture of Sellers and his new wife? The British media splash images of Sellers and his supposed wife all over the tabloids, much to the sadness of Seller's female fans, and the amusement of Sellers friends who mock or envy his bachelor ways. Eventually Sellers and Hawn make it back to London to face the music. Their fling has changed them both. The movie ends with a different twist on relationships... something which was quite new for 1970's audiences.

Even though there was a great difference in age, Sellers and Hawn had a chemistry in this film... sort of like George Burns and Gracie Allen had. I have to admit that I've always been a fan of both Peter Sellers and Goldie Hawn. Having them both in the same film was a real treat for me. This film had a lot of personal attractions for me. For one thing, this film brought back childhood memories of my parents taking me to Europe during the mid 60's and early 70's. This movie is a very rare view of Europe in the 70's, something that isn't seen much anymore, for some reason. Movies of Europe during the hippie days aren't popular anymore I guess. It was also an interesting time in Goldie Hawn's career, as she made a two movies in Europe around this time "There's a Girl in my Soup 1970" (England and France) and "$ Dollars 1971" (West Germany)... (she must have lived in Europe during this time).

At any-rate, if you enjoy movies of the 1970's... and if you like Peter Sellers and Goldie Hawn movies then, I'm pretty sure you'll like this old favorite of mine. The world lost a great talent when Peter Sellers died. But at least we have his movies to remember him by. ...DOES THAT ALSO INCLUDE TELEVISION? (Said in a Madras accent - from The Party 1968). LOL

Enjoy the movie!

PS: I've often thought this film would be great as a remake movie. Wouldn't it be interesting to have Goldie Hawn play the role of Peter Sellers... as an older woman trying to pick up some young guy, for a one night stand. Hollywood seems so starved for movie ideas, when all they have to do is look into their archives to remake an old movie, with a modern twist.

Cute
This is a very silly movie, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I can't believe how young Goldie Hawn looks - she can't be older than 21 in it - and Peter Sellers is great as this total dork whom women for some reason find attractive. I just enjoyed watching him play this sort of fellow. And, it has him in that famous "I won't shush!" clip -- the one in Sony's pre-movie film collage their theaters played in the early 1990s before each film. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Biography of Aviatrix - Beryl Markham - raised in Africa
For those interested in early women aviators, horses and with a love for the genre depicted in the movie "Out of Africa", this is worth viewing. Stephanie Powers plays the role of Beryl from teenager to mature women. Although Ms. Powers is pushing reality playing Beryl at 18, her love and passion for Africa and getting this biography on film/video is apparant. I am happy to have found it on tape and add to my library. . ... Read more

Description

Time Magazine called Upstairs Downstairs "perennially fascinating." The New York Times found it "marvelous."The winner of 9 Emmys®, a GoldenGlobe®, and a Peabody® award, it has been seen by almost 1 billion people in over 70countries.Now, to commemorate Upstairs Downstairs’ 25th anniversary, its cast and crew sharetheir memories of 165 Eaton Place and the Bellamy household.Intimate interviews andfavorite clips offer a revealing, behind-the-scenes look at the legendary program.Learnhow the Upstairs Downstairs class divide spilled over into real life and how the show wasalmost cancelled in its first season.Co-creator Jean Marsh (Rose) reveals how UpstairsDownstairs was conceived, and producer John Hawkesworth recounts the struggle to letit end gracefully.UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS REMEMBERED is a unique look at oneof the most beloved and acclaimed programs ever created. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Superb High Class Soap Opera
Upstairs, Downstairs is one of my sentimental favorites as far as a Masterpiece Theatre shows goes. The acting, the color, the costumes, the furniture---everything about it holds up well after all these years. It's a show that will always be remembered and treasured.

An Informative Look behind Upstairs Downstairs
This is a nostalgic remembrance of Upstairs Downstairs, the great british drama series. Interviews with Jean Marsh (Rose), Simon Williams (James), Meg Wynn Owen (Hazel), Nicola Pagett (Elizabeth), Jacqueline Tong (Daisy), Jenny Tomasin (Ruby), and Chris Beeny (Edward) give this 50 minute tribute a enormous charm as we are told vignettes and creative decisions behind the show. A must have for any fan of Upstairs Downstairs. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Privates on Parade - Funny stuff!!!
Excellent movie. Serious subjects, lighthearted but not romanticised view of wartime. Great viewing! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Must-See Follow-up For "Love Story" Fans
Although not as interesting as "Love Story," this sequel does allow us to see what Oliver's life was like in the years after Jenny's death.

The movie begins with Jenny's funeral and we watch Oliver go through the motions of living, but not really participating in anything except his work. One day, he meets a jogger played by Candice Bergen. They begin a relationship that is pretty much of a bore to all but the most devoted Ryan O'Neal fans (of which I am definitely one!). Ms. Bergen's portrayal is wooden and unappealing, and viewers are probably relieved when she announces she can no longer live with Jenny's ghost. The one good thing her character, Marcy Bonwit Nash, does is take Oliver on a tour of her company's Hong Kong factories. When Oliver sees the poor conditions there, he begins to gain respect for his father and the way the senior Barrett ran his mills.

Oliver's long overdue reunion with his father is touching and we finally get a glimmer of hope at the end that Oliver has learned that living is for the living, and he will finally be able to live his life again.

Not a great movie, but interesting and definitely worth seeing if you loved "Love Story."

Not a Very Good Movie...BUT
A second boring love story with Ryan O'Neil trying to rebuild his life after the death of his wife, meeting a new woman and the relationship goes no where. But the film is redeamed by Oliver re-estalishing a relationship with his father (Ray Milland) and thinking of going into his father's business after retirement. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Biography of Aviatrix - Beryl Markham - raised in Africa
For those interested in early women aviators, horses and with a love for the genre depicted in the movie "Out of Africa", this is worth viewing. Stephanie Powers plays the role of Beryl from teenager to mature women. Although Ms. Powers is pushing reality playing Beryl at 18, her love and passion for Africa and getting this biography on film/video is apparant. I am happy to have found it on tape and add to my library. . ... Read more